The Morning Sixpack - April 17, 2025

Fed won't cut rates, Trump suggests he'll fire Fed Chair Powell (whom he hired), and hundreds of ASU student visas revoked. All this and more! Because it's "Trump Time!"

Are you tired of winning yet?

The markets are sharply down—AGAIN—after Fed Chairman Powell says tariffs and inflation are gonna be bad. LOL. Who knew?

Trump Calls for Fed Rate Cuts, Demands Jerome Powell’s “Termination”

President Donald Trump has once again urged the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, escalating his criticism of Chairman Jerome Powell.

In a recent Truth Social post, Trump condemned Powell as "too late and wrong," emphasizing the Federal Reserve’s delayed actions compared to the European Central Bank, which has been actively cutting rates to spur growth in the region.

Trump also said that Powell’s termination should come “sooner rather than later,” making it clear that he’s unhappy with the Fed’s current policies.

Trump cannot wait to fire Powell.

Trump's frustration with Powell isn't new. He has repeatedly called for rate cuts and criticized the Fed’s timing on monetary decisions. This latest post follows Powell’s speech at the Economic Club of Chicago, where Powell discussed the challenges of balancing inflation control with fostering growth, especially in light of Trump’s on-again off-again tariffs.

Powell’s and Trump’s comments contributed to a market sell-off (DJIA finished yesterday 700 points down and is already down over 500 points today), highlighting the tension between the administration’s economic strategies and the Fed's policies.

While Trump’s comments about Powell’s “termination” are not the first, they mark the first time he’s explicitly called for Powell’s firing. However, Powell, whose term as Fed chair lasts until 2026, has repeatedly pointed out that the president cannot legally remove him from office.

Source: CNBC

Trump Administration Faces Contempt of Court for Ignoring Deportation Flight Order

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration may have acted in contempt of court by failing to reverse deportation flights that were ordered to return by a previous ruling. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found that the administration defied his directive to turn around planes carrying alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador. This defiance was described as "willful disobedience" and could undermine the very integrity of the Constitution itself, according to the judge.

In his ruling, Boasberg criticized the administration for conducting a "hurried removal operation" shortly after he issued a court order blocking the deportations. Despite the government’s insistence that it had complied with the law, Boasberg maintained that the actions were in direct violation of the court’s instructions, which remained effective for three weeks. He noted that the Trump administration had been given ample opportunity to explain their actions, but none of their responses were satisfactory.

The judge has now ordered the administration to file a declaration within one week detailing steps they have taken to comply with his order. If the government does not rectify the situation, Boasberg warned that further actions could include hearings and potentially appointing an independent attorney to prosecute the contempt.

Source: ABC News

Pam Bondi Defends Mistaken Deportation of Maryland Dad, Claims Family Is Better Off Without Him

Pam Bondi, former Attorney General under President Trump, has sparked outrage by insisting that a Maryland father, wrongly deported to El Salvador, is better off separated from his wife and disabled child. Bondi's controversial statement came despite the pleas of Jennifer Vasquez Sura, his wife, who has begged the government to bring him back, claiming that their family is suffering from his absence.

Bondi's defense of the deportation rests on the claim that America and Maryland are safer with Kilmar Abrego Garcia removed from the country, a statement that directly contradicts the family's struggles. Abrego Garcia, who had a full-time job and legal protection, was sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador, despite the government's admission that they mistakenly deported him. Both a federal judge and the Supreme Court have ordered his return, yet the administration continues to delay his release, offering unsubstantiated claims of gang affiliations as justification.

As Vasquez Sura continues to fight for her husband's return, Bondi's remarks have ignited further controversy. With no solid evidence linking Abrego Garcia to criminal activity, his family's fight for justice persists, while government officials cling to their stance, citing unfounded allegations.

Source: The Daily Beast

Over 100 ASU Student Visas Revoked, Impacting International Students at Arizona Universities

Over 100 students at Arizona State University (ASU) have had their student visas revoked, with the number expected to rise, according to United Campus Workers of Arizona president, Michael Kintscher. A smaller number of visa revocations were also confirmed at the University of Arizona (UArizona), although specific details are still being clarified. This development has sparked concern about the impact on international students, with officials fearing it could damage the U.S.'s reputation as a top destination for global talent.

Kintscher explained that while more than 100 students at ASU have had their visas revoked, the actual number may be much higher. UArizona also reported visa revocations but said the exact number is still under review. A faculty letter from UArizona indicated that fewer than 10 students were affected, but acknowledged that the situation is evolving. ASU has not confirmed the exact number of revocations but assured that no students have been deported and the university is committed to supporting those affected.

Rep. Greg Stanton emphasized the importance of international students to the U.S. economy, stating that the country's universities play a crucial role in its success. He expressed concern that visa issues could harm the nation's standing as an educational hub for students worldwide.

Source: ABC15

Texas House Approves Landmark $1 Billion Private School Voucher Program

In a historic move, the Texas House has approved a bill creating a $1 billion private school voucher program, a top priority for Governor Greg Abbott. The bill, known as Senate Bill 2, passed with an 85-63 vote, marking the first time since 1957 that the Texas House has agreed to allow taxpayer money for private schooling. While the bill moves closer to becoming law, it has sparked intense debate, with Democrats and some Republicans opposing the measure.

The voucher program will offer education savings accounts to families, enabling them to use public funds for private school tuition and other school-related expenses. Governor Abbott hailed the vote as a major victory for parents seeking more educational choices, while opponents argue that it prioritizes special interests over the needs of public schools. Critics also expressed concerns that the bill doesn’t do enough to address the financial struggles faced by Texas school districts.

Despite opposition, the bill is poised to move to the Senate, where lawmakers will iron out differences between their voucher proposals. The final version of the program is expected to prioritize low-income families and students with disabilities, but questions remain about its long-term impact on public education.

Source: Texas Tribune

SignalGate Scandal: Disappearing Messages and Vanishing Media Coverage Raise Alarms Over Government Transparency

The SignalGate scandal has deepened with revelations not only about vanishing messages, but also about the media’s near-complete disappearance of the story. U.S. government officials used the Signal app to communicate about military strikes in Yemen, but many of these messages were set to automatically delete, evading archiving efforts. This sparked a legal battle led by American Oversight, a watchdog organization, accusing the Trump administration of using disappearing messages as part of a broader strategy to sidestep transparency laws. Now, new filings reveal troubling inconsistencies and failures by U.S. defense and intelligence agencies to preserve these critical records.

In addition to the disappearance of crucial communications, the coverage of the scandal itself has been alarmingly sparse. While outlets like The Atlantic initially reported on the use of Signal for coordinating military actions, the fallout has been notably muted in recent weeks. Some agencies, like the CIA, have admitted they did not archive significant portions of the messages, while others have struggled to even comply with the court’s preservation orders. American Oversight has raised concerns that the lack of media attention could be part of a broader attempt to let the scandal slip out of the public eye, further complicating efforts to hold officials accountable.

The court filings also highlight the government’s lackluster efforts to retrieve or document the missing information, with many communications permanently lost. American Oversight plans to continue its legal pursuit, aiming to expand the investigation and force transparency on this troubling issue.

Source: WIRED