President Trump's signature economic policy is taking center stage at the Supreme Court today. The future of his tariffs hangs in the balance. Justices heard oral arguments on the case today.At issue is a legal question around the limits of executive power. The court is deciding whether the president has the authority to impose sweeping tariffs on imports under a law that's meant to apply to national emergencies. Eight small businesses sued the Trump administration, arguing these tariffs hurt their bottom l ...

Remember how we have said in the past that Trump always chickens out. Well, just days away from Wednesday's highstakes Supreme Court hearing over his tariffs, Trump is going back on something he said last month about potentially attending those arguments. Listen to what he told reporters on Air Force One.>> So, will you attend the oral arguments after. >> No, I don't think so because I don't want to call a lot of attention to me. It's not about me. It's about our country.I'll be going to Miami. make a speec ...

RT Nick Szabo (@NickSzabo4)The ultimate enforcers -- the police and perhaps ultimately the military -- will have to decide whether to follow "illegal" judicial orders or "illegal" executive orders. Right now they follow the judiciary -- but I don't know how much executive power the judiciary can usurp before the enforcers realize that it's now more often the judiciary issuing the illegal orders. ...

Political Analysis - The opinion piece from @WSJopinion discusses the potential future regret of Republican lawmakers regarding expansions in executive power [1] - The article encourages Republican lawmakers to consider the long-term implications of allowing expansions in executive power [1]

Government Shutdown & Executive Power - The Trump administration, guided by figures like Russ Vote, views government shutdowns as opportunities to expand executive power, a strategy reminiscent of Project 2025 [1][2][7][22] - The administration is willing to leverage the shutdown to cut funding for projects, especially in Democratic-leaning states, even if the legal authority to do so is questionable [3][6][13] - This approach differs from past shutdowns, where the focus was on fiscal responsibility; now, the administration openly aims to harm political opponents and consolidate power [18][19] - The administration sees the shutdown as a "win-win" situation, either by forcing Democrats to concede or by advancing the agenda of reducing government and expanding executive authority [24][25][26] Political Strategy & Potential Repercussions - Democrats are framing the shutdown around healthcare, highlighting potential premium increases and loss of coverage, which resonates with a majority of Americans [11][12] - Republicans risk alienating voters in swing districts within blue states if they aggressively cut funding, potentially jeopardizing their chances in midterm elections [13][14][15] - Some Republicans recognize the risk of overreach and are wary of the administration's aggressive tactics [15][17] - The public's perception of government shutdowns has evolved, and it's unclear whether voters will punish either party at the polls [28] - Democrats' strategy of focusing on healthcare could backfire if Republicans offer a deal on healthcare subsidies, potentially removing a key issue for Democrats in the midterms [20][21][29]

Legal & Political Landscape - The rule of law in America is facing its biggest test in decades [1] - Court battles over Trump's use of executive power are exposing limits on how much judges can constrain the presidency [1]

Federal Reserve Independence & Economic Policy - The report highlights President Trump's efforts to exert partisan pressure on the Federal Reserve (Fed), including attempts to fire a member, Lisa Cook, and influence the board's majority, raising concerns about the Fed's independence [1] - Financial experts widely view Trump's reference to investigating Lisa Cook for a mortgage application as a pretext to consolidate power over the independent Fed [1] - The Fed released a statement reaffirming its commitment to accountability and independence, indicating less compliance with Trump's desires [1] - The report emphasizes that politicians who interfere with the independence of central banks are "playing with fire," as historical examples show that autocratic control over economies often leads to market crashes, shortages, and even famine [1][2] - The weakening dollar, down 10% over the year, and increasing long-term borrowing costs are cited as practical effects of undermining the Fed's independence, leading to less purchasing power and higher loan rates for Americans [11][12] - The report mentions that short-term focused presidents may push for looser monetary policy, which might be good in the short term but bad for all in the long term if prices go up [15] Trump Administration & Power Consolidation - The report suggests Trump's actions are part of a wider effort to undermine career independence across the federal government, reminiscent of purges aimed at ousting career prosecutors and labor statisticians [1] - The Trump administration's desire to buy up private companies to exert more control is highlighted, exemplified by taking a tenth stake (10%) in chipmaker Intel [2] - The report mentions Trump musing about a dictatorship, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic norms [3][4] Epstein Case & Political Implications - Congress will question former Trump labor secretary, Alex Acosta, about the secret deal he cut in the Epstein case [29] - Ghislaine Maxwell's interview, where she claims to have never seen any problems from Trump, is viewed with skepticism, with some suggesting it was a scripted effort to seek a pardon [31][40] - The report highlights conflicting claims about the existence of an Epstein client list, with Trump's former attorney general claiming it existed and Maxwell denying its existence [36][37][38] Cultural & Political Commentary - The report touches on Trump's desire to control Hollywood and pop culture, viewing him as one of the most anti-First Amendment presidents in history [58][61]

Executive Power Assertions - The justices have been reviewing extraordinary assertions of executive power [1] - Out of 15 emergency applications resolved, approximately 80% (12/15) have favored Donald Trump [1]

Political Landscape - President Trump achieved significant legislative, military, and legal wins within two weeks [1] - These victories could have implications for the future of executive power [1]

Legal & Political Analysis - The Trump v CASA case could have a wide-ranging impact [1] - Federal judges have alternative methods to oversee executive power, but they might be less potent than nationwide injunctions [1]