What Next | Daily News and Analysis The Man Behind Trump’s Firing of Lisa Cook
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Aug 26, 2025 Rachel Siegel, a Washington Post reporter specializing in real estate economics, dives into the controversial leadership of Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte. With a background reminiscent of Trump’s, Pulte leverages social media and confrontational tactics to combat mortgage fraud allegations against political figures. Siegel discusses how Pulte’s approach influences the mortgage market and the implications of data management for housing policies, raising important questions about governance and the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
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FHFA Director Amplifies Power Through Publicity
- Bill Pulte uses social media and aggressive public allegations to expand the FHFA's influence beyond typical regulatory duties.
- In six months he opened investigations into high-profile figures and sent findings to DOJ for prosecution.
Twitter Philanthropy Launched His Platform
- Bill Pulte built a large social following by announcing small, on-the-spot donations and gifts on Twitter.
- That Twitter philanthropy led to interactions with Trump and entry into the broader Trump orbit.
Access To Mortgage Data Enables Political Targeting
- Pulte was confirmed to lead the FHFA and now oversees agencies holding massive personal mortgage data.
- He has leaned heavily on that data to allege mortgage fraud against political adversaries.