Tuesday, February 24, 2026
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A View From the Ground
News and information about politics, government, civic participation and engagement from URL Media's network of Black and Brown publishers.
This week, let’s talk about Trump’s tariff reckoning, the loss of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, why you should pay attention to ballot measures and more.
And as always, keep checking URL Media for the latest updates.
Credit: Unsplash / Marek Studzinski
The $175 Billion Tariff Reckoning
One year ago, Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff regime was sold as a bold economic revolution. In practice, it was an unconstitutional power grab, and the Supreme Court just said so out loud.
In a 6-3 ruling on February 20, 2026, the Court struck down the core of Trump's sweeping global tariffs, finding that the president had no legal authority to impose them under emergency powers. Even two of his own appointees sided against him. Chief Justice Roberts made it plain that tariff power belongs to Congress, not the Oval Office. Now, more than $175 billion in collected tariffs could be subject to refunds, and states like Illinois and California are already sending invoices to the White House.
Trump responded by calling the ruling "a disgrace," attacking the justices personally, and immediately pivoting to new tariffs under different legal statutes, essentially trying to recreate Liberation Day through a side door. But the constitutional message is clear. No president gets to rewrite trade policy by declaring an emergency and acting like a king. For a Court that has handed Trump significant wins this term, this ruling is a rare and meaningful check on executive power, and a reminder that the republic, however battered, is not yet post-constitutional.
Source: Pexels / Aaron Kittredge
Democracy dies in distraction, the man who lost two presidential races but won anyway — and more
Racism as White House strategy: Trump once sued over a joke comparing him to an orangutan. But lately, he's been sharing racist memes depicting the Obamas as monkeys. Coincidence? Hardly. This isn't just pettiness; it's a calculated politics of distraction designed to keep us from asking harder questions, including about Trump's ties to the Epstein files. Democracy doesn't only die in darkness. Sometimes it dies because we couldn't stop arguing about memes. Keep reading at URL Media.
How Jesse Jackson changed politics: Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. has died at 84, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped American politics forever. His two presidential campaigns became the blueprint for every insurgent candidate that followed, including Bernie Sanders. CNN's Abby Phillip says his runs were the "dress rehearsal" for a Black president. His story is bigger than most people know, and it's one every politically engaged American should read. Keep reading at URL Media.
… and helped us believe we were somebody: Rev. Jesse Jackson didn't just run for president. He rewired what was possible for an entire generation of Black Americans. His politics were never naive; they were visionary. As we mourn his passing, Dr. James Peterson reflects on what his legacy of moral audacity and radical solidarity means for the fight ahead and why his "somebody-ness" is more urgent now than ever. Keep reading at URL Media.
Ballot measures are the new battleground: While everyone's focused on candidates, the real 2026 power moves are happening through ballot measures. From Missouri lawmakers overturning voter-approved minimum wage laws to new voter suppression tactics, democracy itself is under threat. Ballot Initiative expert Chris Melody Fields Figueredo breaks down what's at stake and how ordinary voters can still fight back. Listen at The Electorette.
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This content was created with AI assistance or collection.
