Cook refuses to quit, conservatives split on Trump's flag-burning order: Unbiased Updates, Aug. 26, 2025

President Trump says she's fired, but Fed Governor Lisa Cook says she's not going anywhere

The showdown now brewing at the Central Bank. Plus, Trump buys a bigger role for the National Guard

Illinois' governor draws the line. It is illegal. It is unconstitutional. It is un-American

And Donald Trump says burn a flag, go to jail. Now even some on the right are firing back

the stories that matter clear and credible from across the country to around the world

these are your unbiased updates from straight arrow news good morning i'm craig degrelli a new showdown is brewing this morning between president trump

and the federal reserve the governor of the federal reserve lisa cook is refusing to step down

defying President Trump's announcement on Truth Social that he fired her. Trump says cause exists because Cook is under federal investigation into alleged mortgage fraud

along with Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James

But Cook has not been charged with any crime. And under the Federal Reserve Act, governors can only be removed for cause

meaning actual misconduct or proven wrongdoing. Her lawyer criticized the president, calling his move bullying and without any legal basis

Cook released a statement of her own saying, President Trump purported to fire me for cause when no cause exists under the law and he has no authority to do so

I will not resign. Instead, she says she will continue to carry out her duties

The stakes are high. The Fed is designed to operate independently, making decisions that impact interest rates, markets and your wallet

A court battle over whether a president can remove a Fed governor could shake that independence and possibly rattle the economy

President Trump is doubling down on his crime crackdown signing an executive order Monday that gives the Pentagon a larger role in domestic law enforcement The order formalizes new specially trained National Guard units in Washington D and every state A quick reaction force that can be deployed nationwide to quell civil disturbances

The White House calls it a common sense measure to make the Capitol safe and beautiful again

Critics call it something else. A move that blurs the line between military and law enforcement

Something Trump addressed directly. And they say we don't need him. Freedom, freedom

He's a dictator. He's a dictator. A lot of people are saying maybe we like a dictator

I don't like a dictator. I'm not a dictator. I'm a man with great common sense and a smart person

And when I see what's happening to our cities and then you send in troops instead of being praised

they're saying you're trying to take over the republic. Donald Trump is now threatening to send guard troops to Chicago next

saying he could solve the city's crime issues in a week. But Democratic leaders, including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, call it un-American and a misuse of the military for politics

Donald Trump wants to use the military to occupy a U.S. city, punish his dissidents, and score political points

If this were happening in any other country, we would have no trouble calling it what it is, a dangerous power grab

Legal scholars say the order raises serious questions since the Posse Commitus Act of 1878

which normally bars federal troops from policing American streets and restricts the use of the army or air force for domestic law enforcement

For now, more than 2,200 guard troops remain deployed in Washington, many already carrying their service weapons on patrol

And another executive order from President Trump is sparking backlash. This time, it's from his own side of the aisle

Trump signed an order Monday directing the Justice Department to prosecute people who

burned the American flag. It also calls on Attorney General Pam Bondi to challenge the Supreme Court's 1989 ruling

that flag burning is protected speech But conservative commentators quickly pushed back Radio host Dana Loesch called flag vile but says the government has no right to control speech

or expression. Commentator Eric Erickson wrote, it is well-settled constitutional law and that the executive does not get to create crimes. Colin Wright, who said he'd never burn

a flag, argued that banning it is more contrary to American values than the act itself. And

Radio host Jesse Kelly warned the order had him, quote, as close as I'll ever be to lighting one on fire

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled decades ago that flag burning is a form of symbolic speech

Even the late Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative icon, was in the majority

Critics say President Trump's order is more symbolic than substantive, likely to face swift legal challenges and reignite the free speech debate

The House Oversight Committee is turning up the heat on the Jeffrey Epstein estate

issuing a subpoena for key documents. Among the records lawmakers want, Epstein's infamous birthday book

compiled by Jelaine Maxwell for his 50th birthday. The Wall Street Journal previously reported the book included letters

one allegedly from Donald Trump years before he was president. Trump has denied writing it and is suing the journal for defamation

The subpoena also demands, quote, any document that could be reasonably construed as a potential client list tied to sex acts or trafficking

Committee chair James Comer says the estate appears willing to cooperate. The deadline to turn over documents is September 8th

A new redistricting battle is brewing between California and the federal government

President Trump says the Justice Department will sue over Governor Gavin Newsom's plan to reshape the map

The fight stems from Texas, where Republicans just pushed through a new congressional map

adding five GOP seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. California Democrats responded with Proposition 50, signed into law last week by Newsom

creating five more Democratic districts Donald Trump who cheered on Texas now calls California plan illegal and says a DOJ lawsuit is coming quote pretty soon Newsom fired back with two words on social

media. Bring it. Republicans in California also filed an emergency petition on Monday asking the

state Supreme Court to block a special November election on the proposal, arguing it violates

the state constitution and undercuts the independent redistricting commission approved by the voters. Finally this morning, summer is winding down in many parts of the country. School

is back in session. Fall is in the air. And here's a sure sign. Starbucks pumpkin spice latte

is back on the menu. The unofficial kickoff to pumpkin spice season. If you think it's too soon

keep in mind it actually dropped later than last year by just a few days. And Starbucks is not

alone. Dunkin' rolled out its fall lineup a few days ago. And Krispy Kreme, they've been offering

a summer of pumpkin spice for two weeks now. By the way, my wife and I went to Dunkin' on Sunday

after church. We ordered a large iced pumpkin coffee, one each. It was delicious. A sign of

the season for sure. Gotta love fall. Before we head out, here's what we're tracking today

This morning, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will announce action against three states for failing to enforce English proficiency rules for truck drivers

We'll monitor that. Then, at 11, President Trump meets with his cabinet at the White House

At 12.30, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung joins Duffy and the U.S. Labor Secretary at the Philadelphia Shipyard to christen a new training vessel for the Maine Maritime Academy

And this afternoon, the Democratic National Committee kicks off its summer meeting

in Minneapolis. Coffee wakes you up, but we wake up your brain. Sign up for our Unbiased Updates

newsletter straight to your inbox each morning. Go to san.com slash newsletters. Those are your

Unbiased Updates for this Tuesday. We'll see you back here tomorrow. For all of us here at

Straight Arrow News, I'm Craig DeGrelli. Have a great day