Mastodawn

michaelbrien Feb 20

Yes!!!!

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

#SCOTUS rules that Trump’s sweeping “emergency” #tariffs are #illegal

The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that #Trump violated #federal #law when he unilaterally imposed sweeping tariffs across the globe, a striking loss for the White House on an issue that has been central to the president’s foreign policy & economic agenda.

#law #economy #geopolitics
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/20/politics/supreme-court-tariffs?cid=ios_app

Supreme Court rules that Trump’s sweeping emergency tariffs are illegal

The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that President Donald Trump violated federal law when he unilaterally imposed sweeping tariffs across the globe, a striking loss for the White House on an issue that has been central to the president’s foreign policy and economic agenda.

CNN

The decision centers on #tariffs imposed under an “emergency” powers #law, including the sweeping “reciprocal” #tariffs he levied on nearly every other country on earth.

It’s the first major piece of Trump’s broad agenda to come squarely before the nation’s highest court, which he helped shape with the appointments of 3 conservative jurists in his first term.

#law #economy #geopolitics #Trump #SCOTUS #affordability #inflation #CostOfLiving

#Trump has been very vocal about the case, calling it one of the most important in #US #history & saying a ruling against him would be an economic body blow to the country. But #legal opposition crossed the political spectrum, including #libertarian & pro-#business groups that are typically aligned with the #GOP. Polling has found tariffs are NOT broadly popular with the public, amid wider voter concern about #affordability.

#law #economy #geopolitics #SCOTUS #inflation #CostOfLiving

The #SCOTUS ruling comes despite a series of short-term wins on the court’s “emergency docket” that have allowed #Trump to push ahead with extraordinary flexes of #ExecutivePower on issues ranging from high-profile #firings to major federal #funding cuts.

#law #economy #tariffs #inflation #affordability #CostOfLiving #geopolitics

The #tariffs decision doesn’t stop #Trump from imposing duties under other #laws. While those have more limitations on the speed & severity of Trump’s actions, top admin ofcls have said they expect to keep the tariff framework in place under “other authorities”.

#law #economy #inflation #affordability #CostOfLiving #geopolitics #SCOTUS

The #Constitution gives #Congress the #power to levy #tariffs. But the #Trump administration argued that a 1977 #law allowing the president to regulate importation during “emergencies” also allows him to set tariffs. Other presidents have used the law dozens of times to impose #sanctions, but Trump was the first president to invoke it for #import #taxes.

#law #economy #inflation #affordability #CostOfLiving #geopolitics #SCOTUS

#Trump set what he called “reciprocal” #tariffs on most countries in April 2025 to address #trade #deficits that he declared a “national emergency”. Those came after he imposed extra #duties on #Canada, #China & #Mexico, ostensibly to address a “drug trafficking” “emergency”.
A series of lawsuits followed, including a case from a dozen largely Democratic-leaning #states & others from small #businesses selling everything from plumbing supplies to educational toys to women’s cycling apparel.

The challengers argued the “emergency powers” #law doesn’t even mention #tariffs & Trump’s use of it fails several legal tests, including one that doomed President Joe Biden’s $500 billion student loan forgiveness program.

The economic impact of Trump’s tariffs has been estimated at some $3 trillion over the next decade, acc/to the #CBO.

#law #economy #inflation #affordability #CostOfLiving #geopolitics #Trump #SCOTUS

#Treasury has collected >$133 billion from the #import #taxes #Trump imposed under the emergency powers law, federal data from December says. Many companies, including the big-box warehouse chain Costco, have already lined up in court to demand #refunds.

#law #economy #tariffs #inflation #affordability #CostOfLiving #geopolitics #SCOTUS

#SCOTUS’ decision was 6-3.
Justices #ClarenceThomas, Samuel #Alito & Brett #Kavanaugh dissented.
Writing for the majority, Chief Justice #JohnRoberts said the #statute does not authorize the president to impose #tariffs.

“The president asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, & scope. In light of the breadth, history, & constitutional context of that asserted authority, he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it.”

#Canada reacting exactly as we all should∶

“The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the use of #IEEPA tariff powers is a legal ruling, not a reset of #US #trade policy. This is certainly not the last chapter of this never-ending story,” said Candace Laing, the president & chief exec of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. “Canada should prepare for new, blunter mechanisms to be used to reassert trade pressure, potentially with broader & more disruptive effects.”

#law #SCOTUS #Trump #tariffs

#Trump has not yet commented on the ruling, but he was particularly animated about the case Thurs while delivering remarks in Georgia.

“I have to wait for this decision,” he whined. “I’ve been waiting forever. Forever. And the language is clear that I have the right to do it as president. I have the right to put #tariffs on for national security purposes.”

Trump also repeatedly said the word tariff was his favorite word in the dictionary 🙄.

#law #economy #inflation #geopolitics #SCOTUS

I guess this could be considered a reaction to the #SCOTUS ruling on #tariffs∶

#Trump told reporters on Friday that he was considering a limited #military #strike to pressure #Iran into a deal. “I guess I can say I am considering that,” he said at the start of a meeting with #governors at the White House.

#law #war #Congress #economy #inflation #affordability #CostOfLiving #geopolitics

#Trump is speaking after #SCOTUS rules against his #tariffs

"The Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing. And I'm ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what's right for our country," said Trump.

#law #economy #inflation #affordability #CostOfLiving #geopolitics

#Trump said foreign countries are
celebrating the ruling, but it won't last long.

"Foreign countries that have been ripping us off for years are ecstatic. They're so happy, & they're dancing in the streets, but they won't be dancing for long, that I can assure you," said Trump.

He said, WITHOUT EVIDENCE, that #SCOTUS has been "swayed by foreign interests & a political movement that is far smaller than people would ever think."

#law #economy #tariffs #affordability #CostOfLiving #geopolitics

#Trump said that "other alternatives will now be used to replace the ones [#tariffs] that the court incorrectly rejected."

"We have alternatives," Trump said, "could be more money. We'll take in more money & we'll be a lot stronger for it." — if that were at all true, he would have used those methods first.

#law #economy #inflation #affordability #CostOfLiving #geopolitics #SCOTUS

#Trump said didn't make sense to him, big surprise.

"I can destroy the trade, I can destroy the country. I'm even allowed to impose a foreign country-destroying embargo. I can embargo. *I can do anything I want*, but I can't charge $1 because that's not what it says," he said.

"How ridiculous is that?"

You are what is ridiculous, idiot.

#law #economy #tariffs #inflation #affordability #CostOfLiving #geopolitics #SCOTUS

#Trump quoted Justice Brett #Kavanaugh's dissent, which said the decision might not substantially constrain a president's ability to order #tariffs in the future.

"He's right. In fact, I can charge much more than I was charging," Trump said.

The 3 dissenting justices in the 6-3 ruling were Kavanaugh, who was appointed by Trump to the court, & 2 other conservative justices, Samuel #Alito & #ClarenceThomas.

#law #economy #tariffs #inflation #affordability #CostOfLiving #geopolitics #SCOTUS

"Today, I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff under Section 122, over & above our normal tariffs already being charged," #Trump said referring to section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 — which could let the admin continue its tariffs without #IEEPA emergency powers.

He also said all “national security” tariffs under Section 301 remain in place & several “investigations” will be initiated.

#law #economy #tariffs #inflation #affordability #CostOfLiving #geopolitics #Trump #SCOTUS

#Trump thanked Justices #ClarenceThomas, Samuel #Alito & Brett #Kavanaugh by name “for their strength & wisdom & love of our country” for dissenting from the majority.

Of the other conservatives justices who voted to knock down his tariffs — Chief Justice #JohnRoberts & Justices #AmyConeyBarrett & Neil #Gorsuch — Trump said, “they’re just being fools & lapdogs for the RINOs & radical left Democrats.”

Trump said they were “very unpatriotic & disloyal to our Constitution.”

#law #tariffs #SCOTUS

Asked about the #refund process for the tariff revenue, #Trump said the #US could end up being in court "the next 5 years."

"They take months & months to write an opinion, & they don't even discuss that point. We've taken in hundreds of billions of dollars, not millions, hundreds of billions of dollars [false]. And so I said, 'Well, what happens to all the money that we took in?' It wasn't discussed," said Trump.

"I guess it has to get litigated for the next 2 years."

#law #tariffs #SCOTUS

Brian Gordon Feb 20

Clear, obvious example of stochastic terrorism: the president essentially calling people traitors.

"Trump said they were “very unpatriotic & disloyal to our Constitution.”

#narcissism #pathocracy

Derò 🇨🇦Feb 20

@Nonilex I expect him to put his name on the US dollar bill and charge everyone 10c to use it.

f*cking b*tch club Feb 20

@Nonilex “I can do anything I want”—and who told him that (in a different ruling)?

SCOTUS, when they said:

“the president has absolute immunity”—of course he figures it applies to everything.

Twotired Feb 20

@Nonilex He’s right about one thing:

‘ #SCOTUS has been "swayed by foreign interests & a political movement that is far smaller than people would ever think."‘

That seems like a pretty fair description of the MAGA movement.

GJ Groothedde 🇪🇺Feb 20

@Nonilex "Dancing in the streets"?? Oh, doubtlessly, there are still people who believe these egregious fantasms. And here we were thinking social media'd bring emancipation for all. 🙄

Lee from Colorado Feb 20

@Nonilex He is of course correct about the court. It's just that usually the foreign interests and smaller-than-perceived political movement are on his side, granting him further powers to destroy the country ...

@Nonilex
I too am ashamed of Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas.

FinchHaven sfba Feb 20

"#Trump told reporters on Friday that he was considering a limited #military #strike to pressure #Iran into a deal.

“I guess I can say I am considering that,” he said at the start of a meeting with #governors at the White House."

Let's cut through the noise: #Trump is a complete and utter idiot who has no real idea what he's doing from one minute to the next

He has the attention span of a goldfish -- with apologies to all goldfish everywhere

Dow Jones, on the #Tariffs news:

Dow Jones Industrial Average: at 49,526.89 up +131.73 +0.27%

wendythedruid Feb 20

@Nonilex Trump reacts to shit in the most f'd up ways.

Yes, indeed. The 3-year old will have his temper tantrum.

@Nonilex In 3…2…1… war with Iran. Tantrum Trump will attack Iran this weekend.

Ross of Ottawa Feb 20

@Nonilex let's hope he gets to know the word "payback" in all its various usages.

@Nonilex Didn't he also beg for money in Georgia, something like, "I'm going to need it" How did he know that?

Sustain26 Feb 20

@Nonilex https://www.sasktoday.ca/national-business/us-supreme-court-strikes-down-trumps-use-of-emergencies-law-for-tariffs-11903695

U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Trump's use of emergencies law for tariffs

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down President Donald Trump's use of a national security statute to deploy tariffs, reining in his efforts to realign global trade.

SaskToday.ca

@Nonilex BABA ( BUY ANYTHING BUT AMERICAN)

wendythedruid Feb 20

@Nonilex Brilliant. SCOTUS continues to shock me, with SOME of the things they are deciding. My guess is that Trump is Regretting Coney Barrett

Don Hawkins - W7DAH Feb 20

@Nonilex #Costco has a great refund policy of its own, & expects no less of #tRump & the #government a.k.a. “gubbermint”

Skim Shady Feb 20

@Nonilex because of the #Costco suit, I went to the suburbs and joined now my pantry is stocked to gills #trump #trumptariffs

Mastodon Migration Feb 20

So, does he have to give all the money back?

@mastodonmigration

We wish

Mastodon Migration Feb 20

Want my $342 paid to DHL for the Chinese computer widget purchased last year.

@mastodonmigration

Ridiculous

M.S. Bellows, Jr.Feb 20

@Nonilex @mastodonmigration Even if the courts order the tariffs be repaid (which the administration offered it would do in the lower court but which the Supreme Court didn't order), I don't think we consumers would actually see much if any of that money: https://c.im/@msbellows/116103792793464709

M.S. Bellows, Jr. (@[email protected])

Am I correct in believing that refunding the tariffs would mostly be a windfall to the businesses that initially paid them, since presumably those businesses passed most of the price increase on to consumers who can't readily be identified? E.g., WalMart will get a refund for Chinese bicycles it imported, and can keep the $ since there's no way to identify the customers who paid higher prices for those bicycles? Supreme Court rules that Trump’s sweeping emergency tariffs are illegal | CNN Politics https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/20/politics/supreme-court-tariffs?cid=ios_app

C.IM

Michael Wyman Feb 20

@msbellows @Nonilex @mastodonmigration question is, do any prices that raised to include the cost of tariffs come down in response? Probably not.

Ross of Ottawa Feb 20

@mastodonmigration You must be mistaken - China paid that. @Nonilex

Paul Schoe Feb 20

I favoured but I did miss the '/s'.

I assumed it was there.

Ross of Ottawa Feb 20

@paulschoe that part was left as an exercise for the reader. 😂

@mastodonmigration

Many companies, including the big-box warehouse chain Costco, have already lined up in court to demand refunds.

Matt Hall Feb 20

@Nonilex @mastodonmigration

That's great but the companies preemptively passed the cost on to the customers... They've already covered their costs.

We're the ones who've been ripped off.

Mastodon Migration Feb 20

@401matthall @Nonilex

And the prices probably won't come back down. 🤷

Humphrey Archer Feb 20

@mastodonmigration
Several big importers are suing for exactly that

Lee from Colorado Feb 20

@Nonilex 6-3 decision.
So, Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh?

un perro atorrante y marginal Feb 20

@Nonilex
This can only be hidden with a war.😉

@Nonilex I'm 100% sure that he will try to get the bootlickers in Congress to legislate them. I pity the lawmaker than signs on though, they would face some serious voter ire.

Byrnensorg🇮🇪🇺🇦🇵🇸🇬🇱🇩🇰Feb 20

@Nonilex But there have been so many things he has done that's illegal and like this it was pointed out, but.... nothing was done about it so what does pointing it out really achieve when all is said and done, especially as nobody seems to have the fight or the wealth to go toe to toe.

@Nonilex White House spin on this is going to be fun to hear! Hide the #ketchup!

Captain Button Feb 20

This is great news for the hard-working penguins and seals in the Heard Island machinery and electrical industries.