So the president can't spend more money than Congress has agreed and voted to spend. But can the president spend less money than Congress wants?
It all comes down to something called "impoundment" and the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which controls when and how a president can take away money Congress has appropriated.
President Trump followed the Impoundment Control Act rules back in 2018. But now, in his second term, he's saying he thinks that law is unconstitutional.
On this episode: the history of impoundment, from Thomas Jefferson to Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. And what constitutional scholars and judges are saying after Trump attempted to dismantle a federal agency and freeze trillions in federal funding that goes to states for everything from new school buses to public health research.
We've got more about impoundment in the latest Planet Money newsletter.
Check out The Indicator's episodes on the gutting of USAID and how American farmers are affected in USAID cuts. And, our previous episode on the big government money pipe that's being closely watched right now.
Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.
Listen free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.
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Consider This from NPR - Is the U.S. headed for autocracy?
Is the United States headed toward autocracy?
That's a question prompted by a steady stream of executive orders seeking to consolidate power in the White House and upend long held policies and norms.
New York Times Opinion writer M. Gessen lived through much of Russia's slide into autocracy, and wrote a book about it.
They argue that one of the ways Vladimir Putin consolidated power... was by making a series of arguments that seemed outrageous at the time — like the idea that the LGBT population was a threat to Russian sovereignty.
President Donald Trump's second term has been marked by a string of policy proposals that would have been unthinkable in any other administration.
Even if they don't go anywhere, they're reshaping the boundaries of our democracy.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
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That's a question prompted by a steady stream of executive orders seeking to consolidate power in the White House and upend long held policies and norms.
New York Times Opinion writer M. Gessen lived through much of Russia's slide into autocracy, and wrote a book about it.
They argue that one of the ways Vladimir Putin consolidated power... was by making a series of arguments that seemed outrageous at the time — like the idea that the LGBT population was a threat to Russian sovereignty.
President Donald Trump's second term has been marked by a string of policy proposals that would have been unthinkable in any other administration.
Even if they don't go anywhere, they're reshaping the boundaries of our democracy.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
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Consider This from NPR - Is the U.S. headed for autocracy?
Is the United States headed toward autocracy?
That's a question prompted by a steady stream of executive orders seeking to consolidate power in the White House and upend long held policies and norms.
New York Times Opinion writer M. Gessen lived through much of Russia's slide into autocracy, and wrote a book about it.
They argue that one of the ways Vladimir Putin consolidated power... was by making a series of arguments that seemed outrageous at the time — like the idea that the LGBT population was a threat to Russian sovereignty.
President Donald Trump's second term has been marked by a string of policy proposals that would have been unthinkable in any other administration.
Even if they don't go anywhere, they're reshaping the boundaries of our democracy.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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That's a question prompted by a steady stream of executive orders seeking to consolidate power in the White House and upend long held policies and norms.
New York Times Opinion writer M. Gessen lived through much of Russia's slide into autocracy, and wrote a book about it.
They argue that one of the ways Vladimir Putin consolidated power... was by making a series of arguments that seemed outrageous at the time — like the idea that the LGBT population was a threat to Russian sovereignty.
President Donald Trump's second term has been marked by a string of policy proposals that would have been unthinkable in any other administration.
Even if they don't go anywhere, they're reshaping the boundaries of our democracy.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
Consider This from NPR - Is the U.S. headed for autocracy?
Is the United States headed toward autocracy?
That's a question prompted by a steady stream of executive orders seeking to consolidate power in the White House and upend long held policies and norms.
New York Times Opinion writer M. Gessen lived through much of Russia's slide into autocracy, and wrote a book about it.
They argue that one of the ways Vladimir Putin consolidated power... was by making a series of arguments that seemed outrageous at the time — like the idea that the LGBT population was a threat to Russian sovereignty.
President Donald Trump's second term has been marked by a string of policy proposals that would have been unthinkable in any other administration.
Even if they don't go anywhere, they're reshaping the boundaries of our democracy.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
That's a question prompted by a steady stream of executive orders seeking to consolidate power in the White House and upend long held policies and norms.
New York Times Opinion writer M. Gessen lived through much of Russia's slide into autocracy, and wrote a book about it.
They argue that one of the ways Vladimir Putin consolidated power... was by making a series of arguments that seemed outrageous at the time — like the idea that the LGBT population was a threat to Russian sovereignty.
President Donald Trump's second term has been marked by a string of policy proposals that would have been unthinkable in any other administration.
Even if they don't go anywhere, they're reshaping the boundaries of our democracy.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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State of the World from NPR - Europe’s Biggest Economy is in Trouble
Germany's economy boomed as the world underwent globalization. But since then, too little investment, too much bureaucracy and a nearby war in Ukraine has cause Europe's largest economy to stagnate. The issue has played a big role in the upcoming German election. Our Berlin correspondent tells takes us to a German factory.
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Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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1A - ICYMI: Trump Fired And Unfired The Employees That Manage Our Nuclear Stockpile
It was an abrupt about-face. Last Thursday, federal employees at the agency that manages the U.S. stockpile of nuclear weapons were suddenly let go by the Trump administration, with some employees receiving the news late Thursday night.
Then, as early as the next morning, some of those firings were reversed, with employees being told they should come back to work.
The White House has struggled to reach some of the employees it fired to tell them that they still have their jobs.
We discuss what's happening at the Department of Energy's agency for our nuclear stockpile and what this latest firing of federal employees could mean for our security.
Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
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Then, as early as the next morning, some of those firings were reversed, with employees being told they should come back to work.
The White House has struggled to reach some of the employees it fired to tell them that they still have their jobs.
We discuss what's happening at the Department of Energy's agency for our nuclear stockpile and what this latest firing of federal employees could mean for our security.
Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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1A - Game Mode: The New American Board Game Craze
We all know the classics: Monopoly, Backgammon, Checkers, and many more.
For some, board games are relegated to the dregs of American entertainment, to be broken out at bad parties and played by candlelight on nights where the power's out.
But for many, a new wave of board game production and enthusiasm has them clearing calendars and pulling up a chair.
We discuss what's driving the tabletop gaming surge and what it means for an industry that's primarily analog.
Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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For some, board games are relegated to the dregs of American entertainment, to be broken out at bad parties and played by candlelight on nights where the power's out.
But for many, a new wave of board game production and enthusiasm has them clearing calendars and pulling up a chair.
We discuss what's driving the tabletop gaming surge and what it means for an industry that's primarily analog.
Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Up First from NPR - Measles Outbreak, Foreign Aid Cuts, Bolsonaro Charges
Health officials are warning about a measles outbreak in Texas. Trump administration efforts to shrink the federal government have temporarily cut off funding to pro-democracy groups abroad. And Brazil's former leader Jair Bolsonaro is charged with participating in a coup.
Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Today's episode of Up First was edited by Alfredo Carbajal, Padmananda Rama, Tara Neill, Reena Advani and Janaya Williams. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Simon-Laslo Janssen and our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Our Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
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Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Today's episode of Up First was edited by Alfredo Carbajal, Padmananda Rama, Tara Neill, Reena Advani and Janaya Williams. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Simon-Laslo Janssen and our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Our Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The Indicator from Planet Money - How USAID cuts hurt American farmers
The ties between U.S. foreign aid and American agriculture run deep — or at least used to. The U.S. International Agency for Development, or USAID, is the largest provider of humanitarian food aid in the world. Much of that aid comes from U.S. farmers, whose corn, wheat and rice is sold in bulk to the government for USAID's programs. What happens now if those programs end?
Link to Jordan Schermerhorn's research of USAID ties by state.
Related episodes:
The gutting of USAID (Apple / Spotify)
A 'Fork in the Road' for federal employees (Apple / Spotify)
Trump threatens the grim trigger (Apple / Spotify)
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
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Link to Jordan Schermerhorn's research of USAID ties by state.
Related episodes:
The gutting of USAID (Apple / Spotify)
A 'Fork in the Road' for federal employees (Apple / Spotify)
Trump threatens the grim trigger (Apple / Spotify)
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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NPR's Book of the Day - A new memoir from Ira Madison III is more than just ‘Pure Innocent Fun’
TV writer, culture critic and podcast host Ira Madison III was not just one of the only Black students at his high school, he was also one of the only gay kids. In his new memoir, Pure Innocent Fun, Madison writes about how cultural artifacts became more than just a source of entertainment - they became a way to feel connected to others. In today's episode, Madison speaks with NPR's Juana Summers about growing up without many queer adults to turn to, and how Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a way for young queer kids to feel seen.
To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday
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To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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