Wake Up to Money Fed up
Jan 13, 2026
Kim Sides, Executive Director of Construction for BAM UK & Ireland, shares insights on managing cost overruns in major projects and the impact of post-COVID resilience. Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell, discusses the connection between Fed uncertainty and soaring precious metal prices. Legal expert Jessica West explains the complexities of a Federal Reserve subpoena, while the panel evaluates the implications of central bank independence. Plus, a fun dive into Royal Mail's marketing move with Stranger Things stamps!
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Risk To Fed Independence
- Three former Fed chairs warned a DOJ probe into Jerome Powell risks politicising monetary policy and harming credibility.
- Undermining central bank independence can produce emerging-market style inflation and economic dysfunction.
Use Legal Options Against Subpoenas
- If served with a subpoena, a central bank chair can comply or move to quash it in court to block disclosure or testimony.
- Legal teams should use institutional support statements to deter escalation and buy political cover.
Legal Norms Versus Political Pressure
- US law gives the Fed statutory protections but norms, not always ironclad legal barriers, sustain independence.
- Political pressure may be used to build pretext for dismissal, testing those legal boundaries.
