Scott Detrow

The memo was rescinded on Wednesday, though the White House says it still intends to cut federal funding. It's now tied up in court. Merkley described all of this in stark terms. That is a constitutional crisis. The Constitution, of course, has checks and balances built in. But the legislative branch is controlled by Republicans. Both the House and the Senate are under GOP control.

And Republican lawmakers look at Trump's moves differently. North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer told local radio station KFGO that he's a stickler for the separation of powers. But he told reporters Tuesday that Trump was just testing his own authority.

And Republican lawmakers look at Trump's moves differently. North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer told local radio station KFGO that he's a stickler for the separation of powers. But he told reporters Tuesday that Trump was just testing his own authority.

And Republican lawmakers look at Trump's moves differently. North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer told local radio station KFGO that he's a stickler for the separation of powers. But he told reporters Tuesday that Trump was just testing his own authority.

And indeed, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said this week that all of Trump's moves are legal.

And indeed, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said this week that all of Trump's moves are legal.

And indeed, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said this week that all of Trump's moves are legal.

Here she is talking about another Trump order, one aimed at ending birthright citizenship, the idea that everyone born in America is an American citizen. It's taken from language in the Constitution.

Here she is talking about another Trump order, one aimed at ending birthright citizenship, the idea that everyone born in America is an American citizen. It's taken from language in the Constitution.

Here she is talking about another Trump order, one aimed at ending birthright citizenship, the idea that everyone born in America is an American citizen. It's taken from language in the Constitution.

And that order is likely headed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court eventually, which has taken a very expansive view lately of presidential power. Republican Senator Jim Risch of Idaho summed up the state of affairs succinctly. For all of you who haven't noticed, this is a different day in Washington, D.C., Consider this. Trump is testing the limits of presidential power.

And that order is likely headed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court eventually, which has taken a very expansive view lately of presidential power. Republican Senator Jim Risch of Idaho summed up the state of affairs succinctly. For all of you who haven't noticed, this is a different day in Washington, D.C., Consider this. Trump is testing the limits of presidential power.

And that order is likely headed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court eventually, which has taken a very expansive view lately of presidential power. Republican Senator Jim Risch of Idaho summed up the state of affairs succinctly. For all of you who haven't noticed, this is a different day in Washington, D.C., Consider this. Trump is testing the limits of presidential power.

Is it a political flex or a subversion of the Constitution? From NPR, I'm Scott Detrow.

Is it a political flex or a subversion of the Constitution? From NPR, I'm Scott Detrow.

Is it a political flex or a subversion of the Constitution? From NPR, I'm Scott Detrow.

It's Consider This from NPR. Most presidents want as much power as they can get, and it's not unusual to see them claim authority that they don't in the end actually have. We saw it over the last term when former President Joe Biden tried to unilaterally forgive hundreds of billions of dollars in federal student loans.

It's Consider This from NPR. Most presidents want as much power as they can get, and it's not unusual to see them claim authority that they don't in the end actually have. We saw it over the last term when former President Joe Biden tried to unilaterally forgive hundreds of billions of dollars in federal student loans.

It's Consider This from NPR. Most presidents want as much power as they can get, and it's not unusual to see them claim authority that they don't in the end actually have. We saw it over the last term when former President Joe Biden tried to unilaterally forgive hundreds of billions of dollars in federal student loans.

Or when Biden announced days before leaving office that the 28th Amendment on gender equality was now the law of the land, which is, of course, not how it works. So are the opening moves of the Trump presidency just a spicier version of the standard playbook or an imminent threat to constitutional government as we know it?