Early Morning Political News: 4‑Minute Read
Brought to You by the Center Voter |“We Report Only the Facts”
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Federal Level
Supreme Court Strikes Down 91-Year Precedent, Expands Trump’s Firing Power
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Monday, June 29, that President Trump has the authority to fire members of independent federal agencies at will, overturning the 1935 Humphrey’s Executor precedent that had shielded those positions for nearly a century. The ruling arose from Trump’s 2025 firing of Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Kelly Slaughter without cause. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts held that the modern FTC exercises executive power and must remain accountable to the president. The decision places more than 20 agencies, including the EEOC and consumer protection boards, under direct presidential control.1, 2
Supreme Court Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook
In a separate 5-4 ruling on Monday, June 29, the Supreme Court blocked President Trump’s effort to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, carving the central bank out from the broad new presidential firing power granted in the same day’s FTC decision. Chief Justice Roberts wrote that Cook was entitled to an explanation and a meaningful opportunity to respond to the president’s mortgage-fraud allegations before any removal could proceed. Cook called the decision a ruling that “defends the independence of the central bank.” Trump vowed in a social media post to continue pursuing her removal.3, 4
Supreme Court Upholds States’ Right to Count Late-Arriving Mail Ballots
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Monday, June 29, that federal election law does not bar states from counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day if they were postmarked by then. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberal justices in the majority. The ruling upholds laws in roughly 30 states that provide grace periods of several days for ballots to be received. The decision directly blocks Trump administration executive orders and Department of Justice directives aimed at ending the practice, delivering a significant defeat to Republican election reform efforts.5, 6
Trump Calls Bipartisan Housing Bill a “Big Yawn,” Demands SAVE Act First
President Trump on Monday, June 29, again refused to commit to signing the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, telling reporters in a brief Oval Office appearance that the bill was “a big yawn” compared to his push for the SAVE America Act’s voter ID and citizenship-verification requirements. Speaker Mike Johnson sent the housing bill to the White House that morning. The standoff widened the rift between Trump and Senate Republican Leader John Thune, who has declined the president’s demand to eliminate the 60-vote filibuster threshold, putting a rare legislative win on housing affordability in jeopardy just five months before the November midterms.7, 8
House Passes Kids’ Online Safety Bill 267-117; Senate Wants Stricter Version
The House passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act on Monday, June 29, by a bipartisan 267-117 vote, requiring platforms to build safety features for minors, banning targeted advertising to children, and mandating age verification. A years-long congressional stalemate on child online safety appears to be breaking. The path forward in the Senate will not be easy, however, as senators backing a more demanding version that includes a strict “duty of care” standard and tougher age-verification rules are pushing back on the House’s approach, setting up a difficult conference negotiation.9, 10
State Level
Alaska Supreme Court: Both Dan Sullivans Remain on the Ballot
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled on Monday evening, June 29, that Dan J. Sullivan of Petersburg may appear on the August 18 Republican Senate primary ballot alongside U.S. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. The state’s Division of Elections had disqualified the challenger, arguing his filing was designed to confuse voters, but the high court found no constitutional basis for removal, upholding a lower court ruling. The decision arrived just hours before the June 30 noon deadline for ballot printing and resolved weeks of legal battle over the limits of a state’s authority to disqualify candidates for federal office.11, 12
Colorado Holds Primary Today: Progressive Wave Meets Veteran Democrats
Colorado voters head to the polls today, June 30, in a set of Democratic primaries that will test whether the progressive surge that toppled New York incumbents last week can carry across state lines. In the U.S. Senate race, Sen. John Hickenlooper faces state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a self-described “insurgent progressive.” The governor’s race pits Attorney General Phil Weiser against U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in a contest focused on who has been toughest on Trump. In Denver’s congressional district, 29-year-old democratic socialist Melat Kiros is challenging 30-year incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette in a nationally watched race.13, 14
NYC Budget Deadline Looms at Midnight; Mamdani and Council Still Apart
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the City Council remained deadlocked Monday, June 29, as a midnight Tuesday deadline approached for the city’s $124.7 billion budget. The central dispute is the mayor’s refusal to fund the court-ordered expansion of the CityFHEPS rental voucher program, which would extend housing assistance to tens of thousands more New Yorkers. Progressive council members, normally aligned with Mamdani, sided with Council Speaker Julie Menin in demanding the expansion, accusing the mayor of breaking a core campaign promise. Failing to meet the deadline carries no legal penalty, but political damage to Mamdani’s first year in office would be significant.15, 16
◆
THIS POLITICAL NEWS REPORT IS FREE TO EVERYONE
WOULD YOU KINDLY SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND?
Article Sources
1. NPR, “Supreme Court cements Trump’s power over independent agencies,” June 29, 2026.
https://www.npr.org/2026/06/29/nx-s1-5816232/supreme-court-ftc-independent-agencies-humphreys-executor
2. USA Today, “Supreme Court gives Trump more power over agencies, overturning precedent,” June 29, 2026.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/29/supreme-court-trump-ftc-independent-agency/87895949007/
3. CNN, “Justices Expand Presidential Power Over Regulators, but Not the Fed,” June 29, 2026.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/06/29/us/trump-supreme-court-presidential-power
4. CNN, “Takeaways from the Supreme Court’s decisions expanding Trump’s firing power but preserving Fed for now,” June 29, 2026.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/29/politics/takeaways-supreme-court-cook-slaughter-carroll-ballots
5. Politico, “Supreme Court rejects Trump’s challenge to counting late mail-in ballots,” June 29, 2026.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/29/supreme-court-mail-in-voting-ruling-00979740
6. Forbes, “Supreme Court Rules Against Republicans On Mail-In Ballots,” June 29, 2026.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2026/06/29/late-mail-in-ballots-can-be-counted-after-election-day-supreme-court-rules/
7. Politico, “Trump says housing bill he tanked last week is a ‘big yawn’,” June 29, 2026.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/29/trump-housing-bill-yawn-signing-00980463
8. CNN, “Speaker Johnson sends bipartisan housing bill to White House — but Trump says it’s a ‘yawn’,” June 29, 2026.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/29/politics/mike-johnson-housing-bill-trump
9. Politico, “Kids’ safety package wins House approval,” June 29, 2026.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/29/kids-safety-package-wins-house-approval-00980846
10. Reuters, “US House passes youth online safety legislation,” June 29, 2026.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-house-passes-youth-online-safety-legislation-2026-06-29/
11. AP News, “Alaska Supreme Court says man with same name as US Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible for primary ballot,” June 29, 2026.
https://apnews.com/article/alaska-senate-dan-sullivan-primary-ballot-7ab7729f59ada83a498e91bf5ae0b67f
12. CBS News, “Man with same name as Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan can appear on primary ballot,” June 29, 2026.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alaska-dan-sullivan-gop-primary-ballot/
13. The Boston Globe, “Colorado Democrats choose between insurgent progressives and veteran incumbents,” June 30, 2026.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/30/nation/colorado-primary-elections/
14. Ballotpedia, “Colorado gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 30 Democratic primary),” 2026.
https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_gubernatorial_election,_2026_(June_30_Democratic_primary)
15. New York Post, “Mamdani, NYC Council deadlocked on $125B budget as deadline looms,” June 29, 2026.
https://nypost.com/2026/06/29/us-news/mayor-zohran-mamdani-city-council-deadlocked-on-nyc-budget-deal/
16. New York Post, “NYC, NY state politics live updates,” June 29, 2026.
https://nypost.com/2026/06/29/us-news/nyc-ny-state-politics-live-updates-june-29-30-july-1-2-3/