The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle DOJ probe into Federal Reserve Chair Powell
Jan 13, 2026
Luke Broadwater, a Pulitzer Prize-winning White House correspondent for The New York Times, and Peter Baker, the Chief White House correspondent, dive into the DOJ's investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell. They explore Trump’s motivations behind the probe, the political implications, and how such investigations can intimidate opponents. The conversation also touches on Minnesota's lawsuit against increased federal immigration actions and the ongoing protests in Iran, highlighting the unrest's causes and potential U.S. responses.
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Probe Signals Political Pressure On Fed
- The DOJ probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell is part of a broader pressure campaign by President Trump to control independent agencies.
- The investigation signals a warning to future Fed chairs to align monetary policy with the president's wishes.
How Signals Trigger Bureaucratic Action
- Trump names enemies and internal aides act, so investigations can follow without explicit presidential orders.
- That dynamic allows political targets to be pursued through bureaucratic momentum rather than direct commands.
Investigations As Political Tools
- These politicized probes rarely convict but still achieve political aims by draining resources from targets.
- Investigations intimidate opponents and force costly defenses even without legal success.