NEW YORK — CNN’s Abby Phillip cut off conservative podcaster Anthony Esposito during a heated exchange on “NewsNight” Friday, rejecting his argument that presidential tariff powers stand apart from congressional taxing authority.

The clash erupted as the panel discussed the Supreme Court’s decision earlier that day blocking the Trump administration’s use of emergency powers for tariffs on Mexico. Esposito, co-host of the “Policy & Profits” podcast and CEO of AscalonVI Capital, brushed aside the ruling’s finding that tariffs amount to taxes.

“The president has the constitutional right to tariff, not to tax,” Esposito insisted. “A tax and a tariff—that’s semantics.”

Phillip fired back without pause. “The court settled that issue today,” she said. “They made it very clear that in this case, a tariff is a tax. And both are in the hands of Congress.”

Esposito doubled down, calling Phillip’s take “not true” and describing tariffs as “a fee charged to another country.” Phillip let out a short laugh, then interrupted. “A tariff is a what?” she asked, her tone laced with disbelief. “A tariff is a fee charged to who?”

“I can’t believe you just said that,” she added. “Is there any evidence that a foreign government has paid Donald Trump’s tariffs?”

The back-and-forth highlighted deep divides over trade policy after the court’s 7-2 decision in Trump v. American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition. Justices ruled that Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 does not grant the president unlimited power to impose tariffs for national security reasons without congressional input. The case stemmed from 2018 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

About 10 minutes later, Phillip circled back as Esposito maintained his position. The two talked over each other, with Phillip emphasizing limits on executive authority. “The only point that I’m making,” she said, “is that Congress determines what powers he has.”

Esposito held firm, arguing historical precedent allows presidents broad leeway on tariffs. He cited past uses under both parties but did not address the court’s specific language equating tariffs with taxes subject to the Appropriations Clause.

The Supreme Court loss marks a setback for tariff hawks in the White House. Officials there had defended the Mexico tariffs—threatened at 5% and rising to 25%—as essential to curb migration and drug flows. Lower courts had already halted the plan, and the high court declined to intervene.

Phillip’s panel also touched on broader implications for U.S. trade strategy. Economists have long noted that U.S. importers, not foreign governments, bear the cost of tariffs, passing expenses to American consumers and businesses. Data from Trump’s first term shows steel tariffs raised prices by 25% domestically, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Neither Phillip nor Esposito backed down. The exchange drew quick reactions online, with conservative viewers praising Esposito’s defense of executive power and critics hailing Phillip’s fact-checking. “NewsNight,” which airs weeknights at 10 p.m. ET, frequently features such cross-ideological debates on trade, immigration and election-year flashpoints.

CNN did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the segment. Esposito could not be reached late Friday.