Tamara Keith

A spokesman for the National Security Council confirms the chat, which broke with longstanding national security protocol, appears to be authentic. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

A spokesman for the National Security Council confirms the chat, which broke with longstanding national security protocol, appears to be authentic. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

The government shuts down Friday night if a spending bill isn't passed. And with Republicans in control of both the House and the Senate, Trump wrote on Truth Social, quote, we have to remain united, no dissent, fight for another day when the timing is right.

The government shuts down Friday night if a spending bill isn't passed. And with Republicans in control of both the House and the Senate, Trump wrote on Truth Social, quote, we have to remain united, no dissent, fight for another day when the timing is right.

His argument is that although this measure punts the deep spending cuts conservatives want, it buys time for Republicans to pass what he really wants, big tax cuts and bulked up spending on immigration enforcement. Democrats are already rallying against it, saying it hands too much power over to the White House to determine which programs are cut. Tamara Keith, NPR News, Palm Beach, Florida.

His argument is that although this measure punts the deep spending cuts conservatives want, it buys time for Republicans to pass what he really wants, big tax cuts and bulked up spending on immigration enforcement. Democrats are already rallying against it, saying it hands too much power over to the White House to determine which programs are cut. Tamara Keith, NPR News, Palm Beach, Florida.

Well, this is one of the biggest themes of the second Trump term. President Trump is taking a very expansive view of his executive authority. He is blowing past statutes like the law requiring 30 days notice to Congress before firing inspectors general and running straight into significant constitutional questions.

Well, this is one of the biggest themes of the second Trump term. President Trump is taking a very expansive view of his executive authority. He is blowing past statutes like the law requiring 30 days notice to Congress before firing inspectors general and running straight into significant constitutional questions.

Well, this is one of the biggest themes of the second Trump term. President Trump is taking a very expansive view of his executive authority. He is blowing past statutes like the law requiring 30 days notice to Congress before firing inspectors general and running straight into significant constitutional questions.

He's trying to redefine birthright citizenship, something enshrined in the Constitution, and He's freezing federal funds and trying to erase agencies that were created by Congress without going back to Congress for the authority to do it. And I should say he's trying to do much more, much faster and going it alone in a way that he didn't in his first term. But he has a lot less to lose this time.

He's trying to redefine birthright citizenship, something enshrined in the Constitution, and He's freezing federal funds and trying to erase agencies that were created by Congress without going back to Congress for the authority to do it. And I should say he's trying to do much more, much faster and going it alone in a way that he didn't in his first term. But he has a lot less to lose this time.

He's trying to redefine birthright citizenship, something enshrined in the Constitution, and He's freezing federal funds and trying to erase agencies that were created by Congress without going back to Congress for the authority to do it. And I should say he's trying to do much more, much faster and going it alone in a way that he didn't in his first term. But he has a lot less to lose this time.

He isn't running for reelection. And the Supreme Court has given presidents broad legal immunity for laws that are broken in the course of doing their job.

He isn't running for reelection. And the Supreme Court has given presidents broad legal immunity for laws that are broken in the course of doing their job.

He isn't running for reelection. And the Supreme Court has given presidents broad legal immunity for laws that are broken in the course of doing their job.

We're likely going to find out and perhaps sooner than later. President Trump did say last week that he will abide by the courts. But already in at least one case, a federal judge has found that the Trump administration defied a temporary order to unfreeze federal funding. The administration has appealed.

We're likely going to find out and perhaps sooner than later. President Trump did say last week that he will abide by the courts. But already in at least one case, a federal judge has found that the Trump administration defied a temporary order to unfreeze federal funding. The administration has appealed.

We're likely going to find out and perhaps sooner than later. President Trump did say last week that he will abide by the courts. But already in at least one case, a federal judge has found that the Trump administration defied a temporary order to unfreeze federal funding. The administration has appealed.

You know, if a theme of the first Trump administration was that he was challenging norms, the theme this time around is that he is challenging laws and the common understanding of the balance of power laid out in the Constitution. Yesterday, he shared an article on social media that argued the real threat to democracy is Democrats and federal judges trampling on the president's authority.

You know, if a theme of the first Trump administration was that he was challenging norms, the theme this time around is that he is challenging laws and the common understanding of the balance of power laid out in the Constitution. Yesterday, he shared an article on social media that argued the real threat to democracy is Democrats and federal judges trampling on the president's authority.