Tariffs, Taxes, and Trials, Oh My! -- “The Sunday Political Brunch” April 20, 2025

Tariffs, Taxes, and Trials, Oh My! -- “The Sunday Political Brunch” April 20, 2025

 

We are nearing the 100th day since President Donald Trump has been back in office. He continues to be the focus of the international tariff debate, and whether the economy has enough growth to allow more income tax cuts. The president’s legal challenges continue, with some wins and some setbacks. Let’s “brunch” on all of that this week:

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“The Tariff Turmoil” – The tariff issue continues to change by the day, and sometimes by the hour. President Trump insists that whatever is decided will be good for the economy. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell was of the opposite opinion, fearing a tariff war would hurt the economy. Powell said, "The same is likely to be true of the economic effects, which will include higher inflation and slower growth." Trump responded, “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!” On Wednesday, the president was negotiating a tariff deal with Japan to help pay for its U.S. military protection, saying on Truth Social, “Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!”. Republicans are hoping a boost to the economy will pay for looming income tax cuts. The markets still have jitters. The Dow Jones fell nearly 700 points on Wednesday and more than 500 points on Thursday.

 

“What Say the Judges?” – The ongoing dispute about whether or not the White House can continue deporting suspected criminal aliens boiled over again this week. District Judge James Boasberg ruled, “The Court ultimately determines that the Government’s actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt.” Boasberg originally ruled the president could not use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport people, but the Supreme Court, in a temporary ruling, said the White House could go forward. While a setback for now, I predict the Supreme Court will make its initial decision permanent.

 

“He’s Not Coming Back?” -- In another case, by its own admission, the Justice Department says it was an “administrative error” that led to the deportation of a suspected gang member to El Salvador. Despite a federal court order, President Trump and the El Salvadoran president say they will not work to bring the man back to the U.S. El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele said, “How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? Of course, I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous.” The White House says the man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, is an MS-13 gang member, which the man and his lawyers deny. They also say he has no criminal record in the U.S., though he did enter the country without permission or legal status. The U.S. Supreme Court told the White House to “facilitate” Garcia’s return, but it has not. I see this going back to the Supreme Court for more rulings. This again raises the question of whether one branch of government can compel another into specific action.

 

“Legal ‘Boxing’ Escalates” – As I anticipated, the U.S. Supreme Court has decided to hear an appeal of Trump’s ban on birthright citizenship. A lower court called that “blatantly unconstitutional,” so the high court will hear arguments on May 15th. And Trump has instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to sue the state of Maine for not abiding by his transgender-sports executive order. The state is under pressure to limits sports activity to the gender of an athlete’s birth, or potentially lose millions in federal education funding. The common thread in all of these legal fights is whether the courts will expand the breadth of presidential power, which Trump wants.

 

“Biden His Time” – While many Democrats wish he would quietly fade away, former President Joe Biden made his first public speech since leaving office. He spoke in Chicago to a convention of disability advocates. Biden said, “In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It’s kind of breathtaking that it could happen that soon. They’ve taken a hatchet to the Social Security Administration.” Of course, the White House says its DOGE team has found millions in waste, including dead seniors still getting benefit checks. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “President Trump is absolutely certain about protecting Social Security benefits for law-abiding taxpaying American citizens and seniors who have paid into this program. He will always protect that program.”

 

“Why This Issue Matters” – Democrats are looking for an issue to seize upon, and this may be it, albeit with the wrong messenger. The party is hoping to schedule as many as 100 “days of action” protests across the nation, outside of Social Security offices. Within the next three to four years, every living person from the “Baby Boom” generation, born between 1946 and 1964, will be of retirement age. With people living longer, that will be the largest bulge of seniors in U.S. history.  Senior citizens vote in larger numbers, per capita, than any other demographic group in the country. But Democrats have told me privately, they don’t want Biden as the torch bearer. They want a newer, younger face such as Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) California, or Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) Michigan.

 

“It Bears Repeating” – Last week, I wrote about escalating political violence in the U.S, with the guilty plea in a case of attempted murder that targeted U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. I also mentioned the attack on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband and the two assassination attempts on President Trump. Now comes the attack targeting Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) Pennsylvania, who may be a 2028 presidential contender. According to court records, the suspect simply hopped the fence at the governor’s mansion, broke windows with a hammer, and then tossed in a Molotov cocktail. Shapiro and his family safely escaped, but the fire did significant damage. Folks, where was the security? It’s the same question many of us have asked about in the other violent acts mentioned above. This is another failure in protection. “This type of violence is not okay,” Shapiro said. He added, “We have to be better than this.” He’s right!

 

“You Got to ‘Noem’ When to Fold ‘Em” – Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem went on a round-up of suspected criminal migrants in Arizona last week, only she didn’t go in business attire. She donned an “ICE-Police” bulletproof vest, a cap with a cloth badge on it, and military style fatigues. She posed with agents, including during one arrest. She also took a photo in which the high-powered weapon she was carrying appeared pointed towards an agent’s head. The photo lit up social media. Mind you, she has no military or law enforcement experience. Folks, when are politicians going to learn that staged photo-ops make them look bad? This took me back to 1988 when Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis donned a military uniform and drove around in a tank while smiling and waving. He looked silly and it helped sink his campaign. Nearly four decades later, he’s still a ‘poster boy’ for bad campaigns. People in the military and law enforcement do very serious and dangerous work every day. Trying to “dress up” like them for the cameras is silly. This is not a Halloween costume party!

 

“Florida State Strong!” – As a proud Florida Gator, we are bitter archrivals of Florida State University on the football field and on the basketball court. Not this week, after the mass shooting on the FSU campus. All the Florida universities are standing united. I and sending prayers of healing and protection to my Seminole brothers and sisters. A college campus should be a safe place for learning, and not for dodging bullets.