The White House is continuing its push to remove Federal Reserve board of governors member Lisa Cook, filing a response in federal appeals court ahead of a 3 p.m. deadline on Sunday.

The brief, filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, argues that it is within President Trump’s discretion to remove Cook for cause and that the Fed governor’s claim that her due process is being violated is “meritless.”

The filing doubled down on the president’s arguments, saying that Cook’s removal “is a matter of discretion and not reviewable.”

“The public and the Executive share an interest in ensuring the integrity of the Federal Reserve, and that requires respecting the President’s statutory authority to remove Governors ‘for cause’ when such cause arises,” the court filing concludes.

In a Saturday filing, Cook’s lawyers argued her removal from the Fed would “mark an immediate end” to the precedent of central bank independence from the executive branch. They also claimed that Trump removing Cook “would send a destabilizing signal to the financial markets that could not be easily undone.”

“Central banks like the Federal Reserve are independent for a reason: Even the perception of political influence can destroy the investor confidence that is essential for economic growth and stability. And that bell cannot be unrung. Once confidence in the bank’s independence is lost, it cannot easily be regained,” Cook’s lawyers argued.

Last month, Trump announced that he was removing Cook from her position for cause, citing allegations that she committed mortgage fraud. An Aug. 15 criminal referral from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) alleged Cook listed properties in Michigan and Georgia as her primary residences in 2021. A second FHFA referral on Aug. 28 alleges Cook represented a third property as her “second home,” despite calling it an investment or rental property in other government documents.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department reportedly opened an investigation into Cook regarding the accusations. The central bank governor has denied the White House’s claims and responded to Trump’s move to remove her by filing a lawsuit against the administration.

NBC News reported Friday that Cook declared her Georgia residence as a “vacation home” in financial records, contradicting the administration’s mortgage fraud allegations.

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb temporarily blocked Cook’s firing on Tuesday, noting that Cook made a “strong showing” that her removal violated the Fed’s “for cause” provision. The administration appealed the decision, with Sunday’s deadline coming days before the central bank’s two-day meeting begins Tuesday.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Fed Chair Jerome Powell will announce whether the central bank will cut interest rates from their current 4.33 percent mark. Markets are expecting a quarter-point cut.

Trump has criticized the Fed for not cutting rates for months, with the president specifically making Powell the subject of his ire. Then, he sought to remove Cook, citing the discretion awarded to him by the Federal Reserve Act of 1913.

The Hill has requested comment from Cook’s legal representatives.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said Sunday the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk had “every right” to be speaking on the Utah Valley University campus when he was assassinated on Wednesday.

“Charlie Kirk and I didn’t agree on much politically. I’m a Democrat. He’s clearly a Republican. He was one of my constituents,” Kelly said in an interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press.”

“The one thing we did agree on is his right to be out there speaking about issues on college campuses like he was last Wednesday,” the moderate Democrat continued. “He had every right to be there.”

Kelly also praised Kirk for listening to people who disagreed with him.

“And I will give him a lot of credit: He gave people a platform. And he would listen to people across the aisle,” Kelly said. “I had a difference of opinion from him.”

Kelly said he thinks Kirk’s assassination will be “one of those moments” that “people remember.” He said he hopes people become more aware of the sources of their information and start seeking out those who bring people together.

“I think it’s going to have a long-term impact. I hope it can be a positive one. I hope people go and start to think about: Are they getting their information from people who are trying to exploit us or people who are trying to unify us?” Kelly said.

Kelly praised Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) and Utah Sen. John Curtis (R) for their responses in the wake of the Kirk assassination.

“We’ve seen the governor of Utah, who I got to give a lot of credit to, who has tried to bring this country together. We have not seen that from the president of the United States, and I don’t think we can expect to,” Kelly said.

“I’ve seen it from my Senate colleague in Utah, John Curtis, who is very thoughtful about how he’s approaching this,” he continued. “So my hope is that people go to those individuals that are not trying to exploit this tragic event.”

An ObamaCare deadline has collided with a fight over government funding, as Democrats are signaling they want Republicans to extend the law’s expiring premium subsidies before they support any bill to keep the government open.  

Without action, enhanced tax credits passed during the COVID-19 pandemic to help people afford coverage will expire at the end of the year. Congress has extended the subsidies twice, but now Republicans control the entire government and many are content to let the subsidies expire.  

Yet, some in the GOP are showing openness to some type of extension by year’s end. But government funding expires on Sept. 30, and Democratic leaders want to leverage the earlier deadline to extract concessions on health care and other issues.  

“On this issue, we’re totally united. The Republicans have to come to meet with us in a true bipartisan negotiation to satisfy the American people’s needs on health care or they won’t get our votes, plain and simple,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) told reporters Thursday. 

Here’s what to know about the fight so far. 

Why is this happening now? 

If Congress is going to pass any kind of subsidy extension, they don’t technically have to act until the end of the year. Lawmakers are notorious for waiting until the last possible minute to extend an expiring program.  

But insurers are setting their rates now, and open enrollment for people with plans on the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) exchanges begins Nov. 1. Some people are already receiving notices of substantial rate hikes. If Congress waits until the end of the year, most Healthcare.gov customers will have already selected plans. 

According to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis, about 4 million people will drop out of ACA plans in the first year after the extra subsidies are discontinued. Those people are likely to be relatively young and healthy, leaving a pool of sicker, more expensive patients — leading to even higher premiums in subsequent years. 

Even if the tax credit is extended later, some consumers may never return. 

What is the benefit of the enhanced tax credits?   

In short, they make health plans affordable for more Americans. 

Tax credits to help people on ObamaCare plans afford their premiums have been available since the law passed, but they were capped at enrollees making four times the federal poverty level — $103,280 for a family of three in 2024. 

During the pandemic, Democrats increased the amount of the credit and expanded eligibility to more middle-income people. 

Eligible applicants can use the credit to lower insurance premium costs upfront or claim the tax break when filing their return.   

As a result, enrollment in ObamaCare health plans doubled to more than 24 million, helping to reduce the number of Americans without health insurance. 

What happens if the subsidies expire? 

Almost everyone who is enrolled in a plan on the ACA exchange is receiving a subsidy.  

If they expire, premiums are likely to spike. According to health research group KFF, premiums are expected to increase by more than 75 percent on average, with people in some states seeing their payments more than double.  

More than 24 million Americans are enrolled in the insurance marketplace this year, and about 90 percent — more than 22 million people — are receiving enhanced subsidies.  

Since 2020, enrollment in the ACA marketplace has grown faster in the states won by President Trump in 2024 — primarily rural, Southern states that haven’t expanded Medicaid.   

According to a recent KFF survey, 45 percent of Americans who buy their own health insurance through the ACA exchanges identify as Republican or lean Republican. Three in 10 said they identify as “Make America Great Again” supporters.

What are the GOP politics? 

Republicans opposed ObamaCare in 2010, and were also united against the two Biden-era laws that created, and then extended, the enhanced tax credits for patients during the pandemic. 

But the tax credits have become an integral part of the law, and explaining to millions of Americans — and GOP voters —  why their health insurance premiums are suddenly too expensive for them to afford could be politically unpopular. 

GOP leaders are feeling some pressure. 

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has said he is open to discussing legislation to extend the subsidies, but he said Democrats need to present them with a plan, and not as part of a government funding deal. 

The CBO said permanently extending the subsidies would cost $358 billion over the next 10 years. Many Republicans have balked at the cost. They argue the credits hide the true cost of the health law and subsidize Americans who don’t need the help. They also argue the subsidies have been a driver of fraudulent enrollment by unscrupulous brokers seeking high commissions.  

Republicans declined to include a subsidy extension as part of their tax and spending cut legislation over the summer. The absence was notable given the law’s deep cuts to Medicaid and other sweeping changes it makes to the health care system, and GOP leaders are likely looking to insulate their party against Democrats’ health care attacks. 

Eleven GOP lawmakers have endorsed legislation extending the benefits for one year, punting the issue beyond the midterm elections. Most of them are vulnerable front-liners facing tough reelection contests. 

(NEXSTAR) — It’s mid-September, which can only mean one thing for holders of Apple technology: a massive iOS update is afoot.

During its highly anticipated Apple event last week, the company confirmed the date in which the next update, iOS 26, would be released.

Apple tends to follow the same release schedule every year. In June, it teases its upcoming devices and software updates, and in September, it makes both available. First, though, it hosts an Apple event outlining all the specs (that’s what happened on Tuesday) and then the new tech becomes available the following week.

If you aren’t rushing out to get the new iPhone Air, the most notable update you’ll see is iOS 26.

Those who participate in Apple’s Developer Program and Beta Software Program have already gotten to experience some of the soon-to-be-available features. In addition to Liquid Glass, Apple says those features include options to set the snooze duration on your alarm, Call Screening to respond to unwanted calls, and Apple Intelligence capabilities with the Reminders app.

Which iPhones, Apple devices can get iOS 26?

Below is the list of iPhones, iPads, Watches, and Mac devices that will be able to get iOS 26:

Only the latest iPhones — iPhones 15 and newer — as well as iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad and Mac models with M1, have access to Apple Intelligence.

Which device do I have?

To confirm which iPhone you have, navigate to the Settings app, then go to General, and About. 

On a Mac, you can open the About This Mac tool from the Apple menu. Apple offers steps on identifying iPads using the model number.

Why can’t I download iOS 26?

There may be a number of reasons. If your device is not listed above, it’s likely too old for the features of iOS 26. Apple does, eventually, make its devices “technologically obsolete.”

If your device is listed above, but you’re still having trouble downloading iOS 26, make sure you’re connected to the internet. Updates typically require your device to be connected to Wi-Fi. You may also need to connect your device to a charger or clean up some storage space.

When will iOS 26 become available?

Previous iOS updates have become available around 10 a.m. PT, or 1 p.m. ET, according to MacRumors. It’s likely iOS 26 will be released around the same time.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Sunday criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar’s comments in the wake of the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.

Omar, who said she was “mortified” at Kirk’s murder in an interview with Zeteo’s Mehdi Hasan on Thursday, called conservatives who blamed the left for the shooting “full of s—.”

“She clearly has no idea what she’s talking about,” Johnson told Shannon Bream on “Fox News Sunday.” “She has not followed Charlie. She’s playing into this characterization of him that the left has been advancing.”

Kirk, 31, was shot and killed during an event on the campus of Utah Valley University on Wednesday. The alleged gunman, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody by the FBI on Thursday evening. 

The slaying was condemned by lawmakers across the political spectrum, with many noting the recent wave of political violence in the United States. Omar herself spoke of the “trauma” that assassinations of political figures can have on loved ones. 

“It was really mortifying to hear the news, to see the video,” the Minnesota congresswoman told Zeteo. “All I could think about was his wife, his children — that image is going to live forever.”

Omar, however, pushed back on Republican lawmakers who have pointed fingers at left-wing rhetoric in assigning blame for the shooting. The 42-year-old also expressed concerns about her security.

“And, you know, you have people like Trump, who has incited violence against people like me,” Omar said, noting the president’s 2019 comments that she should leave the United States and return to her home country of Somalia. “And so, you know, these people are full of s‑‑‑, and it’s important for us to call them out while we feel anger and sadness.”

President Trump blamed the “radical left” for Kirk’s murder in an Oval Office address on Thursday. The president also said the group was standing in the way of the country being unified in an interview with NBC News on Saturday.

According to voter records in Utah, Robinson was not affiliated with a political party. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said at a press conference on Friday that the alleged shooter became “more political” ahead of the shooting of Kirk. Cox also referenced a recent family dinner where Robinson and a family member spoke of their dislike of the conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder.

Johnson told Fox News that security for House members “is a serious matter” while denouncing Omar’s comments. 

“We got to turn the rhetoric down. That is exactly the opposite of what we should be doing, what you just saw in that video right there,” Johnson said of Omar. “And I hope all members of Congress will join us.”