Legality, Next Steps for Canadian Tariffs

Feb 14, 2025

1 min

Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University Professor Julian Ku was quoted in The Globe and Mail article “The best hope for Canada in fighting a trade war with Trump may lie in U.S. courts."

“Using IEEPA to impose tariffs has not been done before, so there has never been a court ruling on this question,” said Julian Ku, who studies the interaction of international law and U.S. constitutional law at Hofstra University.

Mr. Trump has, however, argued that he is responding to external threats, citing the movement of fentanyl and illegal migrants to the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and China. That is likely to prove a potent defense, Prof. Ku said.

“The court has also been deferential to the President on national-security matters, and the language of the statute is very broad, so it is far from clear which way the court would come down on this issue,” he said.

Connect with:

Julian Ku

Professor of Law and Interim Dean

The Maurice A. Deane Distinguished Professor in Constitutional Law and Professor of Law.

International LawInternational Law in U.S. CourtsConstitutional LawCorporate LawTrans Pacific Partnership

Find Experts

Jul 17, 2026

2 min

Why Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Still Matters

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is bringing one of the world’s oldest and most influential stories back to the big screen. Beyond the monsters, battles and epic-scale adventure, Homer’s story asks questions that still feel immediate. What happens after a long war? What makes a leader legitimate? How do displaced people find their way home? Can violence ever truly restore order? Luke Madson, visiting assistant professor in Greek and Roman Studies at Hofstra University, can help audiences look beyond the spectacle. Madson teaches Greek and Roman epic, mythology, tragedy, comedy and the literature and culture of the ancient world. His research into ancient Greek politics, political identity and historical storytelling also provides insight into the power struggles, competing loyalties and contested ideas of leadership found throughout the epic. An Epic Shaped by War The Odyssey is a story about what comes after war. Odysseus survives Troy, but his journey home reveals the toll of conflict on soldiers, families and societies. In Ithaca, his absence creates a power struggle as the suitors compete to replace him. Drawing on his expertise in ancient Greek politics, Luke Madson can explain how early audiences understood this crisis and why it resonates amid displacement, political instability and contested leadership. Strangers, Stories and Power The epic repeatedly asks how societies treat outsiders. Through the Greek tradition of xenia, Odysseus encounters communities where strangers are welcomed, exploited or attacked, connecting the story to modern debates about migration, refugees and borders. Odysseus also changes identities and carefully shapes his story for different audiences. Madson can explore how persuasion and reputation shaped authority in the ancient world, and how these themes relate to propaganda and misinformation today. A Source for Stories Beyond the Screen Journalists covering Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Greek mythology or the modern relevance of ancient stories can connect with Luke Madson for expert commentary and interview support. He can provide historical, political and cultural context on topics such as: The lasting appeal of Odysseus and the hero’s journey War, displacement and the challenges of returning home Leadership, legitimacy and political instability Hospitality, migration and the treatment of outsiders Storytelling, propaganda and political identity Revenge, justice and cycles of violence How modern adaptations keep Greek mythology relevant The political and cultural world behind Homer’s epic As Nolan brings The Odyssey to a new generation, Madson can help audiences understand the ancient ideas and conflicts behind the spectacle, and why they continue to resonate today.

Jul 8, 2026

1 min

Sample Provides Analysis of Landmark Supreme Court Decisions

Professor James Sample of the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University was among the nation’s leading legal scholars providing analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark end-of-term decisions this week, appearing on ABC News and MSNBC’s MS NOW to examine the Court’s rulings alongside other major legal and constitutional developments. Professor Sample summarized the recent analysis on his “Who Decides Who Decides” Substack. Across his June appearances, Professor Sample provided legal insight into the Supreme Court’s decisions involving birthright citizenship, immigration, transgender athletes, and religious liberty, while also analyzing election law disputes, executive authority, federal investigations, and litigation involving the Trump administration. His commentary offered audiences context on the constitutional questions shaping the Court’s term and the broader implications for American law and democratic governance.

Jun 30, 2026

1 min

Map Shows Trump Approval Rating in Each State With Critical Senate Races

Meena Bose, executive dean of Hofstra University’s Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, told Newsweek that President Donald Trump’s approval ratings in key Senate battleground states suggest Republicans face a more challenging political environment heading into the 2026 midterm elections. She noted that while incumbency and candidate quality will still matter, a president with approval ratings below 50 percent can create headwinds for candidates from his own party, making competitive Senate races more difficult for Republicans.