Summary
The New Civil Liberties Alliance filed a lawsuit accusing Trump of illegally imposing tariffs on Chinese imports using emergency powers under the 1977 IEEPA.
The conservative legal group argues only Congress can levy tariffs and claims Trump’s actions violate the Constitution’s separation of powers.
The complaint says Trump’s justification—Chinese opioids and the trade deficit—fails to meet the legal standard of necessity.
NCLA seeks a court order to block the tariffs, stating the IEEPA does not authorize taxes and Trump’s executive orders bypass required congressional procedures.
They get hit in the pocketbook and suddenly now the Constitution matters.
Yes, but also to sue one must be able to prove injury. I don’t know much about this group, but it is possible they hadn’t been injured yet. Or that, knowing this was coming, they built their case months ago and have been waiting until this drops to do anything.
Not saying they’re at all worthy of trust, anyone on that side of the aisle isn’t, but the case would be tossed immediately if they sued before he took this action.
And they’re absolutely correct. Unfortunately the courts have always deferred to the other branches on the definition of “national emergency”. Congress is supposed to be the ones stopping this and they’ve been neutered by Trump.
Well, one half of Congress has. The Senate actually voted to strike down the declared state of emergency in regard to the tariffs on Canada, but the House is refusing to take up the vote on their side.
He only needs half. And the crazies in the house would never impeach him which is frankly warranted at this point already. Trump’s reckless disregard for the rules, norms, and history of the United States is clearly pathological.
The Republican majority in the House isn’t that big. They only need a few to flip, and the reactions to this round of tarrifs are cataclysmic so far.
Only barely, with 4 known Senate Trump skeptics:
Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Mitch McConnell (Ky.) Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Rand Paul (Ky.)…
https://www.axios.com/2025/04/02/senate-repeal-trump-tariffs-canada
No they haven’t. They freely and willfully capitulate.
So just to make sure I got it right. Gutting federal agencies from the inside out to the point of dysfunction, and firing employees and government watchdogs without cause. Depriving legal immigrants their due process and forcefully kidnap people in broad daylight. These things are A-Okay.
But fuck with the money, and now you’re suddenly going too far.
Welcome to the USA, where the dollar is in charge.
I’ve been calling it the ‘Land of the fee and home of the easy payment plan’ for decades now.
It’s always about the money so let’s hope we get a regime change soon
You … know why rome fell?
(It was money)
Conservatives generally don’t care until it affects them personally. They lack this fundamental thing called empathy.
That’s where conservatives really don’t like the be fucked with. He’s so screwed and I’m so glad he is.
Really? Donald “Unconstitutional Exercise of Legislative Power” Trump committed an unconstitutional exercise of legislative power? Say it aint so.
So he broke the constitution, shouldn’t he be arrested for malpractice, negligence.
Conservatives singing.
Suddenly I see (suddenly I see) Why the hell it means so much to me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AEoUa0Hlso
My brain has way too many cross connections.
Conservatives who are actually conservative??? Not radical lunatic rightists who do or say whatever Trump wants?
I didn’t realize any were left.
Don’t get too excited. They’re only mad because Trump fucked with the money.
What you’re failing to understand is that hierarchy is the core of conservatism. A guy at the top that everyone listens to IS conservative. Opposing Trump is them rejecting conservatism, if only momentarily.
Are you saying that there shouldn’t be any taxation without representation? Wild.
Which is why anyone under 18s income should be tax free. If you want to bring back child labour at least make it consistent.
You know it’s something when even conservatives are starting to push back.
This Mother Jones article really made things more clear.
Trump, a president who rules like a mob boss while claiming vast new powers, is transforming the government into a tool of reward and punishment.
