Trump's all-in-one tariffs try to fund everything, fix everything

President Trump has touted tariffs as the key to unlocking America's Golden Age — and his rationale for how they'll do that constantly shifts.

Why it matters: Trump wields tariffs like an all-powerful multipurpose tool, but economists say his strategy isn't enough to address all of America's problems, especially if he's double-dipping into tariff revenues to fix cost of living issues, balance the trade deficit and reshore manufacturing.

State of play: The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the Trump administration's authority to impose reciprocal tariffs on trading partners last week, and the court appeared skeptical of the legality of the move. • Some of the justices suggested that in effect, the tariffs serve as a tax on Americans — a power strictly reserved for Congress. • A po