Why the Fed Isn’t Really Independent
The Human Action Podcast · Mises Institute
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Show Notes
This week, Bob takes on the hot-button debate over Federal Reserve “independence” in light of Trump’s moves against Fed Governor Lisa Cook. He explains why the Fed has never truly been independent, drawing on the Treasury-Fed Accord of 1951 and the institution’s long history of serving political power. Recalling Elizabeth Warren’s attacks on Jay Powell to insider trading scandals among Fed officials, Bob exposes the hypocrisy of politicians and media figures who cry about independence only when it suits them. He also highlights how the Fed’s structure—unanimous FOMC votes, backroom bailouts, and secrecy over bank rescues—makes it clear the central bank is not a neutral force, but a political engine of inflation and business cycles.
- A Comprehensive Case for Ending the Fed: Mises.org/HAP516a
- Should Economists Champion Fed “Independence”?: Mises.org/HAP516b
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