Trump Flagrantly Targets Political Opponents in Executive Orders
Richard Nixon infamously drafted an "enemies list" of people he wanted to go after. At least Trump conducts his corruption out in the open.
Executive Branch
Liberty Justice Center and I File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's "Liberation Day" Tariffs
It was filed today in the Court of International Trade.
Blackfeet Nation Indians File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Canada Tariffs
They argue the tariffs violate the constitutional separation of powers and their tribal treaty rights.
Supreme Court Unanimously Orders Trump To 'Facilitate' the Return of Wrongly Deported Man
Trump lost on his most aggressive claims of executive power for the second time in a week.
"The Supreme Court Is Not Cowering Before Trump on the Shadow Docket"
"Nor is it taking a new approach."
Supreme Court Rules Trump Administration Must "Facilitate" Return of Illegally Deported Salvadoran Migrant
Unanimous ruling is a big win for immigrant rights. But it does have unfortunate ambiguities.
The Tariff Madness Isn't Over
Even after Trump paused some of his new tariffs for 90 days, we still have the highest average tariffs in over a century and the biggest trade war since the Great Depression. Real relief will only come if Congress or the courts deny Trump the power to do this.
Markets Don't Want More Coal. Trump Is Propping Up the Industry Anyway.
The president’s preferential treatment of fossil fuels will cost consumers.
President Trump's Reduced Tariff/Taxes Are Still Unconstitutional
We need a district judge to enter a nationwide injunction putting a stop to these huge unilateral, presidential tax increases on ordinary working-class people.
Trump Partially Pauses "Liberation Day" Tariffs
But 10% tariffs are still being imposed on nearly all countries, without any letup. And we are still moving ahead with our lawsuit challenging them.
Markets Rally as Trump Pauses Tariffs. Should Presidents Have This Much Power?
In the span of a week, Trump cratered the stock market and brought it much of the way back, with little more than public statements.
John Roberts Only Postponed the Bigger Fight Over Trump's Deportations
The Supreme Court did not answer two of the biggest legal questions raised by Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act.
Rand Paul Is Leading Another Long-Shot Effort at Stopping Trump's Terrible Trade War
Bills introduced Tuesday in the House and Senate would terminate the emergency declaration Trump issued last week.
Trump Abuses Government Power To Punish Democrats' Law Firms
The president is politically targeting those he says politically targeted him.
Supreme Court Rejects Trump's Claim That He Can Summarily Deport Anyone He Describes As an 'Alien Enemy'
Although the Court lifted an order that temporarily blocked removal of suspected gang members, it unambiguously affirmed their right to judicial review.
Rights and Wrongs of the Supreme Court's Ruling in the Alien Enemies Act Case
The Supreme Court oveturns lower court decisions temporarily barring AEA deportations, but also emphasizes that detainees are entitled to due process, and that AEA deportations are subject to judicial review.
Trump Is Wrong About McKinley's Tariff Legacy
Did the 25th president really make America "very rich through tariffs"? William McKinley might have told you otherwise.
An Executive Power Case That Trump May Win
The Supreme Court seems likely to agree that a member of the National Labor Relations Board may be fired by the president at will.
Are Trump's Tariffs Constitutional?
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the president's imposition of tariffs, a lawsuit alleges.
Why Trump's "Liberation Day" Tariffs are Illegal
They weren't authorized by Congress and go against the major questions and nondelegation doctrines.
Joe Rogan Is Right: It Is 'Kind of Crazy' To Deport Innocent People Mistakenly Identified As Gang Members
The Trump administration says it is shameful even to suggest that immigration agents could make such errors.
Looking for Plaintiffs to Challenge Trump's IEEPA Tariffs in Court
The Liberty Justice Center and I are looking for appropriate plaintiffs to bring this type of case. LJC (a prominent public interest law firm) can represent them pro bono.
Trump's Use of the Alien Enemies Act Violates Madison's View of Presidential Power
Alleged criminal aliens may face legal punishment. But only after receiving due process of law.
The Hidden Politics of Whiskey Prices
Donald Trump is determined to make everything from Canadian whiskey to Mexican avocados more expensive. Can anyone stop him?
Lee Kovarsky on the Venue Issue in the Alien Enemies Act Case
A leading expert on habeas corpus explains why the Trump Administration is wrong to claim the case must be heard in Texas, rather than Washington, DC.
DC Circuit Upholds District Court Order Blocking Deportations Under The Alien Enemies Act
The 2-1 ruling is procedural, but strongly suggests the majority judges also reject the Trump administration's position on the merits.
Federal Court Rules Migrants Have Right to Hearing to Challenge Alien Enemies Act Deportations
Judge Boasberg ruled the migrants are entitled to due process in determing whether they really are "alien enemies" covered by the Act.
Trump's Attack on the Courts Channels the Worst of Theodore Roosevelt
An unconstitutional act is still unconstitutional even if lots of people support it.
Trump and Congress Have a Right and a Duty To Kill the Department of Education
The feds have no constitutional authorization to meddle in education.
Trump's Reading of the Alien Enemies Act Defies the Usual Meaning of Its Terms
To justify the immediate deportation of suspected Venezuelan gang members, the president is invoking a rarely used statute that does not seem to apply in this context.
Trump Thinks the Feds Can Fix America's Critical Mineral Supply Chain
Invoking the Defense Production Act won't boost the supply of critical minerals.
Did Trump Just Abolish the Department of Education?
While he can't get rid of the department outright, a new executive order attempts the next best thing.
Two Audio Interviews About the Alien Enemies Act Litigation
Links to audios of a Cato Institute podcast and an interview with ABC News (Australia).
National Constitution Center Podcast on the Alien Enemies Act and Mahmoud Khalil Immigration Cases [Updated]
The participants were Adam Cox (NYU) and myself.
Trump's Judge Bashing Provokes a Rebuke From Chief Justice John Roberts (Again)
"Impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision," Roberts noted after Trump said federal judges who impede his agenda should be fired.
Trump Fires Democratic FTC Commissioners
The removals challenge Humphrey’s Executor, a Supreme Court precedent that protects independent agency officials from political firings.
President Trump Targets Humphrey's Executor Directly
President Trump acts to remove two Democratic commissioners from the Federal Trade Commission. Litigation is likely.
'We Are Not Stopping'
Plus: Texas midwife arrested for violating abortion ban, JFK files, Gaza bombings, astronauts finally rescued, and more...
Trump Administration Likely Violated Court Order in Alien Enemies Act Case
They used the Act to deport some 137 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador even after a federal court issued a temporary restraining order blocking such action.
Pardons and Autopen Signatures: A 2024 Appellate Decision Says Pardons Don't Have to Be Signed (or Even Written) at All
[UPDATE: I note a contrary argument in an update at the end of this post.]
In Trump's Revenge Fantasy, Biden Did Not Actually Pardon Members of the January 6 Committee
The president says those legislators are "subject to investigation at the highest level," notwithstanding their pardons and the Speech or Debate Clause.
Trump's Awful Decision to Gut Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Trump is destroying a valuable source of American "soft power" and an inspiration to people suffering under authoritarian regimes.
Trump Invokes Alien Enemies Act as Tool for Deportation - Federal Court Issues Temporary Restraining Order Against it [Updated]
If courts allow Trump to get away with using the Act in peacetime, it would set a dangerous precedent.
My US News and World Report Article on Trump's Dictatorial Immigration Power Grabs
The article is coauthored with Cato Institute scholar David Bier.
Howard Lutnick Doesn't Get To Decide What You Buy
There is no "royal we" in the marketplace.
