Fed Governor Fired, Trump Expands National Guard, Abrego Garcia Back in Custody

Summary

Up First from NPR

Episode: Fed Governor Fired, Trump Expands National Guard, Abrego Garcia Back in Custody
Date: August 26, 2025
Hosts: Steve Inskeep, Scott Horsley, Emmy Martinez, Alex Koma, Jasmine Garst

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Episode Overview

This Up First episode covers three major stories shaping national headlines:

• President Trump’s controversial attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and the legal ramifications for central bank independence.
• The administration’s push to expand the National Guard’s presence in Washington, D.C., in response to D.C.’s longstanding cashless bail system, and the broader implications for federal control over local law enforcement.
• The ongoing legal saga of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran immigrant at risk of deportation, as a federal judge intervenes to halt his removal to Uganda amid broader concerns about due process in U.S. immigration enforcement.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Moves to Fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook

[02:28–06:01]

• Background: President Trump announced via social media his intent to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook, citing allegations from ally Bill Pulte that Cook lied on mortgage applications in 2021.
  • Allegation Details: Pulte claims Cook claimed both of two different homes in separate states as “primary residences” to secure better loan terms.
• Legal and Political Context:
  • By law, Fed governors can only be removed “for cause” to shield the central bank from political interference.
  • Trump argues partisan loss of confidence is sufficient, while Cook’s attorney and congressional Democrats dispute his authority.
• Defenses & Criticism:
  • Cook denies wrongdoing and, via her attorney, vows legal action if removal is attempted.
  • Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren calls Trump’s move “an authoritarian power grab,” demanding that “it must be overturned in court.”
• Significance:
  • The move is widely seen as an attempt to bend the traditionally independent Federal Reserve to presidential control.
  • Expert perspective:
    • 95% of surveyed economists express concern about threats to Fed independence (Courtney Shupert, Macro Policy Perspectives).
    • “Three out of four economists surveyed said the president should play no role in setting interest rates.”
      —Scott Horsley [05:53]
  • Implication: If Cook is removed, Trump could fill the vacancy with an ally more likely to advance his agenda—especially lowering interest rates.

Notable Quotes

• “This lady, I don’t understand how she can be in charge of setting interest rates for our country. And here she is potentially lying on her applications to get better interest rates.”
  —Bill Pulte, quoted by Emmy Martinez [03:30]
• “Trump has really taken a sledgehammer to the protective barriers that are supposed to insulate the Fed.”
  —Scott Horsley [05:12]

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2. Trump Seeks to Expand National Guard Role & Target D.C.’s Cashless Bail

[06:02–10:24]

• Context:
  • President Trump criticizes D.C.’s cashless bail system—used since 1992 for pre-trial detainees—as “soft on crime,” linking it to his push for greater federal intervention.
  • Threatens to withhold funding from cities that keep such policies and seeks to expand National Guard involvement in public safety duties.
• Expert Input:
  • Alex Koma (WAMU) explains cashless bail's purpose:
    • Eliminates the need for suspects to post bond, addressing historical racial and economic disparities in pretrial detainment.
    • Only 4% of released arrestees in D.C. were accused of violent crimes last year.
    • 90% still appear for their court dates; rearrest rates are low and consistent with national figures where cash bail has been abolished.
• Legal & Political Boundaries:
  • The president’s ability to change D.C. law or withhold funds is limited; only Congress has direct authority over D.C. statutes.
  • Local leaders remain vigilant, especially after Trump's recent use of the National Guard and increasing federal intervention.
  • Unique to D.C.: The president, not a governor, commands the local Guard, but in other states, such moves would likely face legal challenges from governors.
  • Koma: “No one is really sure how this part is going to work” [09:13] in reference to Trump’s Guard plans.
• Wider Ramifications:
  • Raises persistent constitutional questions about state vs. federal powers and the limits of executive authority in law enforcement.

Notable Quotes

• “I frankly think that [DC’s revised judge discretion] has worked better than any system. Cashless bail is not a new phenomenon in the District.”
  —Alex Koma [08:31]
• “The city lives in perpetual fear that, you know, he’s going to team up with Congress to revoke what limited self-governance the government does have here.”
  —Alex Koma [09:57]

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3. Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s Deportation Battle and Judicial Intervention

[10:34–13:59]

• Background:
  • Abrego Garcia, from El Salvador, entered the U.S. as a 16-year-old in 2011, fleeing gang threats; has since avoided criminal convictions.
  • The government alleges gang affiliations (MS-13) and more recently human smuggling, both of which he denies.
  • He was mistakenly deported to El Salvador (where he faces documented danger), brought back, and now faces a new deportation to Uganda— a move his lawyers call “vindictive.”
• Judicial Stay:
  • Federal Judge Paulo Zinis sharply rebuked the Department of Justice:
    • “Until Abrego Garcia has had a chance to challenge the deportation in court, the government is absolutely forbidden from removing him from the US.” [11:34]
  • The judge set an expedited schedule for legal arguments.
• Key Legal Questions:
  • U.S. law prohibits his return to El Salvador due to a credible fear of persecution, but the government may try to deport him to a third country (Uganda) if an agreement exists.
• Significance:
  • The case exemplifies the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration and the ongoing legal, ethical, and humanitarian debates over due process and the rights of non-citizens.

Notable Quotes

• “Abrego Garcia’s detention was really one of the first high profile immigration cases of the Trump administration’s crackdown. And at its center are questions about due process for undocumented immigrants.”
  —Jasmine Garst [12:01]

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Bill Pulte:
  “I don’t know what cause is if that’s not cause. I mean, this lady, I don’t understand how she can be in charge of setting interest rates for our country. And here she is potentially lying on her applications to get better interest rates.” [03:30]
• Scott Horsley:
  “Trump has really taken a sledgehammer to the protective barriers that are supposed to insulate the Fed.” [05:12]
• Alex Koma:
  “I frankly think that that has worked better than any system. Cashless bail is not a new phenomenon in the District.” [08:31]
• Judge Paulo Zinis, via Jasmine Garst:
  “Until Abrego Garcia has had a chance to challenge the deportation in court, the government is absolutely forbidden from removing him from the US.” [11:34]

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• Fed Governor firing story:
  [02:28–06:01]
• Cashless bail & National Guard:
  [06:02–10:24]
• Abrego Garcia immigration case:
  [10:34–13:59]

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Tone and Style

The episode adopts a direct, analytical tone, blending concise news delivery with insight from journalists, legal experts, and policy analysts. The hosts and correspondents emphasize factual reporting, legal context, and the implications for governance, federal power, and civil liberties, with notable moments of pointed critique and clear citation of sources.

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Summary

This episode of Up First captures three urgent stories intersecting politics, law, and personal rights: the Trump administration’s attempts to reshape the Federal Reserve and city policing in D.C., as well as the legal ordeal of an immigrant fighting deportation. Each segment raises fundamental questions about the reach of executive power and the resilience of legal checks and balances in American government.

Transcript

[Steve Inskeep]

President Trump wants to fire a Federal Reserve governor. One of his political appointees found an allegation against her.

[Emmy Martinez]

This lady, I don't understand how she can be in charge of setting interest rates for our country.

[Scott Horsley]

Lisa Cook says Trump can't fire her. So what's the law say?

[Steve Inskeep]

Emmy Martinez. That's Steve Inskeep. And this is up first from NPR News. The mayor of Washington, D.C. defends cashless bail, letting out suspects without posting bond.

[Alex Koma]

I frankly think that that has worked better than any system. Cashless bail is not a new phenomenon in the District.

[Steve Inskeep]

So why is the president demanding that the District change the policy and can he persuade Congress to do that for him?

[Scott Horsley]

Also, a judge stopped the federal government from deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia again. She wants him to have a hearing before he's sent to Uganda. Stay with us. We've got the news. You need to start your day.

[Emmy Martinez]

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[Alex Koma]

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[Alex Koma]

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[Scott Horsley]

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[Jasmine Garst]

So.

[ADT/BetterHelp Announcer]

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[Scott Horsley]

President Trump has moved to fire a member of the Federal Reserve governing board.

[Steve Inskeep]

It's the latest escalation in Trump's effort to exert more control over the central bank. Now the Fed is designed to be insulated from political pressure from the White House, so Trump's move may face a legal challenge.

[Scott Horsley]

NPR chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley joins us once again. Scott, good morning.

Good morning, Steve.

Okay, the president made this announcement in a social media post regarding Fed Governor Lisa Cook. What's going on?

This is ostensibly a reaction to claims made by Trump ally Bill Poulte, who oversees mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Poulte accused Cook of making false statements on a mortgage application back in 2021, before she joined the Federal Reserve. Poolte says Cook applied for home loans on two different properties weeks apart in two different states and said that each one would be her primary, which would typically result in better loan terms. Now, if true, that certainly raises eyebrows. Pulte told CNBC last week he thought it was enough to remove Cook from her post at the Federal Reserve.

[Emmy Martinez]

I don't know what cause is if that's not cause. I mean, this lady, I don't understand how she can be in charge of setting interest rates for our country. And here she is potentially lying on her applications to get better interest rates.

[Scott Horsley]

He says potentially there. So far, this is just an allegation. And Poolte's leveled similar charges at other Trump antagonists, like Adam Schiff, the senator from California, Letitia James, the attorney general from New York. The president said in a social media post he does not have confidence in Cook and that that's enough cause to remove her. By law, governors at the central bank can only be removed for cause, which is designed to protect the Fed from political meddling by the White House.

Well, if that's what the law says, what is Lisa Cook saying?

Cook says the president has no authority to fire her and she's vowing to carry out her duties as a Fed governor. A statement from her attorney, Abby Lowell, says Cook will take whatever actions are necessary to prevent what he called illegal firing. Democrats are rallying around Cook, who was appointed by former President Biden. For instance, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who's the top Democrat on the committee that oversees the Fed, called Trump's effort to remove Cook an authoritarian power grab and said it must be overturned in court.

I'm trying to get the context here. Scott Horsley. We have seen in recent days the Department of Justice go after people the president doesn't like. We know other parts of the federal government have made a point of doing that. The Federal Communications Commission goes to mind targeting media organizations the president doesn't like. In this case, we have a housing agency that has repeatedly come up with issues with people the president doesn't like. And he's made no secret of the fact that he wants the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. How's this fit in?

Yeah, Trump has really taken a sledgehammer to the protective barriers that are supposed to insulate the Fed. He's been very critical of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. He's attacked the central bank over cost overruns. If he succeeds in removing Cook from the board, that would create another vacancy for Trump to fill with someone more likely to do his bidding. By the way, economists are virtually unanimous that an independent central bank works better than one that's under the thumb of the president. Just yesterday, the national association for Business Economics released a survey about this. Courtney Shupert, who's with Macro Policy Perspectives, talked about the results.

[Alex Koma]

Around 95% of economists are concerned about the Federal Reserve's independence being compromised over the next several years.

[Scott Horsley]

And three out of four economists surveyed said the president should play no role in setting interest rates.

Scott, thanks for your insights as always.

You're welcome.

That's NPR's Scott Horsley. The president is seeking to expand his weeks long military intervention in Washington, D.C.

[Steve Inskeep]

He'S threatening to punish the city and others around the country for abolishing cash bail and he's hoping to expand the National Guard's role in policing.

[Scott Horsley]

Let's talk about this with WAMU senior DC Politics reporter Alex Koma. Alex, good morning.

[Alex Koma]

Hey, good morning.

[Scott Horsley]

Cashless bail is going to be a new concept to some people. So how's it work and why is the president so focused on it?

[Alex Koma]

Yeah, well, the basic idea is that, you know, if you're accused of a crime, you're being held in jail before trial. You don't have to post a money bond in order to get out. The decision is entirely in the hands of the courts or, you know, the judges to decide, you know, whether you're a risk to community if you be released. And D.C. hasn't had, you know, a cash bail system since 1992. The reform was sort of, you know, made because I think lawmakers recognized that it disproportionately impacted poor black people stuck waiting in jail until their trial because they couldn't afford to pay.

[Scott Horsley]

And the president objects to this why? It seems soft on crime.

[Alex Koma]

Yeah. I mean, his claim is that it lets murderers easily walk free, but that's extremely rare. I mean, just 4% of all people here in D.C. were released before trial were accused of violent crimes last year. So, you know, this is something that has not really had negative consequences for DC. Studies show that something like 90% of DC defendants still show up to court, which is a major mark for proponents of cash bail. Very few are rearrested while awaiting trial. And these are numbers that hold across all states and cities that have abolished the state.

[Scott Horsley]

So how are people in the District of Columbia responding? As the President says, I want this policy changed, and we may impose some kind of consequences on your funding if you don't do it.

[Alex Koma]

Yeah, many doubt that what he wants to do is even legal. I mean, as we saw with the rescissions fight, there are real questions whether he can take, you know, money that's been already appropriated by Congress. And of course, Congress can overturn DC's past laws here, but the president can't just because he passes an executive order saying he doesn't like them. So D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser has also observed that the city recently gave judges more leeway to hold people in jail as they await trial after a contentious debate last year. And that speaks directly to Trump's concerns about, you know, are people accused of violent crimes being released.

I frankly think that that has worked better than any system. Cashless bail is not a new phenomenon in the District.

You know, still, that being said, you know, local leaders are still on edge here because Trump has been meddling with the city's affairs a lot recently, including seizing control of the department, sending in the National Guard and other federal agents.

[Scott Horsley]

What more does he want to do now with the National Guard?

[Alex Koma]

Yeah, so he says he wants to train a special unit of the Guard dedicated to public safety in dc. And he can do that because he does have command of the Guard here, dc, in the state. So there's no governor who'd be in charge of it. Trump also wants to send similar resources to the Guard in other cities to assist in responding to, quote, unquote, civil unrest. But the Guard is, of course, limited by what it can do to patrol American cities. You know, troops can respond if they're attacked, but they don't have police powers or even really the training to assist police. So, you know, no one is really sure how this part is going to work.

[Scott Horsley]

How much of this can the president replicate in other cities where he would have less direct authority than he might have in Washington, D.C. yeah, I think.

[Alex Koma]

California points the way here. You know, he can claim some sort of emergency pretext, as he did in Los Angeles instead, in federal troops, but he'll ultimately run into guardrails. You have governors that have standing to sue, such as Gavin Newsom who did. And, you know, then it can play out in the courts. D.C. you don't have the same situation. And I think that shows why he's doing things here. The city lives in perpetual fear that, you know, he's going to team up with Congress to revoke what limited self governance the government does have here. And that situation is going to remain unchanged regardless of the president or party in power unless the city is someday made a state. He has much less influence in other places unless Congress happens to step in.

[Scott Horsley]

Senior DC Politics reporter Alex Koma of our member station wamu, one of hundreds of NPR stations in communities across this country. Alex, thanks so much.

[Alex Koma]

It was so great to be here.

[Scott Horsley]

Kilmar Abrego Garcia is back in federal custody and waiting to find out how long he may remain in the United States.

[Steve Inskeep]

He was deported by mistake to El Salvador, then returned to the U.S. now the U.S. government says it will deport Abrego Garcia again, this time, though, to the African nation of Uganda. A judge says not yet.

[Scott Horsley]

NPR's Jasmine Garst covers immigration and she's covering this story. Jasmine, good morning.

[Jasmine Garst]

Good morning.

[Scott Horsley]

We've been following this case for months now. Where does it stand today?

[Jasmine Garst]

So Alti entered a mandatory ICE check in in Maryland yesterday. Abrego Garcia was immediate, immediately taken into immigration custody again. And now his attorneys are fighting to stop him from getting deported to Uganda, which his lawyers say is a purely vindictive move. In yesterday's court hearing, federal Judge Paulo Zinis gave a stern warning to the Department of Justice. Until Abrego Garcia has had a chance to challenge the deportation in court, the government is absolutely forbidden from removing him from the US now she said she's asked lawyers on both sides to agree on an expedited schedule for his case by today. And she said she would move as fast as is.

[Scott Horsley]

Just I'm looking at the wording that you gave us there. Absolutely forbidden the judge's words. I guess from her perspective, she would have reason to be stern on this point. What's the background of this case?

[Jasmine Garst]

Abrego Garcia's detention was really one of the first high profile immigration cases of the Trump administration's crackdown. And at its center are questions about due process for undocumented immigrants. Some background. Abrego Garcia came from El Salvador to the US illegally in 2011. He was 16 years old. He says he was escaping gang death threats there. Since he came to the US he has not been convicted of any crimes. The Trump administration has accused him of being a member of the Ms. 13 gang, which he has repeatedly denied. More recently, the government has indicted him on charges of human smuggling. He also denies that. What's really important here is that in 2019 an immigration court ruled that he cannot be deported back to El Salvador because of a well founded fear of gang persecution there.

[Scott Horsley]

And then what is the way that he came to the attention of the Trump administration this year?

[Jasmine Garst]

So the the Trump administration sent him to a notorious prison in El Salvador. They admitted that his removal was a mistake. And after a lot of back and forth in the courts, he was eventually brought back to the in June to face new unrelated charges of human smuggling, which stem from a traffic stop in Tennessee in 2022. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges. He was released from federal custody last week pending the criminal trial and now he's in detention again.

[Scott Horsley]

And just to understand the legal background here, the thing the government was forbidden to do was send him to El Salvador where he faced a threat. So far as we know, they may well have the right to send him anywhere else in the world, Uganda, Costa Rica, anyplace else.

[Jasmine Garst]

Right? Absolutely. You know, the US has an agreement with Uganda and right now that is what is being challenged in the courts.

[Scott Horsley]

NPR's Jasmine Garst, thanks very much.

[Jasmine Garst]

Thank you so much, Steve.

[Scott Horsley]

And that's up first for this Tuesday, August 26th. I'm Steve Inske Enemy Martinez.

[Steve Inskeep]

How about listening to Consider this from npr. We here at up first give you the three big stories of the day. Our Consider this colleagues take a different approach. They dive into a single news story and what it means to you and you can learn all about it in fewer than 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get podcasts.

[Scott Horsley]

Today's up first was edited by Padma Rama, Rafael Nam, Eric Westervelt, Lisa Thompson and H.J. mai. It was produced by Ziad Bach, Nia Dumas and Mansi Khurana, who is our director. This morning we get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and our technical director is Carly Strange.

[Alex Koma]

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