Court vs. Commander in Chief: Power on Trial

This week on Party Politics, co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina take a deep dive into the growing tension between the Supreme Court and the presidency — and what these high-stakes legal battles mean for American democracy.The Court is set to rule on former President Donald Trump’s use of tariffs, a decision that could reshape the limits of executive authority over trade. At the same time, justices are weighing whether a president can fire top officials at will, a case that tests the balance of power between the White House and independent agencies.In another major decision, the Court has ruled on the domestic deployment of the National Guard, raising questions about the scope of presidential control over state forces. And a new case on birthright citizenship could redefine one of the country’s foundational principles — who is entitled to be an American by birth.Brandon and Jeronimo also examine how the politics of the Court itself shape these rulings — from ideological divides among justices to public perceptions of partisanship on the bench.It’s a week where the Constitution meets controversy, and where the Court’s decisions could redefine presidential power for years to come.TOPICS:The Supreme Court of the United States vs. presidential powerSCOTUS to make a ruling on Trump's tariffs.Can the president fire at will?Supreme Court rules on deploying the National Guard domestically.Case on birthright citizenship.How the politics of SCOTUS influence rulings.In addition to YouTube, Party Politics airs every Friday night at 8:00 p.m. CT on Houston Public Media TV-8 (PBS), or listen every Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT on News 88.7. The audio podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts).

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Court vs. Commander in Chief: Power on Trial is an episode from Party Politics by Houston Public Media.

This episode is 26:46 long.

This episode was published on Nov 28, 2025.

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