Supreme Court strikes down President Trump’s tariffs — are refunds on the way?

Supreme Court strikes down President Trump’s tariffs — are refunds on the way?

The Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs on Friday, handing him a significant loss on an issue crucial to his economic agenda. The 6-3 decision centers on tariffs imposed under an emergency powers law, including the sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs he levied on nearly every other country. It’s the first major piece of Trump’s broad agenda to come squarely before the nation’s highest court, which he helped shape with the appointments of three conservative jurists in his first term. The majority found that the Constitution “very clearly” gives Congress the power to impose taxes, which include tariffs. “The Framers did not vest any part of the taxing power in the Executive Branch,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. “The tariffs at issue here may or may not be wise policy. But as a matter of text, history, and precedent, they are clearly lawful,” Kavanaugh wrote in the dissent. The majority did not address whether companies could get refunded for the billions they have collectively paid in tariffs. Many companies, including the big-box warehouse chain Costco, have already lined up for refunds in court, and Kavanaugh noted the process could be complicated. Joining us this morning to break down what’s next is Peter Shane, professor of law at NYU; Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka; and Kevin Klowden, economist and fellow at the Milken Institute.

With files from the Associated Press.

Grassroots Campaigns have a new foe: AI Astroturf

Traditional forms of grassroots movements still exist in today’s digitized world, and have proven to work in recent times, most notably for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Grassroots movements are foundational for community-driven, bottom-up campaigns where everyday people are able to mobilize, pooling resources to back a campaign or a politician. Last year, the South Coast Air Quality Management District proposed new air pollution rules that would place surcharges on new gas-powered furnaces and water heaters across Southern California to prevent thousands of premature deaths and reduce smog-forming chemicals in the environment. But that measure was quickly shot down. More than 20,000 public comments, mostly in opposition of the measure, flooded the inbox of the board. But as it turns out, a recent LA Times investigation found that most of those public comments were generated by an AI-powered advocacy platform called CiviClick. Experts warn that this may represent a new frontier known as “astroturfing,” where individual actors are able to manipulate AI to appear as a grassroots movement. Today on Airtalk, we are joined by Hayley Smith, environmental reporter at the LA Times, who has been following this, and Samuel Woolley, Chair of Disinformation Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. We also want to hear from you! Have you been targeted by AI astroturf campaigns? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.

Coffee in an omakase setting? Tangible Gratitude offers you the caffeine and the experience

Wine has always been hailed as a drink that could certainly differ in quality, with much of that coming down to people’s taste buds and the depth of flavor a person likes, which is something that isn’t much different from coffee. For Victor Yuen, he doesn’t just stop at making a good cup of coffee, but instead he’s developed a whole caffeine-consuming experience, done in an omakase-style. As a reservation-only spot, Tangible Gratitude is meant to offer you an experience that’s focused on slowing things down, providing five courses of different drinks. Today on Food Friday, we’ll sit down with Victor Yuen, owner of Tangible Gratitude, a coffee omakase in Hermosa Beach, to discuss this concept and how he’s curated it.

FilmWeek: ‘How To Make A Killing,’ ‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert,’ ‘Redux Redux,’ and more!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

How To Make A Killing, Wide Release
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, In Select IMAX Theaters|Expands February 27
Redux Redux, In Select Theaters
I Can Only Imagine 2, In Select Theaters
This Is Not a Test, In Select Theaters
Threshold, Streaming on Peacock
One Mile: Chapter One & Chapter Two, Two films available simultaneously on digital
Blades of the Guardians, In Select Theaters
The Dreadful, In Select Theaters
Diabolic, Available on Digital and On Demand       

Feature: Wagner Moura on his role in The Secret Agent

Brazil has been a rising star in international cinema. The Secret Agent, a political thriller set in 1977 about a researcher trying to escape the country for unknown reasons, is just the latest film from Brazil to gain critical acclaim. Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho and starring Wagner Moura, the film shows the tangible and intangible effects an authoritarian regime imposes on its people. Moura's character Marcelo, spends the film in hiding under an alias as he waits for assistance to get him and his son out of the country. Moura's central performance holds audiences in the precarious situation with him. The film has been nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best International Feature, Best Lead Actor (Wagner Moura), and Best Achievement in Casting. Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with actor Wagner Moura about the film and its reception abroad.

The Secret Agent is still playing in select theaters.