Reeling in the Emperor

How much longer will this tariff nightmare drag on? How much more damage can our economy take? And how much lower will our retirement accounts go? The truth is, that depends on us. Are we ready to take action before it's too late?

Just days ago, I wrote about President Trump’s reckless tariffs and suggested that Congress might reclaim its constitutional authority over trade. At the time, that seemed far-fetched, given nearly a century of congressional surrender to the President and the sycophantic behavior of virtually all Republican members of Congress. But something has shifted.

In 1934, during the depths of the Great Depression, Congress granted President Franklin D. Roosevelt limited tariff authority to help stabilize the global economy. This trust was extended repeatedly—through wars, recessions, and the rise of global markets—until much of Congress’s original power over trade had quietly shifted to the executive branch.

The key to it all—the element that maintained this abdication of authority—was that Congress largely trusted the President. It all hinged on trust.

But that trust has now been shattered—so badly that even members of the President’s own Republican Party, usually content to follow in blind, foolish allegiance, are beginning to push back. Seven Republican senators have signed onto a bill to claw back tariff authority from the president: Chuck Grassley, Mitch McConnell, Jerry Moran, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis, Todd Young, and Susan “I think Trump has learned his lesson” Collins.

Their sudden courage may stem less from a commitment to principle than from a desperate need for political survival, spurred by the alarming sight of their constituents’ retirement accounts vaporizing in real time. This urgency has been amplified by mass protests, such as the recent “Hands Off” demonstrations that saw nearly 3 million Americans taking to the streets in defiance. Additionally, corporate leaders are applying mounting pressure as their profits are threatened under the weight of economic chaos, compelling lawmakers to act before they face backlash from both the public and the business community.

So, don’t believe for a second that these lawmakers are brave in their defiance. As usual, they’re looking out for their own self-interests. It’s just that public pressure is starting to make it clear that their interests may no longer align with the President. And that’s due to the actions we, everyday Americans, have taken. Still, it's disheartening to see Speaker Mike Johnson cling to the President’s coattails, even as the ground crumbles beneath them. Yes, some have truly drunk the Kool-Aid, so there’s no hope for them. Let’s just hope there are enough members of Congress who are more pragmatic than brainwashed.

Meanwhile, the judicial branch may also step in. Legal scholars and advocacy groups are now challenging the very constitutionality of Congress having ceded their authority in the first place. After nearly a century, the courts may finally be ready to reexamine whether Congress ever had the right to delegate such sweeping authority. Recent Supreme Court rulings—including the end of Chevron deference—suggest that the judiciary may no longer give the executive branch the benefit of the doubt.

So, now we see not one but two potential paths out of this nightmare: Congressional action and judicial intervention. Of the two, Congress reasserting its rightful role is the most expedient—and perhaps the most democratic. And it’s likely the most practical, given the court’s tendency to defer to King Trump.

While this may not yet be a bright beacon of hope, these recent developments offer a faint, distant illumination. What could transform that distant candle into a spotlight? Continued public pressure. When Americans take to the streets, flood congressional offices with calls, and demand accountability, lawmakers take notice. Let them know how these reckless tariffs are affecting your family. Tell them a reckless hand at the wheel is endangering the whole country.

Tariffs do have a place in our foreign policy toolkit. Used sparingly and strategically, they can support American industries and address genuine national security threats. But like fertilizer in a garden, too much can poison the soil. Tariffs should be applied with prudence and consensus—not vengeance and isolation.

We still have a say. Congress is stirring. The courts are watching. But it’s up to us to keep the pressure on before more damage is done.

So continue taking to the streets. Take back our democracy. History is watching. Our time to act has arrived. This is our time. This is our fight.