Economic Turbulence: Tariffs, Labor, and Inflation

As tariffs moved from threats to reality, the markets reacted swiftly, giving back all of the gains since Election Day and then some. But tariffs are just one of the concerns for companies and investors alike. Kevin Gordon, director and senior investment strategist with the Schwab Center for Financial Research, joins host Mike Townsend to dive into the current state of the markets amid growing uncertainty due to tariffs and their inflationary effects, the implications of immigration policy on the labor market and economic growth, the impact of federal workforce changes and the spillover to local governments, the increasing risks of a recession, and the daunting challenges facing the Fed as it works to balance maximum employment and price stability within a rapidly changing policy landscape. And Kevin shares thoughts on what to focus on when considering what types of companies belong in a portfolio.

Mike offers insights on the ongoing struggle in Congress to avoid a government shutdown, new government policies on crypto currency including the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, and the latest on the efforts on Capitol Hill to craft a massive legislative package to implement the president's policy agenda.   

WashingtonWise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/WashingtonWise.

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