Mentioned in this edition: Donald Trump, John Roberts, Linda McMahon, JD Vance, James Boasberg, Xi Jinping, Ken Paxton, Josh Hawley, Ronald Reagan, Marco Rubio, Doug Collins, Elise Stefanik, Charlie Kirk, and more.

Good morning. District-level federal judges have levied an unprecedented number of nationwide injunctions against the Trump administration, leading to a historic clash between the judicial and executive branches of government. Also, Trump signs an order to debilitate the Department of Education.

🔎 WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

📚 Trump signed an executive order to begin the elimination of the DOE. The order, which directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department,” begins the process of fulfilling a goal long-desired by many on the right. However, while McMahon could do much to neutralize the department over the next four years, it would take Congressional action to formally end it. Republican presidents dating back to Ronald Reagan have promised to close the department, so Trump’s order is a major step forward. But with the filibuster, it is almost a certainty that the department will not formally close.

📈 JD Vance is the GOP’s overwhelming favorite for president in 2028. Some White House officials refer to the Vice President as “48” — Trump is the 47th president — and he is leading all other Republicans in polling by double-digits. The only individual who comes close, Donald Trump Jr., has aggressively denied any intention of running against his friend. While President Trump’s hesitation to name him heir apparent has made some in the press question Vance’s lock on the nomination, this would be following recent historical practice: neither Presidents Reagan nor Clinton endorsed their vice presidents until they had effectively won their nominations.

🪖 Senate Republicans are furious with Trump’s military plans. President Trump is reportedly planning to cede the position of Supreme Allied Commander in Europe to a European power as the administration seeks to slowly withdraw militarily from Europe. This has generated sharp pushback from Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), chair of the Armed Services Committee, along with other Republicans; Wicker said the move would “undermine American deterrence.” It is rare to see senators push back so sharply on the Trump administration; this clash demonstrates how there are still extremely influential interventionist Republican senators who will oppose Trump’s plans.

🧑‍⚖️ Republicans move to impeach the judge who blocked Trump’s deportations. Judge James Boasberg’s decision to make the controversial order has enraged members of the GOP, leading some members to introduce an impeachment resolution. However, GOP leadership is skeptical and may seek to table the resolution or otherwise slow it down. It may be strategically right to do so: any attempt to remove Boasberg will fail (as there are not 67 votes in the Senate for the measure), and it might not even make it out of the House. Focusing on that would waste valuable time for bills that can actually get passed, like reconciliation.

🦅 THE EXECUTIVE

• President Trump called for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates ahead of his planned April 2 tariff expansion.

• Trump again updated the Oval Office, re-arranging portraits and adding a copy of the Declaration of Independence; the Resolute desk has also been returned to the office, after it was temporarily removed for restoration.

• Chinese President Xi Jinping may soon visit the United States, according to Trump; his visit would come amid a developing trade war and worsening relations.

🏛️ CONGRESS

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Mentioned behind the paywall: Sanctions legislation, the House GOP’s midterm elections plans, a Texas primary race, and Trump’s UN ambassador.

🏢 DEPARTMENTS & AGENCIES

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Mentioned behind the paywall: Marco Rubio, Ric Grenell, Doug Collins, Venezuela negotiations, a new Hamas-supporting college student, and Veterans Affairs.

How Trump can navigate the judiciary's assault on his agenda

What’s happening

Federal district judges, who comprise the lowest “rung” of the judicial ladder, have issued temporary injunctions against President Donald Trump’s agenda at a record pace.

District court judges have blocked Trump’s attempt to cancel $20 billion in “green bank” grants, his ban on transgender-identifying troops in the military, and more. Even his ban on federal support for DEI initiatives — something transparently within the power of the presidency — was blocked before an appeals court reversed it…

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