Donald Trump just blew up trade policy -- and handed himself new, unchecked power in the process.

With the stroke of a pen, he declared a fake “national emergency,” slapped devastating tariffs on nearly every US trading partner, and tanked the economy. Prices are spiking. Supply chains are seizing up. And Trump is doing it all on purpose -- to reward his loyalists, punish his enemies, and tighten his grip on power.

This is happening, in part, because Trump has a 2nd grade comprehension of international trade. But the real motivation isn’t trade. It’s control. (ICYMI, Senator Chris Murphy broke this down in a must-read Bluesky thread.)

These tariffs are designed to inflict pain -- on consumers, on businesses, on entire communities -- so that Trump can dole out relief in exchange for obedience. He’s creating a crisis that only he can “solve,” and he’s holding the economy hostage to get what he wants.

Now, Congress has a choice. And whether they act -- or cave -- depends on how much heat they’re feeling from the public.
Enter: The Privileged Resolution

Under the National Emergencies Act, Congress has a powerful tool to fight back against the Trump tariffs. They can fast-track a vote in both chambers on a privileged resolution to terminate Trump’s fake emergency and block the tariffs.

✅ These resolutions can’t be buried in committee
✅ They can’t be filibustered in the Senate
✅ They force a vote -- putting every single Member of Congress on the record

Democrats are already moving. Senator Ron Wyden is leading in the Senate. Rep. Greg Meeks is leading in the House. This is real momentum -- but we need to make it impossible to ignore.
The Trump Veto and Why It’s Important to Force the Votes Anyway

Trump has already said he’ll veto the resolution. That’s not an excuse to back down. It’s a reason to fight harder. Congress must move forward, regardless of the veto threat. Here’s why:

Even if the resolution doesn’t become law, the fight matters. It puts every Member of Congress on the record. It creates headlines and builds public pressure. It slows Trump down and exposes the authoritarian game he’s playing. And it shows the country that Democrats will not go quietly while he abuses power.

This isn’t just a symbolic vote. It’s a test. And we need to make sure every Democrat passes it -- and every Republican is forced to own their complicity.

Now, we know this is a lot about process. But there’s one more thing you need to know:

Republicans might change the rules so that we can't fast track this resolution -- thereby burying it. They've done this before, and are already trying to do it again. But if they succeed, we've got a back up plan: The discharge petition. If 218 House members sign on, they can force a vote to the floor -- no matter what Mike Johnson says.

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