House Speaker Johnson expects “rocky road” for Fed Chair Powell

Washington — House Speaker Mike Johnson said he understands President Trump’s frustration with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, but reiterated that he’s uncertain about “what the legal parameters are” if the president fires him.  Mr. Trump has lashed out at Powell, accusing him of not acting quickly enough to slash interest rates — the Fed

Trump signs bill clawing back foreign aid, NPR and PBS funding

Washington — President Trump signed legislation to claw back $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funding, the first time in decades that Congress has approved a president’s request to rescind previously approved funding.  White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said Thursday that the package was “officially signed.”  Both the Senate and House passed the legislation, known

Some in Congress want more Epstein material released than White House has sought

Washington — The increasing pressure on the Trump administration to release more details about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein shows little sign of easing soon.  It’s put President Trump’s allies in Congress in a bind as they try to balance the Republican base’s demands for the release of all Epstein-related files against the White House’s

Social Security backs away from plan to eliminate paper checks

The Social Security Administration said it will continue issuing paper checks to the retirement program’s beneficiaries, backing away from a previously announced plan to switch all payments to electronic deposits after Sept. 30.  On Wednesday, the Social Security Administration told CBS MoneyWatch it would continue issuing paper checks for beneficiaries, including recipients of retirement and

Top DOJ official Todd Blanche will meet with Ghislaine Maxwell

Washington — Todd Blanche, the second highest-ranking Justice Department official, will meet with Ghislaine Maxwell at the U.S. attorney’s office in Tallahassee on Thursday to discuss convicted sex officer Jeffrey Epstein, a source familiar with the plans confirmed to CBS News. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence at a low-security federal correctional institute in

Trump to visit Federal Reserve, keeping heat on chair Jerome Powell

Washington — President Trump is visiting the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington Thursday, a week after indicating that Fed chair Jerome Powell’s handling of an extensive renovation project on two Fed buildings could be grounds for firing. Mr. Trump has criticized Powell for months because the Fed has kept the short-term interest rate the Fed