The Court Disarmed Trump’s Tariff Weapon. Who Will Pay? (With Lori Wallach)

Lever Time

The Lever

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.8 • 560 Ratings

🗓️ 26 February 2026

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump’s tariffs were illegal, striking a blow to his favorite geopolitical strategy. The decision could make it far harder for any president to wield tariffs as a weapon, but how will the ruling affect your wallet? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with trade expert Lori Wallach, director of the Rethink Trade program at the American Economic Liberties Project. Lori and David unpack the weaponization of trade policy, the messy reality of tariff refunds, and who will pay — or get paid — following the court’s decision. Get ad-free episodes, bonus content and extended interviews by becoming a member at levernews.com/join. Tired of the doom scroll? Click here to subscribe to Lever Daily, a free once-a-day email that delivers the most important and underreported news in less than five minutes. To leave a tip for The Lever, click here. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to the free ad-supported version of our podcast. For an ad-free experience,
0:05.5	visit levernews.com slash upgrade. When Donald Trump was inaugurated like all presidents, he swore
0:12.1	an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. Instead, Donald Trump has decided
0:16.9	to swerve, deflect, and append the Constitution and treat it like a terms and conditions
0:21.8	page. I'm Professor Corey Brett Schneider. And I'm deeply unqualified comedian John Fugleson.
0:27.3	We'd like to invite you to listen to the Oath in the Office podcast where every week we interpret
0:32.1	the Constitution and hold Trump accountable to his oath. It's a podcast that offers real insight on how to take action against tyranny and mayhem,
0:41.2	because despair is not a strategy.
0:43.8	We'll hold him to his pledge, despite his threats to democracy and the law itself.
0:49.3	It's a podcast that's all about hope for what a real democracy should look like from an esteemed, respected
0:54.9	constitutional scholar and a deeply neurotic comedian who thought the emoluments clause was a breakfast item.
1:01.1	Subscribe to The Oath in the Office where every week we talk about how citizens can preserve our democracy
1:06.7	and fight back against the threat to democracy.
1:10.1	Subscribe to The Oath in the Office on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast.
1:17.7	The Lever.
1:20.3	From The Lever's Reader's supported newsroom, it's lever time.
1:23.4	I'm David Serota.
1:24.7	The Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing, and I'm ashamed of certain
1:34.1	members of the court, absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what's right for
1:39.8	our country.
1:40.8	This was Donald Trump, hours after the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs that he's imposed on the country. This was Donald Trump, hours after the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs that he's
1:45.8	imposed on the country. Trump seemed genuinely angry and took the ruling personally.
	...

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