Experts convened to analyze the ongoing confrontation between former President Donald Trump and the federal judiciary, alongside his recent efforts to eliminate the Department of Education. The discussion sheds light on the potential implications of these actions and the broader constitutional tensions they evoke.
Editor’s Note: Washington Week With The Atlantic is a collaborative program produced by NewsHour Productions, WETA, and The Atlantic. It airs every Friday across PBS stations nationwide. Check your local listings, explore recent episodes, or listen to the weekly podcast for in-depth analysis.
Concerns about a potential constitutional crisis are intensifying amid a recent standoff between Donald Trump and federal authorities. The dispute arose after a federal court ordered the suspension of deportation flights scheduled to El Salvador. Concurrently, Trump has initiated efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, raising questions about the future of the agency and its functions. Experts on Washington Week With The Atlantic convened to discuss these developments and their broader significance.
Since assuming office, Trump has targeted various government institutions, including executive agencies, congressionally authorized programs, and the military. Now, he appears to be challenging the judiciary, as noted by David Ignatius. “What we are witnessing is a rhetorical battle over the scope of presidential authority,” Ignatius explained. “The Supreme Court will ultimately determine the limits of executive power in this context.” However, he emphasized that, as of now, “we are not yet in the midst of a full-blown constitutional crisis.”
Michael Scherer added that it’s not unusual for litigants to challenge court orders, but what would be extraordinary is if such defiance extended all the way to the Supreme Court. “If the president openly disregards a Supreme Court ruling, that would mark a significant and dangerous escalation,” Scherer remarked.
Joining the discussion alongside The Atlantic‘s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg were prominent journalists and analysts, including Eugene Daniels, a senior Washington correspondent and co-host of The Weekend on MSNBC; David Ignatius from The Washington Post; Michael Scherer from The Atlantic; and Nancy Youssef, a national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal.
For the full episode and in-depth analysis, click here.
