News Wrap: D.C. suing Trump administration to end National Guard deployment

Amna Nawaz:

The day's other headlines begin in the nation's capital.

President Trump's nominee to fill an open seat on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors said he would not resign his position at the White House if confirmed to the role. Stephen Miran told a Senate hearing today that he would instead take an unpaid leave of absence from his post as chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. He also pledged to uphold the independence of the Fed.

Stephen Miran, Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers: If I'm confirmed to this role, I will act independently, as the Federal Reserve always does, based on my own personal analysis of economic data, my own personal analysis of the effects of economic policies upon the economy, and act based on my judgment of where — my judgment of the best economic policy possible.

Amna Nawaz:

His refusal to step away from his White House job raised sharp criticism among Democrats, who were already concerned about his ability to stay free of the president's influence.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA):

Every claim he makes and every vote he takes will be tainted with the suspicion that he isn't an honest broker, but instead is Donald Trump's puppet.

Amna Nawaz:

Administration officials are hoping that Miran is confirmed in time for the Fed's next meeting on interest rates later this month.

That comes as the Justice Department has reportedly opened a criminal investigation into Fed governor Lisa Cook. President Trump has been trying to fire cook for cause amid accusations of mortgage fraud, which she denies. The criminal investigation was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

In Florida, a federal appeals court paused a lower court's order to wind down the Everglades detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz. In a 2-1, the judges said it wasn't in the public interest to close the facility while the Trump administration appeals. Last month, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered the center closed by the end of October.

Separately, an appeals court is pausing restrictions on President Trump's use of force in Los Angeles. Earlier this week, a separate judge found Trump's deployment of military forces to the city was illegal and barred them from doing police work in the state. The administration's appealed that ruling. Today's decision maintains the status quo in L.A. as the appeal plays out.

The District of Columbia is suing the Trump administration to end its deployment of the National Guard in the city. Washington, D.C.'s attorney general, Brian Schwalb, said the deployment of more than 1,000 troops amounts to an illegal military occupation. A White House spokesperson fired back, calling the case — quote — "nothing more than another attempt to undermine the president's highly successful operations to stop violent crime in D.C."

It comes as President Trump threatens to send federal forces to more American cities, including Chicago and Baltimore.

The Trump administration is taking its tariff fight to the Supreme Court. Officials want the justices to reverse a lower court decision that ruled most of President Trump's tariffs are an illegal use of emergency powers. That ruling left the tariffs in place for now. But the administration's argues the decision — quote — "casts a pall of uncertainty upon ongoing foreign negotiations that threatens the president's trade agenda."

Government officials are hoping the High Court will take up the case and hear oral arguments by early November.

The president of Northwestern University, Michael Schill, is stepping down amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the nation's elite schools. In April, officials slashed nearly $800 million in research funding for the Illinois-based school, citing claims of antisemitism. A year earlier, Schill was criticized by House Republicans over Northwestern's response to pro-Palestine demonstrations on campus.

In a statement, he acknowledged those challenges, writing, it's critical — quote — "to protect the university's research mission and excellence, while preserving academic freedom, integrity and independence."

In Gaza, health officials said today that more than 64,000 Palestinians have now been killed in the Israel-Hamas war. The latest strikes killed at least 28 people, mostly women and children, as Israel intensifies its operation in Gaza City. Israel's military says it already controls 40 percent of the area. This follows a statement from Hamas saying it would free all 48 hostages it still holds both dead and alive, but only if Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza and in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, among other terms.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office dismissed the offer as a spin, saying the war would continue until Israel's own conditions are met.

Turning now to Afghanistan, the Taliban government says that the death toll from this week's earthquake has spiked to more than 2,200 people. Hundreds more bodies have been recovered since the 6.0-magnitude quake shook a remote eastern part of the country late on Sunday. The quake leveled villages in the mountainous Kunar Province, where many people lived in simple homes of mud and wood.

The treacherous terrain has hindered relief efforts, requiring the deployment of helicopters and airdrops to reach survivors.

French President Emmanuel Macron says 26 Western nations have pledged to send troops to Ukraine the moment the fighting ends with Russia. France hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today for meetings with European leaders and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. President Trump dialed in for a virtual meeting of what's known as the Coalition of the Willing. It's a group of more than 30 of Ukraine's allies.

Afterwards, Macron said that a postwar presence by land air or sea would serve as a lasting security guarantee for Ukraine.

Emmanuel Macron, French President (through translator):

This force does not have the will or the objective of waging some war against Russia, but it is a force that must guarantee peace and provide a very clear strategic signaling. It will be deployed within the framework of a cease-fire, but it aims to prevent any new major aggression.

Amna Nawaz:

It's unclear if and how the U.S. will participate. Both Macron and Zelenskyy say they're working with Washington to finalize a plan.

On Wall Street today, stocks ended higher ahead of tomorrow's closely watched monthly jobs report. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 350 points on the day. The Nasdaq rose more than 200 points. The S&P 500 also ended with solid gains.

Still to come on the "News Hour": the parents of a Texas flood victim advocate for better safety at summer camps; the fashion world honors the life and legacy of the late designer Giorgio Armani; and a Tiny Chef leaves a big impression online.