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Supreme Court’s ‘Declaration of Independence’

February 20, 2026 at 3:43 pm EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

Adam Liptak: “Starting with the 2024 decision that gave President Trump substantial immunity from prosecution and continuing through a score of emergency orders provisionally greenlighting an array of his second-term initiatives, Mr. Trump has had an extraordinarily successful run before the Supreme Court.”

“That came to a sudden, jolting halt on Friday, when Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., writing for six members of the court, roundly rejected Mr. Trump’s signature tariffs program. It was the Supreme Court’s first merits ruling — a final judgment on the lawfulness of an executive action — on an element of the administration’s second-term agenda. It amounted to a declaration of independence.”

“It also served as another in a series of clashes between the leaders of two branches of the federal government cut from very different cloth: the controlled, cerebral chief justice and the biting, brazen president.”

Filed Under: Democracy

FCC Chair: Air ‘Patriotic, Pro-America Content’

February 20, 2026 at 2:58 pm EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

Politico: “FCC Chair Brendan Carr wants broadcasters to air ‘patriotic, pro-America content’ to support the White House’s plans to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.”

“’As America’s 250th anniversary approaches, it is important to reflect on the ideals and events that have defined our past while keeping an eye towards our country’s bright future,’ Carr said in a statement Friday. ‘I am calling on broadcasters to pledge to provide programming that promotes civic education, national pride, and our shared history.’”

Filed Under: Democracy

Poll: 64 Percent Disapprove of Trump’s Handling of Tariffs

February 20, 2026 at 2:09 pm EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released Friday finds Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of tariffs by a 30 percentage-point margin, 64 percent to 34 percent.”

“Those ratings are identical to a poll last April, despite Trump’s persistent efforts to sway public opinion on the issue.”

Filed Under: Economy


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Trump Has ‘Great Alternatives’

February 20, 2026 at 1:51 pm EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

“Trump says ‘other alternatives will now be used to replace’ his sweeping tariffs that the Supreme Court rejected,” the Associated Press reports. “‘We have alternatives. Great alternatives,’ Trump said.”

Wall Street Journal: “President Trump said he would sign an order on Friday to impose a 10% global tariff under a different authority, ‘over and above our normal tariffs already being charged.’ Trump said all national security tariffs under Section 232 and existing Section 301 tariffs would remain in place.”

Filed Under: Budget & Taxes

MAHA Turning On White House Over Pesticides

February 20, 2026 at 1:20 pm EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

Politico: “President Donald Trump’s Wednesday night executive order promoting production of a widely used herbicide is threatening to blow up a coalition that played a key role in his 2024 election victory.”

Make America Healthy Again activists brought into the Republican fold by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are furious over Trump’s move to ensure adequate supplies of the herbicide glyphosate, a prime target of their efforts to crack down on toxic chemicals that they argue are killing Americans.”

“’I’m witnessing the bottom falling out on MAHA,’ MAHA influencer Kelly Ryerson, who goes by the moniker ‘Glyphosate Girl’ online, said of watching the reaction on X. ‘People came along on MAHA because of pesticides and foods. It wasn’t because of vaccines.’”

Filed Under: Health Care

Paramount’s Bid For Warner Bros Passes US Antitrust Hurdle

February 20, 2026 at 1:08 pm EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

“Paramount Skydance’s $108bn bid to gatecrash Netflix’s deal for Warner Bros Discovery has cleared a key US antitrust hurdle, in a signal of support from the Trump administration,” the Financial Times report. 

“The media group, whose bid is bankrolled by Oracle billionaire and Donald Trump donor Larry Ellison, said on Friday that its deal had complied with the US Department of Justice’s second request review process, removing a critical impediment to US regulatory approval. By allowing the 10-day statutory waiting period to elapse under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act’s second request process, the DoJ is in effect waving through the Paramount deal on antitrust grounds.”

Filed Under: Media Buzz

How Trump Found Out: ‘So It’s A Loss, Then?’

February 20, 2026 at 12:31 pm EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

“President Trump had just started a closed-door White House meeting with governors when one of his trade advisers handed him a piece of paper,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“’So it’s a loss, then?’ Trump asked the adviser, according to people in the room. The adviser confirmed that the Supreme Court had just ruled that his global tariffs were illegal, a momentous decision that undercut the centerpiece of the president’s economic agenda.”

“Trump told the governors sitting before him in the State Dining Room that he looked calm but that he was seething inside. He called the ruling a disgrace, the people said. Soon after learning of the court’s decision, Trump cut short a question-and-answer session with governors and left the room. He said he needed to work on his response to the ruling.”

Filed Under: Budget & Taxes

Texas Senate Showdown Gets Testy

February 20, 2026 at 12:00 pm EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

Punchbowl News asks: “Can state Rep. James Talarico overtake Crockett with less than two weeks to go until the March 3 primary?”

“The race has become increasingly contentious in the closing days. Crockett said this week that the idea that she wasn’t electable statewide was a “dog whistle” that was “tearing down a Black woman.” Crockett said the pro-Talarico super PAC attack ad had darkened her skin tone and was ‘straight up racist.'”

“Asked about those statements, Talarico declined to condemn the ad, noting he cannot coordinate with a super PAC. Talarico urged reporters to ‘fact check’ that claim. ‘You can look at images and put them back to back and that’s your judgment call. I would like to see if that’s true before I comment,’ Talarico said.”

Filed Under: Democrats, Senate

South Dakota Republicans Worry Kristi Noem Might Return

February 20, 2026 at 11:22 am EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

The Atlantic: “Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has faced intense scrutiny from Republicans and calls for her firing from Democrats since the January 24 shooting of Alex Pretti by Customs and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. Now Noem’s tenuous standing with the Trump White House is creating concern in her home state of South Dakota that she might leave the Cabinet to challenge Senator Mike Rounds in the state’s June Republican primary.”

“Political allies of Rounds have begun preparing for this scenario, even though they remain skeptical that Noem will actually make the move, three people familiar with the discussions told me. To get into the race, Noem would have to register for the primary and collect the 2,171 supportive signatures statewide by the end of next month. A Noem adviser told me today that she has no plans to leave. But Noem could have an incentive to seek elective office if Democrats remain on track to win back control of the House and launch investigations into her tenure at the Department of Homeland Security. A Senate seat would give her both a professional staff and a fundraising platform to help defend herself.”

Filed Under: Republicans

U.S. Economic Growth Slowed in Fourth Quarter

February 20, 2026 at 10:48 am EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

“The U.S. economy grew at a 1.4% annual rate in the fourth quarter, weighed down by a record-long government shutdown,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“For 2025, the economy grew 2.2%, the slowest annual growth since 2022, according to Commerce Department data. Consumer confidence dropped in January to a more than decade-low level, and job creation stalled in 2025.”

Financial Times: “As recently as last month, analysts had expected bumper fourth-quarter growth, driven by robust spending by richer consumers and AI-fuelled business investment. The Atlanta Fed had predicted a GDP growth rate as high as 5.4 per cent.”

Filed Under: Economy

Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Tariffs

February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

“The Supreme Court ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority when he imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from nearly every U.S. trading partner, a major setback for his administration’s second-term agenda,” the New York Times reports.

“The court’s 6-3 decision has significant implications for the U.S. economy, consumers and the president’s trade policy. The Trump administration had said that a loss at the Supreme Court could force the government to unwind trade deals with other countries and potentially pay hefty refunds to importers.”

Washington Post: “Decision marks notable shift in high court’s approach to Trump. The Supreme Court ruling against President Donald Trump’s tariffs marked a departure from a string of victories for the president at the high court.”

“Over the past year, the justices have overwhelmingly ruled for Trump in temporary rulings, clearing the way for him to ban transgender troops from the military, give the U.S. DOGE Service access to sensitive data and deeply cut the Education Department as legal challenges play out.”

Bloomberg: “Stocks Jump, Bond Curve Steepens as Court Axes Tariffs.”

Filed Under: Budget & Taxes

Guest Editor

February 20, 2026 at 10:30 am EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

Good morning. It’s Chris Riback. With Taegan away from the computer, I wanted to make sure that the famed PW readers don’t have to go completely cold turkey on the latest political news.

I won’t be posting with Taegan’s speed or frequency (unlike him, I actually need sleep) — or, as listeners to our Trial Balloon podcast know, that my news judgment directly matches his.

But, after 30+ years of friendship, a co-authored book, and more than 150 podcasts together, it’s nice to qualify as a PW Intern.

I would say to please let me know how it’s going… but I’ve read enough PW reader comments to know to be careful what one asks for!

So let the (occasional) posting begin.

Filed Under: Administrative

Quick Update

February 19, 2026 at 2:07 pm EST By Chris Riback Leave a Comment

Hi – Many of you have noticed a break in the political posts. Thank you for all of the comments.

This is Taegan’s Trial Balloon co-host Chris Riback: Taegan had an unexpected minor surgery and, unfortunately, it likely will keep him off the computer for a few days.

Very sorry for the gap in the posting… we all depend on Taegan’s posts to get us through our days!

Thank you so much for being PW readers… you know Taegan looks forward to getting back to the news soonest.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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