Supreme Court on Alien Enemies Act and Florida wins NCAA men’s title: Morning Rundown

Donald Trump shows no signs of backing down on his tariff plan. The Supreme Court clears the path for the Trump administration to deport more people under the Alien Enemies Act, with one concession. And a new NCAA men’s tournament champion is crowned. 

Here’s what to know today.

Trump holds firm on tariffs as White House looks to calm allies

After seeing wild swings in the market, Wall Street saw another day of declines as President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs stokes global uncertainty. The volatile trading day was fueled, in part, by a false headline claiming Trump was considering pausing the tariffs. 

Meanwhile, Trump yesterday threatened China with an additional 50% tariffs by tomorrow if it didn’t rescind its retaliatory measures — a 34% tariff on all goods imported from the U.S. The White House later clarified it would mean 104% total against China. And early Tuesday, China vowed to “fight to the end” if Trump goes through with the additional tariff. 

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Through the volatility, Trump has made clear that he won’t back off on implementing the tariffs, even as some of his own supporters express confusion and worries about the policy. Administration officials said they are looking for ways to ease the concerns of wary supporters. That includes: 

→ Deploying officials to speak to jittery business groups: Administration officials said they have been taking calls from business groups and setting up private meetings to allay worries. 

→ Talking up the potential to cut deals with key trading partners: As the U.S. and China exchange threats, Vietnam, Cambodia, Israel and Poland are among the countries seeking trade agreements, according to the White House. 

→ Suggesting tax cuts as a way to balance out the economic hit: But Republicans said they need to act fast if they want to coalesce around a budget resolution.

But mixed messaging isn’t working in their favor. Trump has called for his supporters to weather the storm, while the White House said it has no set period for how long the U.S. would endure a market strain. And when asked whether the tariffs are permanent or open to negotiation, Trump insisted “they can both be true.” Some Congressional Republicans haven’t shied away from calling out the administration on its inconsistent statements. 

Read the full story here.

Supreme Court weighs in on Trump admin’s use of Alien Enemies Act for deportations

The Supreme Court threw out U.S. District Judge James Boasberg’s decision to block the removal of men alleged to be members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador without any legal process under the Alien Enemies Act. The 5-4 ruling, with conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett joining three liberal justices in dissenting, means the Trump administration can try to resume deportations under the rarely used wartime law, so long as detainees are given time to challenge their detentions and whether the Alien Enemies Act is being lawfully applied.

Both sides claimed a level of victory. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a post on X, said Boasberg was an “activist judge” who didn’t have the authority to overrule “President Trump’s authority to conduct foreign policy.” Lee Gelernt, lead attorney for the ACLU who argued on behalf of the plaintiffs, said it was a “big victory” that the Supreme Court demanded the government give detainees due process. 

The Supreme Court’s decision, however, leaves various legal questions unanswered about the novel invocation of the 18th century law, including whether the Trump administration can even invoke it against gang members. 

More immigration news:

• The Supreme Court also ruled yesterday that the government didn’t have to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was accidentally deported to El Salvador, by last night’s midnight deadline.
• Duke University basketball star Khaman Maluach, a South Sudanese national, could be deported in light of a new Trump administration visa policy.
• A mother and three children arrested by immigration authorities in the small New York village where “border czar” Tom Homan lives were released from detention. 

Trump administration considers drone strikes on Mexican cartels

The Trump administration is considering launching drone strikes on drug cartel figures and their logistical networks in Mexico as part of an ambitious effort to combat criminal gangs trafficking narcotics across the southern border, according to six current and former U.S. military law enforcement and intelligence officials with knowledge of the matter. The Trump administration has already been shifting military, intelligence and law enforcement resources toward combatting the cartels, but what it’s contemplating now could be unprecedented both in the number of U.S. personnel involved and in the use of American unmanned aircraft to bomb cartel personnel and assets. 

The sources said discussions are still at an early stage and that the administration has made no final agreement. It’s unclear whether American officials have floated the possibility of drone strikes to the Mexican government, though the sources said it hopes to coordinate any action with Mexico’s military and law enforcement agencies. Most administration officials see unilateral military action as a last resort that could have big consequences.

More politics news:

• Trump said the U.S. will hold direct talks with Iran in an effort to persuade them to abandon their nuclear weapons program.
• The FBI is asking for agents to voluntarily serve as bodyguards for Deputy Director Dan Bongino.
• Senior Defense Department officials are considering a proposal to withdraw as many as 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, sparking concern that it would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Florida wins the NCAA men’s national championship

Florida defeated Houston 65-63, overcoming a 12-point deficit in the second half to win its first NCAA Tournament title since 2007. The back-and-forth comeback capped a tournament that otherwise lacked suspense, with last night’s title match coming down to the final possession. With 19 seconds left, Houston had possession of the ball but could not get a final shot. 

Florida’s Will Richard scored 14 points in the first half to keep the Gators in the game early. Teammate Walter Clayton Jr. scored 11 in the second half and was crucial in the title-sealing defensive closeout with seconds remaining. Houston’s L.J. Cryer led the Cougars, scoring 19 points. See more highlights from the game.

Read All About It

• Lori Vallow Daybell, the “doomsday mom” who received multiple life sentences in the murders of her two children and romantic rival, is serving as her own counsel in a separate trial over the death of her fourth husband.
• The doctor accused of attempting to kill his wife by bashing her with a rock during a hike in Hawaii pleaded not guilty in the case.
• The National Weather Service has paused language translations of its products, including urgent weather alerts.

Staff Pick: Inside the mine housing millions of retirement records

Iron Mountain isn’t the name of a roller coaster ride. It’s a decommissioned limestone mine about an hour outside of Pittsburgh where, since 1960, the government’s Office of Personnel Management processes and stores documents of the 100,000 or so retirements from federal service each year. Now, this warehouse-like cavern 220 feet underground, which stores 400 millions records in 26,000 file cabinets, is a DOGE target for modernization. NBC News senior correspondent Garrett Haake and producer Tara Prindiville were given a tour of the space and spoke with the people who keep Iron Mountain running, as well as the man tasked with overhauling it. — Elizabeth Robinson, newsletter editor

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

Urea has been a mainstay in body lotions and foot creams for years, but recently, it has blown up on social media. Here are the best skin care products containing the trendy ingredient. Plus, a global matcha shortage could be upon us this spring, so stock up on these popular matcha products in the meantime.

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