Update 909 — Getting the Gov’t Open,Crypto Draft, Tariff Rebate Lead Week After 43 days of stalemate, Congress put an end to the longest shutdown in U.S. history this week. The agreement to keep the government open until January 30, mostly at current spending levels, did not address extending expiring enhancements to ACA premium tax …
Update 882 – Fiscal Fingers Crossed?Rescissions Package Sets Precedent For the first time in over 30 years, Congress has acted on a presidential rescissions request under the Impoundment Control Act to cancel funding that was previously approved in bipartisan appropriations bills. Beyond funding cuts, this move sets a precedent for undoing negotiated agreements by simple …
Update 880 – Recissions’ Impact on FY26, Gould’s OK for OCC Lead Week’s Round-Up Senate Republicans this week debated Trump’s $9.4 billion rescissions package targeting funding for international aid and public broadcasting, which faces a July 18 deadline for a simple majority vote. While the package is small, its passage could cloud negotiations on FY26 …
Update 864 – GDP Contracts by 0.3%;Trump Skins FY26 Domestic Spending Three key pieces of economic data were released this week. The Fed’s preferred measure of inflation ticked down to 2.3 percent in March, nearing the Fed’s two percent target, while a strong 177,000 jobs were added to the economy and unemployment remained unchanged at …
Update 863 – A Tariffying 100 Days:GDP, Markets, Polling All in Retreat Yesterday marked 100 days since Trump began his second term, a period marked by chaotic and unpredictable shifts in economic policy and a prioritization of Wall Street and the wealthy at the expense of everyday people. His administration, with acquiescence by congressional Republicans, …
Update 861 — DOGELess Barking But Still Biting DOGE’s initial visibility, assault on the civil service, budget cuts, and firings drew unwanted scrutiny and criticism, making it the focal point for the backlash against Trump, Musk, and the GOP’s efforts to reshape the federal government. Since then, the Trump administration’s actions, from immigration to tariffs, …
Update 860 – Trump Winging it on Tariffs,Moves to Dismantle Direct File, CFPB Last weekend, the Trump administration exempted some electronic products from its reciprocal tariff regime, an exception likely to be brief. Trump and his advisors have hinted at an investigation to determine an eventual duty on these products. Separately, this week, the administration …
Update 857 – WH: 90-Day 10% Tariff FreezeFor 75 Trade Partners; China Rate at 125% House Republicans are determined to push multiple pieces of economic policy legislation through the chamber this week before they leave town for the Easter recess, including resolutions to keep banking overdraft fees high and payment apps like Cash App and …
Update 854 – February Core PCE Up 2.8%; Increase from 2.7% Gain in January Data released this morning shows that the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation remains sticky above its target of two percent. Meanwhile, GDP growth for the fourth quarter of last year was revised up slightly. The new data comes as the Trump administration’s …
Update 843 — Trump, Musk Shutter CFPB;Fork in the Road for Reconciliation Process The stop-and-start effort on the Hill to act on Donald Trump’s legislative priorities — tax, border security, defense, and energy — via the reconciliation process hit a fork in the road this week. The GOP may have a trifecta but the House …
