StellarFeb 20
Randahl Fink

#BREAKING In the ultimate defeat of Donald Trump’s regime, the US Suppreme Court has ruled the Trump tariffs illegal (6 to 3 ruling).

This means Trump has illegally taxed the American people 150 billion dollars.

Instead of buying more marble armrests and golden sculptures, it is time to pay back what you owe the people, Donnie.

Feb 20 at 4:33pmIvory for iOS
Show threadBauke KramerFeb 20
@randahl
According to the NYT, the U.S. Treasury has collected roughly $240 billion in tariff revenue since April 2, 2025, a date President Trump labeled “Liberation Day” as he imposed his sweeping tariffs. The research firm Capital Economics estimated that if the Treasury is forced to issue refunds, the cost would run to about $120 billion, or 0.5 percent of gross domestic product.
Show threadRandahl FinkFeb 20
@bmk correct, there are several numbers floating around. The 150 billion is CNN’s number. Some say 130 billion. And the 240 billion could be ALL tariffs collected, which includes more than the 1 year old Trump tariffs.
Show threadBauke KramerFeb 20
@randahl
The most important thing is that it will have a huge impact, economically in both the US and globally.
Show threadRandahl FinkFeb 20
@bmk certainly. And it is a huge political defeat to Trump which I expect will weaken his standing in the Republican party.
Show threadBauke KramerFeb 21
@randahl
I'm afraid we stand corrected. Trump is lashing out at the court's judges.
This shows that we can have little confidence that he will allow himself to be restricted by anyone.
His reaction highlighted his lack of deference to the constitutional separation of powers.
Also not a good outlook for what he'll do after losing the midterms.
Show threadDeb Nam-KraneFeb 20
@randahl I want him held to account. But can I also some justice out of the disgusting toadies that enabled him?
Show threadWouter 🇳🇱🇧🇷🇧🇪Feb 20
@dnkboston @randahl yes you can!
Show threadDeb Nam-KraneFeb 21
@AccordingtoWouter Thank you! @randahl
Show threadWesDymFeb 20

@randahl This is very far from any 'ultimate defeat'. They are still walking free, and still in charge. Ultimate defeat would require unseating from power, judicial consequences for crimes committed, and widespread moral outrage among formal supporters, sufficient to reverse that support.

This is a speed bump. A big one, but only that.

Show threadAlfred J. Kwak (audiokontor) ☕Feb 20
@randahl assume we can guess who the three judges were? :)
Show threadPomegranate_StewFeb 20
@mc @randahl
Alito, Thomas, and Keganaugh, er Kavanaugh. I’m kind of surprised Gorsuch wasn’t in on it.
Show threadAlfred J. Kwak (audiokontor) ☕Feb 20
@pomegranate_stew @randahl this was more of a rethorical question ;)
Show threadPomegranate_StewFeb 20
@mc @randahl
I figured, though I was surprised it was Kavanaugh and not Gorsuch. I’m not exactly sure why, but I was. 🙂
Show threadAlfred J. Kwak (audiokontor) ☕Feb 20
@pomegranate_stew @randahl from time to time Gorsuch has his bright moments....Kavanough has been deeply rectomized for ages...
Show threadNiek van LeeuwenFeb 20
@randahl great businessman
He's gone broke in his own businesses, US economy still to go
Show threadJames GilbertFeb 20
@randahl The funniest thing will be businesses claiming back the tariff fees they've paid.
Show threadScale TheoryFeb 20
@randahl
It's illegal, so ARREST THEM ALL!
What, no accountability SCOTUS?
Show threadKNovaFeb 20
@randahl I don't want to police anyone's choice of language here, nor do I want to downplay a victory when the 'good guys' get one. But 'ultimate defeat' is waaaay off base here. 'Ultimate defeat' should be reserved for when the Trump regime is actually punished for their crimes.
Show threadevenlongerFeb 20
@randahl The irony is that the people indirectly paid the tariffs. However, the money is being refunded to the foreign companies that initially paid the tariffs.
In the end, Trump only harmed his own people.
Show threadvampirdaddyFeb 20

@evenlonger @randahl
Wrong.

Tariff is paid by the IMPORTER (in the US usually a US company), not the foreign manufacturer.

All a tariff does, is making imported goods more expensive.

Show threadevenlongerFeb 20
@vampirdaddy @randahl Yes you‘re right, my fault. But in this case still the people will not get any money back. I think it will be some rich importer-guys then.
Show threadByrnensorg🇮🇪🇺🇦🇵🇸🇬🇱🇩🇰Feb 20
@randahl Well he's already siphoned off $10 billion to his "board of peace" and there's zero chance of recouping the rest in our lifetimes, still his children will live even more comfortable and opulent lives because of it.
Show threadnevarranFeb 20
@randahl He'll just ignore the ruling. That same court declared him above the law.
Show threadPeterFeb 20

@randahl

Not his problem; that's for the Treasury to fix. Trump'll keep "upgrading" the various existing monuments and building new ones to himself. Marble quarries are expanding their infrastructure in anticipation 😁.

Show threadSuperstars of the ApocalypseFeb 20

@randahl

Pretty sure the ultimate defeat of Trump's regime would be him and all his buddies getting the death penalty for raping and murdering children but what do I know?

Show threadChookMother 🇦🇺🦘Feb 20
@randahl There goes the ballroom.