What's Happening

Politics

From Liberation Day to Litigation Day

What's going on: A federal appeals court threw President Donald Trump’s tariff plans a lifeline Thursday, temporarily allowing them to move forward. The court paused a lower ruling from the US Court of International Trade (CIT), which said that the law didn’t give Trump unlimited power to rewrite trade policy — like implementing tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico. The CIT decision threatened to gut Trump’s 10% global tariffs and so-called “reciprocal” levies, posing a major blow to his economic agenda. But that’s not the case anymore. It’s welcome news for Trump, who earlier in the day lost it when a reporter wondered if the tariff drama was just another example of an acronym about him, “TACO.” Let’s say, it rattled his cage to find out what that meant. (And yes, there are already memes.)

What it means: The tariffs will remain in place while the court weighs Trump’s request for a more permanent delay.The administration says the pause helps preserve US leverage in trade negotiations. If the levies do eventually fall to a legal challenge, Republicans could lose an expected $150 billion in annual revenue from tariffs. Things remain unclear for consumers and businesses — prices could shift in either direction, but most companies will likely wait to make major moves until judges sort this out. The appeals court gave both sides a deadline to submit written arguments by early next month.

Related: West Wing Chaos: Someone’s Impersonating the White House Chief of Staff (WSJ Gift Link)

Health

Is So-Called "Ethical IVF" the Latest Conservative Rebrand?

What's going on: As self-proclaimed “Fertility President” Donald Trump prepares to release a report promoting in vitro fertilization (IVF), he’s walking a political tightrope. IVF typically involves creating multiple embryos — some are implanted, while others may be frozen, donated, or discarded. That last part has drawn fire from anti-abortion conservatives, who argue it’s close to abortion and are now calling for new “guardrails” on the fertility treatment. The tension puts Trump in a bind: how to satisfy both a key segment of his base and the 85% of Americans who support access to IVF. One possible option on the table? What anti-abortion activists have shrewdly branded as “ethical IVF.”

What it means: Advocates of “ethical IVF” say the concept could mean regulating the number of embryos created and banning genetic testing, among other things. But the American Society for Reproductive Medicine says the term is “misleading,” warning that restricting embryo creation could make IVF more expensive, harder on the body, and less likely to work. Critics also say these rules could make fertility care harder to access, especially for single people, LGBTQIA+ couples, or anyone who doesn’t fit the conservative mold. On the other hand, some related proposals that could end up in the White House IVF report — like pushing for broader insurance coverage — could appeal across party lines.

Related: The White House Is Ignoring This Key Piece of the Fertility Puzzle (USA Today)

Lifestyle

The ’90s Shoe King Is Trending Again

What's going on: Steve Madden. It’s not just a shoe brand you associate with Jonah Hill’s Wolf of Wall Street character and the slinky sandal. Its founder — a complicated and, apparently, inexplicably charming former convict and mogul — is now a viral sensation. He did a no-holds-barred interview with Recho Omondi, host of the fashion podcast The Cutting Room Floor, and the response has been unbelievable, even to Madden himself. “Usually people are like ‘what do you want from a con man?’” he told The New York Times. Now, he says, “some people want me to run for president.” On the pod, Madden got into everything from how Trump’s tariffs affect shoe prices to the time he went to prison for committing securities fraud. Oh, he also proved he was the king of “dupes” before it was cool.

Tell me more: Media analysts called the Madden interview stunning — millions of people watched the clips and many paid to hear the full podcast, even though the brand was far from “trendy” in 2025 (not for long). In the days post-interview, Steve Madden stock shot up to its highest point in a month, and Google searches for “Steve Madden” jumped 60% as fans online pledged to buy the notoriously affordable-chic shoes. As one TikTok user put it: “You know what, Steve Madden shoes are not THAT uncomfortable.” Omondi best described the reason for the pod’s success: Madden’s authenticity and brutal honesty. Redemption, but make it retail.

Related: Things Aren’t Looking Great for Shein and Temu (Intelligencer)