Tag Archives: Donald Trump

Senate Republicans vote down legislation to limit Trump’s ability to attack Venezuela

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans voted Thursday to reject legislation that would have placed limits on President Donald Trump’s ability to launch an attack against Venezuela. Democrats have been pressing Congress to take a stronger role in overseeing Trump’s high-stakes campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Lawmakers, including top Republicans, have demanded that the Trump administration provide more information on the U.S. military strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. However, Thursday’s vote—on legislation that would essentially prevent an attack on Venezuelan soil without congressional authorization—suggests Republicans are willing to give Trump leeway to continue his buildup of naval forces in the region.

“President Trump has taken decisive action to protect thousands of Americans from lethal narcotics,” said Sen. Jim Risch, the Republican chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Still, the vote allowed Democrats to press their GOP colleagues on Trump’s threats against Venezuela. The legislation failed to advance by a 49-51 margin, with Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska the only Republicans voting in favor.

The U.S. is assembling an unusually large force in the Caribbean Sea, including its most advanced aircraft carrier, leading many to conclude that Trump intends to go beyond intercepting cocaine-running boats. The campaign so far has killed at least 66 people in 16 known strikes.

“It’s really an open secret that this is much more about potential regime change,” said Sen. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat who pushed the resolution. “If that’s where the administration is headed, if that’s what we’re risking involvement in a war, then Congress needs to be heard on this.”

### Some Republicans Uneasy With Caribbean Campaign

Republican leadership pressed Thursday to ensure the legislation’s failure, but several senators carefully considered their votes. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who voted against the resolution, expressed doubts about the campaign.

He pointed out the expense involved in redeploying an aircraft carrier and questioned whether those funds could be better used securing the U.S.-Mexico border to stop fentanyl trafficking. Tillis added, “If the campaign continues for several months more, then we have to have a real discussion about whether or not we’re engaging in some sort of hybrid war.”

Sen. Todd Young of Indiana stated he voted against the legislation because he did not believe it was “necessary or appropriate at this time.” However, he said he was “troubled by many aspects and assumptions of this operation” and believed it conflicted with the majority of Americans who want the U.S. military less entangled in international conflicts.

### The Push for Congressional Oversight

As the Trump administration reconfigures U.S. priorities overseas, frustration among lawmakers—including some Republicans—has been growing over recent Pentagon actions.

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing earlier Thursday, Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chair, acknowledged that many senators have “serious concerns about the Pentagon’s policy office,” and that Congress was not being adequately consulted on actions such as pausing Ukraine security assistance, reducing U.S. troop numbers in Romania, and formulating the National Defense Strategy.

Several GOP senators have directed criticism toward the Department of Defense’s policy office, led by Elbridge Colby, who has advocated for the U.S. to reduce its involvement in international alliances.

“It just seems like there’s this pigpen-like mess coming out of the policy shop,” Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican and chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said during another Armed Services hearing earlier this week.

### Administration Outreach and Continued Congressional Tensions

In response to mounting pushback on Capitol Hill, the Trump administration has stepped up outreach efforts to lawmakers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a classified briefing for congressional leaders Wednesday.

The officials provided details on the intelligence used to target the boats and allowed senators to review the legal rationale for the attacks but did not discuss whether they planned a direct attack against Venezuela, according to lawmakers present.

Despite this, Democrats have continued to test Republican unease by forcing votes on the potential for an attack on Venezuela under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which was intended to reassert congressional authority over declarations of war.

A previous War Powers vote related to strikes against boats in international waters also failed last month by a narrow margin of 48-51. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who pushed the legislation, said he plans to force more votes.

“We should not be going to war without a vote of Congress. The lives of our troops are at stake,” Kaine said in a floor speech.

### Democratic Criticism of the Military Campaign

Democrats also argue that the Trump administration is using a weak legal justification for an expansive military campaign that endangers U.S. troops and the nation’s reputation.

Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services panel, accused President Trump of engaging in “violence without a strategic objective” while failing to take necessary actions to address fentanyl smuggling.

“You cannot bomb your way out of a drug crisis,” Reed said.

© Associated Press 2024
https://wsvn.com/news/politics/senate-republicans-vote-down-legislation-to-limit-trumps-ability-to-attack-venezuela/

Expert predicts ‘easy way’ Supreme Court will shut down Trump’s main priority

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The Supreme Court appeared very hostile to President Donald Trump’s emergency tariff system during oral arguments this week. However, it’s unlikely they will delve deeply into the issue of what constitutes an emergency, legal expert Lisa Rubin told MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough on Thursday.

According to Rubin, there is a much easier and less politically fraught way for the Court to strike down the tariffs.

Scarborough commented on the hearing, saying, “I’m curious… the portions of the hearing I talked about, the portions I didn’t hear as much about were lines of questions about the administration’s really specious use of the word emergency, of the term emergency.”

He added, “This is a president who is claiming that when he gets pissed off while he’s watching the World Series because there’s a commercial about Ronald Reagan, that that constitutes an emergency. And the next day, he can jack up tariffs on Canada.”

Scarborough continued, “This is a president who can get angry because his political ally, who tried to overthrow an election in Brazil, is actually being tried. And so he gets angry at judges down there and then jacks up tariffs to 50 percent. That’s his emergency. It has nothing to do with anything that’s in this statute.”

Rubin responded, “I’m curious, did they press the Solicitor General on that point? Not so hard.”

She explained, “Justice Kagan mentioned it at one point, and I think the reason they didn’t pursue it further, despite its appeal to just common sense, is that there’s an easier way out of this.”

Rubin highlighted Justice Barrett’s approach, saying, “Justice Barrett is known on the Court right now for being the person who seeks a solution that as many people as possible can glom onto, that solves a problem before the Court in as few steps as possible, with as few repercussions as possible—really deciding the issue squarely before her and nothing more.”

She concluded, “Right now, I think the easiest way to resolve this dispute is on that plain language of what does it mean to regulate importation? If the authority that the president is seeking is nowhere in the statute to begin with, Joe, then you don’t even have to have that conversation about whether or not there is an emergency, much less a conversation about how much deference is the president owed when he alone has authority under a statute to decide whether there’s that emergency.”
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-tariffs-2674270672/

‘TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT’: After a humiliating democrat win, Trump’s fragile ego cracks open

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President Donald Trump wasted absolutely no time hitting his keyboard after Democrats swept the recent Election Day victories. Immediately following the huge Democratic wins across the country, the president took to Truth Social to share his theory about why the Republicans suffered such humiliating losses.

According to People, Trump believes the results were entirely because his name wasn’t on the ballot. It’s honestly wild to see President Trump immediately jump to the defense of the Republican party, but his theory about why they lost is certainly interesting.

He didn’t mince words on his Truth Social account either, declaring in all caps that the losses were due to two specific things. He posted, “TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT.” The president added that this assessment came “according to Pollsters,” though he didn’t specify which ones.

It is true that this idea might have some weight, since the New York Times has noted that Republicans seem far less likely to show up at the polls if the Trump name isn’t directly listed. Trump thinks only he can make the difference.

We know that Democratic voters have consistently “overperformed in every nonpresidential election year since 2017,” meaning the GOP struggles to motivate its base without the top name present.

The second reason President Trump cited for the Republican disaster was the ongoing government shutdown. This shutdown set a genuinely depressing record on Wednesday, November 5, becoming the longest in U.S. history at a staggering 36 days and counting. It’s a terrible situation for the country, and something you’d expect voters to be highly dissatisfied with.

The Democrats weren’t just winning small races either; they scored massive, historic victories in states like New York, Virginia, New Jersey, and California. We saw Zohran Mamdani secure a massive win to become the first Muslim mayor of New York City.

Down in Virginia, Abigail Spanberger clinched the state’s gubernatorial race, making her the first female governor in the state’s history. These aren’t minor upsets; these are groundbreaking moments that show a huge wave of voter momentum.

President Trump’s frustration was clearly visible in the New York City race, where he actively set himself against Mamdani. The president went so far as to voice support for the Democrat former Governor Andrew Cuomo, which is a wild move considering Cuomo’s recent political history.

President Trump posted a stark warning to New Yorkers regarding Mamdani, suggesting that if the candidate won, he would severely limit federal funding to the city. He urged voters to support Cuomo instead, saying, “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!”

That level of public intervention shows just how much the president cares about these local races, and his preferred candidate still lost. That’s got to sting.
https://wegotthiscovered.com/politics/trump-wasnt-on-the-ballot-after-a-humiliating-democrat-win-trumps-fragile-ego-cracks-open/

Brownstein: Election Day sent an unmistakable warning to Republicans

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With resounding wins in Tuesday’s Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, Democrats substantially repaired the most important cracks that President Donald Trump made in their coalition in the 2024 election. That gives Democrats reason for optimism, though not yet certainty, that they are on track for a solid recovery in the 2026 midterm election.

Democrats Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia regained significant ground among two groups where Trump made noteworthy advances last year: working-class people of color and young people, according to both media exit polls and county-by-county election results. The two Democrats also improved among college-educated voters, essentially matching the party’s 2024 showing with White voters and improving among non-White voters with a four-year degree, according to the Voter Poll conducted by SRSS for a consortium of media organizations.

All those groups also provided huge margins for Proposition 50, the redistricting ballot initiative backed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, which passed convincingly in California.

Even the most optimistic Democrats don’t contend that Tuesday’s results prove the party has solved its problems with those voting blocs. Since the 1970s, New Jersey and Virginia have almost always elected governors from the party that lost the presidential race the previous year. And Trump’s 2024 gains among blue-collar minority voters were concentrated among irregular voters who are the least likely to show up for an odd-year election.

### Undurable Realignment

But the Democratic wins do signal that exuberant Republican predictions after 2024—that Trump had engineered a durable realignment, particularly among working-class Hispanic, Black, and Asian American voters—were premature. Instead, Tuesday’s results signal that many voters in all the constituencies that moved toward Trump in 2024 remain within reach for both parties.

Moreover, the same economic frustrations that boosted Trump among those groups last year are buffeting him, and other Republicans, now.

The convincing Democratic wins reinforced the core truth that attitudes about the incumbent president are now the driving force in off-year elections. Analysts in both parties have wondered for months whether the public dissatisfaction with Democrats that is evident in poll after poll might offset the mounting doubts about Trump’s performance.

On Tuesday, the answer was clear: In the Voter Poll, more voters in both New Jersey and Virginia expressed a negative view than a positive view of the Democratic Party, even as they convincingly elected Democrats. Voters’ discontent with the incumbent president clearly outweighed their doubts about the party out of the White House—continuing a pattern that has become consistent (though rarely discussed) in off-year elections.

### Shifts at the County Level

In Tuesday’s major contests, Republicans lost ground with each group where Trump established a key beachhead last year. In Virginia, the shift was most visible in the four big, well-educated, and racially diverse suburban counties outside Washington (Fairfax, Arlington, Prince William, and Loudoun).

The Democratic margin in those counties had sagged in 2021, when Republican Glenn Youngkin won the governor’s race, and in 2024, when Kamala Harris eked out a surprisingly narrow win. Spanberger far exceeded the Democrats’ vote share in either of those elections across all four counties. (Almost unimaginably, Spanberger won those counties by an even larger combined vote total than Harris did in 2024, when far more people voted statewide.)

Compared to 2024, Democrats also rebuilt their margins in such heavily Black Virginia communities as Petersburg, Portsmouth, and Norfolk. Exit polls showed Spanberger holding Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears to 34% of Hispanic voters, well below the 40% Trump carried there last year.

In New Jersey, Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who narrowly lost the governorship in 2021, saw several of the counties with the highest share of college graduates—including Monmouth, Morris, Somerset, and especially Bergen—tilt back toward the Democrats, compared to Trump’s performance in 2024.

Even more important, Sherrill rebuilt the Democratic margins compared to 2024 in counties with large Hispanic and/or Black populations, including Camden, Middlesex, Mercer (Trenton), Hudson (Jersey City), and Essex (Newark).

Big gains among Hispanics allowed Trump in 2024 to become the first GOP presidential nominee in the 21st century to carry Passaic County. Sherrill was winning 55% there with about three-fourths of the vote counted. In the Voter Poll, only 32% of Hispanics supported Ciattarelli, way down from Trump’s 43% in 2024.

### Whither White Voters?

In both states, Democrats ran much better than Harris among all non-White voters without a college degree—the group whose movement toward Trump was Exhibit A in the putative GOP case for realignment.

For Democrats, the most reassuring aspect of Tuesday’s results may have been Trump’s role in the outcome. Spanberger and Sherrill both bound Earle-Sears and Ciattarelli tightly to Trump, insisting that each would place fealty to the president over loyalty to the state.

The Republican candidates helped this charge stick, refusing to criticize Trump even for actions that directly hurt their states, such as the federal government layoffs in Virginia or the cancellation of federal funding for a major transit tunnel in New Jersey.

In California, supporters of Proposition 50 portrayed the measure, above all, as an opportunity to push back against the president. Jay Jones, the Democratic Attorney General candidate in Virginia, who was facing a ferocious scandal over deeply offensive texts fantasizing about political violence, recovered enough to win by centering his campaign on promises to fight Trump in court.

Those arguments helped Democrats surf a backlash against Trump across these blue-leaning states.

### Voter Disapproval of Trump Drives Democratic Success

In both Virginia and New Jersey, about 55% of voters said they disapproved of Trump’s job performance as president, and over 9-in-10 of those disapprovers voted Democratic in the governor’s race, according to the Voter Poll. (Even the scandal-scarred Jones carried 87% of voters who disapproved of Trump.)

In California, 64% disapproved and over 9-in-10 of them supported Proposition 50. Zohran Mamdani, too, relied almost entirely on voters who disapproved of Trump in his comfortable win in the New York City mayoral race.

Those results closely tracked the trend in off-year elections over roughly the past 15 years, when around 85% to 90% of people who disapproved of the incumbent president usually voted for the other party’s candidates in House, Senate, and gubernatorial elections, according to exit polls and other Election Day surveys.

For instance, in Virginia, Democrat Ralph Northam won 87% of those who disapproved of Trump when he captured the governorship in 2017, while Youngkin carried 90% of those who disapproved of President Joe Biden when he flipped the office in 2021.

### Implications for 2026 and Beyond

Tuesday’s outcome suggests that despite the public’s clear concerns about Democrats, attitudes about Trump will likely remain the most important factor in next year’s midterm election. That will help Republicans in reliably red states where Trump is popular.

But it also means the GOP will face a tough environment everywhere else unless Trump can rebuild his approval rating, which has skidded to the lowest point of his second term on persistent frustration over prices and growing concern about his deportation agenda and threats to democratic safeguards.

Trump’s grip on the GOP is so tight that these sweeping Democratic wins aren’t likely to stir much questioning within his party. But the recoil from Trump’s belligerent second term was forceful on Tuesday—not only among partisan Democrats, but among many swing voters.

The results sent Republicans an unmistakable warning signal about 2026, whether or not they are willing to listen.

—

*Ronald Brownstein is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy.*

© 2025 Bloomberg.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/06/brownstein-election-day-sent-an-unmistakable-warning-to-republicans/

Trump Says Democrats Are Kamikaze Pilots Amid Longest Government Shutdown in U.S. History [WATCH]

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President Donald Trump drew a sharp comparison between congressional Democrats and World War II kamikaze pilots during a Wednesday breakfast with Republican senators at the White House. The remarks come as the government shutdown stretched into its 36th day, marking the longest in U.S. history, according to Fox News.

“I think they’re kamikaze pilots,” Trump said. “I just got back from Japan and talked about the kamikaze pilots. I think these guys are kamikaze. They’ll take down the country if they have to.”

The President’s comments followed his recent trip to Asia, where he met with Japanese officials before returning to Washington amid continued deadlock in Congress. Lawmakers remain unable to reach an agreement on a short-term funding measure to reopen the government, which partially shut down on October 1 due to disagreements between Senate Republicans and Democrats.

At the center of the dispute are healthcare provisions tied to the continuing resolution (CR). Republicans have accused Democrats of attempting to insert measures that would extend Affordable Care Act subsidies while rolling back parts of Trump’s 2017 tax and domestic policy legislation, which reduced Medicaid eligibility for non-U.S. citizens.

“It is Democrat-created, but I don’t think they’re getting really the blame that they should,” Trump told the senators. “The government must open soon.”

Democrats have denied the charge, insisting their goal is to permanently extend certain Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reiterated that position Tuesday, saying his caucus would not support a funding bill that excludes those provisions.

“The only plan Republicans have for healthcare seems to be to eliminate it, and then to tell working people to go figure it out on their own,” Schumer said. “That’s not a healthcare plan. That’s cruel.”

Trump also told Republican lawmakers that he believes the ongoing shutdown contributed to recent GOP losses in Tuesday’s elections, including gubernatorial contests in Virginia and New Jersey.

“Exactly one year ago, we had that big, beautiful victory,” Trump said. “But I thought we’d have a discussion after the press leaves about what last night represented and what we should do about it. And also about the shutdown and how that relates to last night.”

“I think if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor. Negative for the Republicans, and that was a big factor,” he added.

Despite calls from the White House to pass a stopgap measure, Senate Democrats have continued to block Republican efforts to fund the government without including new healthcare spending. Negotiations are expected to continue through the week.
https://www.lifezette.com/2025/11/trump-says-democrats-are-kamikaze-pilots-amid-longest-government-shutdown-in-u-s-history-watch/

DOJ tells Republicans that Epstein files even worse for Trump than they thought: report

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Several House Republicans have reportedly heard from the Department of Justice that the situation is worse than Michael Wolff’s description of Epstein photos showing Trump with half-naked teenage girls, Shuster wrote.

Shuster is likely referring to an October interview in which Trump biographer Michael Wolff told the Daily Beast that he had personally seen “about a dozen Polaroid snapshots” of Trump and Epstein. In these photos, Trump was photographed with several topless young women on his lap. Wolff said Epstein pulled the photos out of a safe and spread them out “like a deck of cards” on his dining room table.

The author told the Beast he saw the photos while visiting Epstein’s home at the convicted sex offender’s invitation, as Epstein wanted Wolff to write a book about him.

The veteran journalist further reported that Republicans were “spooked” by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Bondi refused to answer a question from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) about whether she had personally seen the photos after the contents of Epstein’s safe were confiscated.

After Whitehouse asked her about the photos, Bondi then questioned him regarding receiving campaign donations from LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who was associated with Epstein. “She didn’t give a denial,” Shuster wrote.
https://www.alternet.org/doj-republicans-trump-epstein/

Socialist Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani Declares War on President Trump, Capitalism, and Traditional America in Radical New York City Victory Speech

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The radical left’s takeover of America’s largest city is complete, bringing with it open attacks on President Donald Trump, capitalism, and even the very foundations of Western civilization.

Zohran Mamdani, a self-described “democratic socialist” and the first Muslim mayor-elect of New York City, delivered a fiery, Marxist-tinged victory speech. His remarks sounded less like those of an American mayor and more like a disciple of Bernie Sanders, Ilhan Omar, and Eugene Debs rolled into one.

Mamdani not only quoted socialist Eugene Debs but also invoked Jawaharlal Nehru, the Marxist “founding father” of socialist India, controversially claiming that Nehru “crushed Hindus and empowered Jihadis.”

Mamdani declared his intention to “freeze rents,” make “buses fast and free,” and bring “universal childcare” to New York—an agenda straight out of a socialist manifesto.

Calling himself a “Muslim democratic socialist,” Mamdani celebrated toppling what he called “a political dynasty” and said his victory marked the “dawn of a better day for humanity.” He vowed to make New York a city where “the Donald Trumps of our city have grown far too comfortable taking advantage of their tenants.”

Translation: higher taxes, more regulation, and open hostility toward landlords, small businesses, and anyone daring to succeed under the free market.

Mamdani couldn’t finish his remarks without launching a tirade against President Trump, the city’s most famous native son.

“If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him,” he boasted, “it is the city that gave rise to him.” He went on to mock Trump and his supporters as “billionaires and bosses who seek to extort workers,” calling his administration “a despot” and promising that “to get to any of us, you’ll have to get through all of us.”

In his own words:

> “If there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power. This is not only how we stop Trump; it’s how we stop the next one.

> So, Donald Trump—since I know you’re watching—I have four words for you: turn the volume up.

> We will hold bad landlords to account, because the Donald Trumps of our city have grown far too comfortable taking advantage of their tenants.

> We will put an end to the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to evade taxation and exploit tax breaks.

> We will stand alongside unions and expand labor protections, because we know—just as Donald Trump does—that when working people have ironclad rights, the bosses who seek to extort them become very small indeed.

> New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant.

> Hear me, President Trump: when I say this, to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”

Mamdani’s speech was less a victory address and more a manifesto. He proudly declared himself a Muslim and a “democratic socialist” who refuses to apologize for it.

In his words, New York will “respond to oligarchy and authoritarianism with strength,” but in reality, his plan replaces individual liberty with state control.

This is the new Left, obsessed with tearing down not only Trump but also millions of Americans who believe in faith, freedom, and the rule of law.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/11/socialist-mayor-elect-zohran-mamdani-declares-war-president/

What to know about the Supreme Court arguments over Trump’s tariffs

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Three lower courts have ruled illegal President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose worldwide tariffs. Now, the Supreme Court — with three justices Trump appointed and generally favorable to muscular presidential power — will have the final word.

In roughly two dozen emergency appeals, the justices have largely sided with Trump, allowing parts of his aggressive second-term agenda to take effect temporarily while lawsuits proceed. But the case being argued Wednesday marks the first time the court will render a final decision on a central Trump policy. The stakes are enormous, both politically and financially, as Trump has made tariffs a cornerstone of his economic and foreign policy, declaring it would be a “disaster” if the Supreme Court rules against him.

**What to Know: The Supreme Court Tariff Case**

**1. What Are Tariffs?**

Tariffs are taxes on imports, paid by companies that bring finished products or parts into the country. These costs are often passed on to consumers. Through September, the government reported collecting $195 billion in revenue from the tariffs.

**2. Who Has the Power to Impose Tariffs?**

The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to impose tariffs. However, Trump claimed extraordinary authority to act without congressional approval by declaring national emergencies under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

In February, Trump invoked the law to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, stating that illegal immigration and drug flows across the U.S. border amounted to a national emergency. He further imposed global tariffs in April, declaring trade deficits a “national emergency.”

**3. Legal Challenges to Trump’s Tariffs**

Businesses and states backed by libertarian groups challenged Trump’s actions in court. Trump’s opponents won rulings from a specialized trade court, a Washington, D.C., district judge, and a business-focused appeals court. All found that Trump could not justify tariffs under the emergency powers law, which does not explicitly mention tariffs. However, these courts left the tariffs in place while legal proceedings continue.

The appeals court relied on the “major questions” doctrine — a legal principle set by the Supreme Court that requires Congress to speak clearly on issues of “vast economic and political significance.”

**4. The Major Questions Doctrine — and Its Precedents**

The ‘major questions’ doctrine has played a decisive role in high-profile cases. Conservative majorities on the court struck down three separate Biden-era initiatives related to the COVID-19 pandemic, ending a pause on evictions, blocking a vaccine mandate for large businesses, and preventing a $500 billion student loan forgiveness program.

In comparison, the stakes in the tariff case are much higher, with taxes estimated to generate $3 trillion over ten years. Challengers have pointed to writings by the three Trump appointees — Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh — urging the court to apply similar limitations to Trump’s policies.

Barrett, for example, used a babysitter analogy in the student loans case to stress the need for clear congressional instruction: “Permission to spend money on fun authorizes a babysitter to take children to the local ice cream parlor or movie theater, not on a multiday excursion to an out-of-town amusement park,” Barrett wrote.

Kavanaugh, though, has suggested the court should not apply the same restrictive standard to foreign policy and national security.

**5. Congress’s Power to Delegate**

Some business plaintiffs are advancing a separate argument appealing to conservative justices: that Congress cannot constitutionally delegate its taxing authority to the president. The so-called nondelegation principle has not been used in 90 years, since the Supreme Court struck down some New Deal laws. However, Gorsuch authored a recent dissent arguing that Congress ceding too much lawmaking power to the executive branch is unconstitutional, with Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas joining.

**6. An Unusually Fast Turnaround**

The Supreme Court only agreed to hear the case in September, scheduling arguments in under two months — a notably quick turnaround. This suggests the court may act faster than usual, as high-profile cases can typically take half a year or more for a final decision due to extended drafting of majority and dissenting opinions.

Showing how quickly it can move under deadline pressure, the court recently ruled just a week after arguments in the TikTok case, unanimously upholding a law that requires the social media app to be banned unless sold by its Chinese parent company. Trump himself has intervened multiple times to keep the law from taking effect while negotiations continue with China.

**Stay Tuned**

The Supreme Court’s impending decision could have far-reaching effects on U.S. economic policy and presidential authority — as well as the pocketbooks of American businesses and consumers.
https://ktar.com/national-news/what-to-know-about-the-supreme-court-arguments-over-trumps-tariffs/5770683/

U.S. retailers left short-changed as penny production ends

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**Penny Production Halted in the U.S., Retailers Scramble to Adjust Pricing and Cash Transactions**

Now that the United States no longer makes pennies, gas stations, fast-food chains, and big-box stores are rushing to adjust prices and round cash transactions, a shift that could potentially affect their profits.

Pennies are disappearing faster than retailers anticipated following President Donald Trump’s decision earlier this year to halt production of the one-cent coin. Retail groups recently expressed frustration to Reuters over the lack of clear guidance from the Trump administration and lawmakers. This ambiguity has forced many businesses to round down prices to avoid upsetting customers or violating laws in certain states—a move that could cost high-volume retailers significant revenue.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported that the shortage of pennies has impacted retailers in both urban and rural areas, showing no clear geographic pattern. State restaurant associations have also voiced concerns about the scarcity of pennies.

“Any merchant that accepts cash is grappling with this,” said Dylan Jeon, senior director of government relations at the NRF, whose members include Walmart, Target, Macy’s, and Old Navy.

—

### Stores Take Action Amid Shortage

Several major convenience store chains have started warning customers about the penny shortage:

– **Sheetz**, a family-owned convenience store, posted signs at one of its Pennsylvania locations stating: “The U.S. Mint will no longer produce pennies, so we are short on change!” The signs encourage customers to use cashless payment options, round up purchases to support charity, or exchange $1 in spare pennies for a free self-serve drink.

– **Kwik Trip**, based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, announced that its 850 stores across the Midwest will round cash transactions down to the nearest nickel.

At a Dallas Kwik Trip store, a sign notifies customers: “The U.S. Treasury has stopped making pennies and we may experience shortages.”

Meanwhile, **Kroger**, one of the largest grocery chains in the U.S., told Reuters it is still assessing the impact of the penny shortage. Many of its 2,700 locations have displayed signs asking customers for exact change.

Other big chains, such as a CVS in Alexandria, Virginia, have also posted notices requesting exact change due to “penny shortage.”

The Treasury Department has not responded to multiple requests for comment on the issue.

—

### Lessons from Other Countries

Several countries—including Canada, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand—have phased out their lowest-value coins. They now round cash transactions up or down to the nearest five cents while keeping electronic payments exact. These measures have cut minting costs and simplified cash handling for retailers.

In the U.S., phasing out pennies would require similar rounding practices, adjustments to cash registers, and clear communication to consumers. Such steps could deliver comparable savings and efficiency gains.

However, several states—like California, New York, and Illinois—have consumer protection laws mandating exact change on cash transactions. This creates legal uncertainty as pennies disappear from circulation. Retail groups say these laws make adjusting prices or rounding totals risky, potentially leading to fines or customer complaints.

—

### Seeking Consistent Rules for Rounding

Although President Trump’s directive initiated the end of penny production, Congress retains authority over coinage. Legislation may still be necessary for a permanent discontinuation.

The NRF has been lobbying the Trump administration and Congress to provide consistent guidance, particularly regarding rounding practices for transactions.

“What’s most helpful in the near term is clarity on rounding practices — whether retailers can round up or down on transaction totals or change,” Jeon explained.

In a letter dated September 30 to congressional leaders, a coalition of trade organizations representing gas stations, convenience stores, travel centers, and grocery stores warned that “if these remedies are not addressed in short order, it will be challenging to legally engage in cash transactions with customers in growing swaths of the country.”

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### Impact on Retail Operations

Love’s Travel Stops, which operates more than 640 locations in 42 states, said the phaseout of penny production is already affecting its retail operations.

“If one of our stores runs out of pennies, all change on cash transactions will be adjusted in favor of the customer and Love’s will cover the difference,” a company spokesperson said. “This is a temporary measure while we work toward a long-term solution.”

Several months after Trump ordered the halt in penny production, the Treasury Department placed its final order for blank penny planchets in May. Some Federal Reserve Bank sites, responsible for distributing coins to banks and credit unions, have already stopped fulfilling penny orders.

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### Penny Production Costs and Savings

Producing a penny currently costs more than its face value—about 3.69 cents per coin in recent years. Ending penny minting is projected to save the government roughly $56 million annually.

There are approximately 114 billion pennies currently in circulation in the United States, but the Treasury says they are significantly underutilized.

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### The Penny’s Place in History and Public Opinion

The penny was among the first coins produced by the U.S. Mint after its establishment in 1792. Supporters argue that the penny helps keep consumer prices down and serves as a source of income for charities.

Critics view the coin as a nuisance that often ends up discarded in drawers, ashtrays, and piggy banks.

“I can’t even tell you the last time I carried pennies or even loose change when I left the house,” said Pennsylvania resident Sandy Berger, 45. “I really don’t think people will care to see them gone.”

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As the U.S. adjusts to life without pennies, retailers and lawmakers alike face the challenge of finding practical solutions that balance consumer convenience, legal requirements, and economic efficiency.
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2025/11/01/breaking-news/us-retailers-left-short-changed-as-penny-production-ends/

Trump’s blue state election gambit panned as ‘more bark than bite’ by expert

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On Tuesday, Slate writer Shirin Ali reported that nearly half the country will head to the polls to cast ballots on a range of major questions and offices. However, “President Donald Trump just made a not-so-subtle power grab” to complicate that vote in some blue states.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that federal monitors will be sent to California and New Jersey to ensure “ballot security,” Ali said, adding that the move has “sparked fear on social media.”

California, in particular, is set to vote on Proposition 50, which is Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D) effort to hand control of the state’s congressional maps to Democratic lawmakers. This is in response to Republican gerrymandering efforts in Texas and elsewhere.

If the measure is successful, the state would likely gain five additional congressional seats to counter Texas’s mid-decade gerrymander, an attempt to keep the U.S. House under Republican control.

Preeminent elections expert Rick Hasen assured Slate that Bondi’s observers “are more bark than bite, likely intended to ‘trigger’ Democrats during the lead-up to a critical vote.”

However, this initial attempt to use federal officials to push unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud could lead to federal troops at polling places in the future.

“A few days after Bondi’s initial announcement, California countered with its own message to the Trump administration,” said Ali. State Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that California would send its own state election watchers to watch Bondi’s watchers, while also calling out the Trump administration’s motives.

It’s a “nesting-doll” situation as watchers watch watchers, but Hasen said none of the election monitors will have much to do. “I think there’ll be a lot of people standing around doing nothing,” he said, noting that of California’s 58 counties, only five are being targeted.

Thankfully, the same states that Bondi is careful to target have built-in freedoms allowing voters to avoid her election monitors.

“This is not normal,” Hasen said. “I do think we have to take seriously the possibility that people are going to have to get around federal troops if they want to be able to vote, which would be a good reason to vote early and not have to deal with these things on Election Day.”
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-california-2674255758/