đĄď¸ RollingBoil Daily - November 05, 2025
One year ago today, America woke up to the reality of a second Trump termâand this anniversary finds us at a critical inflection point. While the Supreme Court weighs the constitutionality of Trump's sweeping tariff regime, the former-and-future president is simultaneously strong-arming Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster, the very guardrail that has prevented even more extreme legislation. It's a stark reminder that Trump's playbook hasn't changed: consolidate power, damn the consequences, and gaslight the public when things go wrong. Case in point: his bizarre claim that Democrats' recent election wins are somehow "bad for Republicans"âa head-spinning attempt to reframe what was, by any measure, a GOP bloodbath at the polls.
Today's newsletter cuts through the noise to show you what's really happening. From the Supreme Court chambers where justices are questioning whether one man should wield unilateral power over international trade, to the White House where that same man is demanding his party blow up Senate rules to ram through his agendaâthese aren't isolated incidents. They're part of a coordinated effort to reshape American governance around authoritarian impulses. You need to understand these connections, because the next moves will happen fast.
⥠Quick Hits
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Trump adviser: Election results 'great lesson' for GOP
Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz interprets Democratic electoral success as evidence that Republicans must prioritize Trump-aligned candidates and MAGA ideology to win elections. The statement reflects internal GOP debate over candidate quality and ideological alignment with Trump, suggesting pressure within Republican circles to enforce loyalty to Trump and his movement rather than nominating moderate or Trump-skeptical candidates. -
The government may not open again this year, thanks to Speaker Johnson
This article examines Speaker Mike Johnson's role in potential government closure and House recess, directly relevant to Republican Party leadership and internal dynamics. The piece suggests Johnson may have strategic incentives to maintain shutdown conditions, highlighting tensions within right-wing governance and budget negotiations that impact Trump-era Republican priorities. -
âNew York City Has Fallenâ: MAGA Responds to Zohran Mamdaniâs Victory With a Racist Freak-Out
The article documents right-wing political figures, influencers, and extremists responding to Democrat Zohran Mamdani's electoral victory with anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric. This represents a significant case study of MAGA movement mobilization, far-right messaging strategies, and Republican engagement with extremist narratives around immigration and religious identity in response to electoral outcomes. -
Tariffs Are Here to Stay, Even if the Supreme Court Rules Against Trump
The Trump administration's assertion that it can maintain tariffs through alternative legal mechanisms demonstrates the administration's commitment to protectionist trade policy and expansive executive authority. This reflects core right-wing economic nationalism and represents a significant test of presidential power versus judicial oversight, with implications for Republican trade policy direction. -
Supreme Court weighs Trump tariffs in a trillion-dollar test of executive power
The Supreme Court is hearing a pivotal case on Trump's unilateral tariff authority, testing the limits of executive power with trillion-dollar economic implications. Trump's three appointees to the conservative-majority court have shown reluctance to check his executive actions, potentially setting precedent for broader acceptance of expansive presidential powers central to the Republican administration's agenda. The outcome will significantly impact Trump's ability to implement his protectionist economic policies and could influence judicial deference to executive authority across multiple policy domains. -
Supreme Court hears challenge to Trump tariffs under IEEPA
The Supreme Court is hearing a major challenge to President Trump's use of emergency powers to impose sweeping global tariffs under the IEEPA statute, raising tariff rates to the highest level since 1935. The case directly tests the scope of Trump administration executive authority and could reshape the balance of power between the presidency and Congress. The outcome has significant implications for Trump's core economic policy agenda and the broader question of presidential emergency powers. -
Supreme Court enters the lion's den on Trump tariffs
The Supreme Court is addressing Trump's tariff policies, a central component of Trump administration economic strategy and a key priority for right-wing economic nationalism. The case has major implications for presidential authority and trade policy, directly affecting the Trump political agenda and Republican economic positioning. This represents a significant constitutional and policy battle relevant to understanding Trump-era governance and Republican economic priorities. -
Yes, Trump's tariffs are raising billions -- but at a steep economic cost
This article examines Trump's tariff policy, a cornerstone of his economic agenda and a key differentiator of right-wing economic populism. The piece analyzes the trade-offs between federal revenue generation and consumer/business costs, directly relevant to evaluating Trump administration policy outcomes and Republican economic positioning. The tariff debate represents a significant ideological and practical divide within conservative circles regarding protectionism versus free-market principles.
đ By The Numbers
- $3 trillion - Revenue Trump's tariffs would raise over next decade
- $195 billion - Tariff revenue collected by Trump administration as of September
- 17% - Current U.S. tariff rate, highest since 1935
đ° Today's Big Stories
1. Ros Atkins on⌠A year since Trumpâs election victory
Trump's First Year Back: A Retrospective on Democratic Backsliding
One year after Donald Trump's 2024 election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, his second term has delivered on promises that alarm democracy watchdogs and civil rights advocates. The BBC's analysis by Ros Atkins examines how Trump has leveraged his return to power, this time with fewer guardrails and a more experienced team committed to reshaping American governance. Unlike his chaotic first term, Trump 2.0 has moved with calculated precision to consolidate executive power and pursue his agenda of retribution and radical policy transformation.
The political landscape has shifted dramatically since Trump's comeback. With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress for at least the first two years, Trump has faced minimal legislative resistance. His administration has been staffed with loyalists rather than the establishment figures who previously acted as internal checks. Key figures include hardline immigration enforcers, election skeptics in crucial positions, and advisors drawn from the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 blueprintâa detailed plan for overhauling federal agencies that Trump previously distanced himself from during the campaign but has since embraced in practice.
The impact on American institutions has been profound and concerning. From aggressive deportation campaigns and attacks on press freedoms to the politicization of the Justice Department and rollbacks of environmental protections, Trump's second term represents an accelerated assault on democratic norms. Marginalized communitiesâparticularly immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of colorâface heightened threats to their rights and safety. The international order has also been disrupted as Trump has weakened traditional alliances while cozying up to authoritarian leaders.
Looking ahead, the 2026 midterms represent a critical checkpoint for resistance efforts, though concerns about election integrity loom large given Trump's placement of election deniers in key positions. Advocates should monitor ongoing legal challenges to executive overreach, state-level resistance efforts, and the resilience of civil society organizations facing potential federal retaliation. The question isn't whether Trump will push boundariesâit's whether America's democratic institutions can withstand this sustained stress test.
2. Supreme Court begins hearing Trump tariffs case
Supreme Court Takes Up Trump's Sweeping Tariff Powers
The Supreme Court has begun hearing arguments in a pivotal case challenging President Donald Trump's authority to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs on trading partners. Trump has characterized the legal battle in stark terms, calling it a matter of "life or death" for the United Statesârhetoric that underscores how central his protectionist trade agenda is to his political identity and economic vision.
At the heart of this case is a fundamental question about executive power: Can a president bypass Congress to impose broad tariffs using emergency authorities originally designed for narrow national security threats? Trump has invoked rarely-used statutes to justify tariffs affecting hundreds of billions of dollars in trade, claiming they're essential to American economic security. Critics argue this represents a dangerous expansion of presidential authority that circumvents Congress's constitutional power over commerce and taxation. The case brings together strange bedfellows, with business groups, importers, and constitutional scholars challenging an administration that has made economic nationalism a cornerstone policy.
The stakes extend far beyond trade policy. A ruling in Trump's favor would significantly expand unilateral presidential power over the economy, setting precedent for future executives to impose major economic policies without legislative approval. For everyday Americans, the outcome directly affects consumer prices, job markets in both manufacturing and import-dependent industries, and the stability of international relationships that underpin global supply chains. This case also tests whether the conservative supermajorityâincluding three Trump appointeesâwill check executive overreach or defer to expansive presidential claims.
Watch for: The Court's decision, expected by summer, and whether justices question the scope of emergency powers or defer to executive authority on national security claims. Also monitor how this ruling might affect other unilateral executive actions across policy areas, from immigration to environmental regulation.
3. Trump on Democrats' election blowout: 'I don't think it was good for Republicans'
Trump Pushes to Eliminate Filibuster After Republican Setbacks
In a revealing moment of frustration, former President Donald Trump acknowledged that recent Democratic electoral victories were "not good for Republicans," while simultaneously calling on GOP lawmakers to eliminate the Senate filibuster. The admission comes as Trump attempts to pressure his party to take extraordinary procedural steps to advance his agenda, including controversial changes to voting laws, amid an ongoing government shutdown crisis.
Trump's push to nuke the filibusterâa dramatic reversal from traditional Republican defense of the 60-vote thresholdâexposes the party's desperation to consolidate power despite electoral setbacks. The filibuster has long served as a guardrail against single-party rule, requiring bipartisan cooperation on most legislation. By advocating for its elimination, Trump is essentially calling for Republicans to abandon democratic norms in favor of raw power politics, particularly concerning when paired with his stated goal of overhauling voting laws that could entrench GOP advantages regardless of voter preferences.
The stakes couldn't be higher for American democracy. If Republicans were to eliminate the filibuster and push through voting law changes, it could fundamentally alter electoral access and fairness for generations. This comes as Trump continues to wield significant influence over the Republican Party despite his election denialism and role in the January 6th insurrection. The combination of electoral desperation, procedural radicalism, and attacks on voting rights represents a dangerous escalation in the GOP's authoritarian turn.
What to watch: Monitor whether Senate Republicans, particularly those facing competitive 2026 races, embrace or distance themselves from Trump's filibuster demands. Pay attention to any specific voting law proposals that emerge, and track whether the government shutdown becomes leverage for these broader anti-democratic goals. The response from Senate Minority Leader and vulnerable GOP senators will signal whether the party's institutional guardrails still hold any weight.
4. Trump summons GOP senators to White House to call for end to filibuster
Trump Pressures GOP Senators to Kill Filibuster as Shutdown Drags On
President Trump escalated his campaign to eliminate the Senate filibuster on Wednesday, summoning the entire Republican Senate Conference to the White House for what amounted to a high-pressure lobbying session. The president warned lawmakers that maintaining the 60-vote threshold for most legislation would be a "tragic mistake," even as he reportedly acknowledged facing significant resistance within his own party. The extraordinary meeting comes as a government shutdown continues, with Trump apparently viewing the filibuster as an obstacle to his legislative agenda.
The filibuster fight reveals deepening tensions within the Republican Party over institutional norms and legislative strategy. While Trump and some hardline conservatives see the procedural rule as an impediment to enacting their agenda, traditional Senate Republicansâincluding Majority Leader Mitch McConnellâhave consistently opposed eliminating it. They recognize that the filibuster protects minority party rights and that Republicans will inevitably find themselves in the minority again. The rule requires bipartisan cooperation on most legislation, forcing moderation that Trump has repeatedly chafed against.
For progressive readers, this push should raise serious alarms about authoritarian impulses and the potential for unchecked power. While Democrats have also debated filibuster reform, Trump's demand comes in the context of a government shutdown and appears designed to consolidate executive and legislative power without meaningful opposition. If successful, eliminating the filibuster under Trump could enable rapid passage of restrictive voting laws, immigration crackdowns, and rollbacks of civil rights protectionsâall without requiring any Democratic input or compromise.
Watch closely whether any Republican senators publicly break with Trump on this issue, and whether McConnell continues to hold the line. Also monitor if Trump attempts to tie filibuster elimination to shutdown negotiations, potentially using federal workers as leverage for a procedural power grab.
5. Live updates: Supreme Court weighs White House tariffs; Trump lays blame for GOP's bad election night
Supreme Court Hears Challenge to Trump Tariffs as GOP Faces Electoral Reckoning
The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on the legality of President Trump's expansive tariff program, placing his signature economic policyâand potentially billions in trade restrictionsâin the hands of the justices. The case challenges whether Trump exceeded his executive authority by imposing sweeping tariffs that critics argue should require Congressional approval. The timing couldn't be more precarious for the administration, as these tariffs have contributed to rising consumer prices and economic uncertainty for American families and businesses.
The legal challenge comes as Republicans absorbed bruising losses in Tuesday's special elections in New York, prompting Trump to publicly distance himself from his party's performance. The electoral setbacks suggest growing voter frustration with GOP governance, potentially linked to the economic pain caused by the tariff policies now under judicial scrutiny. Trump's willingness to blame fellow Republicans rather than acknowledge policy failures demonstrates the political pressure building around his trade agenda.
Why this matters: If the Court rules against Trump, it would dismantle a cornerstone of his economic policy and potentially refund billions in tariffs while preventing future unilateral trade actions. A ruling in Trump's favor, however, would dramatically expand presidential power over economic policy with minimal Congressional oversight. Either outcome will reverberate through 2024 campaign politics, especially as voters increasingly cite economic concerns and cost-of-living issues as top priorities.
What's next: A decision is expected by late June or early July. Meanwhile, watch whether more Republicans begin distancing themselves from Trump's economic policies ahead of upcoming primaries, and whether the administration signals any willingness to modify its tariff approach while the case is pending.
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