[Saturday, February 21] US News Headlines from r/politics
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DAILY BRIEFING
By Dr. Headline, HeadlineSquare February 21, 2026
Executive Summary
- President Trump escalates a clash with the Judiciary, hiking global tariffs to 15% in a direct challenge to a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated his previous policy and exposed a deep fracture among conservative justices.
- The tariff crisis triggers a political and financial firestorm, with broad public disapproval, lawsuits from states demanding billions in refunds, and growing opposition within the Republican party.
- U.S.-Iran tensions reach a critical point with a major American military buildup in the region, reports of President Trump considering strikes, and contradictory claims of a potential diplomatic breakthrough.
- The Department of Justice is embroiled in controversy after abruptly firing a unanimously appointed U.S. Attorney in Virginia.
- Controversial immigration policies expand, including reports of a secret overseas detention facility and a proposal to halt asylum-seeker work permits.
1. The Tariff Crisis: An Executive-Judicial Showdown
1.1. Supreme Court Strikes Down Tariffs, Exposing Conservative Rift
A landmark Supreme Court decision invalidating the administration’s tariff policy has revealed a deep fracture among the court’s conservative justices and set the stage for a major institutional conflict [1]. The ruling, which Chief Justice John Roberts joined, ended what one analysis called President Trump’s “big Supreme Court winning streak” [2]. The decision was marked by a searing opinion from Justice Neil Gorsuch, who reportedly “blasts Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh for favoring Trump’s illegal tariffs” [3]. Justice Gorsuch’s writing is also being interpreted as a rebuke of a “neutered Congress” and a call for the legislative branch to reclaim its constitutional powers from the executive [4]. The legal challenge was initiated by a small wine importer who risked his business while larger corporations remained silent [5].
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