Abortion and gun decisions loom as US supreme court releases more opinions – live

You don’t necessarily need to win an election to wield power in Washington. Today, two institutions composed of political appointees will make decisions that could have massive impacts on Americans.

At 2 pm eastern time, the Federal Reserve, which is by law mandated to fight inflation, will almost certainly raise interest rates again. Less certain is the size of the increase. Many believe the Fed will up rates by 0.75 percent for the first time since 1994, though they could also opt for a more modest 0.5 percent increase. Such hikes work to dampen demand from consumers, which is a factor in the country’s decades-high inflation rate. But high rates can slow economic growth, and with the Fed committed to continue hiking until it feels inflation is under control, economists increasingly worry the country will enter a recession, perhaps next year.

But first comes the 10 am eastern time release of decisions from the supreme court. The justices have a number of cases before them, but there’s no telling which ones they’ll release. Tensions around the court are high following last month’s unprecedented leak of their draft opinion on abortion that would overturn the right nationwide. But the court’s conservative majority may also decide to expand the right to carry a concealed weapon, weaken the government’s power to regulate and block the Biden administration from ending the “remain in Mexico” policy put in place during former president Donald Trump’s term.

Of course, elections are a factor in how both of these institutions behave. The supreme court justices and the leaders of the Federal Reserve are both appointed by presidents, who only get into the White House if they have the votes.

Abortion, gun decisions loom as supreme court releases more opinions

Good morning, US politics blog readers. Today begins with the release of another batch of decisions from the supreme court, and while there’s no telling which of the many cases pending before them they’ll release opinions on, the court’s conservative majority is thought to be ready to restrict abortion rights, expand the ability to carry a concealed weapon and maybe curb the government’s power to regulate emissions.

Here’s what else is going on today:

source: theguardian.com