Send your questions!
Fire away.
Hey everyone,
This morning’s newsletter was all about the legal setbacks Donald Trump is being dealt, and how his theory of his second term — that he would be able to achieve far-reaching policy outcomes by acting unilaterally — has been largely foiled by federal judges.
One of my key examples was last night’s ruling from the U.S. Court of International Trade striking down most of Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Then, shortly after I clicked “send,” another ruling was handed down in a separate case that also blocked the tariffs.
“Since the Founding, the Constitution has vested the ‘Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises’ with Congress,” U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras wrote. “The President has no independent discretion to impose or alter tariffs.” So you can add that to my list of examples.
Do you have any questions about that piece? Or about my broader analysis of Trump’s policy (and political) track record? Or about anything else? Now’s the time to ask them! Drop your questions in the comments and I’ll try to answer it in my Sunday mailbag column.
Other recent topics we’ve covered that I’m happy to discuss:
The Republican reconciliation package, which passed the House last week (more on that in tomorrow’s newsletter)
My interview with “Original Sin” co-author Alex Thompson
The prospect of a Senate without the filibuster, which was covered in the New York Times this morning (eight days after we covered it here 😉)
Or anything else that’s on your mind!
If you have questions, I want to answer them. Fire away.
Gabe, This is a question I'd wanted to ask you some weeks ago, but which I didn't have the focus or energy to send in. Your JOE BIDEN article (as always, an excellent addition to dialogue on a subject) makes it all the more important that I send you the question now AND the question will also serve as a comment on your BIDEN piece. Here goes:
The nationally televised presentation of the research results of the U.S. House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021 catastrophe at the U.S. Capitol included some vivid allegations regarding Trumps behavior while the capitol catastrophe was in progress. Particularly I remember allegations of Trump's behavior while he was alone (except for appropriate dining room service staff) in a private dining area and (as I remember it from watching the presentation) he threw the food in front of him (and the tray that it was on, maybe?) against a nearby wall.
The allegation/description was considerably more detailed and compelling than my description just above, but my perception upon witnessing that part of the committee's presentation was clear and heavy duty: TRUMP IS CERTIFIABLY MENTALLY ILL and THE FORM THAT ILNESS TAKES IS THE BEHAVIOR OF AN INFANT. Here's my question:
Isn't that allegation in that context sufficient to generate the exact kind of concern that you've identified in your BIDEN essay as having been absent from the media with regard to Biden's mental condition. In other words you are correct to identify shortcomings of media coverage on problems of Biden's mental capacities that were mostly hidden by his staff and allies BUT still hinted at by publicly available factual information that simply was not followed through by journalists.
DOESN'T THE EXACT SAME CONDITION EXIST RIGHT NOW WITH REGARD TO TRUMP AND HIS MENTAL CONDITION ? Instead of following those kinds of leads, all our current media take Trump's daily public activities at face value and as the essential unfolding news that is the most important.
Shouldn't someone be looking into Trump's possible or even likely craziness?
Just like perhaps YOU might have searched into Biden's likely mental incompetence due to aging, if not due to long term mental illness?
Gabe, No question at this point but rather pure praise. I have so enjoyed reading your posts and listening to your interviews. You are doing a superb job reporting and I am thankful for your efforts! I was an early subscriber, sharing the post with my husband and the piece you wrote today Trumps Theory of the Presidency is Failing made such a positive impression on my husband he is going to get his own subscription to support your efforts. I have enjoyed sending various pieces to friends who have then subscribed as well. Keep up the great work as you are filling a niche that is so needed!!! We read Heather Cox Richardson but what we are particularly enjoying is your unbiased, "old school" state the facts kind of reporting that allows the reader to form their own opinion. Thank you. Bravo!