Jon Decker talks Kennedy Center Honors and Supreme Court hearings today

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joining us now. John Decker, our correspondent at the White House,
has a lot going on there with President Trump doing
the Kennedy Center Honors over the weekend and that show
once again we'll be seen on CBS on December twenty third.
But a lot of fun with all of that. But
first I want to talk to John Decker about what's
happening with the Supreme Court now and they're going to

(00:21):
be hearing this case about whether or not he has
the right to fire government employees. Rebecca, I guess Stratta
is her slaughter, rather is her name. She was working
at the FTC, and for whatever reason.

Speaker 2 (00:32):
She's not just working at the FTCJT. She's a member
of the Federal Trade Commission, she's a commissioner. So the
question is is whether or not the president has the
right without cause to fire a member of an independent
agency and they're Supreme Court president.

Speaker 3 (00:47):
That goes back to nineteen thirty five, a nine.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
To nothing unanimous decision that was made by the US
Supreme Court back in nineteen thirty five, which says a
president cannot do what the president wants to do right now,
the question is does the Supreme Court today essentially undo
that precedent. Do they overturn that precedent from nineteen thirty
five and they've been shipping away at that president.

Speaker 3 (01:12):
I think they may do it. Actually, jagree with his
casel here today, Yes, I do.

Speaker 1 (01:16):
Well, Now, what grounds do you think they'll make that
decision to go the other way based on what the
Supreme Court did so so many years ago. It's not
his football team, he's not the head coach and just
firing staff members underneath him. Does he take it in
his own mind? I guess by doing this, since it's
got the word federal on it and he's the president,
he can do anything he want with any federal employee.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
Well, that's the question, and it depends upon how far
the Supreme Court wants to go. Because there's another case
the Supreme Court will take up in early January, just
a few weeks from now, about whether or not the
president can also fire a member of the Federal Reserve.

Speaker 3 (01:53):
Board, and that's Lisa Cook.

Speaker 2 (01:55):
So there are two big cases before the Supreme Court
that will determine the extent of presidential power. And JT
here's the thing. If the Supreme Court says that a
president can do this, that means not only can Donald J.
Trump do this, but any future president can do this
as well, including a future Democratic president. And so that's

(02:17):
something that the Supreme Court will have to take into
account as they hear this case today, which is Donald J.

Speaker 3 (02:23):
Trump versus Rebecca Slaughter.

Speaker 1 (02:25):
All Right, you're remember the Supreme Court b a bar
Rather and your attorney obviously, John Will you mentioned you
think they do reverse it. Why.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
Well, essentially the answer to that question, JT, is that
was then, this is now nineteen thirty five is not
the same as twenty twenty five.

Speaker 3 (02:44):
And keep in mind, JT.

Speaker 2 (02:46):
Super conservative majority at the US Supreme Court, and these
justices view presidential power and the executive branch a lot
differently than the Supreme Court back in nineteen thirty five.
And so for that reason, I think that the Supreme
Court essentially says that the president can remove commissioner from

(03:09):
an independent agency. He has the power to do that,
but it does not extend to the Federal Reserve Board.
That is definitely something they want to keep independent. So
I think the President will likely win on this action.
I don't think he'll win in the other case involving
Lisa Cook.

Speaker 1 (03:27):
All Right, one of the other cases. Quickly, John, is
the anchor baby situation where a child, if born to
illegal immigrants, is born in the United States. I think
we've got that in our constitution, that they are in
fact a US citizen just by being born here. But
once again, that was then. This is now a lot
different situation with our immigration situation here in this country.

(03:48):
So where do you think the justices will end up
on this one?

Speaker 2 (03:52):
Well, I don't like to say unless I read the
brief JT.

Speaker 3 (03:55):
And the Supreme Court. As you know, on Friday, I
agreed to take up this case.

Speaker 2 (03:59):
The case be heard by the Supreme Court in April,
so plenty of time JT for you to ask me
that question.

Speaker 3 (04:06):
But as you put it.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
It seems to me it's a right that's enshrined in
the Constitution. And the question is can a president undo
that right in the Constitution simply through the stroke of
a pent, simply through an executive order? You know, if
President Trump can do that, it means the next president
can simply undo that executive order. And I don't know
if the Supreme Court wants it to be that easy

(04:30):
as it relates to this particular issue.

Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah, I think you're right on that one, all right,
John Decker, Thank you, buddy. I appreciate you. Always good stuff.

Speaker 3 (04:36):
John.

Speaker 1 (04:36):
Always available for you too on our iHeartRadio app. Just
look for the White House Briefing Room with John Decker.
It's updated daily.