The Federal Reserve Soap Opera: Appeals Court Edition

If you thought the Trump–Lisa Cook showdown at the Federal Reserve couldn’t get any more like a binge-worthy political thriller, think again. Forget Netflix; this saga is unfolding live, with more cliffhangers than a House of Cards marathon and just enough legal drama to make even Judge Judy grab some popcorn. Last week’s episode? A…

Trump, Lisa Cook, and the Federal Reserve Soap Opera

Episode I: As the Fed Turns Last month, I wrote a piece about President Trump, the Federal Reserve, and their messy custody battle over “independence.” Well, the plot has thickened, and we’ve officially entered soap opera territory. Welcome to this week’s episode of “As the Fed Turns.” Here’s the recap: President Trump tried to fire…

Reflecting on the Supreme Court’s ICE Raids Decision

On Monday, the Supreme Court delivered a 6–3 decision through its emergency docket, striking down limits that had been placed on immigration raids in Los Angeles and across parts of Southern California. A lower court had put those restrictions in place to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from relying too heavily on things like…

Should We Swap ‘Defense’ for ‘War’?

President Trump recently signed an executive order that dusted off an old name from America’s past: the Department of War. Under this order, the Department of Defense is now permitted to use its original, historical title as a kind of “second name.” And in a nod to tradition, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is also cleared…

When Authority Meets Autonomy

President Trump recently pulled a pretty big lever of authority—the emergency powers tucked into the Home Rule Act—and with that, he temporarily took control of Washington, D.C.’s police force for up to 30 days. His reasoning? He says the city is facing a “crime emergency” and needs swift action. Alongside that, he brought in some…

The Courtroom Drama Over Rebecca Slaughter’s Job

On Tuesday, September 2, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a narrow 2–1 decision ordering that Rebecca Kelly Slaughter—a Democratic commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) whom President Trump had dismissed earlier this year—be reinstated without delay. Now, the judges didn’t pluck this out of thin air. They leaned on a bedrock case…