Latest news with #powergrab
Bloomberg
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Texas Redistricting Fight Is a Four-Alarm Fire
President Donald Trump is attempting a massive power grab in Texas and most Americans aren't aware of it. That's a very bad sign. If, by the end of August, most Americans don't know that the president is trying to use Texas to manipulate the results of the 2026 midterm elections by changing three to five congressional seats in his favor, it's a loud signal that the decline of democracy isn't capturing public attention — and that Democrats are failing, again.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
‘Frightening': How Trump is testing the limits of US presidential power like no modern leader before
WASHINGTON, July 20 — Donald Trump has spent six months testing the limits of his authority like no other modern US president, say analysts — browbeating Congress and the courts in a power grab that may come to define his second term. Since January, the Republican leader has repeatedly pushed to secure more power for himself, calling for judges to be axed, firing independent watchdogs and sidestepping the legislative process. Barbara Perry, a University of Virginia professor and an expert on the presidency, called Trump's successes in shattering the restraints on his office 'frightening.' 'All presidents have been subject to Congress's and the Supreme Court's checks on their power, as well as splits in their own political parties,' she said. 'Trump has faced almost none of these counterpoints in this second term.' It is all a far cry from his first stint in office, when Trump and his supporters believe he was hamstrung by investigations and 'deep state' officials seeking to frustrate his agenda. But those guardrails have looked brittle this time around as Trump has fired federal workers, dismantled government departments and sent military troops into the streets to quell protest. He has also sought to exert his influence well beyond traditional presidential reach, ruthlessly targeting universities and the press, and punishing law firms he believes have crossed him. Checks and balances The US system of checks and balances — the administration, the courts and Congress as equal but separate branches of government — is designed to ensure no one amasses too much power. But when it comes to Trump's agenda — whether ending diversity efforts and birthright citizenship or freezing foreign aid — he has largely dodged the hard work of shepherding bills through Congress. Policies have instead been enacted by presidential edict. Six months in, Trump has already announced more second-term executive orders than any American leader since Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s. He has even sought to bend the economy to his will, escalating attacks on the chief of the independent central bank in a bid to lower interest rates. Once a robust restraining force against presidential overreach, the Republican-led Congress has largely forsaken its oversight role, foregoing the investigations that previous presidents have faced. That has left the judiciary as the main gatekeeper. But Trump has managed partly to neuter the authority of the federal bench too, winning a Supreme Court opinion that mostly reduces the reach of judges' rulings to their own states. In his first term the high court made Trump immune from prosecution for actions taken as part of his official duties — no matter how criminal. And almost every time Trump has turned to the country's highest legal tribunal to rein in the lower courts in his second term, it has obliged. Sole authority His long shadow has extended far beyond Washington's institutions, pushing into private realms his predecessors avoided. Trump has picked fights with elite universities, prestigious law firms and the press — threatening funding or their ability to do business. The arts haven't escaped his clunking fist either, with the 79-year-old taking over the running of the Kennedy Center in Washington. Trump has claimed falsely that the US Constitution gives him the right to do whatever he wants as the ultimate authority over government activities. This so-called 'unitary executive theory' was pushed in the 'Project 2025' blueprint for government produced by Trump's right-wing allies during last year's election campaign. Although he disavowed 'Project 2025' after it became politically toxic, Trump's own platform made the same claims for expansive presidential powers. Pessimistic about the other branches' ability to hold the administration to account, the minority Democrats have largely been limited to handwringing in press conferences. Political strategist Andrew Koneschusky, a former senior Democratic Senate aide, believes the checks on Trump's authority may ultimately have to be political rather than legal or constitutional. He points to Trump's tanking polling numbers — especially on his signature issue of immigration following mass deportations of otherwise law-abiding undocumented migrants. 'It's not entirely comforting that politics and public opinion are the primary checks on his power,' Koneschusky said. 'It would be better to see Congress flex its muscle as a co-equal branch of government. But it's at least something.' — AFP
Japan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
'Frightening': Trump's historic power grab worries experts
Donald Trump has spent six months testing the limits of his authority like no other modern U.S. president, say analysts — browbeating Congress and the courts in a power grab that may come to define his second term. Since January, the Republican leader has repeatedly pushed to secure more power for himself, calling for judges to be axed, firing independent watchdogs and sidestepping the legislative process. Barbara Perry, a University of Virginia professor and an expert on the presidency, called Trump's successes in shattering the restraints on his office "frightening." "All presidents have been subject to Congress's and the Supreme Court's checks on their power, as well as splits in their own political parties," she said. "Trump has faced almost none of these counterpoints in this second term." It is all a far cry from his first stint in office, when Trump and his supporters believe he was hamstrung by investigations and "deep state" officials seeking to frustrate his agenda. But those guardrails have looked brittle this time around as Trump has fired federal workers, dismantled government departments and sent military troops into the streets to quell protest. He has also sought to exert his influence well beyond traditional presidential reach, ruthlessly targeting universities and the press, and punishing law firms he believes have crossed him. The U.S. system of checks and balances — the administration, the courts and Congress as equal but separate branches of government — is designed to ensure no one amasses too much power. But when it comes to Trump's agenda — whether ending diversity efforts and birthright citizenship or freezing foreign aid — he has largely dodged the hard work of shepherding bills through Congress. Policies have instead been enacted by presidential edict. Six months in, Trump has already announced more second-term executive orders than any American leader since Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s. He has even sought to bend the economy to his will, escalating attacks on the chief of the independent central bank in a bid to lower interest rates. Once a robust restraining force against presidential overreach, the Republican-led Congress has largely forsaken its oversight role, foregoing the investigations that previous presidents have faced. That has left the judiciary as the main gatekeeper. But Trump has managed partly to neuter the authority of the federal bench too, winning a Supreme Court opinion that mostly reduces the reach of judges' rulings to their own states. In his first term the high court made Trump immune from prosecution for actions taken as part of his official duties — no matter how criminal. And almost every time Trump has turned to the country's highest legal tribunal to rein in the lower courts in his second term, it has obliged. His long shadow has extended far beyond Washington's institutions, pushing into private realms his predecessors avoided. Trump has picked fights with elite universities, prestigious law firms and the press — threatening funding or their ability to do business. The arts haven't escaped his clunking fist either, with the 79-year-old taking over the running of the Kennedy Center in Washington. Trump has claimed falsely that the U.S. Constitution gives him the right to do whatever he wants as the ultimate authority over government activities. This so-called "unitary executive theory" was pushed in the "Project 2025" blueprint for government produced by Trump's right-wing allies during last year's election campaign. Although he disavowed "Project 2025" after it became politically toxic, Trump's own platform made the same claims for expansive presidential powers. Pessimistic about the other branches' ability to hold the administration to account, the minority Democrats have largely been limited to handwringing in news conferences. Political strategist Andrew Koneschusky, a former senior Democratic Senate aide, believes the checks on Trump's authority may ultimately have to be political rather than legal or constitutional. He points to Trump's tanking polling numbers — especially on his signature issue of immigration following mass deportations of otherwise law-abiding undocumented migrants. "It's not entirely comforting that politics and public opinion are the primary checks on his power," Koneschusky said. "It would be better to see Congress flex its muscle as a co-equal branch of government. But it's at least something."
Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
‘Frightening': Trump's historic power grab worries experts
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump has spent six months testing the limits of his authority like no other modern US president, say analysts — browbeating Congress and the courts in a power grab that may come to define his second term. Since January, the Republican leader has repeatedly pushed to secure more power for himself, calling for judges to be axed, firing independent watchdogs and sidestepping the legislative process. Barbara Perry, a University of Virginia professor and an expert on the presidency, called Trump's successes in shattering the restraints on his office 'frightening.' 'All presidents have been subject to Congress's and the Supreme Court's checks on their power, as well as splits in their own political parties,' she said. 'Trump has faced almost none of these counterpoints in this second term.' It is all a far cry from his first stint in office, when Trump and his supporters believe he was hamstrung by investigations and 'deep state' officials seeking to frustrate his agenda. But those guardrails have looked brittle this time around as Trump has fired federal workers, dismantled government departments and sent military troops into the streets to quell protest. He has also sought to exert his influence well beyond traditional presidential reach, ruthlessly targeting universities and the press, and punishing law firms he believes have crossed him. Checks and balances The US system of checks and balances — the administration, the courts and Congress as equal but separate branches of government — is designed to ensure no one amasses too much power. But when it comes to Trump's agenda — whether ending diversity efforts and birthright citizenship or freezing foreign aid — he has largely dodged the hard work of shepherding bills through Congress. Policies have instead been enacted by presidential edict. Six months in, Trump has already announced more second-term executive orders than any American leader since Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s. He has even sought to bend the economy to his will, escalating attacks on the chief of the independent central bank in a bid to lower interest rates. Once a robust restraining force against presidential overreach, the Republican-led Congress has largely forsaken its oversight role, foregoing the investigations that previous presidents have faced. That has left the judiciary as the main gatekeeper. But Trump has managed partly to neuter the authority of the federal bench too, winning a Supreme Court opinion that mostly reduces the reach of judges' rulings to their own states. In his first term the high court made Trump immune from prosecution for actions taken as part of his official duties — no matter how criminal. And almost every time Trump has turned to the country's highest legal tribunal to rein in the lower courts in his second term, it has obliged. 'Project 2025' His long shadow has extended far beyond Washington's institutions, pushing into private realms his predecessors avoided. Trump has picked fights with elite universities, prestigious law firms and the press — threatening funding or their ability to do business. The arts haven't escaped his clunking fist either, with the 79-year-old taking over the running of the Kennedy Center in Washington. Trump has claimed falsely that the US Constitution gives him the right to do whatever he wants as the ultimate authority over government activities. This so-called 'unitary executive theory' was pushed in the 'Project 2025' blueprint for government produced by Trump's right-wing allies during last year's election campaign. Although he disavowed 'Project 2025' after it became politically toxic, Trump's own platform made the same claims for expansive presidential powers. Pessimistic about the other branches' ability to hold the administration to account, the minority Democrats have largely been limited to handwringing in press conferences. Political strategist Andrew Koneschusky, a former senior Democratic Senate aide, believes the checks on Trump's authority may ultimately have to be political rather than legal or constitutional. He points to Trump's tanking polling numbers — especially on his signature issue of immigration following mass deportations of otherwise law-abiding undocumented migrants. 'It's not entirely comforting that politics and public opinion are the primary checks on his power,' Koneschusky said. 'It would be better to see Congress flex its muscle as a co-equal branch of government. But it's at least something.'
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
NDP slams Ontario school board takeovers as ‘power grab,' say parents have no voice
Opposition critics are slamming the Ontario government's decision to take over four Ontario school boards, including the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), calling the move a 'power grab' that silences elected trustees. 'Doug Ford is playing political games with our kids' futures instead of focusing on the future of our schools and what's best for students,' Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said. Stiles and a coalition of teacher unions and trustees held a news conference Thursday to call attention to the move. She accused Education Minister Paul Calandra of 'forcing through a political power grab' that shuts parents' voices out of the classroom. The province announced on June 27 that it would be appointing supervisors to take over four school boards, citing investigations into their finances. In addition to the two Toronto boards, the province also appointed supervisors to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB). The ministry claimed the boards had 'failed' in their responsibility to ensure student success and said it planned to address 'concerns regarding growing deficits, depleting reserves and ongoing cases of mismanagement.' A report on the TDSB released by Ontario's auditor general in December found that 'financial and capital resources are not consistently allocated in the most cost effective or efficient way' at the board. However Stiles said the decision 'was about control' rather than improving schools. 'This decision had nothing to do with improving our classrooms and everything to do with control,' she said. 'It's about shutting out families. It's about a power grab, and it's about political gains and what Ontario schools actually need is real investments.' Trustee says parents don't have voice now TDSB Trustee Matias de Dovitiis also spoke at the news conference. He said he's been instructed by the ministry not to respond to complaints from the community while the board is under supervision. 'The role of trustee is to be the voice for a community. So it's not about the individuals that are currently elected; it's about a democratic tradition that goes back to 1849,' de Dovitiis said. 'We've had elected trustees in this province before Canada became a country.' Chandra Pasma, the NDP's shadow minister for education, said trustees provide an important link between parents and the school system. 'What we've seen in those provinces that have done away with elected trustees is that there's incredible parent frustration because they've lost their ability to have a say in their children's school system,' Pasma said. De Dovitiis said the province has chronically underfunded schools, putting them in a position where they're being asked to slash services the community wants. 'The supervisor created a report and gave it to the minister. It said, basically, we didn't follow 40 per cent of the recommendations from staff,' de Dovitiis said. 'The recommendations from staff that we didn't follow were to close down pools, fire principals, fire safety monitors, to reduce outdoor education and to do away with the many things that make school education, public education better for our kids. We weren't prepared to do that because we represent our communities, and our communities don't want us to do that.' Michelle Teixeira, president of the Toronto branch of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), also spoke at the news conference and said the move is a distraction from underfunding. 'It is an affront to local democracy and community voice,' she said. 'The recent takeover of four school boards – including the largest in Canada, the TDSB – is evidence of this. The investigations into these school boards were nothing more than a ruse designed to distract from the fact that they are willfully underfunding education in this province.' She cited a report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which estimated Ontario underfunded education by $6.3 billion since 2018. That report pegged underfunding for the TDSB since 2018 at nearly $900 million. She also noted that the TDSB continues to make up a large portion of the school repair backlog in the province, which stands at around $17 billion. 'Focus on your mandate, or step aside' In an email to CP24, Education Minister Paul Calandra said he's unconcerned with the opinions of trustees. 'I am focused on listening to parents and teachers about how we can set students up for success, and less concerned about the opinions of trustees that have failed in their most basic responsibility: putting students first,' Calandra wrote. 'We are restoring accountability in Ontario's education system and putting all trustees on notice: focus on your mandate, or step aside.' He accused the opposition parties of defending 'broken boards' and opposing accountability. 'While they fight to support out-of-touch school board trustees, we will fight for students, parents, and teachers,' Calandra wrote. Calandra's office did not say what process parents should follow for communicating their concerns while school boards are under supervision.
