As judges block broad actions, White House says courts causing constitutional crisis
Since President Trump’s return to office last month, federal judges have notably halted several moves geared at drastically reforming parts of the federal government and U.S. immigration policy through a number of preliminary rulings and injunctions.
At least one federal judge has said the administration has failed to fully comply with a temporary restraining order in a case challenging the administration’s attempts to freeze payments for grants and other programs.
Critics of the administration have pointed to the various rulings as clear evidence that the president is overstepping his authority and thrusting the nation into a constitutional crisis.
But the White House is firing back, arguing that the real danger is coming from judges who have ruled against him.
“The real constitutional crisis is taking place within our judicial branch, where district court judges and liberal districts across the country are abusing their power to unilaterally block President Trump’s basic executive authority,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a briefing on Wednesday.
Leavitt called the orders that federal judges have made against the administration’s agenda a “continuation of the weaponization of justice” against Trump.
During Wednesday’s press briefing, Leavitt addressed what she characterized as “an extremely dishonest narrative” that the administration was causing a crisis with its actions and criticized the news media for “fear-mongering” on the topic.
Her comments came one day after Trump spoke about some of the legal challenges during remarks from the Oval Office, where he alleged that judges were seeking to thwart the administration’s agenda.
“We want to weed out the corruption, and it seems hard to believe that a judge could say, ‘we don’t want you to do that.’ So maybe we have to look at the judges, because that’s very serious. I think it’s a very serious violation,” Trump said.
Trump clarified that while he will comply with court rulings, the White House will also file appeals.
Leavitt acknowledged that while courts have the power to issue nationwide injunctions, “these judges have no basis in the law and have no grounds,” adding that Trump’s actions are constitutional and that the White House would be vindicated on appeal.
Postal traffic to US drops more than 80% after trade exemption rule ends, UN agency says
The de minimis rule that allowed small packages worth less than $800 to be exempt from tariffs ended on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025.
Colombia’s lone Amazon port faces drying river and rising tensions with Peru
Colombia's only Amazon port town could soon be cut off from the river that keeps it alive. As drought and a shifting river spark a tense border dispute with Peru, locals are scrambling to adapt—and politicians are raising flags, literally.
Sunday Puzzle: Common denominator
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with Weekend Edition puzzlemaster Will Shortz along with listener Cynthia Rose of Littleton, Colorado.
South Korea says it has reached a deal with the US for the release of workers in a Georgia plant
More than 300 South Korean workers were detained in an immigration raid on Thursday. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said South Korea plans to send a charter plane to bring the workers home.
The silent killer increases your risk of stroke and dementia. Here’s how to control it
New recommendations for early treatment for hypertension to prevent strokes, heart attacks and dementia come as an experimental medication is shown to lower blood pressure in hard to treat patients.
Hitch a ride to the moon in a rusty old car and ‘The Couch in the Yard’
As the sun sets in a small town, a family loads up their rusty old car with the spare couch in their yard. When it breaks down in the mountains, what else is there to do but fly it to the moon?
