A new episode of The Josh Marshall Podcast is live! This week, Kate and Josh discuss the special elections, Cory Booker’s 25-hour filibuster and the downfall of Elise Stefanik.
Continue reading “Listen To This: Wisconsin Hates Elon”‘They’re Engaged In Trickery’: What Sen Republicans Are Actually Trying To Do With Their Tax Cut Magic Math
Senate Republican leadership released the legislative text for their second attempt at a budget resolution Wednesday afternoon, signaling that despite several points of contention within the party, they might have the votes to pass a so-called compromise blueprint.
The newly released budget resolution indicates that the Republican leadership is plowing ahead with their plan to utilize an unprecedented “budget gimmick” to make portions of the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent.
Continue reading “‘They’re Engaged In Trickery’: What Sen Republicans Are Actually Trying To Do With Their Tax Cut Magic Math”Senate Dems’ Pyrrhic Defeat
I’ve said this in a few contexts, including in the podcast, but I wanted to reiterate it here. It seems like the Schumer/continuing resolution debacle is turning into a kind of inverse pyrrhic victory, a terrible and self-inflicted defeat which might have more positive effects than winning would have had. I’ve said a few times that I’m pretty certain Chuck Schumer didn’t think when he allowed the CR to pass that he’d still be arguing to keep his job on every talk show that would have him 10 days later. The nature of that debacle, the recognition that it was a debacle, turned into a crystalizing moment. The biggest effect of that debacle was everyone realizing that not having any strategy is not in fact a strategy. Schumer’s decision was the breaking point. But an even bigger issue was how and why Democrats allowed it to come to that decision moment without laying any of the groundwork that might have made something like success even possible. The lack of a strategy is not a strategy. That may seem elementary. But we’ve all had times in our lives in which lived experience is necessary to absorb lessons that seem obvious and unmissable once they’ve been absorbed. There’s no question in my mind that Cory Booker’s 25 hour speech only happens because of that debacle. And Gallego’s and Schiff’s holds only happen because of some mix of Booker and the larger Schumer-driven realization. The unfolding tariff catastrophe figures into this of course, as do elections in Wisconsin and Florida, as do Republicans continuing to hide in undisclosed locations when visiting their districts. But the continuing resolution was an inflection point.
These Tariffs Won’t Stand—Make Political/Electoral Hay Now
If you’re running for Congress or considering running for Congress or know someone who is doing either, this message is for you. Presidents have no power over tariffs. Full stop. It’s not like war powers or pardons. Trump can only do this because Congress gave Presidents this power, as I explained in the a post yesterday. Congress can take it back at any moment. Given the minuscule Republican hold in the House, that means that every GOP representative is literally and personally responsible for these tariffs and their consequences. Every single one. High prices? Rep. X is responsible. He or she could end this but they’re not. A 401k that might flatline before you do? Thank Rep. X. They could end this but they’re supporting it. It’s crystal clear and has the benefit of being true.
The 2026 midterm is already underway. It really is.
That’s the whole message. It’s malpractice for anyone challenging a Republican member of Congress not to be on this today.
Continue reading “These Tariffs Won’t Stand—Make Political/Electoral Hay Now”Senate Dems Demand Confirmation Hearing On Ed Martin: His ‘Record Merits Heightened Scrutiny’
A group of Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are demanding a confirmation hearing on President Donald Trump’s nominee for D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, arguing that Martin has “abused his position in multiple ways since being named Interim U.S. Attorney.”
Continue reading “Senate Dems Demand Confirmation Hearing On Ed Martin: His ‘Record Merits Heightened Scrutiny’”Trump’s Tariffs Are A Colossal Self-Own For The Ages
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.
Make America Gilded Again
President Trump’s determination to impersonate William McKinley and return America to the turn of the last century conveniently writes women and people of color out of public life and celebrates the extreme inequality of the robber baron era. But it also perversely papers over the dawn of an American imperialism that – as deeply flawed as it was – led ultimately to the creation of a global economic and security order that has been highly favorable to the United States.
The disastrous tariffs that Trump proudly unveiled in the Rose Garden take a sledgehammer to the tentpoles of a U.S.-centered trade and financial system that accrued often invisible benefits to American consumers, businesses, diplomats, and war fighters.
Make America Great Again somehow means in Trump’s mind returning to a time before America stood astride the world stage. His lack of awareness mirrors the country’s chronic obliviousness to how good we have had it in the post-WWII era. A key element of privilege is not recognizing it.
The damage will be so vast and foreseeable that it’s hard not to veer into wondering about Trump’s motives in unleashing this much destruction on his own country. But as with the simultaneous destruction of American science and medicine, research and development, and civic and governmental capacity, taking away things in order to extort more power, privilege, and baubles remains the best explanation for Trump’s rampage. There is no public good, only what is good for Trump.
Thread Of The Day
Those trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy are dangerously naive. No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief. 1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
— Chris Murphy (@chrismurphyct.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Wall Street Finally Wakes Up?
Overnight and into this morning, the financial markets reeled at the tariffs.
The headlines were blunt:
- Trump Tariffs Aim to Bring Down Curtain on Era of Globalization
- Trump’s Tariffs Aim to Create a New World Economic Order
- A third global recession in 20 years looms
The only hint of good news was mostly symbolic: A handful of Senate Republicans joined with Democrats to pass a resolution reversing Trump’s 25% tariff on Canadian imports. It has no chance of passing the House and would be vetoed by the president if it did.
Russia Didn’t Make The List
While American allies were hit with tariffs, Russia (along with some other but not all countries sanctioned by the U.S.) was left off the tariff list.
Brazen Corruption
The Trump DOJ’s corrupt dismissal of the prosecution of NYC Mayor Eric Adams is complete. Finding his own hands tied, U.S. District Judge Dale Ho of Manhattan did what he could: ordered the dismissal with prejudice so that the Trump administration couldn’t hold a potential re-indictment in the future over Adams’ head. In a scathing but not overheated opinion, Ho carefully documented the pretextual reasons for the dismissal offered by the Justice Department and directed no small amount of scorn toward the conduct of Trump DOJ officials. Ho ultimately concluded no judge has the power to order the executive branch to continue a prosecution.
Related: Adams is skipping the Democratic primary and will run for reelection as an independent.
The Trump II Clown Show
President Trump is nominating defense attorney Stanley Woodward for the No. 3 position at the Justice Department. Woodward has represented Trump co-defendants, a passel of Jan. 6 rioters, and several MAGA figures. Woodward has no prior experience in government.
Senate Dems Zero In On Ed Martin
After Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) put a hold on the nomination of Ed Martin as U.S. attorney for D.C., Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee demanded a confirmation hearing for Martin rather than allowing his nomination to go straight to the Senate floor.
Big Law Preys On Itself
Another major law firm – Milbank – capitulated and struck a deal with President Trump to avoid being unlawfully targeted by one of his executive orders.
Meanwhile, Perkins Coie – one of the firm’s already targeted – filed a beautifully written memo (if you’re into that kind of thing) in its challenge of Trump’s executive order.
None of the nation’s top 10 biggest law firms has signed on to a draft brief in support of Perkins Coie, the NYT reports.
Good Info
If you’ve wondered why the same three D.C. Circuit judges heard so many Trump-related appeals in March, here’s the explanation. It’s actually looking worse for April.
The Destruction: CDC Edition
In addition to purging CDC staff, DOGE has demanded a 35% cut to the agency’s spending on contracts by April 18.
D’oh
National security adviser Mike Waltz’s team set up at least 20 Signal group chats for crises across the world, Politico reports.
Naval Academy Banned Books Before Hegseth Visit
The Naval Academy removed some 400 books from its library that it concluded somehow violated President Trump’s anti-DEI executive order. The timing seems related to a visit this week to the Naval Academy by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to the WaPo: “The examination of the Naval Academy’s library collection began last week, the U.S. official said, and concluded with the removal of the books Monday night and Tuesday morning, ahead of a planned Tuesday visit by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.”
Slippery Slope
TPM’s Kate Riga reports on the Supreme Court oral arguments over whether South Carolina can kick Planned Parenthood off Medicaid.
Wow
Even on the wacky Wisconsin Supreme Court, Justice Rebecca Bradley has always been way out on the fringe:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley on Crawford: "I think the way Judge Crawford ran her race was disgusting…I'm not looking forward to working with her. She's bought and paid for by the Democratic Party." Via Vanessa Kjeldsen
— The Bulwark (@thebulwark.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:15 AM
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DOGE Lands at NEH
DOGE has made landfall at the National Endowment for the Humanities. They are demanding roughly $175 million out of an annual grant budget of just over $200 million and fire about 80% of state. In internal conversations the new bosses apparently speak of “select opportunities” soon to be offered to favored organizations. That sounds to me like we might be looking at new grants to Breitbart and such but perhaps I’m just being alarmist. The DOGE commissar assigned to NEH is Justin Fox.
Two Thoughts on Trump’s Inferno Tariffs
Two thoughts on today’s tariffs. I could get into the substance of the decision. But I think that goes without saying.
Point one is that we should remember that Presidents have no inherent power over tariffs whatsoever. This isn’t like war powers or pardons where these are questions the Constitution assigns to the will of one person. They are entirely delegated by Congress and could be taken back at any moment. They are also explicitly reserved for emergencies. They aren’t meant to be used as to create entirely novel trade regimes. But Congress lets the President decide what constitutes an emergency. The logic of that delegation is based on the flexibility and convenience the delegation creates and the assumption that the president wouldn’t be nuts. The Republican Congress could bring this absurd gambit to a halt tonight. So it’s all on them, every one of them individually.
Continue reading “Two Thoughts on Trump’s Inferno Tariffs”Social Security Admin Canceled Maine Contracts As Political Revenge For Trump
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, obtained private emails that show the acting commissioner of Social Security purposely canceled contracts the Social Security Administration holds with the state of Maine as some sort of political payback against Democratic Gov. Janet Mills.
Continue reading “Social Security Admin Canceled Maine Contracts As Political Revenge For Trump”My Kind of Town
Chicago is … where Josh and Kate are headed for the next live show! Chicago was the leading vote-getter in our poll asking you where we should head next, with 23.5% of the vote.
The live show will be Wednesday, May 14th. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, April 4th at 10 a.m. Eastern. If you are a Prime member, you’ll receive an email with discounted tickets.
We hope you’ll came hang out with us for a few hours. In addition to the the live edition of the Josh Marshall Podcast featuring Kate Riga, there will be a Q&A session and a cocktail hour after the show where you can chat with our podcasters and other TPMers as well.