The Supreme Court's tariffs ruling empowers conservative deregulation, not progressive principles
Source: Harry Blain. "Everyone Is Missing the Point of SCOTUS’s Tariffs Decision." March 5, 2026. jacobin.com
The Gist
While liberals are celebrating the Supreme Court blocking Trump's tariffs, they're missing that this ruling actually helps conservatives by creating a precedent that will make it harder for future Democratic presidents to implement progressive policies. The conservatives who opposed Trump here weren't defending democracy - they were playing a longer game to weaken government power.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court's ruling against Trump's tariffs is actually a victory for conservative legal principles that will ultimately harm progressive governance, not a win for liberal values as many believe
Premises
- The ruling was based on the major questions doctrine, a conservative legal tool designed to weaken the administrative state
- Liberal justices tried to distance themselves from the major questions doctrine but used essentially identical reasoning
- Conservative free-market groups supported opposing Trump's tariffs not because they care about executive overreach, but to establish precedent limiting government regulatory power
- The ruling will not actually stop Trump from imposing tariffs under other authorities, as he immediately did after the decision
- This precedent will be used against future Democratic administrations trying to implement progressive policies through executive action
- Liberals celebrating this ruling are being 'duped' by conservative rhetoric about constitutional principles when the real goal is protecting wealth from state interference
Assumptions
- The major questions doctrine is primarily a tool for conservative deregulation rather than legitimate constitutional interpretation
- Conservative legal activists have long-term strategic goals beyond any single case outcome
- Modern progressive governance requires broad executive authority and administrative state capacity
- The Supreme Court's conservative majority will consistently apply this precedent against progressive policies
- Liberal celebration of this ruling demonstrates political short-sightedness