Luke Vargas

That was the Journal's Brussels Bureau Chief, Dan Michaels. Dan, thanks so much. My pleasure, as always. Coming up, we'll recap a pair of executive orders out of Washington targeting unionized federal workers and another big law firm. Plus, Paul Hannon drops by to share some good economic news out of Europe. That and more after the break.

That was the Journal's Brussels Bureau Chief, Dan Michaels. Dan, thanks so much. My pleasure, as always. Coming up, we'll recap a pair of executive orders out of Washington targeting unionized federal workers and another big law firm. Plus, Paul Hannon drops by to share some good economic news out of Europe. That and more after the break.

Australians are set to go to the polls in early May after Prime Minister Antony Albanese called for elections against a backdrop of an economic recovery and an uncertain global outlook.

Australians are set to go to the polls in early May after Prime Minister Antony Albanese called for elections against a backdrop of an economic recovery and an uncertain global outlook.

Polls point to a tight race, with Albanese's Labour government expected to point to falling interest rates, stronger wage growth and tamed inflation, while the opposition Liberal National Coalition is proposing tax changes to lower fuel costs and building nuclear power plants to replace coal.

Polls point to a tight race, with Albanese's Labour government expected to point to falling interest rates, stronger wage growth and tamed inflation, while the opposition Liberal National Coalition is proposing tax changes to lower fuel costs and building nuclear power plants to replace coal.

Global issues and leadership will likely be key features of the campaign, too, as the Trump White House targets Australia with tariffs on steel and aluminum. Well, speaking of the White House, we've got two more executive orders from President Trump to discuss.

Global issues and leadership will likely be key features of the campaign, too, as the Trump White House targets Australia with tariffs on steel and aluminum. Well, speaking of the White House, we've got two more executive orders from President Trump to discuss.

First, he moved to end the government's collective bargaining with workers at agencies involved in intelligence and national security and only exempting police and firefighters. The move could affect workers at the departments of state, defense, veterans affairs, and more, and follows prior moves to chip away at union bargaining rights within the government.

First, he moved to end the government's collective bargaining with workers at agencies involved in intelligence and national security and only exempting police and firefighters. The move could affect workers at the departments of state, defense, veterans affairs, and more, and follows prior moves to chip away at union bargaining rights within the government.

Trump cited the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act as giving him authority to issue yesterday's order, while the American Federation of Government Employees Union said it was preparing immediate legal action. And in a separate order, Trump targeted yet another major law firm, this time WilmerHale, yanking its security clearances and restricting its access to federal buildings.

Trump cited the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act as giving him authority to issue yesterday's order, while the American Federation of Government Employees Union said it was preparing immediate legal action. And in a separate order, Trump targeted yet another major law firm, this time WilmerHale, yanking its security clearances and restricting its access to federal buildings.

The order singled out WilmerHale's ties to former special counsel Robert Mueller, who investigated ties between the president and his campaign in Russia. Wilmer had lobbied to avoid the executive order, hoping to leverage its ties to the administration, including helping vet top officials and preparing some for their confirmation hearings.

The order singled out WilmerHale's ties to former special counsel Robert Mueller, who investigated ties between the president and his campaign in Russia. Wilmer had lobbied to avoid the executive order, hoping to leverage its ties to the administration, including helping vet top officials and preparing some for their confirmation hearings.

Several additional firms are scrambling to avoid being targeted next, including Skadden, which we report is in talks with the administration. Among those already targeted by Trump, Perkins Coie is the only firm that's filed a lawsuit challenging the president's actions.

Several additional firms are scrambling to avoid being targeted next, including Skadden, which we report is in talks with the administration. Among those already targeted by Trump, Perkins Coie is the only firm that's filed a lawsuit challenging the president's actions.

The journals Dana Mattioli and Aaron Mulvaney have the inside story on why it decided to fight back, how that's gone over with clients, and how Trump's orders have roiled the clubby U.S. legal industry. We've left a link to that story in our show notes.

The journals Dana Mattioli and Aaron Mulvaney have the inside story on why it decided to fight back, how that's gone over with clients, and how Trump's orders have roiled the clubby U.S. legal industry. We've left a link to that story in our show notes.

And in markets news, a raft of fresh data is pointing to light at the end of the tunnel for the European economy, despite imminent tariffs that are threatening to dampen already lackluster eurozone growth. Low inflation in France and Spain points to slower price rises and tees up fresh cuts to interest rates in the months ahead.

And in markets news, a raft of fresh data is pointing to light at the end of the tunnel for the European economy, despite imminent tariffs that are threatening to dampen already lackluster eurozone growth. Low inflation in France and Spain points to slower price rises and tees up fresh cuts to interest rates in the months ahead.