Economist Podcasts “You’re…fired?” A momentous Supreme Court case
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Dec 9, 2025 
Stephen Mazey, Supreme Court correspondent for The Economist, explores a pivotal Supreme Court case challenging presidential removal powers, particularly regarding the FTC. He discusses the impact of restrictive rulings on agency independence and Congress's influence. Tim Cross, Senior science writer, highlights the astronomical challenges posed by rising satellite megaconstellations obstructing telescopic views, forecasting a staggering number of satellites by the 2030s. Both guests delve into pressing contemporary issues shaping governance and astronomy.
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Court Case Could Reshape Presidential Power
- The Supreme Court is considering a case that could expand presidential control over independent agencies in a major way.
- If decided for Trump, many statutory protections shielding multi-member agencies from removal could be invalidated.
Historical Protections Under Threat
- The FTC was created with removal protections to insulate it from political pressure since 1914.
- Recent Supreme Court decisions have steadily eroded removal protections for single-head agencies, setting up a challenge to multi-member agency immunity.
Justices Split Over Agency Independence
- Conservative justices expressed clear skepticism of Humphrey's Executor and argued agencies must be accountable to the president.
- Liberal justices warned overruling Humphrey's Executor would destroy Congress's ability to structure independent agencies.