logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
23m 18s

Fed man walking? Trump v Powell

The Economist
About this episode

First, Jerome Powell, chairman of the Federal Reserve, was for the chop; then he was safe. As elsewhere President Donald Trump’s flip-flopping chips away at American credibility. After years of working from home, data make clear which demographic likes to do more of it (10:40). And electric vehicles do pollute the air—just not from the tailpipe (17:19).


Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Aug 22
Rule and divide: opposition grows in Syria
Less than nine months after Syria’s dictator Bashar al-Assad was toppled, the honeymoon is over. How is the new regime responding to rising dissent? Introducing Britain’s revolutionary retirees: why pensioners increasingly dominate political protest. And celebrating the life of o ... Show More
23m 38s
Aug 21
Stake and chips: will America take 10% of Intel?
Intel was once synonymous with chip-making, but in recent years it has fallen behind. Now the Trump administration may become its biggest shareholder. A political assassination in Colombia raises fears about a return to violence. And what an annual snail race tells us about rural ... Show More
21m 2s
Aug 20
Trouble in paradise: US plans for Pacific war
With China as its new rival, America is reviving old wartime facilities across the Pacific. Our correspondent visits an abandoned airfield that has been given new life. The outlook for climate technology is surprisingly bright. And why the universe of Hello Kitty keeps expanding. ... Show More
22m 34s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
Fed man walking? Trump v Powell
First, Jerome Powell, chairman of the Federal Reserve, was for the chop; then he was safe. As elsewhere President Donald Trump’s flip-flopping chips away at American credibility. After years of working from home, data make clear which demographic likes to do more of it (10:40). A ... Show More
23m 18s
Nov 2024
Some like it hot: could Trump derail climate talks?
Last time Donald Trump was president he pulled America out of the Paris climate agreement. What is on the agenda at COP29, as world leaders meet after a second Trump victory? The future of cloud computing (9:40). And how the culture wars came for remembrance poppies (17:35). List ... Show More
24 m
Jan 2025
Putty people: can Trump get his picks?
As some of Donald Trump’s most controversial choices for top jobs are questioned this week, our correspondent analyses how supine Republicans may be in his second term. Has the luxury business passed its peak (09:57)? And why scientists are finding new ways to deal with an invasi ... Show More
23m 20s
Apr 2025
Art of the real: Trump bows to markets
Just 12 hours after Donald Trump launched his searing regime of tariffs, he paused many of them for 90 days. What's next for global trade? An outlandish proposal to build data centres in space (8:14). And why “The Great Gatsby” is just as relevant, 100 years on (15:58). Listen to ... Show More
21m 27s
Jan 2025
Executive orders of magnitude: Trump’s day one
Donald Trump is back in office, this time with less pearl-clutching in Washington. We examine his inaugural address and his first executive orders as glimpses into what his second term holds—for America and the world (12:23). And why millennials and Gen Z are so besotted with exp ... Show More
25 m
Jul 2
Bill baby bill: Trump’s landmark legislation
As Donald Trump’s landmark legislation narrowly passes the Senate, our correspondent analyses the long-term political and economic consequences. Why foreign fighters are heading to the front line in Ukraine. And how congestion charging transformed the streets of New York. Listen ... Show More
23m 37s
Apr 2025
Pulp friction: the trade war bites Apple
As Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs take effect, our correspondent explains how one of America’s most profitable companies may navigate the trade war. Are class divides in Britain softening (9:28)? And Republican influencers define what it is to be a conservative woman (16:08). Li ... Show More
23m 4s
Jul 24
Trump Visits Fed HQ, Putting Pressure on Powell
P.M. Edition for July 24. President Donald Trump took a rare step visiting the Federal Reserve. The $2.5-billion renovation to its headquarters has gotten renewed attention this month as Trump has ramped up pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. WSJ White House reporter ... Show More
12m 27s
Jul 16
Trump Denies He’s Planning to Fire Powell
P.M. Edition for July 16. In comments from the White House today, President Trump denied that he was trying to oust Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, though he raised the prospect that Powell could be removed for cause. Plus, big banks like Goldman Sachs have reported bumper e ... Show More
12 m
Oct 2024
Coming up Trump: our election model puts Harris behind
The two US presidential candidates have been neck and neck. But this week, the Economist’s forecast model noted a shift towards Donald Trump. Why you might have a long wait for Elon Musk’s robotaxis (9:31). And the joy of Excel (16:35).   Listen to what matters most, from global ... Show More
23m 23s