Make Me Smart Trump vs. the courts
Jan 13, 2026
Kyle Cheney, a legal affairs reporter from Politico, joins the discussion on Trump's ongoing court battles. He dives into how these legal challenges may impact Trump's agenda and examines the Supreme Court's stance on impending tariff decisions. The conversation highlights the surprising reactions from some GOP members regarding the DOJ's investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Cheney also reflects on the implications of accountability following January 6, shedding light on the evolving landscape of legal challenges in the political sphere.
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Second Term Alters Accountability
- Kyle Cheney notes that Trump's return to power changes the historical arc and reduces accountability for January 6.
- He argues this emboldens presidential actions that push or cross legal lines without consequences.
Playing For The Supreme Court
- Cheney says the administration bets lower-court losses will be reversed by the Supreme Court.
- He observes that strategy has largely worked so far for rolling back parts of the bureaucracy.
Fed Probe Sparks Unusual GOP Pushback
- Cheney highlights bipartisan alarm over the Justice Department probe of Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
- He says unusual Republican criticism shows the investigation looked clearly pretextual to many.