Mara Liasson

So this executive order on independent agencies is part and parcel with almost every other thing that Trump is doing. And eventually, it's going to go to the Supreme Court because some of these agencies were set up by Congress. And the Supreme Court will decide.

And we know that several members of the conservative majority of the court that Donald Trump built are very receptive to this idea of an all-powerful executive.

And we know that several members of the conservative majority of the court that Donald Trump built are very receptive to this idea of an all-powerful executive.

And we know that several members of the conservative majority of the court that Donald Trump built are very receptive to this idea of an all-powerful executive.

And don't forget, there's a third branch of government here, Congress. Congress created these independent agencies. And so far, what we've seen is that especially the Republican Congress under a Republican president, this president, has pretty much abdicated its role as a co-equal branch of government.

And don't forget, there's a third branch of government here, Congress. Congress created these independent agencies. And so far, what we've seen is that especially the Republican Congress under a Republican president, this president, has pretty much abdicated its role as a co-equal branch of government.

And don't forget, there's a third branch of government here, Congress. Congress created these independent agencies. And so far, what we've seen is that especially the Republican Congress under a Republican president, this president, has pretty much abdicated its role as a co-equal branch of government.

So you've got left, the only check left is the courts, and we're going to see how willing they are to let Trump's new, very expansive view of the executive prevail. Right. Right.

So you've got left, the only check left is the courts, and we're going to see how willing they are to let Trump's new, very expansive view of the executive prevail. Right. Right.

So you've got left, the only check left is the courts, and we're going to see how willing they are to let Trump's new, very expansive view of the executive prevail. Right. Right.

And I'm Mara Liason, senior national political correspondent.

And I'm Mara Liason, senior national political correspondent.

And I'm Mara Liason, senior national political correspondent.

Before Republicans finally came up with a bill that could pass, 34 Republicans helped defeat the bill Trump wanted, a bill that would have, among other things, raised the debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is the amount of money Congress allows the government to borrow to pay for spending Congress has already approved.

Before Republicans finally came up with a bill that could pass, 34 Republicans helped defeat the bill Trump wanted, a bill that would have, among other things, raised the debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is the amount of money Congress allows the government to borrow to pay for spending Congress has already approved.

Trump's plans, including tariffs, tax cuts, and deportations, are estimated to add as much as $7 trillion to the national debt, and Trump didn't want the debt ceiling in his way.

Trump's plans, including tariffs, tax cuts, and deportations, are estimated to add as much as $7 trillion to the national debt, and Trump didn't want the debt ceiling in his way.

But even if Trump doesn't care about deficits, there are still about three dozen Republicans in the House that do, and that means Trump may have difficulty convincing Congress to approve all the expensive things he wants to do next year. Mara Liason, NPR News.

But even if Trump doesn't care about deficits, there are still about three dozen Republicans in the House that do, and that means Trump may have difficulty convincing Congress to approve all the expensive things he wants to do next year. Mara Liason, NPR News.

Some of this is the normal anticipation and enthusiasm that the business community has billionaires, Wall Street would have to any new Republican president who's going to cut their taxes and limit regulation. Some of it's because Trump's takeover of the Republican Party is now complete. There are no more Romneys and Flakes and Cheneys around.