Federal Reserve chair nomination live: Wall Street reacts to Trump’s Fed pick, Kevin Warsh, as hurdles remain in the Senate

“Warsh has been critical of the Fed in recent months but is seen as a conventional choice for the role. Warsh has a background in the Bush administration, and he was appointed by former President George W. Bush as Fed governor, serving in that role during the financial crisis from 2006 until 2011.

Although he is considered a relatively safe pick, Warsh faces an uncertain path ahead in the Senate due to potential Republican opposition. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, whose vote is needed to advance the nomination out of the Senate Banking Committee, reiterated that he would oppose any Fed chair pick until the Department of Justice’s investigation into Fed Chair Powell is resolved.”

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/federal-reserve-chair-nomination-live-wall-street-reacts-to-trumps-fed-pick-kevin-warsh-as-hurdles-remain-in-the-senate-182518657.html

The Truth About American Hegemony | The Ezra Klein Show

The centrality of the United States in the world financial system allows it to use that power to cut countries and people off from basic financial services. The United States has long used this power to cut off rogue states, but Trump is abusing this power and the power of the US domestic market, which could lead to a rebellion and weaken America’s power to use these tools when it more needs it.

Trump ran on China being a major threat, but his aggressive actions toward non-China countries, has strengthened China’s relationships with these countries and made China stronger compared to the US.

Trump throws around power to try to get short term gains, not realizing that long term no one trusts him or the US and this ultimately weakens US power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a5Jzn8YAQY

Why the Philippines’ Outsourcing Economy Is Quietly Disappearing | AB Explained

The Phillipines beat out India on out-sourced phone customer service jobs because Filipinos could speak English with an accent more understandable to Americans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXm5yZct-ts

Why Firing Someone Is Almost Impossible in South Korea | AB Explained

Korea’s labor laws make firing employees very difficult. These strict laws drew out of the horrible working conditions during Korea’s economic rise under a dictatorship. Making it that hard to fire employees leads to: bad employees lowering companies’ efficiency, companies hiring fewer employees, companies keeping workers as contract employees or independent contractors and the employees therefore not getting basic benefits, brain drain as good employees can more easily move up the ranks and make more money in other countries, and discourages foreign companies from investing in Korea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjjhrwVYPE8

Greenland Tariffs Are Off — Is There a Deal? | Prof G Markets

Trump says a lot of things, and a lot of it is nonsense. Some of it turns into serious policies with huge consequences. But even the things he says that don’t come true have large consequences because he is president. Investors, businesses, and consumers have to make decisions, and Trump’s actions can impact that, so they have to deal with his words and the potential consequences. Even dealing with just his words, costs companies tons of money.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNhozAhtJLY

More Republican Socialism

“”State capitalism is a two-way street. Many businesses, by aligning themselves with Trump’s agenda, elicit better treatment—in their ability to sell to China, the tariffs they pay, how they are regulated, and what mergers are allowed,” wrote Greg Ip, The Wall Street Journal’s chief economics commentator, in a recent piece about how CEOs are navigating Trump’s state capitalism. “In other words, state capitalism doesn’t just serve the interests of the state, but of favored capitalists.”

And the Trump administration does not seem likely to place its own limits on this behavior. Asked recently about the logic behind these acquisitions, Trump said, “We should take stakes in companies when people need something.” That’s an answer that lacks any limiting principle.”

https://reason.com/2025/12/19/more-republican-socialism/

Carney opens Canada to Chinese EVs, China cuts canola tariffs

“Prime Minister Mark Carney is opening the door to more imports of electric vehicles from China with expectations the olive branch will lead to “considerable” Chinese investment in Canada’s auto sector “within three years” — risking potential blowback from Washington.

The move comes as Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping chart a new era in Canada-China relations and diversify trade ties in response to U.S. President Donald Trump.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/16/china-ev-tariffs-canada-00733086

Seattle’s Delivery Minimum Wage Failed Drivers and Raised Costs

“In 2022, Seattle became one of the first cities in America to pass a minimum wage law for food delivery drivers. The law went into effect in 2024, and the results were nothing short of calamitous. Food orders plunged to unprecedented lows, delivery costs exploded, and driver earnings appeared to crater.

Now, new research on Seattle’s delivery driver minimum wage ordinance shows that the law had no long-term effect on driver wages. And yet, Seattle’s city council shows no signs of changing course, even with higher consumer costs and zero growth in driver pay.”

https://reason.com/2025/12/20/seattles-delivery-minimum-wage-failed-drivers-and-raised-costs/