Author: Rachel Maddow

Court Rules Presidential Tariffs Exceed Authority The Supreme Court of the United States on Friday struck down Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, ruling that he overstepped his power by relying on emergency legislation. The 6–3 decision focused on tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which Trump invoked to levy broad duties on nearly every US trading partner. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the Constitution clearly grants Congress — not the president — the authority to impose taxes, including tariffs. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented, arguing the tariffs were legally valid even…

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was taken into custody on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to his former position as a UK trade envoy. Authorities confirmed that officers carried out searches at properties in Berkshire and Norfolk, while a man in his sixties remains in custody. Investigators said they are working with partner agencies and stressed the need to safeguard the integrity of the inquiry. They acknowledged the intense public interest surrounding the case and indicated that updates would be shared when appropriate. Unmarked police vehicles were seen outside the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where Mountbatten-Windsor has been residing…

Safeguarding Against Price Shocks EU countries have agreed to update a key financial tool designed to prevent sudden spikes in carbon prices, as the bloc prepares to launch a new carbon tax covering road transport and buildings. The updated system, part of the European Union’s emissions trading system (ETS2), will take effect in 2028, and the revisions aim to ensure that prices remain stable and predictable for households and businesses relying on fossil fuels. While some countries, including Slovakia and the Czech Republic, have pushed to delay the tax until 2030 due to social concerns, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands,…

Brussels Signals Independent Action The European Union is prepared to impose a full ban on maritime services for Russian oil tankers, even if G7 allies cannot reach a consensus, Valdis Dombrovskis said. EU officials are pushing to approve the 20th sanctions package by 24 February, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. If enacted, the ban would effectively override the G7’s existing oil price cap within the EU. European companies would be forbidden from servicing Russian tankers regardless of the price of Urals crude, which is currently capped at $44.10 per barrel. Dombrovskis emphasized that coordination with G7…

A Personal Bond Framed as Political Support U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio used his visit to Budapest to deliver a clear message from Donald Trump: Washington wants Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to succeed. Standing alongside Orbán after the Munich Security Conference, Rubio emphasized the personal relationship between the Hungarian leader and Trump, describing it as central to strong bilateral ties. He said the U.S. president is “deeply committed” to Orbán’s success, arguing that Hungary’s prosperity aligns with American national interests. Rubio also pointed to Hungary’s one-year exemption from U.S. sanctions on importers of Russian oil, granted last November, as…

Is the West in Decline — or Reinventing Itself? This year’s gathering at the Munich Security Conference exposed a widening divide in how leaders on both sides of the Atlantic see the future of the West. Senior officials from the United States, Ukraine and across Europe arrived with a shared agenda — security and the war in Ukraine — but left with clear differences over identity, values and responsibility. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that the West is drifting into decline and called on European allies to help reverse what he described as a dangerous trajectory. He warned…

Europe’s Voice Missing in Negotiations Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that sidelining Europe in efforts to end the war with Russia would be a serious misstep. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he said it was a “big mistake” that European leaders are “practically not present at the table” during US-brokered negotiations. Zelenskyy stressed that any lasting peace must reflect the security interests of the entire continent, not just Kyiv and Washington. His remarks echoed concerns raised by Emmanuel Macron, who recently suggested Europe may need to rethink its own security framework in the face of what he described…

The United Nations has established a 40-member scientific panel to study the risks and impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to provide global guidance on the rapidly advancing technology. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the initiative as a “foundational step toward global scientific understanding of AI,” allowing all member states to engage on an equal footing, regardless of their technological capabilities. Global Support and Controversy The UN General Assembly approved the panel with a vote of 117-2. The United States and Paraguay opposed it, while Tunisia and Ukraine abstained. Countries including Russia, China, and most European allies supported the move.…

US and European defence ministers signalled agreement this week that NATO must evolve to meet future challenges — but their motivations for doing so may not fully align. While Washington seeks to redirect focus to other global regions, many European leaders see the move as a chance to strengthen their own security amid an unpredictable US administration. US Under Secretary of War Eldridge Colby described the vision as “NATO 3.0,” calling on European allies to assume primary responsibility for the continent’s conventional defence. “Europe should field the preponderance of forces required to deter and, if necessary, defeat conventional aggression in…

At least nine people have died following a school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, including the suspected shooter, while several others were injured in one of the most serious school attacks in Canada in decades. Authorities reported six victims inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, with another person dying en route to the hospital. The suspected gunman was also found dead, apparently from a self-inflicted injury. Victims Discovered at School and Nearby Home Police said two additional victims were found at a nearby residence believed to be connected to the incident. In total, six people were confirmed dead at the…