Runaway Country with Alex Wagner Will the Supreme Court Finally Stand Up to Trump in 2026? (with Melissa Murray)
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Dec 18, 2025 
Melissa Murray, an NYU law professor and co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, joins former FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter to discuss major Supreme Court issues. They dive into the legality of Trump's tariffs and the fight for agency independence, with Slaughter sharing her shocking firing experience. Murray contextualizes the cases, emphasizing the threat to birthright citizenship and voting rights. The conversation reveals underlying tensions in the court and explores the implications for democracy and public trust.
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Small-Business Owner Sued Over 145% Tariff
- Rick Woldenberg sued President Trump over steep tariffs that threatened his toy business and supply chains.
- He framed the lawsuit as defending the Constitution and American small business tradition.
FTC Commissioner Fired Via Email During Rehearsal
- Rebecca Slaughter received an email on March 18th firing her from the FTC while at her daughter's school rehearsal.
- She immediately coordinated with fellow commissioner Alvaro Bedoya and filed suit claiming the removals were unlawful.
Why Independent Agencies Exist
- Congress created multi-member independent agencies to insulate expert decision-making from pure presidential politics.
- Losing that insulation would let the president pick agency leadership for partisan favors, not public protection.