This episode of Viewpoint This Sunday detonates two political flashbangs back-to-back: the Supreme Court torpedoing Trump’s global tariffs—and a looming U.S.–Israel strike on Iran that could reshape the Middle East overnight. Host Malcolm Out Loud brings the heat with a rapid-fire, no-filter discussion featuring economic strategist Christian Briggs, as they unpack what the SCOTUS decision really means—and why the fallout could hit the economy, the midterms, and Trump’s entire trade strategy at once.

The core question driving the first half: Was this a “ruling” or just an “opinion”—and who actually has the power to stop the president? Engel goes straight to the Constitution, arguing tariffs are fundamentally taxes and that Congress—not the president—holds the power to impose them. He warns that using emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act doesn’t authorize taxation, and he frames the Court’s decision as a necessary check on executive overreach—regardless of whether tariffs are good policy. Briggs largely agrees on constitutionality, even while insisting Trump’s intent was to restore a level playing field and defend American manufacturing.

Then the conversation gets explosive: refunds. If the tariffs were unconstitutional, Engel argues the government may have effectively “taken” massive sums—raising the question of whether importers (and ultimately consumers) are owed billions back, even though costs may have already been passed down the chain. That’s when the debate turns political: does this ruling help Republicans by easing cost pressure before midterms—or does it hurt them because the tariffs already squeezed younger and lower-income Americans? Briggs argues the damage is real, pointing to GDP pressure, shrinking discretionary income, and price spikes that hit working families hardest.

But the biggest moment isn’t even about tariffs—it’s about the terrifying truth underneath the argument: America’s system is broken. The hosts openly wrestle with a brutal reality—Congress is dysfunctional, the public doesn’t understand constitutional mechanics, and the country now treats SCOTUS like a final kingmaker even though the Court has no enforcement arm. Engel warns that if Americans surrender the “republic” mindset and treat nine justices as rulers, the nation drifts toward oligarchy. Briggs adds that executive power has expanded for decades across administrations, and now Trump is being forced to navigate a system where courts, Congress, and public perception collide.

And just when you think it’s over—Malcolm tees up the next crisis: Iran. Experts warn a strike looks imminent, and that negotiating with Tehran may be equivalent to negotiating with fanatics.

If you want one episode that captures the constitutional collision, economic fallout, and geopolitical fuse all at once—this is it.