I got this from a Rachel Maddow video, but I don't think many people actually watch them when I post, so I guess I write it out. Short version:
Trump can only impose tariffs at will because he declared a state of economic emergency in the nation. Congress can dismiss the declaration with a vote, but all the R's are scared to death to cross Trump, so the Dems came up with a strategy. They were going to move to put it up for a vote, and the R's would then either have to vote down Trump's solo tariff power or explain to the voters back home why they were supporting the tariffs that are disrupting the economy. The R's didn't want any part of that, so they hid a little amendment in another bill which was being pashed.
The way the law around the declaration of an economic emergency is worded, if a bill is submitted to cancel it, Congress *must* vote on it within fifteen days. The amendment says that for the purposes of a vote on suspending the emergency, from now until the 119th Congress is over is one day, not in days as measured by the calendar.
The R's voted to stop time to get out of having to go on record on this vote.
