Rachel Abrams

Yeah, but what are the chances that Trump's Justice Department would enforce an order against its own administration?

So is there any other recourse here? Like, would it just be, what, Congress impeaching the president?

So is there any other recourse here? Like, would it just be, what, Congress impeaching the president?

Right.

Right.

And just to take this a step further, in the scenario that you just laid out, the president could basically do whatever he wants in defiance of the courts, no accountability from Congress. And that whole situation flies in the face of the checks and balances that are the bedrock of democracy in this country.

And just to take this a step further, in the scenario that you just laid out, the president could basically do whatever he wants in defiance of the courts, no accountability from Congress. And that whole situation flies in the face of the checks and balances that are the bedrock of democracy in this country.

So I just sort of wonder if what you just explained happens, can we still call ourselves a democracy if all of the powers are consolidated under the president?

So I just sort of wonder if what you just explained happens, can we still call ourselves a democracy if all of the powers are consolidated under the president?

Luke, thank you very much.

Luke, thank you very much.

On Tuesday, a House Republican took Trump's threat of impeaching the federal judge overseeing the Venezuelan immigration case even further by introducing articles of impeachment against him. The Republican, Texas Representative Brandon Gill, said that the judge's ruling had, quote, usurped the executive's constitutional authority. So far, five House Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors.

On Tuesday, a House Republican took Trump's threat of impeaching the federal judge overseeing the Venezuelan immigration case even further by introducing articles of impeachment against him. The Republican, Texas Representative Brandon Gill, said that the judge's ruling had, quote, usurped the executive's constitutional authority. So far, five House Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors.

On Wednesday, Ukraine and Russia traded accusations of attacks against each other's energy infrastructure, just one day after a limited ceasefire proposal between the two countries was reported. The accusations highlight both the lack of trust between Russia and Ukraine as the White House pushes for a pause in fighting and how tenuous any deal would be.

On Wednesday, Ukraine and Russia traded accusations of attacks against each other's energy infrastructure, just one day after a limited ceasefire proposal between the two countries was reported. The accusations highlight both the lack of trust between Russia and Ukraine as the White House pushes for a pause in fighting and how tenuous any deal would be.

And a federal judge ruled that Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency likely violated the Constitution when they helped to shutter USAID.

And a federal judge ruled that Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency likely violated the Constitution when they helped to shutter USAID.

The ruling appears to be the first time that a judge has moved to rein in Musk's power and was based on the finding that the tech billionaire was acting as an officer of the United States without being properly appointed to that role by President Trump. Today's episode was produced by Michael Simon Johnson, Shannon Lin, and Jessica Chung.

The ruling appears to be the first time that a judge has moved to rein in Musk's power and was based on the finding that the tech billionaire was acting as an officer of the United States without being properly appointed to that role by President Trump. Today's episode was produced by Michael Simon Johnson, Shannon Lin, and Jessica Chung.

It was edited by Maria Byrne and Paige Cowett, contains original music by Rowan DeMisto, Dan Powell, and Marian Lozano, and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsberg of Wonderly. Thank you. That's it for The Daily. I'm Rachel Abrams. See you tomorrow.