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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Aug 24

New at the Fed’s Jackson Hole event this year: Greater nervousness about the future of the institution amid Trump’s effort to take another board seat

“This should be seen for what it is: a blatant shakedown and an attempt to strong-arm policymakers into lowering rates.”

www.wsj.com/economy/cent...

www.wsj.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jul 29

At a speech in New York two weeks ago, Fed governor Chris Waller publicly laid out the case to cut. He told at least one associate that, ahead of his remarks, he indicated privately to Fed Chair Jay Powell that he would dissent at this week’s meeting.

www.wsj.com/economy/cent...

A Divided Fed Eyes Future Rate Cuts but Won’t Move This Week

Officials are split into three camps over what economic evidence they need before resuming rate reductions. Two governors are prepared to dissent on Wednesday.

www.wsj.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jul 9

Kevin Hassett, one of Trump’s closest economic advisers, is emerging as a serious contender to be the next Fed chair.

Hassett’s rise threatens the other Kevin—former Fed governor Kevin Warsh—who has angled for the position ever since Trump passed him over for it eight years ago.

Exclusive | Two Kevins Battle to Be Next Fed Chair in Trump’s ‘Apprentice’-Style Contest

Kevin Hassett has emerged as a contender to succeed Jerome Powell, posing a possible threat to Kevin Warsh, an early favorite

www.wsj.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 25

NEW: President Trump’s exasperation over the Federal Reserve’s take-it-slow approach to cutting interest rates is prompting him to consider accelerating when he will announce his pick to succeed Chair Jerome Powell, whose term runs for another 11 months www.wsj.com/economy/cent...

Exclusive | Trump Considers Naming Next Fed Chair Early in Bid to Undermine Powell

Kevin Warsh, Kevin Hassett and Scott Bessent are among those under consideration as Trump evaluates their commitment to cutting rates—and ‘made-for-TV’ appeal.

www.wsj.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 24

Powell kicks off testimony to lawmakers facing an emerging rift over how long to stay on hold on rate cuts and unusually harsh presidential criticism

The message in his prepared remarks is very even handed. No change from last week’s presser

www.wsj.com/economy/cent...

Powell Reaffirms Wait-and-See Posture on Rate Cuts, Citing Solid Economy

The Fed chair is set to testify Tuesday before the House Financial Services Committee. The hearings follow an emerging rift within the Fed on rate cuts and sharp criticism from Trump.

www.wsj.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 23

One way Trump's pressure campaign on the Fed is different from the first term: Potentially more disagreement on the Fed board

Two Fed officials appointed by Trump have become the first to speak out in favor of lowering rates after having supported last week’s decision to hold them steady

Trump’s Relentless Fed Pressure Creates Lose-Lose Scenario for Powell

The Fed chair will appear before Congress this week. How lawmakers respond will be a key gauge of support for central bank independence.

www.wsj.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 20

Waller hints at the committee dynamic—there isn't support for a July cut on the FOMC given current data.

Is he setting up to dissent in July? Among those who want to be considered as Fed chair, Waller has arguably presented so far the most intellectually rigorous case for cutting rates.

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 20

Fed governor Chris Waller continues to stake out the most dovish position of FOMC voters

"I’m all in favor of saying maybe we should start thinking about cutting the policy rate at the next meeting, because we don’t want to wait till the job market tanks before we start cutting the policy rate.”

Watch CNBC's full interview with Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller

CNBC’s Steve Liesman and Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller join 'Squawk Box' to discuss the Fed's inflation fight, state of the economy, rate path outlook, strength of the labor market, impa...

www.cnbc.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 9

Why would Democrats have raised alarms to help the other party? www.yahoo.com/news/warren-...

Warren ‘very worried’ the Fed will cause a recession

“What's worse than high prices and a strong economy is high prices and millions of people out of work,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren said on CNN.

www.yahoo.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 8

The US economy, which weathered false recession alarms in 2023 and 2024, is entering another uncomfortable summer

“Where this goes all depends on what Trump decides to do next and candidly even Trump doesn’t know what Trump will do next. So it’s almost impossible to see where this thing is heading”

The U.S. Economy Is Headed Toward an Uncomfortable Summer <br>

Companies say they are freezing hiring and investment to deal with shifting tariff policies, which is compounding an uneasy equilibrium in the labor market.

www.wsj.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 4

The Senate confirmed Fed governor Miki Bowman as vice chair of bank supervision on a 48-46 vote

Party-line votes for Fed posts used to be rare but are becoming more common

(Michael Barr was confirmed on a 66-28 vote in 2022; Randy Quarles was confirmed on a 65-32 vote in 2017)

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 4

🙏 for your patronage

BLS just issued some clarifying material

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 4

New: Statement from the BLS

www.bls.gov/cpi/notices/...

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 4

No, please, don't. Read the story.

The issue is that if you cut staff or aren't able to do the same survey/interview/field work you normally do to compile the report because you don't have the same staff, then you may reduce your sample and potentially increase the margins of error.

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 4

The BLS, which produces the CPI, told economists this week that a hiring freeze led the agency to cut back on the number of businesses where it checks prices.

Response rates for one data set increased in the April CPI as fewer businesses were surveyed

www.wsj.com/economy/cpi-...

Exclusive | Economists Raise Questions About Quality of U.S. Inflation Data

The Labor Department says staffing shortages reduced its ability to conduct its massive monthly survey, forcing it to turn to less precise guesses.

www.wsj.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · Jun 2

In a 2016 speech, Fischer succinctly summarized the evolution of modern macroeconomics

He began with the economist returning to his alma mater after 50 years who discovers the exam questions are still the same.

“Ah yes,” he's told, “but all the answers are different.”

www.wsj.com/economy/cent...

Stanley Fischer, Groundbreaking Economist and Fed Vice Chair, Dies at 81

The MIT professor’s varied roles helped shape how a generation of central bankers and economic policymakers do their jobs.

www.wsj.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · May 23

The Supreme Court granted President Trump’s emergency request to fire federal commissioners in the face of a law prohibiting their arbitrary removal, but in an unusual move went out of its way to signal that the Federal Reserve was off limits from White House control.

www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

Supreme Court Lets Trump Fire Agency Officials, but Moves to Protect Fed

The order suggests justices will soon eliminate congressional power to insulate agencies from political interference.

www.wsj.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · May 12

This is the most bluesky post ever. Some people just won’t allow themselves to have fun and they are all HERE.

a woman with a snl shirt on makes a funny face

ALT: a woman with a snl shirt on makes a funny face

media.tenor.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · May 10

The 2023 sweep was ugly … but it always felt like the ownership was saving up that season to go get Ohtani in that offseason. And maybe it added extra reason for them to sign the superstar.

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · May 10

This guy is unreal. They had already tied the game down three in the 9th.

The crowd behind him—this looks like a home game lol.

And the way he’s enjoying the moment as much as the fans in the park. Goosebumps, as Vin Scully would have said.

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Reposted by Nick Timiraos

Molly Knight @mollyknight.bsky.social · May 9

Not only did the broadcast capture the future pope during a World Series game but with TWO OUT IN THE NINTH.

I have never missed Vin Scully more. As a devout Catholic he would be beside himself and telling the best stories about nuns and baseball that any of us have ever heard.

Razzball @razzball.bsky.social · May 9

Pope Leo spotted on the 2005 World Series broadcast

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · May 7

Fed Chair Jay Powell used some version of the word "wait" ("waiting," "await") 22 times at the press conference.

Half of those were "wait and see" re: what to do with interest rates www.wsj.com/economy/cent...

Fed Warns of Rising Economic Risks as It Leaves Rates Steady

Officials are puzzling over whether to focus on the risks of higher prices or weaker hiring

www.wsj.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · May 7

Fed leaves rates unchanged

“The committee … judges that the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen.”

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · May 6

The Fed's dilemma: Navigate a recession or manage a period of stagflation.

The result: “This is not going to be a cycle where the Fed pre-emptively cuts because there’s a forecast of a slowdown. They’re going to actually need to see it in the tangible data."

www.wsj.com/economy/cent...

Fed Confronts Lose-Lose Scenario Amid Haphazard Tariff Rollout

The central bank is preparing for difficult judgments and emerging divisions regarding when to cut interest rates. Its two-day policy meeting is this week.

www.wsj.com

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Nick Timiraos @nicktimiraos.bsky.social · May 5

The May FOMC: Taking it one meeting at a time

www.cnbc.com/video/2025/0...

Timiraos: Changing the Fed chair doesn't change monetary policy on its own

Wall Street Journal chief economics correspondent Nick Timiraos discusses expectations for the Fed and rates going into the next few meetings, and the biggest takeaways from President Trump's comments...

www.cnbc.com

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