Supporters of Democrat Zohran Mamdani celebrated their candidate's victory in the municipal election at Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden in Queens, New York, on November 4, 2025. JEREMY WEINE/AFP
One year after his presidential victory, Donald Trump has received some vexing signals. The first came from the ballot box on Tuesday, November 4, as local elections along the East Coast and a California referendum on the electoral map resulted in a Democratic triumph. The second emerged during a Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday regarding tariffs, a cornerstone of Trump's strategy. The juncture was dramatized by the president himself and marked by the judges' doubts about the executive branch's prerogatives in an area reserved for Congress.
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Tariffs: Before Supreme Court, the Trump administration's contradictions are exposed
Tuesday's elections do not fundamentally alter the political landscape. The Republicans control all levels of federal power. But the mood has shifted. Tuesday evening injected new energy into American democracy.
