The Reason Roundtable End the Fed? Or Turn It Over to Trump?
25 snips
Jan 13, 2026 
Robby Soave, a Senior Editor at Reason, joins a panel to dive into the DOJ's investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, debating if it's political revenge. They explore the complex role of presidents in monetary policy and the blurry line between oversight and legal maneuvers. The discussion shifts to the controversial ICE shootings in Minneapolis and Portland, highlighting wildly different interpretations of video evidence and accountability for law enforcement. Soave and the team also touch on political rhetoric, Iran protests, and California's wealth tax proposal.
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* politicizing Independent Institutions Harms Trust*
- Presidential pressure risks politicizing institutions meant to be independent like the Federal Reserve.
- Robby Soave and Matt Welch argue Trump's DOJ probe of Jerome Powell looks like political retaliation, not a coherent legal case.
Think Through Rate Caps Before Acting
- Avoid simplistic fixes like capping interest rates without considering market effects and credit availability.
- Katherine Mangu-Ward warns that rate caps and political meddling produce unintended consequences such as reduced credit access.
Footage Can Intensify Political Polarization
- Video evidence often deepens disagreement because angle and speed choices change perception.
- Panelists note people interpret the same footage through political lenses and selective editing amplifies disputes.
