Supreme Court to Hear Key Transgender Sports Cases
The US Supreme Court is set to hear two significant cases on January 13, 2026, concerning transgender rights in sports, specifically Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J. Both cases involve transgender women challenging state laws that prohibit their participation in women's sports teams, with Hecox contesting Idaho's Fairness in Women’s Sports Act and B.P.J. challenging West Virginia's Save Women’s Sports Act. The outcomes could have broader implications for civil rights and anti-discrimination laws, as the challengers argue that these bans violate Title IX and the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Former Fed Chairs Condemn Trump's Probe of Powell
Former Federal Reserve chairs Janet Yellen, Ben Bernanke, and Alan Greenspan criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's criminal probe into current Fed chair Jay Powell, describing it as an unprecedented attempt to undermine the central bank's independence. They likened the situation to governance in emerging markets with weak institutions, warning of negative consequences for inflation and economic stability. Powell revealed that the Department of Justice had served grand jury subpoenas related to his testimony before the Senate banking committee, asserting that no one is above the law but emphasizing the broader context of pressure for lower interest rates.
Jack Smith to Testify Publicly Before House Judiciary Committee
Former special counsel Jack Smith is scheduled to testify publicly before the House Judiciary Committee on January 22, as announced by Chairman Jim Jordan. This follows Smith's closed-door deposition in December, where he discussed his investigations into President Donald Trump, including allegations of election interference and mishandling of classified documents. Smith's attorney stated that he welcomes the opportunity to present his case publicly, which Republicans have sought to challenge.
Minnesota sues Trump administration over ICE enforcement surge
Minnesota and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in federal court, seeking to halt a surge of over 2,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the state, which they claim is politically motivated and unconstitutional. The lawsuit follows the fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE agent in Minneapolis and alleges that the enforcement actions violate federal law due to their arbitrary nature. Since the operation began last month, ICE has made more than 2,000 arrests in the city, marking it as the largest enforcement operation in Minnesota's history.
