On August 25, 2025, President Donald Trump fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook—the first such ouster in 111 years—over alleged 2021 mortgage fraud involving dual primary residence claims in Michigan and Georgia, as cited in a criminal referral by FHFA Director Bill Pulte to AG Pam Bondi. Cook, Biden’s 2022 appointee and the first Black woman on the Fed board, refused to resign, claiming no "cause" under the Federal Reserve Act, setting up a Supreme Court showdown that could threaten Fed independence and target Chair Jerome Powell (term ends 2026). Concurrently, a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling on August 21 axed $783M in NIH DEI research grants. Trump’s economic moves escalated with an Intel stake via CHIPS Act grants and a “golden share” in Nippon Steel’s U.S. Steel acquisition—sparking fears of Chinese-style “communist capitalism.” GOP voter regi ...