The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell 69 days of Trump’s war and no deal has been reached
May 8, 2026
A deep look at U.S.-Iran exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz and the legal fallout from Trump-era tariffs. A scandal about an FBI leader’s conduct and reported polygraphs raises questions about standards and judgment. Reporting that won a major prize explores how foreign interests and a proposed golf course intersected with presidential business ties.
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1974 Trade Act Wrote Trump's Tariff Defeat
- The Court of International Trade relied on the 1974 Trade Act's precise wording to rule Trump's tariffs unconstitutional.
- Judges highlighted the difference between "balance of payments deficits" and "balance of trade surpluses," undoing 10% worldwide tariffs.
Staffers' Midnight Work Became Legal Armor
- O'Donnell recalls the meticulous work of Senate Finance and House Ways and Means staffers drafting the Trade Act of 1974.
- He credits those unnamed staffers' careful wording for today's court victory against Trump's tariffs.
Military Response Contradicted Trump's Rhetoric
- CENTCOM described the U.S. strikes as defensive after Iran attacked Navy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, saying it does not seek escalation.
- That military stance contradicts Trump's earlier rhetoric demanding Iran's unconditional surrender.