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Key Supreme Court conservatives seemed skeptical Wednesday that President Donald Trump has the power to unilaterally impose far-reaching tariffs, potentially putting at risk a key part of his agenda in the biggest legal test yet of his unprecedented presidency. The Republican administration is trying to defend the tariffs central to Trump’s economic agenda after lower courts ruled the emergency law he invoked doesnt give him near-limitless power to set and change duties on imports. The Constitution says Congress has the power to levy tariffs. But the Trump administration argues that in emergency situations the president can regulate importation and that includes tariffs. Justice Amy Coney Barrett grilled the government on that point. Has there ever been another instance in which a statute has used that language to confer the power? she asked. Justice Neil Gorsuch also questioned whether Trumps position would hand too much congressional power to the president. Is the constitutional assignment of the taxing power to Congress, the power to reach into the pockets of the American people, just different? he asked. And its been different since the founding?” Questions from Chief Justice John Roberts also suggested he might not be convinced. With the court’s three liberal-leaning justices seeming deeply dubious, the tariffs challengers could win by swaying two conservatives. A decision in the case could take weeks or months. Trump has called the case one of the most important in the countrys history and said a ruling against him would be catastrophic for the economy. The challengers argue the 1977 emergency powers law Trump used doesnt even mention tariffs, and no president before has used it to impose them. A collection of small businesses say the uncertainty is driving them to the brink of bankruptcy. The case centers on two sets of tariffs. The first came in February on imports from Canada, China, and Mexico after Trump declared a national emergency over drug trafficking. The second involves the sweeping reciprocal tariffs on most countries that Trump announced in April. Multiple lawsuits have been filed over the tariffs, and the court will hear suits filed by Democratic-leaning states and small businesses focused on everything from plumbing supplies to women’s cycling apparel. Lower courts have struck down the bulk of Trump’s tariffs as an illegal use of emergency power, but the nations highest court may see it differently. Trump helped shape the conservative majority court, naming three of the nine justices in his first term. The justices have so far been reluctant to check his extraordinary flex of executive power, handing him a series of wins on the court’s emergency docket. Still, those have been short-term orders little of Trumps wide-ranging conservative agenda has been fully argued before the nations highest court. That means the outcome could set the tone for wider legal pushback against his policies. The justices have been skeptical of executive power claims before, such as when then-President Joe Biden tried to forgive $400 billion in student loans under a different law dealing with national emergencies. The Supreme Court found the law didnt clearly give him the power to enact a program with such a big economic impact, a legal principle known as the major questions doctrine. The challengers say Trumps tariffs should get the same treatment, since theyll have a much greater economic effect, raising some $3 trillion over the next decade. The government, on the other hand, says the tariffs are different because theyre a major part of his approach to foreign affairs, an area where the courts should not be second-guessing the president. The challengers are also trying to channel the conservative justices skepticism about whether the Constitution allows other parts of the government to use powers reserved for Congress, a concept known as the nondelegation doctrine. Trumps interpretation of the law could mean anyone who can regulate can also impose taxes, they say. The Justice Department counters that legal principle is for governmental agencies, not for the president. If he eventually loses at the high court, Trump could impose tariffs under other laws, but those have more limitations on the speed and severity with which he could act. The aftermath of a ruling against him also could be complicated, if the government must issue refunds for the tariffs that had collected $195 billion in revenue as of September. The Trump administration did win over four appeals court judges who found the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, gives the president authority to regulate importation during emergencies without explicit limitations. In recent decades, Congress has ceded some tariff authority to the president, and Trump has made the most of the power vacuum. Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
On November 3, Vogue announced that it is folding its sister publication Teen Vogue into Vogue.com. Now, the internet is mourning the loss of a rare publication that took young people seriously. The news came in the form of an article posted to Vogues business vertical. Per the post, the transition is part of a broader push to expand the Vogue ecosystem. The article goes on to explain that Teen Vogue will remain a distinct editorial property, with its own identity and mission, and that the publication will focus its content on career development, cultural leadership, and other issues that matter most to young people. Further, it notes that Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Versha Sharma will be leaving the company, while Vogues head of editorial content, Chloe Malle, will step in to oversee the sister publication. In the wake of Vogues announcement, Condé Nast laid off several of Teen Vogue‘s staffers, reportedly including a majority of its BIPOC and trans employees. Now, Teen Vogues former editors and writers, and many of its current fans, are taking to the internet to mourn the loss and criticize the magazine giant that owns it. Heres what to know. What happened to Teen Vogue? While Vogue is framing the absorption of Teen Vogue as a way to provide “a more unified reader experience,” members of Condé United, a union that represents workers across Condé Nast’s magazine brands, call the move clearly designed to blunt the award-winning magazines insightful journalism at a time when it is needed the most. In a post to X, the union said: Management plans to lay off six of our members, most of whom are BIPOC or trans, including Teen Vogues Politics Editor. The statement added: Teen Vogue now has no writers or editors explicitly covering politics. In a statement to Fast Company, a Condé Nast spokesperson said: “Teen Vogue has faced ongoing challenges around scale and audience reach for some time. Rather than continuing to operate independently with limited reach, bringing Teen Vogue under the Vogue umbrella allows it to tap into a larger audience, stronger distribution, and more resources.” Neither Vogue nor Condé Nast directly responded to questions about whether the layoffs primarily impacted BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) and trans staffers and how many employees were let go in total. Teen Vogues robust political reporting previously earned the publication several major awards, including the April Sidney Award for social justice coverage in 2018 and the Roosevelt Institute’s Freedom of Speech Medal in 2025. In a statement published on November 3, the Roosevelt Institute called Vogues decision to incorporate Teen Vogue evidence that corporate concentration eliminates innovative ideas and silences voices with less power. Fans react to the news Fans of Teen Voguewhich was first published in 2003are taking to the internet in droves to express their sadness that one of the only major publications geared toward teens (and primarily teen girls) will no longer maintain an independent presence. Teen Vogue took young people seriously. It’s impossible to overstate how important, how rare, and how profoundly needed that is, one tweet from writer Rainesford Stauffer reads. [Depressed] at the Teen Vogue news, wrote another X user. There’s going to be nothing left for youth/teens to reach for when they are curious about news and issues, whether it’s about fashion or politics or pop culture. Readers are most concerned by the apparent gutting of Teen Vogue staffers who focused on identity and politics coverage, especially during a moment when conservative messaging has become more common in media and concepts like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are under attack. In one TikTok explainer with more than 12,000 likes, creator @nya.etienne describes the overhaul as an intentional silencing of underrepresented voices. [They] laid off the majority of their BIPOC and trans staff, and this should be a huge concern for everybody that cares about free press in media, she says in the video. Teen Vogue is a magazine that taught a generation of us how to think critically.” Former staffers take to social media Teen Vogues former writers, editors, and staffers are also taking to social media to express alarm at the sudden change. Aiyana Ishmael, the publications former style editor, shared on Bluesky that she has been laid offadding that, in the wake of the layoffs, there are no Black staffers remaining at the publication. At [the Teen Vogue Summit], I was asked how it felt to be 1 of 2 Black women left and what that meant for representation, she wrote. Now, there are no Black women at Teen Vogue, and that is incredibly painful to think about. Teen Vogues most recent politics editor, Lex McMenamin, was also laid off this week: “Certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue, they wrote on Bluesky on November 3. In a lengthy blog written for the publication Talking Points Memo (TPM), Allegra Kirkland, who served as Teen Vogues politics director for six years until June 2025, condemned Condé Nasts decision. She told Fast Company that the publication served as a place for young peopleespecially young women and LGBTQ+ peopleto put themselves on the front lines of the fight against Trumpism, advocating for issues from the atrocious war on Gaza to book bans and gun violence in schools. Now, she says, that platform is gone. The mainstream media too often disregards young peoples opinions, or condescends to them in their coverage, Kirkland says. Theyre smeared as woke scolds, checked-out TikTok
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E-Commerce
Democrats dominated the first major Election Day since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. And while a debate about the future of the Democratic Party may have only just begun, there are signs that the economy specifically, Trumps inability to deliver the economic turnaround he promised last fall may be a real problem for Trumps GOP heading into next years higher-stakes midterm elections. Happy Anniversary! On this day, November 5th, one year ago, we had one of the Greatest Presidential Victories in History Such an Honor to represent our Country. Our Economy is BOOMING, and Costs are coming way down. Affordability is our goal. Love to the American People! Trump posted to social media Wednesday. Democratic candidates who won Tuesday in the New Jersey and Virginia governors races, and the New York City mayors contest, focused their campaigns on the publics cost-of-living concerns. The Latest: Conservative Supreme Court justices appear skeptical of Trumps sweeping unilateral tariffs Arguments at the Supreme Court have concluded for the day as the justices consider President Trumps sweeping unilateral tariffs in a trillion-dollar test of executive power. Conservative justices seemed skeptical of Trumps tariffs, potentially putting at risk a key part of his agenda in the biggest legal test yet of his unprecedented presidency. Challengers say Trump is illegally using an emergency law to claim nearly limitless tariff power and American small businesses are paying the price. Trumps administration says the law gives the president the power to regulate importation, including tariffs. The Republican president has said a ruling against him in the case before the court Wednesday would be catastrophic for the economy. U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla takes a pass on 2026 race for California governor U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla is staying put. The California Democrat who flirted with running for governor in 2026 announced Tuesday he plans to remain in the Senate. I choose to stay in this fight, Padilla told reporters on Capitol Hill in disclosing his decision. The Constitution is worth fighting for, our fundamental rights are worth fighting for. Fellow Democrats had been urging Padilla, first appointed to the Senate by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, to consider entering a race that lacks a clear leader or star and was left wide open after former Vice President Kamala Harris announced her decision not to run. Newsoms final term runs through January 2027. His party is favored to hold the seat in the heavily Democratic state. Did Sliwa spoil the race for Cuomo in NYC? Not so fast. Many have declared Republican Curtis Sliwa the spoiler in the three-way race between him, Democrat Zohran Mamdani and former governor Andrew Cuomo. But AP Voter Poll data suggests that its unlikely that Sliwas presence in the race changed the outcome. When asked how they would vote if only Mamdani and Cuomo were in the race, about half of Sliwas supporters said they would have voted for Cuomo. In the hypothetical question, about 4 in 10 Sliwa supporters said they wouldnt have voted. The remainder either would have moved to Mamdani, or didnt know what they would do. The data indicates that even half of Sliwas voters on Tuesday would not have been enough to make up the significant lead that Mamdani won by. With slightly more than 90% of the estimated vote counted, the AP Decision Desk found Mamdani won with 50.4% of the vote, while Cuomo gathered 41.6% percent of the vote. Sliwa, for his part, won 7.1% percent of the vote. Those figures could change as late-arriving mail ballots are added. Fetterman pours cold water on impact of Democrats election wins Asked about his thoughts on Democrats resounding victories in Tuesdays election, Pennsylvanias Democratic senator said he didnt think they meant much, saying Democrats were heavy favorites in both New Jersey and Virginia, as was a ballot measure in California. I wasnt surprised by any of these things, said Sen. John Fetterman. Whether the results will have an impact on the shutdown, Fetterman said he didnt think Democrats should be treating the shutdown like its some kind of a political game. If people think that we should keep it closed because of the elections that we already knew we were going to win, its like then that seems like its a game, he added. Democrats expand majorities Democrats expanded their majorities Tuesday in both the New Jersey Assembly and Virginia House and broke a Republican supermajority in the Mississippi Senate. Democrats flipped control of two Mississippi Senate districts that had been redrawn under court order to increase Black voter representation. The reshaped districts played a significant role in Democrats victories, said Heather Williams, president of the national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. When there are representative maps — and there is a process that actually gives voters a choice of who their elected officials are — we can connect with voters and win, said Williams, adding: Mississippi was a prime example of that. But the future of such districts could be in doubt. Thats because the U.S. Supreme Court is weighing a legal challenge to the section of the federal Voting Rights Act allowing such court intervention. Trumps Oval Office redecoration may reach the exterior, too Reporters waiting near the South Lawn for the president to leave on a trip to Florida noticed what appeared to be a mock-up of a sign that says, The Oval Office. The flowery, gold lettering appeared to be written on some type of temporary paper that was put up on the wall near the door where reporters enter for Trumps appearances in the Oval with foreign leaders, Cabinet members or other guests. The White House had no comment on the sign. Read more about White House redecorations Administration revokes temporary protected status for South Sudanese living in U.S. he Department of Homeland Security is revoking protections that shielded some South Sudanese living in the United Status from deportation, saying it is now safe for them to return to their chaotic East African nation. The order, which will take effect in early January, affects the small number of South Sudanese who have temporary protected status, which allows people already in the U.S. to stay and work legally if their homelands are deemed unsafe. But the news comes amid fears that the 2018 peace agreement ending that nations civil war is collapsing, with growing hunger, violence and kidnappings, including of aid workers, and weeks after an international ceasefire monitor warned that all sides in the conflict were recruiting new fighters. The announcement, which was released for public review Wednesday in the Federal Register, will be formally published Thursday. It will take effect 60 days later. The DHS statement acknowledged South Sudan is dealing with violence linked to border disputes, cross-border violence, cyclical and retaliatory attacks, and ethnic polarization, but notes that return to full-scale civil war, to-date, has been avoided. Democrat who vanished at sea loses race in NYC suburbs Petros Krommidas lost to incumbent Nassau County Legislator Patrick Mullaney in his bid for a seat in the Nassau County Legislature on Long Island, according to the countys unofficial election results. With all precincts reporting, Krommidas captured about 40% of votes cast in the race while Mullaney, a Republican, garnered about 55%. Krommidas disappeared after a night swim off Long Beach in the spring. A state judge ruled that his name had to remain on the ballot after local Republicans challenged Democrats attempt to field a replacement. Republicans will sue over California ballot measure The California Republican Party says Proposition 50 violates the 14th and 15th Amendments. The ballot measure created a new congressional map with the goal of giving Democrats five more of the states 52 congressional seats. It easily passed. The party announced plans to file a federal lawsuit on Wednesday. Its being filed by The Dhillon Law Group, the California-based firm started by Harmeet Dhillon, who now works for the U.S. Department of Justice. A state assemblyman and 18 voters are also plaintiffs. Scientists perform last rites for dearly departed datasets under Trump While some people last Friday dressed in Halloween costumes or handed out candy to trick-or-treaters, a group of U.S. data scientists published a list of datasets that have been axed, altered or had topics scrubbed since Trump returned to the White House. The timing of the release of the Dearly Departed Datasets with All Hallows Eve may have been cheeky, but the purpose was serious: to put a spotlight on attacks by the Trump administration on federal datasets that dont align with its priorities, including data dealing with gender identity; diversity, equity and inclusion; and climate change. Officials at the Federation of American Scientists and other data scientists who compiled the list divided the datasets into those that had been killed off, had variables deleted, had tools removed making public access more difficult and had found a second life outside the federal government. Read more about efforts to preserve federal data Mamdani celebrated as one of their own in India and Uganda Indians lit up social media on Wednesday to celebrate Zohran Mamdanis election win as New York City mayor after he thanked his Indian-born parents, quoted a historic speech by Indias first prime minister and turned the victory rally into a Bollywood-style street party. We are proud of him. He has done a great job, Mamdanis maternal uncle Vikram Nair told The Associated Press. Meanwhile in Uganda, where Mamdani was born, the opposition leader in the Ugandan Parliament sees his victory as an inspiring political shift. Its a big encouragement even to us here in Uganda that its possible, said Joel Ssenyonyi, who represents an area of the Ugandan capital of Kampala. Uganda has had the same president for nearly four decades, Yoweri Museveni, despite attempts by multiple opposition leaders to defeat him in elections. Read more about how Ugandans and Indians are celebrating Mamdanis victory. Mamdanis school on southern tip of Africa says congratulations Mamdani attended St Georges Grammar School in Cape Town for around three years in the mid-1990s, from the age of five. He and his family lived in South Africa after leaving his country of birth, Uganda, and before emigrating to the United States. Mamdanis father, a political theorist, worked as an academic at the University of Cape Town. We trust that he will continue to uphold the principles embodied in our school motto, Virtute et Valore the courage to do what is right, Mamdanis former school said in a statement sent to the AP. The grammar school also released a photo of Mamdani at 6 or 7 years old. Judge in Comey case scolds prosecutors as he orders them to produce records from probe A federal judge on Wednesday ordered prosecutors in the criminal case of former FBI Director James Comey to produce a trove of materials from the investigation, saying hes concerned the Justice Departments position has to been to indict first and investigate later. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick instructed prosecutors to produce by the end of Thursday grand jury materials as well as other vidence that investigators seized. Comeys attorneys said they were at a disadvantage because they had not been able to review materials that were gathered years ago. Comey is charged with lying to Congress in 2020 in a case filed days after Trump appeared to urge his attorney general to prosecute the former FBI director and other perceived political enemies. He has pleaded not guilty. Grassroots groups urge Democrats to hold firm after election wins Progressive organizations are using Tuesdays election victories to warn Democrats against cutting a deal with Republicans to end the government shutdown. Moderate Senate Democrats who are looking for an offramp right now are completely missing the moment, said Katie Bethell, political director of MoveOn. Voters have sent a resounding message: We want leaders who fight for us, and we want solutions that make life more affordable. Read more about congressional developments involving the government shutdown Trump now says affordability is GOPs goal Trump sent the social media post as Air Force One was about to take off for Miami, where hes addressing business leaders in the afternoon. Wednesday marked one year since his reelection. Happy Anniversary! On this day, November 5th, one year ago, we had one of the Greatest Presidential Victories in History Such an Honor to represent our Country. Our Economy is BOOMING, and Costs are coming way down. Affordability is our goal. Love to the American People! he wrote. Democratic candidates who won Tuesday in the New Jersey and Virginia governors races, and the New York City mayors contest, focused their campaigns on the publics cost-of-living concerns. Democratic leaders demand Trump meet to end shutdown Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said its time for Trump to meet with them as well as GOP congressional leaders to negotiate an end the shutdown and address the health care issue. Democrats stand ready to meet with you face to face, anytime and anyplace, the Democratic leaders wrote. Trump has so far refused to engage in talks until the Democrats vote to reopen the government. North Carolinas largest city reelects mayor after fallout over train stabbing Voters in Charlotte, North Carolina, have given Democrat Vi Lyles a fifth term as mayor. Lyles won comfortably Tuesday to remain the citys top leader 2 1/2 months after the death of a young Ukrainian woman on a commuter train. The stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska sparked outrage from Trump and other Republicans, who sought to pin blame for violent crime and pretrial release decisions on Democrats in general, and Lyles in particular. Lyles defeated Republican candidate Terrie Donovan, who had made crime her top issue even before the August stabbing. Charlotte hasnt elected a Republican mayor since 2007. The suspect in Zarutskas stabbing had been arrested more than a dozen times. The GOP-controlled state legislature tightened suspect release rules in September, and Lycles has promoted additional safety measures on Charlottes light rail. Trump may become the face of economic discontent Trump just got a serious warning from voters that hes out of touch with their fears about a deteriorating U.S. economy. Democrats were able to run up the score in key races across the country on Tuesday by harnessing some of the same populist fervor that helped get Trump reelected a year ago but also by focusing on the kitchen table issues the Republican had vowed to fix. Now, as the incumbent, fears about the economy have made Trump the face of much of the publics discontent. Voters in the Virginia and New Jersey governor races, the New York City mayoral contest and the California ballot proposition each ranked economic concerns as a top issue. Democrats swept all those, and it was difficult to point to any major race, anywhere, where Republicans had a key victory. Read more about how Americans have soured on Trumps management of the economy Mamdani to Trump: You will have to get through all of us Mamdani wasted little time as New York Citys mayor-elect before making clear that hell be standing up to the president of the United States, who had threatened not only to defund the city if he won, but also to arrest and deport him. Donald Trump, since I know youre watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up, he said at his victory party. If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him. New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant, said Mamdani, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Uganda. So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us. Trump seemed to be watching: AND SO IT BEGINS! he posted on social media as Mamdani spoke. Speaker Mike Johnson calls longest shutdown a sad landmark The Republican speaker insisted hes willing to talk to Democrats about their demands for health care funds, but blames them for the record-breaking shutdown, now in its 36th day. Johnson was speaking with GOP lawmakers on the steps outside the Capitol, where he has kept the House closed to regular business, sending lawmakers home in September. Ntanyahu officials criticize New York Citys mayor-elect Israels hardline National Security Minister Itamir Ben-Gvir said Mamdanis election is an everlasting disgrace how antisemitism triumphed over common sense. He called Mamdani a Hamas supporter, a hater of Israel and an avowed antisemite. Mamdani has said Israels military campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide, a claim denied by Israel. During the campaign, he also denounced atrocities committed by Hamas in its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which he called a horrific war crime. While supportive of Palestinian rights, he denies being antisemitic and reached out to Jews during his campaign. Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli posted on X encouraging Jews of New York to emigrate to Israel, writing that the city would never be the same again. His feed on the social media site Wednesday was a stream of anti-Mamdani graphics, including a photo of the Twin towers being engulfed in flames with the caption New York already forgot, a meme criticized as Islamophobic. Mamdani says hes willing to work with Trump but will put New York residents first When asked Wednesday about their combative relationship during the mayoral campaign, Mamdani said he has repeatedly expressed a willingness to help the president fulfill some of the promises Trump made during his 2024 presidential campaign. I have said time and again that I will work with the president if he wants to work together to deliver on his campaign promises of cheaper groceries or a lower cost of living. But for too long what New Yorkers have seen is a mayor who has been willing to work with the president at the expense of those New Yorkers, Mamdani said on New Yorks NY1 news channel. And I want to make it very clear that if the president looks to come after the people of this city, then I will be there standing up for them every step of the way.
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