On today's podcast:
1) A leading candidate to replace Jay Powell as Fed Chair sees a quarter point rate cut in September. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller called for lower interest rates, saying he would support a reduction in September. Waller anticipates additional cuts over the next three to six months, with the pace driven by incoming data. Waller said the chances of an undesirable weakening in the labor market have increased, and proper risk management means the FOMC should be cutting the policy rate now.
2) President Trump's bid to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook is headed for a showdown in court. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte sent a new criminal referral against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud. Cook is seeking to block President Trump's move to fire her, filing a lawsuit that labels the president's bid to oust her as “illegal” and casting it as a bid to seize control of the Fed.
3) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. names his top deputy to replace the fired head of the CDC. The Trump administration is tapping Jim O'Neill as the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The move follows the firing of Susan Monarez, who was ousted after a confrontation with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy. Kennedy said in a message to CDC staff that he and President Trump are aligned on a vision for the CDC to strengthen the public health infrastructure by returning to its core mission.
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