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Federal judge refuses to recuse himself from Minnesota DHS, ICE case
A federal judge in Minnesota declined to step aside from an immigration-related case despite a conflict-of-interest challenge tied to his spouse's legal work.
The U.S. Department of Justice plans to appeal the judge's order, which called the government's motion "improper, untimely, and lacking merit."
Last week, the DOJ formally moved to disqualify U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan, arguing his impartiality could reasonably be questioned because his wife serves as Minnesota's solicitor general under Democrat Attorney General Keith Ellison and is leading a separate lawsuit against federal immigration enforcement actions at issue in Bryan's courtroom.
In its filing, DOJ emphasized that federal law requires recusal when "a judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned," noting the standard is meant to avoid even "the appearance of partiality" — noting that "public perceptions of partiality can undermine confidence in the courts."
APPEALS COURT DISMISSES DOJ MISCONDUCT COMPLAINT AGAINST FEDERAL JUDGE
The motion pointed to significant overlap between the habeas case before Bryan and the state’s lawsuit led by his spouse, both of which challenge the legality of "Operation Metro Surge," a large-scale federal immigration enforcement effort.
According to the filing, both cases allege that federal agents conducted "warrantless arrests," engaged in "racial profiling," and "terrorized, assaulted, and harassed" individuals.
DOJ stressed that the issue is not whether Bryan is personally biased, but whether a reasonable observer could question his neutrality given the circumstances.
"The Court must consider whether the public might reasonably question Judge Bryan’s impartiality," U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen's filing concluded.
The department also noted that Bryan "did not disclose his marriage relationship" to the parties, arguing that disclosure is a prerequisite for any waiver of potential conflicts under federal law.
READ THE ORDER ON MOTION FOR DISQUALIFICATION – APP USERS, CLICK HERE:
Judge Bryan denied the recusal request, allowing himself to remain on the case. The DOJ has indicated it will appeal that decision, setting up a potential higher court review of the recusal standards and their application in politically charged immigration litigation.
The dispute comes amid broader legal battles over Operation Metro Surge, which plaintiffs claim involved unconstitutional enforcement tactics, while federal officials have defended it as a lawful exercise of immigration authority.
Fox News' David Spunt contributed to this report.
New audit exposes flawed system critics say let Minnesota fraud to slip through cracks: 'Didn't act for years'
A new state audit investigating the massive fraud scandal in Gov. Tim Walz's Minnesota revealed that the state's Department of Human Services (DHS) failed for years to properly investigate Medicaid kickback allegations while incorrectly claiming that they did not have the authority to do so.
The Office of the Legislative Auditor report released on Tuesday, titled "Department of Human Services Investigations of Alleged Kickbacks in the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention Program," found that DHS’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has long possessed the legal authority to pursue kickback cases independently, contradicting the agency’s own claims.
Instead, DHS officials operated under the belief that they could only investigate kickbacks if they were tied to other forms of fraud, such as billing abuse or theft, prompting a rebuke in the report.
"We disagree with DHS’s assertion that it did not have the authority to investigate allegations of kickbacks alone," the report states. "Based on our analysis, DHS has had the authority to investigate allegations of kickbacks in MA since the late 1990s."
The audit found DHS declined to investigate three specific kickback allegations from 2021 to 2023 after concluding it lacked authority.
"In the three cases that we identified in this review, they did not refer any of the three cases to law enforcement or any other investigation agency," Deputy Legislative Auditor Katherine Theisen said, according to KARE 11 News. She added that DHS also declined to flag the cases for further review.
The report also identified a decades-old error in DHS administrative rules that may have limited the agency’s ability to suspend payments during kickback investigations.
The Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program, which provides autism services, has faced scrutiny over fraud risks as the program’s budget jumped from $3 million in 2018 to nearly $400 million in 2023.
Kickbacks were a key component of fraud schemes uncovered in the state’s autism services program, with prosecutors describing how providers used financial incentives to attract and retain families in order to maximize Medicaid billing, CBS News reported in December.
In one case, investigators said an autism center operator fraudulently billed millions while using tactics that included offering payments or benefits tied to enrollment, illustrating how kickbacks helped drive inflated claims and contributed to large-scale misuse of public funds intended for children with autism.
The audit recommended that DHS "should amend its administrative rule defining ‘fraud’ to clearly include kickbacks" and said the legislature should intervene if that doesn’t take place.
MINNESOTA HUMAN SERVICES OFFICIALS SKIP FRAUD HEARING AS WALZ PROMISES REFORM
The department responded in a letter included in the report, saying, "We agree with the recommendation that fraud should be defined to more clearly include kickbacks."
In a press release, Minnesota House Fraud Prevention Committee Chair Kristin Robbins, a Republican state representative running for governor, wrote, "The continued lack of accountability for the rampant fraud in this state is astounding."
"DHS has been complicit in fraud because they have repeatedly failed to investigate credible allegations of fraud in multiple programs over many years. This OLA report provides the latest proof of their failure to provide proper oversight in the EIDBI (autism) program."
Robbins added that "if DHS had corrected an error in its administrative rules, two other decades-old state law provisions would also have permitted DHS to suspend payments during an investigation for kickbacks."
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz’s office for comment.
The report's findings quickly sparked outrage from conservatives on social media.
"The feds need to step in immediately," Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X.
"Despite claiming they had no authority, a new OLA report confirms DHS could investigate fraud in autism services," Minnesota House Republicans posted on X. "The Walz administration didn’t act for years. How much did it cost Minnesotans?"
"Contrary to Walz administration claims, they have always had the legal authority to address kickback schemes," Minnesota Republican State Rep. Walter Hudson posted on X. "They simply choose not to."
Blue state Dem candidate who made 'affordability' a key issue in campaign ripped for charging $13 for water
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., is facing online mockery after his Senate campaign’s election night watch party charged customers exorbitant prices for water, despite claiming to champion affordability issues.
Krishnamoorthi, a five-term House lawmaker, narrowly lost to Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton, D-Ill., in a bruising Democratic primary Tuesday night. Krishnamoorthi supporters had to pay nearly $13 for water and $22 for a glass of wine at an event at a Chicago hotel while watching the returns come in.
Online observers noted the irony of the steep prices as Krishnamoorthi’s Senate campaign was one of the most prolific fundraisers in the country.
The congressman reported a haul of more than $30 million during the campaign, far outpacing nearly all Senate candidates across the country. Krishnamoorthi also benefited from the cryptocurrency industry’s main super PAC, Fairshake, spending aggressively in an attempt to take down Stratton.
PRITZKER FLEXES POLITICAL MUSCLE IN ILLINOIS SENATE PRIMARY AS 2028 BUZZ BUILDS
"Dude hired three pollsters (that we know of) and is still charging $13 for a water," Democratic pollster Adam Carlson wrote on X.
"Thanks, volunteers, for working for me. Now pay $13 for water," Republican strategist Collin Corbett wrote on social media. "I guess, based on how Raja treats his staff, this shouldn't be surprising."
"That’s worse than some stadium prices," Politico Playbook wrote in response to the $13 water.
Even a popular Chicago bar account mocked the congressman’s cash bar prices.
"I'm professionally and personally horrified," the account wrote.
ESTABLISHMENT DEMOCRATS FEND OFF FAR-LEFT INFLUENCER IN PRIMARY TO SUCCEED REP JAN SCHAKOWSKY
Krishnamoorthi sought to aggressively brand himself as an affordability champion during the campaign. When asked by Chicago’s PBS station about the most pressing issue facing Illinois voters, Krishnamoorthi said rising costs.
"Life has become simply too expensive," Krishnamoorthi said. "The cost of living has skyrocketed, opportunity has stalled, and it’s affecting every Illinoisan — whether they’re 8 years old or 80.
Democratic candidates nationwide are seeking to capitalize on voter unease about cost-of-living issues as the party seeks to flip control of Congress during November's midterm elections.
Stratton’s watch party — held at a different Chicago venue — notably offered attendees an open bar. The event also offered attendees free sandwiches and sliders.
Fox News Digital reached out to Krishnamoorthi’s campaign for comment.
Two dozen House Republicans go to war with Senate GOP over SAVE America Act
FIRST ON FOX: A group of House conservatives are putting Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., on notice: quickly pass a Trump-backed election bill or expect the House of Representatives to block every Senate measure.
Two dozen House Republicans, led by Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., are vowing to oppose any Senate bill until the House-passed Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act clears the upper chamber.
"We made a promise to the American people. It’s time to deliver," the Republicans wrote in an open letter to Thune, first obtained by Fox News Digital. "Consider this our filibuster."
It’s a notable division between Republicans controlling the majorities in both houses of Congress.
REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: TRUMP'S SAVE ACT ULTIMATUM RUNS INTO SENATE REALITY
House Republicans have threatened for weeks to derail Senate legislation until President Donald Trump signs the measure into law. The SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo identification for voters at the ballot box.
It comes as the Senate kicked off a marathon process Tuesday to debate the SAVE America Act, though the measure is ultimately expected to fail given unanimous opposition from Senate Democrats and Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C.
The group of House conservatives is calling on Senate leadership to pursue a talking filibuster to steer around the 60-vote requirement and pass the bill with a simple majority. However, internal divisions among Republicans have kept the conference from pursuing that approach. Thune has also warned a talking filibuster could backfire on Republicans if Democrats were to saddle the bill with Democrat-authored amendments.
REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: GOP WEIGHS 'NUKING' FILIBUSTER TO PASS TRUMP'S SAVE ACT
Despite clear math problems in the Senate, the group of House conservatives said they will continue to ratchet up the pressure. They also slammed Thune for beginning debate on the bill without having the votes to advance the measure to a vote on final passage.
"Continuing the same old kabuki shows is unacceptable, and the American people deserve better," Fine told Fox News Digital in a statement. "Majority Leader John Thune can say whatever he wants about my colleagues and me holding the line, but we won’t tolerate Washington’s games any longer."
"In the last election, the American people overwhelmingly elected President Trump and gave him and the Republican Party a mandate to Make America Great Again. Core to that mandate was a promise to restore confidence in the security of our elections — to guarantee that only Americans vote in them," the House lawmakers wrote in the letter.
It’s not clear the defecting group has the numbers to immediately derail Senate legislation with significant bipartisan support.
Forty-one conservatives revolted Tuesday on the House floor against Senate legislation that would reauthorize a program supporting small businesses. The measure still sailed through the House after nearly all Democratic lawmakers backed it.
However, House conservatives’ threats could still hamper efforts by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to steer party-line legislation through the chamber.
TRUMP URGES CONGRESS TO PASS SAVE AMERICA ACT, FULLY FUND DHS AS TSA WORKERS GO WITHOUT PAY
With just a razor-thin majority, Johnson can currently only afford to lose one House Republican on any legislation that does not have Democrats’ support.
"On Sunday, President Trump announced that he will not sign any additional legislation until the SAVE America Act is passed out of the Senate. The President has also called on the Senate to use the talking filibuster to secure passage of the SAVE America Act immediately, superseding everything else. We agree," the letter said. "Until that occurs, we, the undersigned, are prepared to vote NO on any Senate bill on the House Floor."
A Senate GOP aide shot back at the House Republicans over their effort, saying, "Republicans fighting Republicans over congressional procedure is definitely a recipe for midterm success."
It comes weeks after a group of House Republicans pushed Johnson on a lawmaker-only call to reject any Senate-led legislation until the SAVE America Act was passed.
"If we're going to go to war against our own party in the Senate, there may be implications to that," Johnson said at one point, according to people on the call. "So we want to be thoughtful and careful."
The letter notably did not make a carve-out for a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, despite the White House assuring that Trump would make an exception for a spending bill to end the partial government shutdown.
Genealogy boom exposes personal data scammers can exploit
Millions of Americans are digging into their roots. Genealogy has quietly become one of the fastest-growing hobbies in North America, with the industry now valued at more than $5 billion. From DNA kits to digital family tree builders, people are discovering relatives, tracing migration stories and reconnecting with their past.
There is something deeply meaningful about learning where you come from. However, there is another side to this trend that many people never consider.
The same information that helps you find your great-grandparents can also help scammers find you. Once personal details appear online, they rarely stay in one place. And that can create unexpected security risks.
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DNA KITS MAY SHARE PERSONAL DATA AFTER DEATH
Genealogy platforms feel harmless. In fact, they are designed to feel warm, nostalgic and personal.
To build a detailed family tree, users often upload information such as:
Each detail may seem harmless on its own. But together, they create something extremely valuable: a fully mapped identity profile. Not just of you, but of your entire family network. And that kind of information is exactly what scammers look for.
Many genealogy platforms allow public trees by default. Even when accounts are private, information can still spread in several ways.
For example, data can appear through:
Over time, this information becomes searchable. It may be indexed by search engines. Bots can scrape it. Data brokers can absorb it into their databases. Once that happens, your family details no longer live only on a genealogy website. They can appear on people search websites, background check platforms and marketing databases. And you may never know it happened.
The recent bankruptcy of the DNA testing company 23andMe served as a reminder for millions of users. When companies change ownership or shut down, your data does not simply disappear. Genetic data raises serious privacy concerns on its own.
However, the broader genealogy ecosystem carries a similar risk. When you upload deeply personal, multi-generational information, you lose control over how long it is stored, who can access it and where it may end up in the future. Even if you trust a company today, you cannot control what happens tomorrow.
23ANDME PROBE LAUNCHED TO PREVENT CUSTOMER DNA DATA FROM BEING SOLD TO CHINA OR OTHER BAD ACTORS
Cybercriminals no longer focus only on credit card numbers. Instead, they want context. They want personal details that help them impersonate you or bypass security checks. Family tree websites provide exactly that. Here are three ways criminals can exploit genealogy data.
Many financial institutions still rely on knowledge-based authentication questions, such as:
Unfortunately, those answers often appear directly in public family trees. With enough background information, scammers may bypass account protections without ever knowing your password.
Now imagine receiving a message like this: "Hi, Aunt Linda, it's Jake. I'm stuck overseas and need help."
If a scammer already knows:
They can create highly believable emergency scams. These are no longer random "grandparent scams." They are customized attacks, and genealogy data makes that customization easy.
When one person's information becomes exposed, it rarely stops there. A scammer can quickly map your entire family network. They may identify:
Then they can launch phishing attempts across several family members at once. In other words, one data leak can turn into a family-wide vulnerability.
Here is where the situation becomes even more concerning. Data brokers do not just collect phone numbers and addresses. They build detailed relational profiles.
These profiles often include:
When genealogy data gets scraped or resold, it strengthens those profiles. Your listing may suddenly include:
The richer the profile becomes, the more valuable it is-not only to marketers but also to criminals. "But I set my tree to private." Privacy settings certainly help. However, they do not solve the entire problem.
Even if your family tree is private:
Once information spreads across multiple websites, tracking it becomes extremely difficult. In addition, data brokers constantly refresh their databases. Even if you remove your data once, it may quietly reappear months later.
COULD HACKERS STEAL YOUR DNA AND SELL IT?
You do not have to give up genealogy. You simply need to approach it the same way you approach social media.
Consider these precautions:
Most importantly, remember that the real risk is not the genealogy site itself. The risk is where that data travels next.
Once personal information enters the data broker ecosystem, it can spread far beyond the original platform. That is why proactive privacy protection matters.
Data brokers collect and resell personal information gathered from public records, websites and scraped databases. If genealogy details such as maiden names, birthplaces and family relationships get pulled into those systems, they can quietly appear across people-search sites and background check databases.
Over time, this information can make it easier for scammers to build detailed identity profiles. Those profiles can be used for impersonation scams, phishing attacks or attempts to bypass security questions.
You can take steps by searching your name and relatives online to see what information is publicly visible, submitting removal requests to people-search sites and limiting what you share publicly on genealogy platforms. Taking these precautions can help prevent your family history from becoming a roadmap for scammers.
However, manually tracking down and removing your information across hundreds of sites can be time-consuming and difficult to keep up with.
One of the most effective steps you can take is to use a data removal service to help remove your information from data broker and people-search websites. While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice.
These services do the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. They also continue scanning for new exposures, which helps prevent your data from quietly reappearing later.
It's what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be one of the most effective ways to erase personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing breach data with details they might find online, making it much harder for them to target you.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.
Genealogy can be an incredibly rewarding hobby. Discovering where your family came from often creates a deeper sense of connection and identity. But the digital tools that make this research easier can also expose more information than many people realize. A family tree filled with birthplaces, maiden names and relatives may look harmless, yet it can quietly create a roadmap for scammers. The good news is you do not have to stop exploring your ancestry. You simply need to share carefully, protect your data and understand how information travels online.
Have you ever searched for your own name or family members online and been surprised by how much personal information was publicly available? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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DNI Tulsi Gabbard says that Trump acted because he concluded the Iranian regime 'posed an imminent threat'
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Tuesday issued a post on X in which she noted that President Donald Trump targeted Iran based on his conclusion that the regime "posed an imminent threat."
She issued the post in the wake of Joe Kent's resignation from his role as National Counterterrorism Center director over his opposition to the Iran war that Trump launched more than two weeks ago in conjunction with Israel.
"Donald Trump was overwhelmingly elected by the American people to be our President and Commander in Chief. As our Commander in Chief, he is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat, and whether or not to take action he deems necessary to protect the safety and security of our troops, the American people and our country," Gabbard noted in her post.
"The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is responsible for helping coordinate and integrate all intelligence to provide the President and Commander in Chief with the best information available to inform his decisions," she added.
"After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion," Gabbard wrote.
TRUMP BIDS GOODBYE TO INTEL OFFICIAL WHO RESIGNED OVER IRAN: ‘GOOD THING THAT HE’S OUT'
Kent publicly shared his resignation letter on Tuesday, asserting that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the U.S.
"I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran," Kent wrote.
"Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby," he asserted in the resignation letter.
TOP COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIAL RESIGNS IN PROTEST OF US WAR AGAINST IRAN
Trump pushed back on Tuesday, saying that "it's a good thing that he's out because he said that Iran was not a threat. Iran was a threat. Every country realized what a threat Iran was. The question is whether or not they wanted to do something about it."
Trump resurfaces old tweet from intel official who resigned
In the wake of Joe Kent's resignation from the position of National Counterterrorism Center director over his opposition to the Iran war, President Donald Trump highlighted a years-old tweet in which Kent had urged the president to "wipe Iran's ballistic capability out."
In the January 2020 post on X, Kent tagged the president and wrote, "We should not sit and wait for the next attack, wipe Iran's ballistic capability out and get our troops out of Iraq - they are only targets now. No US WIA/KIA is a tribute to the professionalism of our military and intel professionals not Iranian restraint."
Kent made the post in January 2020 after a U.S. strike earlier that month killed Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force.
TOP COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIAL RESIGNS IN PROTEST OF US WAR AGAINST IRAN
In the resignation letter that he posted to X on Tuesday, Kent asserted that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the U.S.
"I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby," Kent wrote.
IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE MINISTER KILLED IN PRECISION AIRSTRIKE, WHILE US MILITARY TARGETS MISSILE SITES
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard issued a post on X in which she noted that the president targeted Iran due to his view that the regime represented "an imminent threat."
"The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is responsible for helping coordinate and integrate all intelligence to provide the President and Commander in Chief with the best information available to inform his decisions," Gabbard said in the post.
TRUMP BIDS GOODBYE TO INTEL OFFICIAL WHO RESIGNED OVER IRAN: ‘GOOD THING THAT HE’S OUT'
"After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion," she noted.
Oilers lose Leon Draisaitl for rest of regular season as playoffs approach
The Edmonton Oilers’ hopes of returning to the Stanley Cup final for the third consecutive year were thrown into flux on Tuesday.
The Oilers announced that Leon Draisaitl is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a lower-body injury. The team said he sustained the injury on Sunday in the first period against the Nashville Predators.
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He will miss at least the final 14 games of the regular season, which comes to an end on April 16. The team didn’t say whether he will miss time once the playoffs begin.
Draisaitl took a bump from Predators’ Ozzy Wiesblatt and didn’t return. Edmonton ended up winning the game and sat in third place in the Pacific Division, one point back of the Vegas Golden Knights and two behind the Anaheim Ducks.
Edmonton was able to end Tuesday on a high note with a victory over the San Jose Sharks, 5-3. The victory bumped the Oilers to second place behind Anaheim and ahead of Vegas. However, the Oilers have played one more game than the Golden Knights and two more games than the Ducks.
Adam Henrique assisted on goals for Vasily Podkolzin and Max Jones. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor Murphy and Zach Hyman also scored.
"That line was huge for us, and we talked before about needing guys stepping up," Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said after the win over the Sharks, via NHL.com. "No one's going to replace Leon. That's never going to happen. But everyone collectively needs to be a little bit better. That fourth line, all three of them, were the difference tonight."
Draisaitl has been a major contributor for the Oilers since he joined the team. He ranks fourth in the league in scoring with 97 points in 65 games played, second on the team to Connor McDavid, who leads the league with 114 points.
Draisaitl won the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP in 2020 and was the runner-up last season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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One little-known meeting helps decide what Americans can afford — and what they can’t
When it comes to what Americans can afford, no institution looms larger than the Federal Reserve.
That is especially true as the Fed on Wednesday concludes its two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the closed-door session where policymakers decide whether interest rates will remain high or begin to ease.
The Fed is widely expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75%, marking a second straight pause after a series of cuts dating back to September 2024. For households, that means monthly payments on big-ticket purchases are likely to stay elevated for now.
TRUMP PROMISED LOWER COSTS; THE IRAN CONFLICT NOW THREATENS THAT PLEDGE
The reluctance to cut reflects the Fed’s view that inflation is still running somewhat above its target, while broader economic and geopolitical uncertainty is reinforcing the case for caution.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will share further details about the decision on Wednesday afternoon.
The nation’s central bank doesn’t set the price of groceries, cars or homes directly. But it does influence how expensive it is to borrow money, and that can make a significant difference in what families pay each month.
Right now, borrowing is costly. High interest rates mean larger monthly payments on mortgages, car loans and credit cards, even if the price of a home or vehicle hasn’t changed.
For many Americans, that is why life can still feel unaffordable even as inflation has cooled. Prices may not be rising as quickly, but the cost of financing big purchases remains high.
TRUMP VS THE FEDERAL RESERVE: HOW THE CLASH REACHED UNCHARTED TERRITORY
That strain is especially visible in the housing and auto markets, two of the biggest expenses for most households. A home or car may cost about the same as it did a year ago, but the loan attached to it can add hundreds of dollars to the monthly bill. Consumers are often paying more not because the asset itself has become more expensive, but because the cost of borrowing did.
That backdrop has become a political liability for President Donald Trump, who campaigned on restoring affordability and easing household financial strain but now faces growing voter skepticism over whether that relief is materializing ahead of the midterm election cycle.
Trump has repeatedly pushed for lower interest rates and blamed Powell for not cutting more aggressively, even as he continues to tout a strong economy. Typically, rate cuts are used to support a slowing economy, not one that is performing well.
And if Trump was already eager for a Fed rate cut, the conflict with Iran may have further complicated the picture. Rising oil prices have revived inflation concerns, potentially giving Fed officials another reason to stay cautious.
If the Iran war drags on and energy costs remain elevated, it could cloud not just this week’s decision but the outlook for future cuts as well — prolonging the stretch of high borrowing costs that has kept pressure on household budgets.
Senate to question Trump intel leaders on Iran war after top official quits in protest
Lawmakers will get to grill President Donald Trump's top intelligence and spying officials on the Iran war publicly for the first time, just a day after the nation’s top counterterrorism official resigned in protest over the conflict.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, National Security Agency chief Lt. Gen. William Hartman and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. James Adams are all set to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday.
The hearing comes after Joe Kent, Trump’s pick to lead the National Counterterrorism Center under Gabbard, suddenly exited the job on Tuesday.
TOP COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIAL RESIGNS IN PROTEST OF US WAR AGAINST IRAN
"I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran," Kent said on X. "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."
While Venezuela and Cuba could be points of discussion, Iran will likely be a major topic during the annual worldwide threats hearing, given that Senate Democrats have clamored for public hearings from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the ongoing war.
Gabbard, who built her political career bucking war with Iran and the U.S. getting involved in regime change, will likely be grilled over Kent’s resignation.
MULLIN FACES DEMOCRAT GRILLING IN FIRST HURDLE TO LEAD DHS AMID SHUTDOWN FIGHT
Following his announcement, Gabbard said her job as DNI chief is to help "coordinate and integrate all intelligence to provide the President and Commander in Chief with the best information available to inform his decisions."
"After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat, and he took action based on that conclusion," Gabbard said on X.
The hearing will be led by Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who is the top-ranking Democrat on the panel.
DEMOCRATS THREATEN TO GRIND SENATE TO A HALT TO FORCE PUBLIC IRAN HEARINGS
Both have been at odds in their view of the war — Cotton fervently backs Trump’s decision, while Warner argued that Iran posed no "imminent threat" to the U.S.
"So the decision to put our service members in harm’s way and bases around the region in harm’s way was entirely based upon the president’s decision, not an imminent threat to America," Warner told CNN earlier this month.
Cotton speculated that the conflict would end in a matter of weeks, and reaffirmed that position when pressed.
"I've said that, based on my conversations with the president and my understanding of Iran's military capabilities, I would expect it to take weeks, not days, and we're only a couple weeks into it," Cotton said.
"And again, every single day brings hundreds, if not thousands, of strikes into Iran that steadily and methodically degrade their military, and the end state will be a country… without the offensive capabilities to continue to terrorize the United States, Israel, our Arab friends and the civilized world," he continued.