Trump v. Slaughter (and Trump v. Cook)
Summary
Hosts Peter, Rhiannon, and Michael analyze *Trump v. Slaughter*, where the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that presidents can fire independent agency heads at will, overturning nearly a century of precedent. They critique the majority’s unitary executive theory as illogical and contrast it with *Trump v. Cook*, which preserved Federal Reserve independence. The episode highlights the decision’s threat to checks and balances, noting Trump’s subsequent claim that the ruling made him a "king."
Topics discussed
Intro: Trump v. Slaughter ruling on firing agency heads
Martha Reeves' disastrous national anthem performance
Case background: Firing FTC commissioners without cause
Unitary Executive Theory and constitutional arguments
Critique of majority opinion and historical cherry-picking
Sotomayor's dissent and the 1789 removal debate
Sponsors: Cozy Earth, Home Chef, Mint Mobile, Quince
Trump v. Cook: Federal Reserve exception and market impacts
Thomas's dissent and Nazi central bank comparisons
Project 2025, civil service threats, and conclusion
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