Saturday, October 17, 2026
Russia sanctions passed 86-11. Trump waived them.
Late Friday, Trump signed an order waiving the new sanctions on Russia, two days before they took effect. He signed the law himself a month ago, after the Senate passed it 86-11. Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican, called it “beyond irresponsible.” Congress is on recess until after Election Day, so no one can answer him before then.
The grown-ups in Congress made a rule to cut off the money Russia uses for its war. It was supposed to start on Sunday. Last night the president pressed pause on it, like the pause button on a timer. The people who wrote the rule are cross, and they will argue about it when they are back at work.
Why it worksA six-year-old reasons from what is in front of them, so a sanctions waiver becomes a pause button, and who may press it is a fight they have at home. Vygotsky’s point: the words come from the adult, so the script says “cross” and “back at work” rather than “betrayal.” Expect “is he allowed?” Yes. The rule says he can.
- “Is the president allowed to do that?”
- Yes. The rule has a line that lets him pause it if he tells Congress why. He said it is for the country’s good.
Also written for and .
Congress passed a law to squeeze Russia’s money, 86 to 11 in the Senate, and Trump signed it in September. It was due to start Sunday. He used a line in the law that lets the president waive it: a rulebook page saying the referee can skip any rule. Congress is away until after the election.
Why it worksEight-to-twelve-year-olds are testing whether adults keep the rules they set, so the script walks the chain in order: the 86 to 11 vote, the signature, the Sunday start, the Friday night waiver. The rulebook page the referee uses on himself is what they will argue about. Expect “can Congress make him?” Not before the election.
- “Why would he do that?”
- National interest, he told Congress. The White House says peace talks.
- “Can Congress make him do it anyway?”
- Not soon. Congress is on recess until after Election Day.
Also written for and .
If Congress passes a law 86 to 11 and writes in a clause letting the president waive it, who really decided? Trump used the clause and told Congress only that it was in the national interest. Second: Tillis says it’s capitulating to Putin; the White House says it protects peace talks. Which needs proof first?
Why it worksA teenager can hold two true things: Congress passed the sanctions 86 to 11, and Congress wrote the clause Trump used. Kuhn’s finding is that argument is a practised skill, so the script sets Tillis’s charge beside the White House’s reason and asks which to test. Expect “was it legal?” Yes. The fight is whether it was right.
- “Was it legal?”
- Yes. The law lets him waive it by telling Congress why. He gave no details.
- “What does Ukraine lose?”
- Money for Russia’s war. Zelenskyy says it could have helped enormously.
Also written for and .
Based on the headline: Russia sanctions passed 86-11. Trump waived them.