John Mulaney Attends Supreme Court Hearing

Comedian John Mulaney, alongside various politicians and journalists, made an appearance for oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday.

He amusingly noted, “The seats are cheap, but the show is great,” as he shared a comical map highlighting his location amid notable figures like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Senators Amy Klobuchar and Ed Markey.

Mulaney is currently collaborating with lawyer Neil Katyal, who represents the plaintiffs, on a TV series he describes as the “Western side” of the Supreme Court. Katyal elaborated on this at the Aspen Ideas Festival earlier this year.

The legal matter at hand involves President Donald Trump’s authority to impose major tariffs on various countries.

Trump Seeks Emergency Ruling on Tariff Authority

Specifically, the situation pertains to whether the president can leverage the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to apply broad tariffs, including a 10% global tariff initiated by Trump in April, along with higher reciprocal tariffs affecting around 50 countries.

At the time, Trump voiced concerns about the trade deficit reaching a “crisis” level, justifying his use of the IEEPA.

During the Wednesday session, the justices delved less into the economic implications of Trump’s tariffs and focused instead on the IEEPA’s relevance to tariff and tax authority, exploring the limitations on executive power should the court side with Trump.

Trump expressed on Truth Social that the case represents “literally life or death for our country,” while Katyal argued that Trump had “destroyed the entire tariff structure.”

Critics argue that no previous president has utilized the IEEPA for tariffs since its enactment 50 years ago, fearing that granting such powers to the president would upset the balance of authority among government branches.

Katyal recently highlighted that, while law often struggles to create social change, art can play a powerful role in shaping conversations and public perception.

Mulaney also reflected on why he found it necessary to engage with the Supreme Court through art, likening his upcoming TV project to a “West Wing” style exploration of the court’s dynamics and the concept of justice.