Puppycow
Penultimate Amazing
Honestly it didn't even occur to me that something like this might happen.US court blocks Trump from imposing the bulk of his tariffs.
I grew up being taught that the American Government had a "system of checks and balances" that would prevent a president like Trump from just doing anything he wants to do without approval from Congress, and/or the courts in the case of a legal gray area. With Trump it feels like there are precious few checks on him, either from Congress (controlled by Republicans who are at least cowed by Trump, if not enthusiastic supporters) or from the Courts given that Trump supporters control the Supreme Court.
And that last point is what makes me still worry that this ruling on tariffs might be overturned by the Supreme Court.
The Trump Administration is arguing that trade deficits constitute a "national emergency" and therefore this gives the president the power to change tariffs unilaterally, and without specific approval from Congress. It seems risible to me that mere trade deficits could possibly rise to the level of a "national emergency". But if the Supreme Court wants Trump to have that power, they can come up with whatever rationale they want to justify it.
