Global magazine of news and ideas covering foreign affairs, politics, economics, and culture.
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The Federal Reserve left interest rates steady in what was almost certainly Jerome Powell's final meeting as its leader, but there were the most internal dissents at a Fed meeting in 34 years. The big picture: The surprising dissents show that Kevin Warsh, whose confirmation to lead the Fed is pending in the Senate, will face significant internal resistance to delivering the interest rate cuts that President Trump desires. Driving the news: The central bank's policy committee left its target interest rate in a range between 3.5% and 3.75% for the third straight meeting to start 2026 and made only small changes to its policy statement. Three reserve bank presidents — Beth Hammack (Cleveland), Neel Kashkari (Minneapolis) and Lorie Logan (Dallas) — dissented not against the rate decision, but because they "did not support inclusion of an easing bias in the statement at this time."Governor Stephen Miran also dissented, but in the other direction, favoring an interest rate cut.The four total dissents were the most there have been at a Fed policy meeting since October 1992. State of play: There has been simmering resistance among Fed officials, especially at the reserve banks, to signaling that further interest rate cuts are anticipated, given five consecutive years of above-target inflation. Now, it has burst out into the open, in Powell's final meeting at the helm.Powell's term concludes May 15, and Warsh's nomination to be his successor advanced through the Senate Banking Committee Wednesday morning. Warsh appears on track to be confirmed by the full Senate well before the next Fed meeting in mid-June. Between the lines: The clause in the policy statement the three dissenting reserve bank presidents object to is language, repeated from recent statements, that in considering "the extent and timing of additional adjustments" to rates, the Fed will carefully assess data, the outlook and balance of risks. ·The phrase "additional adjustments" implies a continuation of the r
Even the most entertaining tale carries a political message
Kevin Warsh will face intense pressure to cut interest rates
The White House argues that the U.S.-Iran cease-fire paused the clock
But U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argues that the cease-fire has paused the clock
The article explores the stark contrast between new high-rise developments and the devastation in Syria, highlighting the complexities of reconstruction amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises.
The Italian prime minister hasn’t convincingly delivered the renewal she once promised