Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Robertas Bakula examine the key arguments supporting the President’s tariffs before the Supreme Court and expose their un-American hostility to the rule of law.
• [0:00] Introduction
• [01:51] Background on the case
• [09:10] Defying the rule of law
• [15:13] Hostility to objective legal interpretation
• [27:58] Tariffs are not foreign policy powers
• [40:27] The absence of an “intelligible principle”
• [55:09] Striking down unconstitutional laws
• [01:02:45] Un-American arguments and policies
• [01:11:41] Likely and desirable outcomes
Resources:
Ayn Rand Lexicon, “Law, objective and non-objective” [courses.aynrand.org/lexicon/law-objective-and-nonobjective/]
Ayn Rand, “The Nature of Government” [courses.aynrand.org/works/the-nature-of-government/]
Ben Bayer, “The Constitutionally Dubious Law Empowering Trump’s ‘Emergency’ Tariff Authority” [new-ideal.aynrand.org/p/the-constitutionally-dubious-law]
Ben Bayer, “The President Has No “Foreign Policy” Discretion To Impose Sweeping Global Tariffs” [new-ideal.aynrand.org/p/the-president-has-no-foreign-policy]
Ben Bayer, "The Lawyers Defending Trump’s Tariffs Know They’re Un-American. Here’s How We Can Tell." [newideal.aynrand.org/the-lawyers-defending-trumps-tariffs-know-theyre-un-american-heres-how-we-can-tell/]
This episode was recorded on November 13, 2025.
Image 1: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP / via Getty Images
Image 2: David Talukdar / Moment / via Getty Images
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org
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******
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In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Robertas Bakula examine the key arguments supporting the President’s tariffs before the Supreme Court and expose their un-American hostility to the rule of law.
• [0:00] Introduction
• [01:51] Background on the case
• [09:10] Defying the rule of law
• [15:13] Hostility to objective legal interpretation
• [27:58] Tariffs are not foreign policy powers
• [40:27] The absence of an “intelligible principle”
• [55:09] Striking down unconstitutional laws
• [01:02:45] Un-American arguments and policies
• [01:11:41] Likely and desirable outcomes
Resources:
Ayn Rand Lexicon, “Law, objective and non-objective” [courses.aynrand.org/lexicon/law-objective-and-nonobjective/]
Ayn Rand, “The Nature of Government” [courses.aynrand.org/works/the-nature-of-government/]
Ben Bayer, “The Constitutionally Dubious Law Empowering Trump’s ‘Emergency’ Tariff Authority” [new-ideal.aynrand.org/p/the-constitutionally-dubious-law]
Ben Bayer, “The President Has No “Foreign Policy” Discretion To Impose Sweeping Global Tariffs” [new-ideal.aynrand.org/p/the-president-has-no-foreign-policy]
Ben Bayer, "The Lawyers Defending Trump’s Tariffs Know They’re Un-American. Here’s How We Can Tell." [newideal.aynrand.org/the-lawyers-defending-trumps-tariffs-know-theyre-un-american-heres-how-we-can-tell/]
This episode was recorded on November 13, 2025.
Image 1: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP / via Getty Images
Image 2: David Talukdar / Moment / via Getty Images
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org
******
Keep in Touch! Sign up to receive email updates from ARI: aynrand.org/signup
Follow ARI on Twitter: twitter.com/AynRandInst
Follow ARI on Facebook: facebook.com/AynRandInstitute
Follow ARI on Instagram: instagram.com/aynrandorg
Subscribe to the ARI Live! podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ayn-rand-institute-live/id1440399458
******
Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: ari.aynrand.org/events
Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: ari.aynrand.org
