Is the White House budget an attempt to test presidential power?

The House of Representatives began debating sprawling new tax legislation in Congress this week. President Trump touted it as “one big, beautiful bill” that will address spending, taxes, and national security. It focuses on extending the tax cuts created during President Trump’s first term, increasing defense funding, and slashing federal spending across the board. Republican leadership is expecting a difficult road to passage as internal struggles over cuts to social programs have spilled out into the media. Will the party’s fiscal conservatives or more moderate members win the day? If it does make it out of the House, will it survive a Senate vote? President Trump was focused on business in the Middle East this week. He made his first official state visit to the Persian Gulf, where he planned to meet with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Trump is seeking $1 trillion in investment from the region, but what’s the political significance? Joe Biden reemerged with interviews this week on the BBC and ABC’s The View. The sit-downs preempted the release of two separate books claiming to detail Biden’s decline at the end of his term. Is a focus on the former president and the 2024 election holding Democrats back from moving towards their future? 

Ex-financier Mark Carney led Canada’s Liberal Party to a nearly 30-point comeback in the polls to win the federal election. The shocking victory was driven by the anger many Canadians felt over President Trump’s taunting of the neighboring nation. Was it a unique circumstance, or could Trump set the tone for more consequential results in foreign nations down the line? While campaigning, Trump was adamant that he could end the Russia-Ukraine war during his first few days in office. When day 100 came,  he reversed course in interviews, saying that his supporters knew those comments were made in jest. Another shift: Trump has been more receptive to Ukrainian demands for the war’s end since Russia’s deadly surprise attack in Kyiv. Can Trump broker a deal in Ukraine? What is the “Trump doctrine” guiding his philosophy? Comedian Larry David recently released a satirical opinion piece in the New York Times mocking Bill Maher’s dinner with Trump, comparing it to a dinner with Hitler in 1939. While making the case for political satire, KCRW discusses the usefulness of David’s essay.

Daily operations at the Department of Defense have been described as “total chaos” by a former department spokesperson. In a Politico op-ed,  recently fired John Ullyot questioned  Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s leadership and capability. President Trump defended Hegseth, but reports say the White House might be replacing him.  Several of Trump’s cabinet leaders have come under fire for focusing on the more forward-facing aspects of their jobs. Should the day-to-day management of key departments be a concern right now? Leaders worldwide are expected to gather in Rome this weekend for the funeral of Pope Francis. His leadership of the Catholic Church was regarded as a progressive shift from several of his predecessors, especially around the acceptance of LGBTQ worshippers and the treatment of migrants. He had recently clashed with Vice President JD Vance over Vance’s use of Catholic theology to defend the Trump administration’s immigration policy. KCRW discusses the political legacy of Francis and how the next pope could impact American politics. How much does the language we use around issues like immigration influence policy? Plus, we answer a listener question on viewpoint diversity.

Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents wrongfully deported Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador last month. Abrego Garcia currently sits in a maximum security prison there, despite holding legal immigration status and no criminal record. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ruled that the Trump administration should facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return, but the White House says it’s Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s responsibility instead. Neither Trump nor Bukele expressed interest in returning Abrego Garcia to the U.S. What does this Trump-court showdown mean for the balance of power in our government? Outside of immigration, the White House’s administrative crackdowns continue on college campuses. Federal officials sent Harvard University a letter demanding it end its DEI programs and enforce stricter rules on campus antisemitism. The school refused. Lawyers for the university claimed the government’s demands violate Harvard’s First Amendment rights. In retaliation, the Trump administration threatened to cut $2 billion in federal funding. Can the White House continue to threaten private universities if they don’t do their bidding? Are there ulterior motives behind the administration’s focus on antisemitism?

March Madness may have ended, but Market Madness went into effect shortly after Trump announced “reciprocal tariffs” — some over 100% — on imported goods from dozens of countries. Stocks plummeted. Republican figureheads like Ted Cruz spoke out against the sweeping plan. According to Trump, his move became a success once global leaders started offering new trade deals. Then, just hours after the tariffs went into effect, Trump declared a 90-day pause on most of them, excluding China. While the market is still on shaky ground, Trump says it bounced back due to his “master negotiations.” Is the everyday American feeling the relief he claims?  Meanwhile, prices are still rising. Voters yearn for the days when households could survive on a single income and eggs didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Even with an unfavorable economy, Trump framed his initial tariff plan as a path back to the old American Dream. Is that still possible? Or are we blinded by nostalgia?  However, it makes sense for voters to cling to the past when facing the political and economic uncertainty of the future. But how should we go about it? America’s got a complicated past. According to the culture wars, the right believes the “greatness” of the past focuses on economic prosperity, and the left says the “greatness” of the past came at the cost of certain minority groups. Do we need to resolve a definition of American greatness?