Update 897 – Trump’s Shutdown Threat:Mass Gov’t Firings without Budget Deal Congressional leaders remained at an impasse this week on federal government funding beyond October 1, leaving four days until a government shutdown kicks in, absent an agreement. Democrats want healthcare concessions in exchange for their votes – seven of which are necessary to reach …
Update 895 – Sliding toward ShutdownFY26 Status Leads Week’s Round-Up With only 10 days left for Congress to approve and Trump to sign a Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget to avoid a shutdown, the House voted today to advance a Republican CR proposal that would fund the government through November 21. But the Senate quickly …
Update 894 – Fed Cuts Rates 25 BPs; Only Dissent: Trump-Nominated Miran The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points, as expected, at the conclusion of its September FOMC meeting this afternoon. Fed Governor Stephen Miran, who has not resigned from his position at the White House, dissented, voting instead for a 50 basis …
Update 893 – Macro Muddle Faces Fed; Democrats’ Shutdown Strategy Emerges The nation’s macroeconomic picture got murkier this week, with CPI showing August prices rising by the most since January, even as jobless claims jumped by the most in four years this week and unemployment edged up last month — “a curious kind of balance,” …
Update 886 – Trump Levies to Hit Aug. 7Stock Trade Ban Gains; Big Jobs Retreat New tariff rates are set to go into effect in seven days following an Executive Order signed by Donald Trump yesterday. The new rates range from 10-41 percent, way above the historical average, but countries still have one week to …
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 879 – Trade Uncertainty Persists;U.S. Firms, Consumers Slow to Respond This week, the Trump administration pushed the Liberation Day 60-nation tariff “deadline” to August 1. President Trump took to social media to announce the new rates 21 nations will face by the new deadline. The very sectors and businesses that the President campaigned to …
Update 879: Tariff Rate Delay and Suspended Animation Read More »
Update 878 – OBBB’s Parable of the Cave: GOP Moderates, Hawks Chicken Out on Bill Moments ago, the House passed Trump’s signature domestic economic legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” sending it to Trump’s desk in time for July 4. Trump achieves much of his domestic policy agenda, with his TCJA tax cuts extended, …
Update 877 – Rulings and OBBB Process,Mamdani Win, Prices, Entitlement Reports The Senate parliamentarian continued her review of the GOP’s reconciliation bill (OBBB) this week, shooting down Medicaid cuts crucial to the fiscal balance of the bill. This straw may have broken the camel’s back, as calls to overrule or dismiss the Senate’s referee following …
Update 875 – OBBB Senate Obstacles,Fed Freeze, Genius Act Vote Lead Week With the Senate Finance Committee’s text for the GOP One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) released this week, we now have a full picture of the Senate’s approach to reconciliation. Though expected to be a more moderate version of the House bill that passed …
