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Tariffs aren't a presidential power, says California Attorney General

A woman wearing a blue suit, a man wearing a grey suit and another man wearing a blue suit stand side by side. The man in the grey suit stands in the middle, speaking into several mics on a microphone stand. The woman and other man are smiling.
From left, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta speak to the media following arguments on President Trump's tariffs in the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
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Bill Clark
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CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
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Tariffs aren't a presidential power, says California Attorney General

Next year, the Supreme Court will decide whether the President can use a five decade old emergency powers act to shape the U.S. economy.

Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or AYEEPA, last spring when he imposed sweeping tariffs of at least 10 percent across all countries.

Wednesday, the nine justices heard oral arguments in the case. And however they decide it — the ruling could affect economic policy and presidential power for years to come.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a democrat, was at the Court and joined Consider This host Juana Summers to talk about the suit and the steps his state is taking to rein in the Trump administration.


For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Brianna Scott and Erika Ryan with engineering by David Greenburg. It was edited by Courtney Dorning.  Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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