Author: Rachel Maddow

Justices Rule President Overstepped Authority The Supreme Court of the United States on Friday struck down sweeping global tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, ruling that he exceeded his authority by relying on emergency powers to justify the measures. In a 6–3 decision, the court found that the Constitution clearly grants Congress — not the president — the power to impose taxes, including tariffs. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said the nation’s founders did not assign any portion of the taxing power to the executive branch. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. Kavanaugh argued that…

Arrest and Investigation Prince Andrew was taken into custody on Thursday over allegations of misconduct in public office linked to his previous role as the UK’s trade envoy. Police also carried out searches at properties in Berkshire and Norfolk. While authorities did not immediately name him, they confirmed that a man in his sixties remains in custody. Andrew turned 66 on the day of his arrest. Unmarked police cars were spotted at Sandringham in Norfolk, where he has lived since leaving Windsor. Police emphasized maintaining the integrity of their investigation while acknowledging the high public interest in the case. Alleged…

Governments Try to Calm Fears Over Rising Energy Bills European Union countries have agreed to tweak a key financial safeguard to prevent sharp jumps in carbon prices once a new tax on road transport and buildings comes into force. The adjustment is aimed at smoothing out potential shocks when the expanded carbon market — known as ETS2 — begins operating in 2028. The new system will put a price on emissions from cars, vans, and heating fuels, meaning households and businesses that rely on fossil fuels are likely to see higher costs. That prospect has already stirred political tension. Some…

Brussels Weighs Tougher Energy Measures The European Union is prepared to move ahead with a sweeping ban on maritime services for Russian oil tankers, even if G7 partners fail to agree on a coordinated approach. Valdis Dombrovskis said a joint decision with the G7 would be preferable, but stressed it was not essential. Brussels is aiming to have its 20th sanctions package approved by 24 February, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. If adopted, the proposal would effectively end the G7 price cap on Russian oil within EU jurisdiction by prohibiting European companies from servicing Russian tankers…

Trump’s Support Delivered in Person U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio brought a clear message to Budapest: the Trump administration stands firmly behind Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of Hungary’s April elections. Speaking after the Munich Security Conference, Rubio praised Orbán’s close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, saying their personal connection had strengthened ties between the two countries. He made it explicit that Trump wants Orbán to remain in office, arguing that Hungary’s success aligns with American interests. Rubio also pointed to Hungary’s recent one-year exemption from U.S. sanctions on importers of Russian oil, suggesting it was made…

Competing Visions of the West This year’s Munich Security Conference brought together senior officials from the United States, Ukraine and across Europe, but beneath the formal speeches was a deeper tension: sharply different views about what the West represents — and where it is headed. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European leaders to help “save” what he described as a shared civilisation. He argued that America has no interest in managing what he called the West’s gradual decline and warned against defending a broken status quo. While his tone was less confrontational than last year’s address by Vice-President…

Europe Needs a Seat at the Table At the Munich Security Conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the limited role European leaders are playing in the U.S.-brokered talks to end the war with Russia. He called it a “big mistake” that Europe is largely absent, stressing that any lasting peace must address the security concerns of the entire continent, not just Ukraine and the United States. Zelenskyy expressed frustration with the negotiations, saying discussions often feel disconnected, with parties “talking about completely different things.” He also warned that focusing only on Ukrainian concessions without requiring Russia to compromise risks rewarding…

The United Nations has approved the creation of a new 40-member international panel to study the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence, despite firm resistance from the United States. The decision comes at a time when former employees of major AI firms are publicly raising concerns about the rapid development of the technology. The UN General Assembly voted 117-2 in favour of establishing the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. The United States and Paraguay opposed the move, while Tunisia and Ukraine abstained. Russia, China and several European nations backed the initiative. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the panel…

There was a clear message emerging from this week’s NATO defence ministers’ meeting in Brussels: the alliance is evolving, and Europe is expected to take on far greater responsibility for its own security. American and European officials appear to agree that NATO must adapt to changing global realities. But while both sides support a stronger European role, their motivations are not entirely the same. Washington wants to free up resources to focus on other regions, particularly the Indo-Pacific. European leaders, meanwhile, are mindful of the unpredictability of the current U.S. administration and the need to safeguard their own defence capabilities.…

A quiet town in northern British Columbia was shaken Tuesday after a deadly shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School left at least nine people dead. The suspected gunman was also found dead at the scene, and dozens of others were injured in one of the country’s most devastating school attacks in decades. Police said six victims were discovered inside the school building. Another person died while being transported to hospital. Officers responding to reports of an active shooter entered the school to locate and neutralize the threat. During their search, they found multiple victims as well as the suspected shooter,…