Hassett Emerges as Frontrunner in Trump Fed Chair Audition

Nov 25, 2025

Guest

Ryan Kelly

Guest

Sarah Frier

Guest

Stuart Kaiser

Stuart Kaiser, Head of U.S. Equity Trading Strategy at Citi, dives into the tug-of-war in the markets, revealing what impacts recent volatility. Sarah Frier from Bloomberg discusses Google's groundbreaking AI initiatives, spotlighting Gemini and its potential to rival ChatGPT. Ryan Kelly, Chief Investment Officer at Hennessy Funds, explores the implications of Kevin Hassett's candidacy for Fed chair and shares insights on mid-cap investment strategies as retail trends shift ahead of the holiday season. Tune in for market insights that matter!

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INSIGHT

Hassett Seen As Credible Front‑Runner

Kevin Hassett is emerging as President Trump's frontrunner for Fed chair and is seen as credible by market participants.
Markets priced in a more dovish Fed view, pushing yields lower and stocks higher on the news.

INSIGHT

Four Drivers Of Market Uncertainty

Stuart Kaiser lists four forces making markets 'unsettled': retail pullback, AI reaction shifts, weak retail earnings, and Fed uncertainty.
Combined, these factors make tactical calls harder though seasonality and an eventual rate cut could lift markets into year end.

ADVICE

Let Key Data Drive Positioning

Watch the December 16 payrolls and the December 18 inflation print as key data that could flip market direction.
Let incoming labor and inflation data drive your positioning rather than calendar guesses.

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White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett is seen by advisers and allies of President Donald Trump as the frontrunner to be the next Federal Reserve chair, according to people familiar with the matter, as the search for a new central bank leader enters its final weeks.
With Hassett, Trump would have a close ally whom the president knows well and trusts installed at the independent central bank, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Hassett is seen as someone who would bring the president’s approach to interest-rate cutting to the Fed, which Trump has long wanted to control, some of the people said.
Still, Trump is known to make surprise personnel and policy decisions, meaning a nomination is not final until it’s made public, they said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement said, “nobody actually knows what President Trump will do until he does it. Stay tuned!”

Fed chair and governor picks are historically the most direct way a president can influence the central bank. Trump nominated current Chair Jerome Powell during his first term. He came to regret the decision when Powell didn’t push for lower interest rates at the pace Trump wanted.

Today's show features:

Stuart Kaiser, Head of US Equity Trading Strategy at Citi, on the tug-of-war between market momentum and seasonal trends
Bloomberg News Big Tech Team Leader Sarah Frier on Google’s major leap forward in the global AI race
Bloomberg Economics Chief Geoeconomics Analyst Jennifer Welch on the latest White House optimism around efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, and whether there is hope for a lasting US-China trade truce
Jennifer Ewbank, Founder of Andaman Strategic Advisors, on the recent cyber-attack on the Congressional Budget Office, and the risks of broader cyber-warfare with China
Ryan Kelley, Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager at Hennessy Funds, on investment opportunities in small- and mid-cap stocks

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