Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson, and today is Wednesday, August 27, 2025. This is USA Today's

Today, what Trump's firing of a Federal Reserve governor means for his influence on the Fed,

plus some tips and tricks for flying

internationally with pets, and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey are engaged.

President Donald Trump yesterday announced he was firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook

that marks an unprecedented move that brings him one step closer to shaping the balance of the

Fed's seven-member board in his favor.

I spoke with USA Today, White House correspondent Bart Janssen for more.

Bart, thanks for hopping back on, sir.

Thanks for having me.

So just starting here, I mean, who is Lisa Cook?

And why did President Trump say he's firing her?

Trump said in a letter that went out on Monday that Lisa Cook no longer has the confidence of the

American public because she's been accused of mortgage fraud. She has not been charged

criminally. But Trump said it looked bad that it was potentially criminal. And so he said she no longer had his confidence

and that he needed to fire her to find somebody better for the job. Bart, how does this move

fit into Trump's broader tensions with the Federal Reserve? And I guess what does it mean

practically now for the Fed and his influence over it? Well, he's been arguing that the Fed should be lowering interest rates, which is generally

thought to spur the economy.

And he has criticized the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, repeatedly saying

that he's too late, he's too slow.

He should be lowering these rates faster.

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