WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – Major tariffs start this week, plus special elections in Florida and hot-button cases in front of the Supreme Court.
President Donald Trump is set to follow through on his promise for more tariffs. This time the tariffs are on foreign made cars. A 25% import tax on imported vehicles is set to begin Wednesday. Trump said he hopes the move will lead to more domestic manufacturing, but the Associated Press reports imported vehicles prices could rise by an average of $12,500.
On Tuesday, Florida will hold two special elections. Both are for U.S. House of Representatives seats previously occupied by Republicans. Candidates in the First Congressional District look to replace former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who resigned before the start of the new Congress after Trump announced plans to nominated him to be U.S. Attorney General. Gaetz withdrew from consideration before Trump took office, but still left Congress.
The other election is in the state’s Sixth Congressional District. Republican State Sen. Randy Fine and Democrat Josh Weil, a teacher, are vying to replace former Rep. Mike Waltz. He resigned from Congress in January to become Trump’s National Security Advisor. Despite Trump winning both districts by more than 30 percentage points in 2024, the races could be close. Republicans currently have a slim 218-213 majority in the House.
The U.S. Supreme Court will also hear oral arguments for two hot-button cases this week.
On Monday, the justices will hear Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission. The organization claims it deserves a tax exemption other religious organizations get, despite not meeting the state’s standard for religious activity.
On Wednesday, the justices will hear arguments in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. The question is whether South Carolina can bar patients on Medicaid from receiving care at Planned Parenthood.
The justices are expected to release decisions in both cases in June.
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