Di US Supreme Court don block President Donald Trump attempt to fire one governor of di US central bank, for ruling wey pipo see as affirmation of di Federal Reserve independence. For 5-4 decision, justices from di kontri top court say di administration no give Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook enough “due process” to contest her removal.
Di decision send di matter back to lower courts, where di administration go have to prove its allegations say Cook don commit mortgage fraud if e wish to proceed with di firing and where Cook go get chance to challenge di accusation. Cook don deny di allegations, wey Fed defenders say na pretext to allow Trump to assert more control over di bank.
By law, president only fit remove governors of di Federal Reserve “for cause”. Dat requirement na to shield di bank from political pressure and help ensure e set policy to serve long-term economic goals, rather dan short-term interests. Arguing before di court for January, Cook lawyer, Paul Clement, say di administration handling of di firing go make Congress intended protection for di Fed “kind of a joke”.
Trump announce im plan to remove Cook from di Fed for August on social media, citing claims say she don file mortgage forms claiming two different principal residences at di same time. Banks typically offer lower interest rates for primary homes. Solicitor General John Sauer, wey argue di case for di White House, tell di court for January say di social media post provide sufficient notice and opportunity to respond.
E say di issue, even if inadvertent, amount to “negligence” wey fit undermine confidence for Fed and say di courts suppose defer to di president judgement when e come to finding cause. Following di ruling, Cook say for statement di case was “never about mortgage documents”. She call di allegations a “manufactured pretext” because she refuse to bow to political pressure on interest rates. She add say di central bank must make policy decisions guided by “independent judgement, free from political interference”.
While di Supreme Court Cook ruling shield di Federal Reserve from immediate White House interference, e also deliver different ruling on Monday wey weaken di independence of oda federal regulators. For separate 6-3 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, di court rule say di president fit fire members of independent agencies at will, handing major victory to di Trump administration.
Di ruling leave bodies like di Federal Trade Commission (FTC) far more vulnerable to shifts for administration priorities, effectively overturning 90-year-old legal precedent known as Humphrey Executor. Dat 1935 ruling don protect independent agencies by stating dia members no fit be removed without good cause. Di legal case stem from Trump firing of FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter for March 2025 via email. Di Democratic appointee was dismissed for being “inconsistent with di Administration priorities”.
Chief Justice Roberts write say, because dese commissioners exercise executive power, dem must ultimately answer to di president. For blistering dissent, Sonia Sotomayor write “di court give di president power unknown even to di English crown”. Donald Trump don also hail di Supreme Court Slaughter decision, wey significantly expand di president power over executive branch agencies, writing on Truth Social: “Today Historic Slaughter Decision by di Supreme Court is di Greatest Increase for Presidential Power for di last 100 years. Such a Monumental Ruling at such an important time!”
Also today, di Supreme Court say e go consider Republican push to enforce strict Arizona voting laws passed for di swing state afta di 2020 election. Di court don allow some similar rules to take effect as lawsuits play out, including Arizona proof-of-citizenship requirement for state and local elections and Virginia purge of voter rolls wey di state say na to keep non-citizens from voting. Di appeal was filed by di Republican National Committee afta lower courts find di measures violate federal voting laws, and e was joined by di Trump administration.
Di RNC proud to lead dis effort, and we go keep fighting nationwide to defend election integrity and ensure only eligible citizens cast ballot, say chair Joe Gruters. Di Supreme Court expect to hear arguments for di fall and likely hand down opinion afta di midterm elections. Speaking during press call earlier today, Rebecca Slaughter say of di Supreme Court ruling say Trump firing her last year was lawful: “I think e safe to say we profoundly disappointed about today decision. I think e really sad moment for di FTC, specifically institution wey I love dearly, but really institutions of government more generally, and di rule of law. What we don see na massive expansion of executive power at di expense of Congress, wey design dese agencies to work on behalf of di people and not di powerful.”
Slaughter also note say e “very difficult for me to reconcile Cook and Slaughter decisions for dat somehow Wall Street special and get special treatment”. Donald Trump don claim say Iran don agree to hold talks for Doha afta di US and Iran trade fire for di strait of Hormuz over di weekend, threatening di collapse of ceasefire meant to keep di strait open and pave way for peace talks. For terse post on Truth Social, di US president claim di meetings go take place for di Qatari capital, as US media report say di two sides don agree to halt strikes following tit-for-tat attacks wey once again cut off shipping through di crucial waterway.
“IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA! President DJT,” Trump write. Di announcement come afta Iran on Saturday target cargo ship for di strait for drone attack, leading US Central Command (Centcom) to launch retaliatory strikes against Iranian “military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities and minelayer capabilities”. Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) then say on Sunday e don launch joint missile and drone operation targeting eight US military sites for Kuwait and Bahrain.
With di deal faltering, di White House step in to seek off-ramp from di resuming hostilities, even as di specifics of who go hold control over di strait and whether Iran fit charge fees for passage for di future remain unclear. White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, tell Fox News say US delegation to Doha go include Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and im son-in-law Jared Kushner. Iranian negotiators expect to meet dem there. Axios also report say di talks go include “technical teams” meant to discuss Iran nuclear programme, indicating say pre-planned negotiations fit now focus on how to prevent return to open conflict between di US and Iran.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer don issue statement condemning di Supreme Court ruling allowing Trump to fire leaders of independent agencies or commissions: “Trump MAGA Supreme Court just give am permission slip to turn independent federal agencies into members-only clubs for im golf buddies and cronies. When Trump fire Rebecca Kelly Slaughter – my former Chief Counsel – from di FTC for no reason oda dan she was doing too good job protecting consumers, Trump send open invitation to bad actors to game di system.”
Instead of preserving independence intended to keep markets fair and protect consumers, Trump instead catering to fraudsters and monopolists. And di Supreme Court dey give am green light to do e. As Americans dey cry out for relief from sky-high prices, we suppose dey strengthen consumer protections—not tilt di playing field furder for billionaires, monopolists, and special interests. With im ruling for Trump v Slaughter, di Supreme Court don open di door for Donald Trump and di presidents wey succeed am to fire heads of agencies created by Congress to operate independently.
Di non-profit Partnership for Public Service warn say dat fit get far-reaching implications across di US government. “Congress create bodies like di Federal Trade Commission, National Labor Relations Board and di US Consumer Product Safety Commission to function through deliberation: multi-member bodies representing different political parties and often appointed by different presidents so dat no single political actor fit dictate dia decisions,” di group president and CEO Max Stier say for statement. “A consumer safety commission suppose pull dangerous product from shelves because e dangerous. A labor board suppose protect workers rights because di law require e. Without di guarantee of independence, boards and commission members go now make decisions under di constant threat of politically motivated removal.”
Di congressman go on to argue say di ruling was inconsistent with di court separate decision today preventing Trump from firing Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook: “Central bank independence matter immensely to di American economy and to every family wey dey pay mortgage, use credit card or try to keep up with prices. But Congress constitutional judgments about di necessity of institutional independence suppose matter just as much at di FTC, di Securities and Exchange Commission, di National Labor Relations Board, di Federal Communications Commission and di many oda important independent agencies Congress don create to serve di interests of di American people.”
For statement afta di Supreme Court reject Donald Trump attempt to fire her, Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook accuse di president of seeking to retaliate against her over her views on interest rates. “Dis was never about mortgage documents signed years before I become Federal Reserve governor,” Cook say, referring to di Trump administration rationale say she was removed from her post last year over allegations of mortgage fraud. “E was attempt to remove me on manufactured pretext because I refuse to bow to political pressure and continue to set interest rates based only on what would best serve di American people.”
Trump don publicly call on di Fed to cut interest rates, but at im most recent meeting under di new chair Kevin Warsh, e hold rates steady. Cook participate for dat meeting, and di central bank say say di rate decision was unanimous. “Today ruling affirm principle wey don underpin sound economic stewardship for generations: say di Federal Reserve must make all im policy decisions guided by evidence and independent judgment, free from political interference. Dis bedrock principle don guide di Federal Reserve since im founding,” Cook add.
Democrats don applaud di Supreme Court ruling for Watson v Republican National Committee, for which di court find say ballots wey arrive afta election day fit be counted, if dem was mailed for time. “Di Supreme Court just uphold dis bedrock American principle: if you cast your ballot on time, your vote go count,” Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer say for statement. “Trump and Republicans dey attack our elections and try to rig di system for dia favor because dem know di American people dey ready to reject dia chaos and corruption dis November. Di DNC go remain vigilant and use every tool at our disposal to protect every eligible voter access to di ballot box.”
Di Supreme Court don rule say Donald Trump fit fire leaders of independent agencies or commissions, ending 90 years of court precedent wey curb executive power. Di vote for di case of Trump v Slaughter na 6-3, with dissents from Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan. Di case was focused on di White House March 2025 firing of Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter. Trump fire Slaughter over email, telling her say keeping her as commissioner go be “inconsistent with di administration priorities”.
Upon her termination, Slaughter sue di Trump administration, say she was fired without cause, and lower court rule for her reinstatement. For challenging Slaughter suit, di White House argue say di court suppose overturn Humphrey Executor v United States, landmark ruling from 1935 where di Supreme Court rule say di president unlawfully fire member of di Federal Trade Commission (FTC), limiting di president power over independent agencies. Di FTC na to enforce consumer protection and anti-trust laws. Di agency get five bipartisan commissioners, and no more dan three fit come from di same party.
Congress place restrictions on di hiring and firing of commissioners for effort to insulate di agency from partisan politics. Di Trump administration ask di court of appeals to put di ruling on hold while e appeal, but was denied. “Di government no likely to succeed on appeal because any ruling for im favor from dis court go have to defy binding, on-point, and repeatedly preserved Supreme Court precedent,” two appeals judges write for di majority opinion. Di Trump administration then go to di Supreme Court, requesting stay of di order while di government appeal. Di Supreme Court vote to grant di stay of di order for September 2025, with three justices dissenting.
Overruling Humphrey executor, former government officials don warn say e go undermine di independence of federal agencies. “Eliminating dese removal protections go jeopardize all facets of agency independence, as agency leaders go be reluctant to engage for regulatory or enforcement actions – or even day-to-day agency decision-making – without coordinating with di White House for fear of termination,” write Lauren McFerran, former National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) chair, and Celine McNicholas, former official at di NLRB, for Economic Policy Institute report from October 2025.
Di Supreme Court don rule say Donald Trump firing of Federal Reserve governor was unconstitutional, for landmark ruling wey limit president authority over di central bank. For im opinion, di court say say Trump no get di constitutional authority to fire Fed governor without cause. Di case was centered on Lisa Cook, Biden appointee wey 14-year term on di Federal Reserve board of governors schedule to expire for 2038. Cook na di first Black woman to serve on di Fed board. Last August, on social media, Trump abruptly fire Cook. Di president claim e get evidence say Cook commit mortgage fraud, illegal practice where homebuyer list second property as primary residence to get better mortgage rate. Cook deny di allegations and sue di Trump administration, saying e fire her without cause.
Di justices protection over di Fed decision na departure from how di court don handle Trump for im second term, allowing di president broad power to carry out im agenda without congressional approval. Di court allow Trump to remove Democratic-appointed member of di National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), leaving di powerful union board without quorum needed to decide on labor disputes. Di court also strip lower district courts of dia power to issue nationwide injunctions, wey often use to block Trump for im first administration, and stay lower court ruling wey restrict Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) from using race and ethnicity as basis for reasonable suspicion for immigration enforcement. But Trump don finally meet im limit. Di ruling na major win for di central bank, wey don spend di last year under attack from di White House.
Di Supreme Court throw out judicial decision involving Virginia man challenge to “geofence” warrant use by police to access cellphone location data near crime scene leading to im conviction for armed robbery. Di justices, for 6-3 decision, throw out lower court ruling against defendant Okello Chatrie, wey don argue say e was subjected to illegal search and say evidence for im case suppose be excluded. Chatrie conditionally plead guilty for 2022 to robbing Midlothian, Virginia, credit union, while continuing to press im appeal. Di Supreme Court agree say search don occur, but send di case back to lower court to conduct furder analysis.
Court-approved geofence warrants compel third-party companies – such as Alphabet Google for di case before di justices – to search customer location data for mobile devices wey near di scene of crime around di time e was committed. Google no be party to di case. Donald Trump administration defend di investigative method for di case. Di Supreme Court side against national Republicans and Donald Trump administration to allow mail-in ballots wey arrive afta election day to be counted, upholding di law for more dan dozen states. Di Republican National Committee (RNC) don challenge Mississippi state law allowing mailed ballots to be counted if dem arrive within five business days of election day, so long as dem postmarked by election day. Fourteen states, Washington DC and three US territories get similar laws wey allow for late-arriving ballots to be counted. Some states, including Mississippi, change dia laws for 2020, during di Covid-19 pandemic.
Mississippi, red state, defend im ability to set im own procedures for elections against di challenge from di Republican party, wey argue say di grace period afta election day violate federal laws wey set election day for di first Tuesday of November. During oral arguments for Watson v Republican National Committee for March, di Supreme Court conservative justices lay out hypothetical situations to probe di limits of counting ballots afta election day, and nod to di potential for election fraud. Several justices also question whether voter fit recall dia ballot through di mail and change dia vote – hypothetical practice wey Mississippi solicitor general Scott G Stewart say no dey happen, claiming “nobody cite single example for history”. Liberal justices point to federal laws wey allow for grace periods, while noting say ruling here fit also implicate early voting, anoda common practice.
“You basically saying say dere be two tins wey must happen, and dem must happen on election day, and e be di casting of di vote and di receipt of di vote,” Justice Elena Kagan tell Paul D Clement, wey dey argue on behalf of di Libertarian party of Mississippi. Di RNC lose im initial case for district court, den win for di fifth circuit court of appeals. For im brief to di Supreme Court, Mississippi argue say di appellate court decision was “wrong”. Host of groups representing voting rights advocates, military voters and overseas voters file to support Mississippi position for di case, saying say grace period allow voters with unique burdens to get dia ballots counted.
Di Supreme Court don also refuse to revive $300m defamation lawsuit filed against CNN over im coverage of prominent attorney remarks made while defending Donald Trump during im 2020 impeachment. Di majority decline to take up di case for brief, unexplained order. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissent, calling on di court to reconsider di legal standards for public figures wey claim defamation. Alan Dershowitz say di news network air only portion of di comment made during im defense of di president, distorting im meaning to make am look like e don “lose im mind
