9 things Trump wants from Congress

Plus, how the high court pushed back on Trump |

Thursday, February 26, 2026 We're sending the Project 47 newsletter on Thursdays now! Instead, on Tuesdays, you can expect to receive a special edition of the Project 47 newsletter dedicated to covering the biggest issues shaping key races in the midterms. If you do not want to receive special editions on Tuesdays, click here to automatically opt out. Ryan Teague Beckwith: Wish list One of the downsides of Donald Trump's theory of presidential power is that it makes it awkward to ask Congress for anything. In his first year back in office, Trump lobbied Republicans to put much of his second-term agenda into "one big beautiful bill." After it passed, he asserted that "we've gotten everything passed that we need" and that "we don't need anything more from Congress." After the Supreme Court invalidated tariffs he imposed under a law intended for emergencies, he was asked if he would work with Congress to reimpose them. "I don't have to," he replied. But even Trump has to ask sometimes, especially with lawmakers assembled in front of him at Tuesday's State of the Union address. In between praising the Olympic men's hockey team, handing out various medals, bragging about his accomplishments and telling grim stories of violence and death, the president made nine specific demands for congressional action in his almost two-hour speech, ranging from changing how elections are run to blocking gender-affirming care for minors. Read Ryan Teague Beckwith's analysis of the nine demands here.   TODAY'S QUESTION Did you watch the State of the Union? Trump gave the first official State of the Union address of his second term on Tuesday night, breaking a record for the longest presidential address before Congress. VOTE HERE     TRUMP'S WEEK IN REVIEW Here are some highlights of the president's actions over the last seven days: Claimed, falsely, that the Pentagon was sending a hospital ship to Greenland after Denmark evacuated a crew member of a U.S. submarine who needed medical attention Demanded, on social media, that Netflix fire former U.N. ambassador Susan Rice from its board of directors Claimed executive privilege, through the Director of National Intelligence's office, on a whistleblower complaint Filed, through the Trump Organization, a trademark application for "President Donald J. Trump International Airport"   THE CHALLENGERS The news can feel overwhelming. But each week, we pause to highlight a person, organization or movement sticking up for their principles or their fellow Americans. This week's challenger is the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has overwhelmingly sided with Trump in legal disputes since his return to office last year, which makes exceptions stand out. Until last week, those were cases in which the court declined to overrule a lower court ruling that the administration disliked. Then, on Friday, Chief Justice John Roberts and Trump appointees Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett joined with the three Democratic-appointed justices in a decision that the president does not have the authority to impose sweeping tariffs under a law designed to give the president some economic powers during an emergency. The 6-3 decision was the strongest rebuke by the court of a Trump administration policy in the past year. The president responded by calling the justices "fools" and "lapdogs for RINOS and the radical left" and reinstating the tariffs under a different but more limited law. Read more. NUMBER OF THE WEEK 20% Trump said during his speech before Congress that gas prices are "below $2.30 a gallon in most states." Even though that's not the case — the average today is just shy of $3 — presidents always worry about gas prices because when they go up, Americans usually point the finger at whoever is in the White House. That brings us to Iran. Trump sent warships to the region and is threatening airstrikes. While his reasons aren't always clear, one possible consequence is higher gas prices. If Iran responds, it could stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil supply passes. Any interruption could send oil and gas prices soaring. Considering that Trump is already polling poorly on the economy, higher prices at the pump certainly won't help. Learn more. — Stephanie Ruhle, host of "The 11th Hour" TOP STORIES Jake Traylor and Vaughn Hillyard Trump moves to rewrite election rules unilaterally Anthony L. Fisher Brendan Carr makes a disturbing push for more patriotic programming Zeeshan Aleem Pete Hegseth can't let Mark Kelly go. There's a reason for that. Natalia Mehlman Petrzela The very real consequences of RFK Jr. and Kid Rock's online fitness stunt Hussein Ibish After its first meeting, one thing is clear about Trump's 'Board of Peace' Kavitha A. Davidson Trump's locker room 'joke' was bad. The men's hockey team made it worse. MORE FROM MS NOW This week on "The Best People," Nicolle Wallace speaks with Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro to discuss the optics of business leaders turning a blind eye to the Trump administration's behaviors, the need for mass mobilization to project midterm election integrity and the importance of kindness in an era of division. Subscribe to MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts for early access, ad-free listening, and bonus content.  229 West 43rd St. New York, NY 10036 UNSUBSCRIBE | PRIVACY | CONTACT | VIEW IN BROWSER UNSUBSCRIBE | PRIVACY | CONTACT | VIEW IN BROWSER