My job is to teach the U.S. Constitution in law school. I want to share what all law professors I have spoken to in recent days believe is happening, regardless of political bent. It is this: We are in a constitutional crisis that is unprecedented and that may very well destroy the form of constitutional government our founders created more than 200 years ago. A fact not enough people realize is that our constitutional democracy is fragile. It requires three co-equal branches of government with checks and balances baked-in to keep each branch in line. Each branch has a role, and under the Supremacy Clause, the federal courts have the authority to check the President by using their assigned right to "interpret" the Constitution and declare the President's orders (when challenged in court) either constitutional or unconstitutional. When a federal court rules, however, it does not have an army to enforce its ruling. It can't make others follow what it says. Rather, we have always relied on the belief that our leaders will put the Constitution over themselves and their "needs of the moment," and will follow the Constitution. So far, our Presidents of both parties have done this. That is why our democracy has endured. Each past President of each party has taken the position that, "I am not bigger than the Constitution. I must follow the federal courts and the Supremacy Clause, even if I don't like it." In fact, no one has dared to suggest otherwise. But what the Trump administration's lawyers and spokespersons are doing now is breaking from about 250 years of custom and practice when they argue that the checks and balances do not apply to Trump and does not have to follow federal court decisions that say his orders are unconstitutional. This position is unprecedented and extremely scary. Because guess what? He can get away with it if the people don't stop him, because the federal courts can't stop him. Remember, the federal courts do not have armies. Armies, the police, etc. are all under the Executive Branch. The U.S. Constitution is an honor-code system. We have always relied on good faith that no one will break the pact. We have always taken the position that our Presidents will not defy the federal courts and, for that matter, that the American people would not elect someone who would do such a thing. But now we have elected such a person. You might think, "But I love Trump's policies. Screw the federal courts who are holding him back." But that is short-sighted on your part. Once the system is broken, it is broken. Because then when a Democrat gets in office, that person can do whatever the hell he wants with no checks and balances. If he wants to send agents into your house and search it for evidence that you criticized the President and then lock you up in a jail cell somewhere without ever seeing a judge, you might say, "They can't, that's unconstitutional!!!" But if the federal courts agree with you and say, "Duh, that's definitely unconstitutional," the President doesn't have to listen to the federal courts. And the President won't have to anymore. Remember, Trump established that new principle overriding 250 years of norms and enshrined the President as King. No checks and balances. If Trump succeeds in what he's trying to do, a President in the future can do whatever the hell he wants. I am not taking issue with any Trump voter or any of Trump's policies. If you love Trump's policies, that's great. But I believe that most Americans who love Trump's policies also love the Constitution and our Country and our Democracy, and don't really understand the magnitude of what is happening (or the news they are watching is not covering it). If you don't know what I'm talking about, please start once a week googling "Trump defies federal courts" or "Trump and checks and balances" and start getting educated, and then let your voice be heard. Call your leaders and if you support Trump say, "I support Trump and his policies, but he has to follow the Constitution and has to follow the federal courts." I will include links in the comments as they develop that will keep you abreast of this issue. Edit: If you start bashingTrump or his policies in the comments I will delete it. This is about the checks and balances and separation of powers issues that everyone should be on the same page with. This is not about whether Trumps policies are good or bad. -Mark Gadsey
Op-Ed America Looks Like a Troubled Emerging-Market Economy By Desmond Lachman Project Syndicate March 24, 2025 https://www.aei.org/op-eds/america-looks-like-a-troubled-emerging-market-economy/ Under US President Donald Trump’s erratic rule, the United States is now exhibiting all the symptoms, from high import tariffs and fiscal deficits, to oligarchy and flagrant corruption. Worse, the fallout cannot be confined to the US, and no multilateral bailout or structural adjustment plan can mitigate the damage. WASHINGTON, DC – Having worked as an emerging-market economist for many years, first at the International Monetary Fund and then on Wall Street, I recognize an emerging-market economy in trouble when I see one. It pains me to say it, but the United States is showing many of the warning signs. Worse, by dint of its size, America’s actions have a much greater impact on the world economy than those of any run-of-the-mill emerging market. One sure sign of a troubled emerging-market economy is excessive use of import tariffs to protect domestic industries. Such policies stifle competition, increase inflation, inhibit economic growth, and fuel widespread corruption by giving government officials the power to grant exceptions to tariffs on a case-by-case basis. It would be an understatement to say that America is on its way to becoming an over-protected economy behind a high tariff wall. Since beginning his second term as president, Donald Trump has imposed a 20% tariff on all imports from China and a 25% levy on all steel and aluminum imports. He has threatened a 25% tariff on all Mexican, Canadian, and European imports, and suggested similar tariffs on all automobile, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and lumber imports. And on top of it all, he has made clear that he will retaliate with “reciprocal” tariffs against any country whose non-tariff barriers on US exports are higher than America’s on theirs. Another sure sign of a troubled emerging-market economy is a large budget deficit and a heavy burden of public debt. Here, too, the US checks the relevant boxes. At the start of Trump’s second term, the US was running a budget deficit of 6.5% of GDP, and US public debt was close to 100% of GDP, well on its way to exceeding the ratio at the end of World War II. With the economy at full employment, this would be the time to move toward a balanced budget. Yet we all know that isn’t happening. Judging by Trump’s proposed tax cuts, the typical emerging-market economy’s budget deficit may soon pale in comparison to that of the US. According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the administration’s envisioned tax cuts would add between $5 trillion and $11 trillion to the US budget deficit over the next decade. That would take public debt to 140% of GDP by 2034 – or 50% above the debt ratio of the typical emerging-market economy. Yet another sign of a troubled emerging-market economy flashes red when a handful of oligarchs wield outsize political influence – or even wield power directly – and when the government goes out of its way to undermine confidence in public institutions in general and the central bank in particular. One need only think of Elon Musk and the millionaires and billionaires now in charge of the US Treasury (Scott Bessent) and Commerce Department (Howard Lutnick) to recognize that America is well on its way to becoming an oligarchy. Equally, Trump’s appointed FBI director, Kash Patel – a man who is openly committed to dismantling the institution he leads, and his frequent attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell leave no doubt that public confidence in America’s institutions is being ruthlessly undermined. Something else that the US now has in common with many emerging-market countries is a highly erratic approach to economic policymaking, which creates an atmosphere of heightened uncertainty that undermines investor and consumer confidence. America’s two main trading partners are threatened with 25% tariffs one day, only to be granted a one-month reprieve the next. Government workers are fired en masse by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and then rehired, because it turns out that they performed essential functions like overseeing the US nuclear-weapons stockpile. No wonder the stock market has been swooning: investor and consumer confidence is tanking. Until recently, America’s great advantage over most emerging-market economies was that investors could have full confidence that the rule of law prevailed, and that there was a level playing field for all market participants. Yet here, too, America seems to be in the process of squandering its advantage. The executive branch’s public challenges to legitimate court rulings are becoming commonplace, and those wielding political power no longer bother to hide egregious conflicts of interest. This is all deeply concerning not only for America’s economic outlook, but also for the rest of the world. Since the US remains the world’s largest economy, economic damage on the scale that Trump is inflicting will invariably cast a long, dark shadow – and there will be no IMF bailout or structural adjustment plan that can put things back on track. Desmond Lachman Senior Fellow
They can't do anything right..becoming the laughing stock of the "free" world. Oh and Drumpf's standard reply of course..."don't know nuffin bout nuffin me"
The republican politicians(His fans) in Colorado commission it in 2018-2019. The same artist that painted President Trump did Obama. Trump said Obama got a better painting. They look the same style to me, life like.
After the latest high level security breach, Potus has ordered some new state of the art communication devices to be used by his team that are easy to use and secure. He says he's happy to pay the 3000% import tariff from Canada for the devices.
For comparison purposes -- the U.S. military budget last year was $820 billion. This will be a stunning under-collection failure. IRS braces for $500bn drop in revenue as taxpayers skip filings in wake of DOGE cuts at agency Individuals were ‘wagering that auditors will not examine their accounts’ amid DOGE’s plans to downsize the IRS by nearly 20 percent ahead of tax filing season https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/irs-doge-cuts-tax-filing-b2719911.html
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