Trump’s firing power faces twin SCOTUS tests, but one agency may get special treatment

Source: Fox News

“Two high-stakes Supreme Court battles over President Donald Trump’s authority to remove federal officials could reshape the balance of power in Washington, but legal experts say the justices may draw a sharp line between the cases. At the center of the debate are Slaughter v. Trump, involving the firing of Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, and Trump v. Cook, involving Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. While both cases touch on presidential removal power, legal scholars say the disputes present fundamentally different legal questions. In Slaughter, the administration is directly challenging statutory restrictions on the president’s ability to remove FTC commissioners, arguing that limits on the president’s authority to fire commissioners violate his Article II executive powers. But in Cook, the central question is whether Trump met the Federal Reserve Act’s ‘for cause’ removal requirement.” (06/18/26)

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trumps-firing-power-faces-twin-supreme-court-tests-one-agency-may-get-special-treatment

If the US Government Won’t Respect Freedom of Speech, AI Firms Should Move

Source: Garrison Center
by Thomas L Knapp

“Code is speech (as ruled by a US district court and affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Bernstein v. Department of Justice). AI models are code. Therefore, AI models are speech, and the government doesn’t get to control them. Not that the current administration, or any other, or Congress, or the courts, can be counted on to respect the Constitution. The ink wasn’t dry on that document before the American political establishment started ignoring its inconveniences. Which leaves Anthropic and other artificial intelligence firms in a bind. … As a practical matter, if Anthropic et al. want to innovate and compete in a growing market that’s already changing how the world works, they need to get away from the US government, which means getting away from the US.” (06/18/26)

https://thegarrisoncenter.org/archives/20703

From Victimhood to Agency: Understanding What is Up to Us

Source: The Daily Economy
by Barry Brownstein

“Excuses protect us from guilt, but they also rob us of hope. The habit of denying responsibility may be one of the greatest obstacles to personal and social flourishing.” (06/18/26)

https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/from-victimhood-to-agency-understanding-what-is-up-to-us/

Waymo recalls more than 3,800 robotaxis that might drive onto closed freeways

Source: Engadget

“Waymo is recalling over 3,800 of its self-driving taxis due to a software issue that could cause them to enter closed freeway construction zones at speed, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Admininstration (NHTSA) bulletin seen by Reuters. The company is reportedly working on a fix and has ‘restricted freeway driving,’ the NHTSA safety notice states. It’s not known if Waymo had an incident that prompted the recall. … This is the second recall for the Alphabet-owned robotaxi company in a bit more than a month. Back in May, Waymo recalled 3,791 robotaxis after a vehicle drove onto a flood road in San Antonio. Fortunately, no one was injured as the taxi was unoccupied, but the vehicle was swept away by the flood. Prior to that, the fleet was recalled for a particularly dangerous situation when some of its robotaxis were seen failing to stop for school buses that had their stop signs and flashing lights deployed.” (06/18/26)

https://www.engadget.com/2197051/waymo-recalls-3800-robotaxis-that-might-drive-onto-closed-freeways/

Dems want us to focus on Graham Platner’s policies; he fails Maine there, too

Source: Fox News
by Laurel Libby

“Now that Graham Platner is officially the Democratic Party’s chosen candidate to face Sen. Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins this November, his campaign staff and the far-left establishment that back him will undoubtedly spend the next five months trying to contain the fallout from his personal history. They will ask voters to look past the domestic abuse allegations, the rhetoric glorifying political violence, the racially charged comments and the Nazi tattoo. They will argue that those controversies are distractions and urge Mainers to focus instead on the issues facing our state. As a Republican serving in the Maine House, I wholeheartedly agree. Because when Mainers look beyond the colorful Platner headlines and turn their focus to his policies, they will find an extreme version of the same progressive agenda that has already made life harder for working families across our state.” (06/18/26)

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/democrats-want-us-focus-graham-platners-policies-fails-maine

CA: San Francisco socialites found dead on side of Interstate 5

Source: SFGate

“The San Francisco arts community is mourning the loss of Judith and Wylie Sheldon, longtime patrons of film and performances in the city. On Monday evening, a California Highway Patrol officer discovered the couple’s bodies inside their car on the side of Interstate 5 north of Redding. Judy was 84, and Wylie was 86. … Lieutenant Josh Smith with the CHP told SFGATE that the couple was traveling to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival when, on June 15 around 5:46 p.m., a CHP officer checked on their Jeep Compass parked along the highway approaching Lake Shasta. The car’s engine was still running, and the couple was found unresponsive inside. … Smith said they do not suspect foul play.” (06/18/26)

https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/san-francisco-patrons-dead-22310168.php