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Presidential Powers

All articles tagged with #presidential powers

Obama Blasts Trump for Breaking ‘Obvious’ Rule: Don’t Weaponize Justice
politics24 days ago

Obama Blasts Trump for Breaking ‘Obvious’ Rule: Don’t Weaponize Justice

Barack Obama, speaking with Stephen Colbert at his new Presidential Center, criticized former President Trump for overstepping norms, including attempting to direct prosecutors and weaponize the justice system. He argued the White House should not target political enemies, urged codifying checks on presidential power, warned against monopolizing the military’s loyalty, and called for preventing presidents from having side ventures that could influence policy. The interview underscored concerns about maintaining basic democratic norms as norms have eroded in recent years.

via The Daily Beast|
#barack-obama#donald-trump#justice-system
The 60-Day War Powers Clock Is Symbolic, Not Binding
politics-society28 days ago

The 60-Day War Powers Clock Is Symbolic, Not Binding

Even as Iran operations reach the 60-day mark, the War Powers Resolution’s clock is largely symbolic: presidents invoke unilateral authority, Congress lacks a viable tool to force withdrawal, and courts have avoided ruling on constitutionality. Past episodes like Kosovo, Libya, and Obama’s actions show unilateral action continuing with weak, politically driven checks rather than a hard legal deadline.

via The Conversation|
#congress#iran-conflict-2026#kosovo-and-libya-comparisons
Trump’s Washington Renovations Hit Legal Roadblocks
politics2 months ago

Trump’s Washington Renovations Hit Legal Roadblocks

A wave of lawsuits challenges President Trump’s plans to remake the Kennedy Center, add a White House ballroom, erect a 250-foot arch at Memorial Circle, and fund a championship golf course, arguing he cannot unilaterally redevelop federal properties without environmental reviews and explicit congressional authorization, even as donors back the projects and courts weigh the scope of presidential power over federal land.

via The New York Times|
#federal-land#kennedy-center#lawsuits
Draft order would grant president sweeping powers over elections amid alleged foreign interference
politics3 months ago

Draft order would grant president sweeping powers over elections amid alleged foreign interference

A circulating 17-page draft executive order would declare a national emergency over foreign interference in elections and grant the president sweeping powers to alter voting rules, including the potential ban of mail ballots and voting machines. Trump says he’s “never heard of” the draft, while supporters claim White House coordination. Legal experts say such an order would face swift court challenges and that election administration is primarily a state and congressional matter; the piece also references past Trump positions on voter ID and mail voting and outlines the vast practical upheaval a unilateral order could entail.

via Straight Arrow News - SAN|
#courts#elections#foreign-interference
Trump’s Iran War: A campaign with no clear objective or exit
politics3 months ago

Trump’s Iran War: A campaign with no clear objective or exit

Vox argues that Trump’s open-ended war on Iran lacks a clear public justification, defined objectives, or exit strategy. His eight-minute speech mixes grievances about Iran with conflicting aims—initially signaling a focus on disabling military capabilities, then suggesting regime change—yet provides no coherent plan. The piece also notes that the buildup bypassed congressional or constitutional checks, highlighting a drift toward aggressive unilateral presidential power and few constraints, drawing a parallel to autocratic decisionmaking and Russia’s Ukraine invasion as a cautionary analogue.

via vox.com|
#autocracy#donald-trump#iran
Presidential War Powers in Action: Why Congress Is Often Bypassed
world3 months ago

Presidential War Powers in Action: Why Congress Is Often Bypassed

The article uses Trump’s Iran strikes to illustrate how presidents justify military action without new congressional authorizations, relying on broad commander-in-chief powers and existing authorizations (notably the 2001 AUMF) for time-sensitive operations. It traces historical precedents (Korea, Bay of Pigs, Cambodia, Panama, Libya) and notes that no new AUMF has been passed since 2002, while Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden have conducted actions in multiple countries. The piece also discusses the tension between swift executive action and Congress’s slower, deliberative role, highlighting ongoing debate over presidential overreach versus necessary agility in national security.

via Axios|
#aumf#congress#iran
Political Tensions Rise Over Prosecutions and New Evidence in High-Profile Cases
politics10 months ago

Political Tensions Rise Over Prosecutions and New Evidence in High-Profile Cases

The article discusses the inconsistency in Trump's stance on prosecuting former presidents, highlighting that legal immunity granted to presidents by the Supreme Court could protect Obama from any charges related to his actions during his presidency, especially given the broad scope of presidential immunity and the legal standards set by recent rulings. It emphasizes the political and legal contradictions in Trump's claims about prosecuting Obama, suggesting a double standard in immunity considerations.

via CNN|
#immunity#obama#politics
Trump Agrees to FBI Vetting for Nominees Amid Calls for Deeper Scrutiny
politics1 year ago

Trump Agrees to FBI Vetting for Nominees Amid Calls for Deeper Scrutiny

Donald Trump has agreed to let the FBI vet his Cabinet nominees, but as president, he can grant security clearances to anyone, regardless of FBI findings. This power is significant given that many of his picks, such as Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have backgrounds that might raise red flags in traditional vetting processes. Despite potential concerns, Trump is not obligated to deny clearances, highlighting the president's broad discretion in this area.

via POLITICO|
#cabinet-nominees#fbi#politics
"Trump's Plea for Absolute Immunity: The Supreme Court's Decision"
politics2 years ago

"Trump's Plea for Absolute Immunity: The Supreme Court's Decision"

Donald Trump has filed a U.S. Supreme Court brief seeking "absolute immunity" from criminal prosecution for his actions during his presidency, arguing that a former president should be shielded from such cases. The case is set to be argued before the justices on April 25. Special Counsel Jack Smith is pursuing a criminal case against Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Trump's filing contends that denying criminal immunity would incapacitate future presidents and subject them to political blackmail, while Smith argues that the charges strike at the heart of democracy. If Trump regains the presidency, he could potentially use his powers to end the prosecution or pardon himself for any federal crimes.

via Reuters|
#2020-election#criminal-immunity#donald-trump
"Abraham Lincoln Pardoned President Biden's Ancestor, New Records Reveal"
history2 years ago

"Abraham Lincoln Pardoned President Biden's Ancestor, New Records Reveal"

Joe Biden's great-great-grandfather, Moses J Robinette, was pardoned by Abraham Lincoln after being convicted of attempted murder for a brawl during the Civil War. The pardon, issued seven months before Lincoln's assassination, was in response to a petition from three army officers who argued that the punishment was too harsh. This revelation sheds light on a previously unknown piece of Biden family history and highlights the historical use of presidential pardon powers.

via The Guardian US|
#abraham-lincoln#civil-war#history