Following a Supreme Court ruling that declared widespread "emergency" tariffs illegal, President Trump quickly pivoted to imposing 10% across-the-board tariffs under a different legal authority, later threatening to raise the rate to 15%. Economist Veronique de Rugy identifies four recurring arguments used to justify tariffs — that they reshore jobs and raise wages, that harming China benefits America, that they don't burden lower-income Americans, and that corporations absorb the costs — and argues each is factually flawed. Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that American businesses and consumers bore nearly 90% of the 2025 tariffs' economic burden, with import prices rising nearly one-for-one with tariff rates. De Rugy concludes that the policy's costs fall disproportionately on working- and middle-class families, and that public opposition to the tariffs remains strong.
The Supreme Court, in its *Learning Services* ruling, has blocked President Trump's tariff authority, representing a significant legal setback for his trade agenda. However, analysts suggest that Trump could still pursue trade objectives through strategic use of his remaining legal trade powers. The ruling limits but does not entirely eliminate the administration's ability to shape U.S. trade policy.
The article argues that the Trump administration has developed a distinct military doctrine that fundamentally inverts the Powell Doctrine, favoring ambiguity, surprise, limited airpower, and flexible objectives over the traditional principles of public support, congressional authorization, clear goals, and overwhelming force. Trump's interventions — including strikes on Iran, the operation in Venezuela, and the Houthi campaign — have proceeded without public ultimatums, congressional votes, or defined exit strategies, with shifting justifications that allow the administration to claim success without clear victory. The author acknowledges that this approach has produced some pragmatic outcomes, such as the Houthi ceasefire and the destruction of Iranian nuclear sites, while warning that its application to Iran's regime change represents an especially high-risk gamble given the country's size, entrenched security apparatus, and lack of a ground component. The piece concludes that Trump's doctrine may allow him to exit conflicts by retroactively redefining objectives, but risks postponing rather than resolving underlying conflicts.
President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that U.S. military strikes had sunk nine Iranian naval vessels and partially destroyed Iran's naval headquarters, with CENTCOM confirming the sinking of an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette in the Gulf of Oman. The strikes came on the second day of a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation that reportedly killed several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf countries, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that state institutions remained intact and that a new supreme leader could be chosen soon. Iran had not yet confirmed the naval losses at the time of reporting.
President Trump returned to the White House from Mar-a-Lago, where he had authorized strikes on Iran, and declined to answer reporters' questions about the ongoing conflict, instead commenting on new statues in the Rose Garden. At least three U.S. service members have been killed and five seriously wounded as part of the joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, according to U.S. Central Command. Iranian retaliatory strikes have caused casualties in multiple locations, including at least nine deaths from a missile strike on a residential area near Jerusalem and incidents in Dubai's Jebel Ali commercial area. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister stated that Trump crossed a "very dangerous red line" following the strikes, which also killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after his 36-year rule.
A WIRED report from February 25 found that a popular pro-Trump X account called "Johnny MAGA," which had nearly 300,000 followers and was treated by news outlets as a gauge of conservative sentiment, appears to be linked to a White House staffer named Garrett Wade. The revelation raises questions about the authenticity of Trump's apparent grassroots online support, as the account was presenting itself as an independent voice while potentially functioning as an administration mouthpiece. Recent polling data contrasts with the pro-Trump sentiment amplified by such accounts, with a CNN poll showing 68% of Americans feel Trump hasn't addressed the country's most important problems, and 66% of independents disapproving of him in an Economist/YouGov survey.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz appeared to undercut one of President Trump's key justifications for attacking Iran when he acknowledged on CBS's *Face the Nation* that Iran's nuclear capabilities had already been eliminated by U.S. and Israeli strikes during the 2025 Twelve-Day War. Cruz stated that the bombing "took out" Iran's nuclear weapons program, while noting Iran retained a desire to rebuild — contradicting claims of an imminent nuclear threat. Trump had previously celebrated the complete destruction of Iran's nuclear assets following those strikes.
President Trump's decision to partner with Israel in military strikes against Iran has sparked significant pushback from prominent MAGA supporters and "America First" advocates, who argue the action contradicts his campaign promises to avoid new Middle Eastern military engagements. High-profile critics including Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Erik Prince have voiced opposition, while a Reuters/Ipsos poll found only about a quarter of Americans approve of the strikes, with 42% of Republican voters saying they would be less supportive if U.S. troops are killed or injured. Three American service members have already been killed and five wounded in the operation, with retaliatory Iranian missile strikes hitting Israel and Gulf nations, and oil prices spiking 10% since the conflict began. Trump has signaled some openness to early diplomatic off-ramps by agreeing to talks with Iranian leadership, while White House aides believe MAGA anger will subside if the conflict remains brief, though they acknowledge the campaign poses a political risk heading into midterm elections.
Ball State University economist Michael Hicks argues that Indiana has suffered severe economic damage from President Trump's tariffs, with Hoosier families paying an average of over $900 each in higher prices in the nine months following "Liberation Day," a figure projected to exceed $1,200 per resident. Indiana's manufacturing sector has lost 4,200 jobs, farm income has declined 47%, and the state's agricultural GDP dropped 25% in six months. Hicks notes that the Supreme Court struck down Trump's largest tariff authorization, but Trump quickly reimposed tariffs using a separate trade statute. Hicks contends the trade war has benefited foreign competitors such as Brazil and facilitated new trade agreements among other nations that bypass the United States.
Changes to SNAP benefits under President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act are taking effect across the United States, with expanded work requirements for recipients. The rollout is being implemented on varying timelines depending on the state and county, with some locations beginning the changes on Sunday.
The FDA is launching a pilot program to offer performance bonuses to drug reviewers who complete thorough reviews ahead of schedule, as announced by Commissioner Marty Makary. Generate Biomedicines raised $400 million in one of the largest biotech IPO debuts in recent years, while Novartis and Takeda agreed to enter the third round of Medicare drug price negotiations for drugs including Kisqali and Cosentyx. The Department of Justice filed an amicus brief supporting AbbVie in its legal challenge over 340B drug discounts, offering insight into the Trump administration's stance on contract pharmacy use.
This weekly roundup from Seattle's Child covers several news items affecting Washington state families. The Washington Legislature passed a bill tying insurance vaccine coverage to state health recommendations rather than federal guidance, amid changes to national advisory panels under RFK Jr., while Governor Ferguson's proposed budget would cut the state's Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention funding by more than half. A Pew Research Center study found more than half of U.S. teens use AI chatbots for schoolwork, despite research showing high error rates in AI responses. The article also highlights The Hope Festival, returning April 25 in Bellevue, where hundreds of teen volunteers will provide free goods and services to over 1,000 people experiencing poverty and homelessness.
