Podcasts about Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

A new Office of Personnel Management hub for shared human resources services is open for business, the agency announced Tuesday. In a memo to federal agency leaders, OPM Director Scott Kupor said the HR Shared Service Center aims to “reduce fragmentation” within the government and allow agency staff to focus on their mission rather than administrative work. Per the memo, that new center provides a “comprehensive” suite of functions, such as benefits management, payroll administration, performance management, recruitment, training, and workforce planning. Using those services is voluntary for agencies and is a fee-for-service model. At least eight federal entities have already indicated they will make the transition, per the memo. Those include the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Office of Government Ethics, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The announcement is the latest development in the Trump administration's broader push to consolidate HR services across the government. That plan, called “Federal HR 2.0,” aims to create a single personnel management platform for the federal government as a way to save money and reduce duplicative systems. The Federal Aviation Administration is gathering information from potential private-sector partners to inform the buildout of its defenses against cyber and quantum threats, according to documents published this month. The cybersecurity-focused market survey and quantum-related request for information are targeting the systems at the core of the Department of Transportation component's multiyear, multibillion dollar modernization initiative: the National Airspace System and Air Traffic Control. The FAA is looking for vendors that could improve its information security and operations, such as penetration testing, vulnerability evaluations and incident response coordination among other tasks. The scope of the project also includes assessing the current NAS cybersecurity posture to identify capability gaps, test emerging tech tools and recommend improvements. The DOT component is also planning to move its NAS, ATC and IT systems infrastructure to post-quantum cryptography, a concept centered around mitigating attacks from future quantum computers by adopting new encryption methods. “Without quantum‑resistant, crypto‑agile security, the NAS cannot achieve the reliability, performance, or international leadership required in the decades ahead,” the FAA said in its RFI published last week. “FAA therefore views PQC not as a compliance exercise, but as a foundational enabler of modernization — one that must be embedded into every vendor solution, every system upgrade, and every step of the Brand New Air Traffic Control System.” The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Two of the three major credit bureaus are dismissing a larger share of consumer complaints. At the same time, the Trump administration has attempted to gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the government watchdog agency established following the Great Recession. Today, we'll delve into what it means for consumer protections. Also, the price of a barrel of Brent crude is about 50% higher than it was a month ago. Where do things go from here?

Two of the three major credit bureaus are dismissing a larger share of consumer complaints. At the same time, the Trump administration has attempted to gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the government watchdog agency established following the Great Recession. Today, we'll delve into what it means for consumer protections. Also, the price of a barrel of Brent crude is about 50% higher than it was a month ago. Where do things go from here?

Kathy Kraninger has seen the banking system from both sides of the regulatory divide. The former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and now president and CEO of the Florida Bankers Association joins the show to discuss whether Washington is undergoing a regulatory "recalibration" including everything from whether banks will be required to collect citizenship information to the growing challenges banks face from fraud, scams, and rapidly evolving technologies like artificial intelligence. 

What if the best financial advice isn't new—but simply forgotten? In this episode of Earn & Invest, Doc G sits down with historian Joseph S. Moore, author of How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked—and Didn't. Moore spent a decade exploring centuries of advice aimed at everyday Americans, testing which strategies actually worked—and which didn't. Remarkably, his research led him to build a seven-figure net worth using lessons from the past. Moore's journey began with a personal financial scare: after taking a risky “NINJA loan” to buy a townhouse in 2005, he realized his vulnerability as the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 approached. Selling his home just in time sparked a curiosity that would consume the next decade. One of his most surprising findings? Optimism is a powerful predictor of financial success. Research from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau shows that believing you can shape your financial future often outweighs inheritance or education. Moore argues that financial “gurus,” often dismissed for overhyping strategies, actually provide hope and practical frameworks that help people take action. We also explore how many “modern” wealth tactics are centuries old. House hacking—renting out spare rooms to pay a mortgage—was once a standard working-class strategy, frequently managed by women whose contributions rarely appeared in official statistics. Mobility was another forgotten tactic; in the 1800s, roughly one in three Americans moved annually to chase opportunity. Moore introduces the concepts of slow time and fast time: slow time is when we build skills, capital, and relationships; fast time is when booms, crashes, or major shifts create opportunities. Those prepared in slow time can seize advantage when fast time arrives. We also discuss concentration vs. diversification, the myth of effortless compound returns, and why financial independence isn't the finish line—it's the point when life becomes flexible enough to pursue meaningful goals. For anyone curious about wealth-building, historical financial strategies, or the patterns behind money and opportunity, this episode offers practical insights drawn from 300 years of experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau less active and running with fewer resources, many states no longer get the data they need to finish their own consumer protection cases. A new multistate lawsuit aims to restore the bureau's full funding. We wanted to understand what that means for states like Maryland, so Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Bill Meeks, Director of the Lending and Finance Unit in the Consumer Protection Division for Maryland's Attorney General.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Imagine a blueprint so ambitious it aims to remake the entire federal government in the image of one person's vision. That's Project 2025, a 900-page manifesto from the Heritage Foundation and former Trump officials, as detailed in its core document, Mandate for Leadership. According to the Heritage Foundation's plan, it seeks to restore "self-governance to the American people" by centralizing power in the presidency under the unitary executive theory, which grants the president near-total control over the bureaucracy.Fast forward to 2026, and its ideas are no longer hypothetical. President Trump's executive orders have brought them to life with startling speed. Take Schedule F: Project 2025 called for reinstating this Trump-era order to strip job protections from up to 50,000 civil servants, replacing experts with loyalists. The White House's January 2025 order, Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce, did just that, as reported by Government Executive. Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has fired tens of thousands, targeting diversity offices and agencies like USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—both Project 2025 priorities—though courts have reinstated some workers amid lawsuits from the ACLU and unions.Concrete examples abound. The plan urges eliminating the Department of Education, a goal Trump advanced via executive order, challenged by teachers' unions. It proposes weaponizing the DOJ against rivals, expanding political appointees there, and ending independence for agencies like the FCC and FTC by overruling Supreme Court precedents, per the Center for American Progress analysis. DOGE has slashed Health and Human Services by 20,000 jobs and gutted IRS civil rights offices, aiming to "traumatically affect" workers, as OMB Director Russell Vought stated.Experts warn of dire implications. The ACLU describes it as a "radical restructuring" threatening civil rights, while the American Federation of Government Employees fears up to a million job losses, crippling services for rural families and seniors. Proponents see efficiency; critics, an imperial presidency eroding checks and balances.As lawsuits pile up and agencies submit reorganization plans by April, the real test looms: Will Congress rein in these moves, or will DOGE hit its $1 trillion savings goal by July? The battle for America's governance rages on.Thanks for tuning in, listeners. Come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

When Heritage Foundation officials unveiled Project 2025 in April 2023, they presented what they called a comprehensive roadmap for restructuring American government. What emerged was a 920-page blueprint called Mandate for Leadership that has since become one of the most consequential policy agendas in modern political history.At its core, Project 2025 seeks to consolidate executive power by placing the entire federal government's executive branch under direct presidential control. This represents a dramatic expansion of presidential authority based on what critics call an expansive interpretation of unitary executive theory. The project explicitly calls for eliminating the independence of agencies like the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Trade Commission.The scope of proposed changes is staggering. The Heritage Foundation's blueprint recommends dismantling entire agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Education. It proposes abolishing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has returned 21 billion dollars to consumers harmed by bank fraud, and eliminating the Federal Trade Commission, responsible for enforcing antitrust laws. The project also targets the National Labor Relations Board, which protects workers' organizing rights.Beyond eliminating agencies, Project 2025 envisions radical workforce reductions. The document calls for replacing federal civil service workers with people loyal to what it describes as the next conservative president. It explicitly recommends dismissing all Department of State employees in leadership roles before January 20, 2025, and replacing them with ideologically vetted appointees who don't require Senate confirmation.The Trump administration's implementation since taking office in January has exceeded even these ambitious proposals. According to the Center for Progressive Reform, the administration has initiated or fulfilled more than 47 percent of Project 2025's domestic regulatory agenda. Government efficiency officials under Elon Musk have laid off or plan to lay off over 280,000 federal workers across 27 agencies. The Health and Human Services Department alone announced plans to cut 20,000 positions representing 25 percent of the agency.Policy changes target vulnerable populations with particular intensity. Project 2025 proposes slashing Medicaid funding through caps, work requirements, and converting the program into vouchers. It recommends narrowing the Department of Agriculture's role and increasing work requirements for food assistance recipients.The project's vision extends to law enforcement and civil rights. It characterizes the Department of Justice as a bloated bureaucracy infatuated with a radical liberal agenda and calls for making both the FBI and DOJ more directly accountable to the president while expanding death penalty eligibility.Courts have begun challenging implementation, with judges reinstating employees at USAID, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Voice of America after mass firings. These legal battles will define whether Project 2025's vision becomes law or faces constitutional limits on executive power.Thank you for tuning in today. Please join us next week for more coverage of how these policies continue to shape American governance.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

It's Fun Day Monday on The Majority Report On today's program: Trump announces strikes on Iran and says that Americans will die as it often happens in war. An Omani foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, is shedding light on negotiations involving Kushner, Witkoff, and Iran. According to the Albusaidi, Iran was willing to go as far as not stockpiling any nuclear material that could be used to build a bomb—a significant concession in the talks. However, the foreign minister indicated that the U.S. side either did not fully understand or was unwilling to engage with this offer, raising questions about how the negotiations were handled. For guests today, we're speaking with three candidates running for Congress: Alexis Goldstein — A former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau staffer who was laid off during the DOGE cuts, now in the Democratic primary for Maryland's 6th District. Anabel Mendoza — An immigrant rights organizer running the Democratic primary in Illinois' 7th District. Junaid Ahmed — A Bernie-backed candidate running in the Democratic primary for Illinois' 8th District. In the Fun Half:   Hegseth claims that we didn't start this war (thought it wasn't a war), but we will finish it. Hegseth goes on to say to that this is not a regime-change operation, but the regime did change.   Trump claims that the mission in Iran was so successful that they killed the top three choices for successors to the regime. Whoops!   Rep. Luna(tic) from Florida goes on MS NOW and humiliates herself as she shills for the war on Iran. Claiming Iran has killed thousands of Americans   all that and more   To connect and organize with your local ICE rapid response team visit ICERRT.com The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors: ZOCDOC: Go to Zocdoc.com/MAJORITY and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor WILD GRAIN: Get $30 off your first box + free Croissants in every box. Go to Wildgrain.com/MAJORITY to start your subscription. SMALLS: For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to Smalls.com/majority SUNSET LAKE: Use coupon code "Left Is Best" (all one word) for 20% off of your entire order at SunsetLakeCBD.com  Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech On Instagram: @MrBryanVokey Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com

In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, host Chris Willis examines signs that the CFPB is reactivating its supervisory and enforcement functions after a period of relative inactivity. The discussion notes reports that the CFPB plans to restart supervisory exams — likely remote, less burdensome, and focused on large banks — and raises questions about whether those exams will address debanking, despite the CFPB's limited jurisdiction over nonconsumer banking relationships. The conversation also underscores that some previously dormant enforcement investigations are being revived, indicating a return to a more active CFPB. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Imagine a blueprint so ambitious it aims to remake the entire U.S. federal government from the inside out. That's Project 2025, launched in April 2023 by the Heritage Foundation as the 2025 Presidential Transition Project. According to its 900-page Mandate for Leadership, the plan seeks to consolidate executive power under a conservative president, replacing civil service workers with loyalists and dismantling agencies seen as bloated or ideologically misaligned.At its core, Project 2025 pushes a bold reinterpretation of unitary executive theory, placing the entire executive branch under direct presidential control. "All federal employees should answer to the president," Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts declared, echoing the document's call to reclassify tens of thousands of civil servants via Schedule F, stripping their protections to install Trump-aligned personnel. The Heritage Foundation aimed for a 20,000-person database by late 2024 to staff this overhaul.Concrete changes target key agencies. It proposes abolishing the Department of Education, shifting programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to Health and Human Services and elevating school choice over federal oversight. "The federal government should be no more than a statistics-keeping organization" in education, the Mandate states, criticizing "woke propaganda" in schools. Similarly, the Department of Homeland Security would dissolve into a streamlined immigration agency merging Customs and Border Protection and ICE. The Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau face elimination, while the DOJ and FBI would fall under White House oversight to combat what the plan calls a "radical liberal agenda."Tax cuts for corporations, a flat income tax, Medicaid caps, and repealing Biden's Inflation Reduction Act round out economic reforms, aiming to slash regulations and boost nuclear energy. Critics like the ACLU warn this centralizes power, eroding checks and balances, while the Brennan Center highlights risks to criminal justice independence, such as charging local prosecutors for lenient policies.Fast-forward to 2026: The Center for Progressive Reform reports the Trump administration has implemented or initiated 53 percent of Project 2025's domestic agenda, including a February 2025 executive order launching the Department of Government Efficiency to shrink the workforce through attrition and hiring freezes. White House documents detail plans to prioritize reductions in diversity initiatives and non-statutory offices.This sweeping vision connects efficiency dreams to partisan control, illustrated by proposals to merge economic bureaus under conservative principles. As implementation accelerates, upcoming congressional battles over union rights—demanded by labor leaders in July 2025—could decide its fate.Thanks for tuning in, listeners. Come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Join two 25-year veterans representing the elder justice profession as they provide an overview of the troubling trends they have seen with the burgeoning problem of elder abuse. Their focus will be on financial exploitation—perpetrated by a broad spectrum of offenders, including strangers and people known to their older targets.  The presenters will also address key challenges and threats to the physical and financial safety of older people, including the proposed dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and its Office for Older Americans, along with other concerning issues at the federal, state and local level that are leaving thousands of older people at the mercy of financial predators. Topics will include financial grooming (a.k.a. “pig-butchering”), crypto scams, romance scams, and the growth of transnational crime rings that are targeting American seniors to the tune of billions in losses. About the Speakers Jenefer Duane is an elder justice advocate and consultant. Duane is a former senior program analyst in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Office for Older Americans. With 40 years in aging services and consumer protection, she specializes in prevention, response, investigation, prosecution and resolution of cases of elder financial exploitation. At the CFPB, she led the development of the national Elder Financial Protection and Response Network program. She was the agency lead for the award-winning Money Smart for Older Adults program with the FDIC. She also led several CFPB-FinCin initiatives to strengthen the suspicious-activity reporting and investigation of elder financial exploitation.  Paul Greenwood is a former deputy district attorney and an AARP consultant. Greenwood headed up the Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit at the San Diego DA's Office for 22 years. In 1999 California Lawyer magazine named Paul as one of their top 20 lawyers of the year in recognition of his pioneering efforts to pursue justice on behalf of senior citizens. He has prosecuted more than 750 felony cases of physical, sexual, emotional and financial elder abuse. He has also prosecuted 10 murder cases, including one death penalty case. In March 2018 Greenwood retired from the San Diego DA's office to concentrate on sharing lessons learned from his elder abuse prosecutions with a wider audience. In October 2018 he was given a lifetime achievement award by his former office. Greenwood now spends much of his post retirement time speaking on behalf of AARP nationally, consulting on elder abuse cases, testifying as an expert witness and providing trainings to law enforcement and Adult Protective Services agencies across the country and internationally. He is also involved as the criminal justice board member of the National Adult Protective Services Association. A Grownups Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. Organizer: Denise Michaud  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send a textOn this episode of the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Brandon Lovingier, Founder of Military Money, about the tactics financial predators use and how military members (and all of us) can stay one step ahead.Key Takeaways:

Imagine a blueprint so ambitious it aims to rewrite the rules of American governance from the top down. That's Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation's 900-page Mandate for Leadership, published in April 2023, which outlines a radical overhaul of the federal government to consolidate power in the presidency and advance conservative priorities, according to the project's own documentation.At its core, the plan calls for replacing thousands of civil service workers with loyalists via Schedule F, a Trump-era executive order it seeks to revive. "The next conservative president needs a government staffed with people who support the conservative agenda," states the Heritage Foundation's Mandate. This would politicize agencies like the Department of Justice and FBI, placing them under direct White House control, as Wikipedia details in its overview of the initiative.Key proposals target dismantling agencies: abolish the Department of Education, handing education to states and prioritizing school choice to combat what it labels "woke propaganda," per the Mandate. The Department of Homeland Security would morph into a leaner immigration enforcer merging Customs and Border Protection with ICE. Environmental rules would shrink, corporate taxes drop, and a flat income tax replace the current system, while Medicare and Medicaid face caps and work requirements.Fast forward to 2026, and under President Trump's administration, the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency has turbocharged these ideas. Government Executive reports DOGE firing tens of thousands, eliminating diversity roles, and targeting agencies like USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—both Project 2025 hits. Health and Human Services plans 20,000 cuts, the IRS has gutted civil rights offices, and over 212,000 civil servants have exited, per the Federal Harms Tracker from ourpublicservice.org. Courts have reinstated some workers, like at Voice of America, amid lawsuits from unions and the ACLU, which warns of "radical restructuring" eroding civil liberties.Experts see peril: the ACLU notes threats to reproductive rights and racial equity, while unions decry politicized services hurting rural families and seniors. Yet proponents argue it slims a bloated bureaucracy.As the Federal Government Reform Act advances in Congress, per congress.gov, upcoming court battles and midterm elections loom as pivotal decision points. Will this reshape America for efficiency or entrench one-party rule?Thanks for tuning in, listeners—come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

 a large share of the refinances in 2025 were indeed driven by homeowners taking cash out of their home equity to consolidate debt or tap housing wealth, not just refinancing to get a lower interest rate. The data available on refinance activity in early and mid-2025 show this clearly:

Who controls your financial data and who decides how it can be used? As Americans increasingly rely on digital banking, apps, and financial technology tools, that question has moved to the forefront of a policy debate that may come to a head in the coming months.Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act is currently under review by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, prompting renewed debate over how consumers should access their own financial information and decide how it is shared. Translating that principle into practice, raises significant legal and policy questions about whether current regulatory and market structures truly empower consumers or instead concentrate control over data into the hands of banksThis webinar will examine open banking through a consumer-centered legal lens, focusing on how rules governing data access, privacy, and consent impact real-world choice. Panelists will discuss how bank-centric approaches may prioritize institutional preferences over consumer autonomy, potentially limiting Americans’ ability to use innovative financial tools that rely on secure, authorized data sharing.Throughout the program, panelists will evaluate the CFPB’s Section 1033 rulemaking and consider whether a consumer-directed approach to financial data can both defend consumer’s right to their own data and foster innovation.Featuring:Paul Watkins, Managing Partner, Fusion Law PLLCProf. Todd Zywicki, George Mason University Foundation Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University(Moderator) Will Hild, Executive Director, Consumers Research

Welcome to The Chrisman Commentary, your go-to daily mortgage news podcast, where industry insights meet expert analysis. Hosted by Robbie Chrisman, this podcast delivers the latest updates on mortgage rates, capital markets, and the forces shaping the housing finance landscape. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just looking to stay informed, you'll get clear, concise breakdowns of market trends and economic shifts that impact the mortgage world.In today's episode, we go through the latest update from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Plus, Robbie sits down with Curinos' Ken Flaherty, Josh Beane, and Rich Martin for a discussion on key 2025 performance trends across first mortgage, home equity, and unsecured lending, as well as 2026 forecasts and assumptions for each vertical, and the strategic priorities lenders should focus on to grow profitably in the year ahead. And we close by talking about why we've seen a drop in mortgage applications.Thank you to Truework, the one verification solution to replace in-house waterfalls. Verify any borrower with a VOIE solution that automates the entire process to quickly deliver the most accurate and complete reports with broad GSE coverage.

A new slate of leaders is poised to make its mark on the US audit board and launch the next chapter for the embattled regulator. Among those set to serve on the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board are two administration officials who have held key roles at federal agencies targeted by a White House campaign to hobble federal agencies and derail regulations. Those agencies include the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the National Credit Union Administration. The PCAOB last year was also caught up in the administration's efforts to rein in the federal bureaucracy. Republican lawmakers attempted to sunset the board and hand its duties over to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which oversees the board and named the new leaders. On this episode of Talking Tax, Senior Reporter Amanda Iacone discusses the incoming board members and what this latest leadership shake-up means for the future of the independent audit regulator. Do you have feedback on this episode of Talking Tax? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.

Imagine a blueprint for remaking America's government from the ground up, drawn by conservative architects at the Heritage Foundation. That's Project 2025, launched in April 2023 as the 900-page Mandate for Leadership, a detailed playbook to consolidate executive power and install loyalists across federal agencies, according to the project's own documentation.Fast forward to 2026: under President Trump's second term, echoes of this vision pulse through Washington. The Heritage Foundation's plan called for reinstating Schedule F to strip civil service protections from up to a million policy-influencing federal workers, paving the way for partisan replacements. Trump's Executive Order on Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions reinstated it immediately, as Politico reports, aligning with Project 2025's push for “motivated and aligned leadership.”Concrete changes abound. The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has slashed tens of thousands of jobs, targeting “woke” initiatives. Health and Human Services plans to cut 20,000 positions—25 percent of its workforce—via buyouts and attrition, per Government Executive. USAID faced near-elimination, its staff fired then partially reinstated by courts, while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which returned $21 billion to scam victims, teeters after similar assaults. The Agriculture Department is dismantling its D.C. headquarters, and IRS civil rights offices have been gutted by 75 percent.Policy ambitions run deep. Mandate for Leadership urges dismantling the Department of Education, placing the DOJ and FBI under direct White House control—“a bloated bureaucracy infatuated with a radical liberal agenda,” it declares—and merging economic bureaus into a conservative-aligned entity. Immigration reforms propose abolishing Homeland Security for a streamlined enforcement agency. Cuts target Medicaid via funding caps and work requirements, and Medicare faces reductions.Experts warn of peril. The ACLU describes it as a “radical restructuring” threatening rights, while unions like AFGE sue over union curbs, echoing Project 2025's disdain for public-sector bargaining. Proponents tout efficiency; critics see democratic erosion.As DOGE deadlines loom—agency RIF plans due April 14, USAID closure eyed by July—these moves test executive reach amid lawsuits. Will courts halt the frenzy, or will loyalty reshape governance for years?Thanks for tuning in, listeners. Come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

In this episode, we speak with Tyler Creighton about the ongoing struggle to save the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from defunding and closure at the hands of Russell Vought in the second Trump Administration. Creighton is a lawyer at the CFPB and a member of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Chapter 335. Before joining the CFPB, Creighton clerked for the Massachusetts Appeals Court and, prior to that, he was an organizer for pro-democracy reforms at Common Cause and ReThink Media. We talk with Creighton about life at the CFPB under the leadership of Vought, central architect of the notorious Project 2025 document and avowed opponent of the agency he now directs. During our conversation, Creighton details how, in spite of Vought's attempts to defund and close the agency, the CFPB continues to survive. In Creighton's telling, the agency's endurance owes in no small part to the continuous labor actions undertaken by the NTEU and its members. In February 2025, for example, the union sued the Trump Administration, securing an injunction against Vought's efforts to close the agency. (Read the judge's extraordinary Memorandum Opinion here.) Then, in late December, a federal district court judge ruled that the Trump administration must continue to fund the CFPB through the Federal Reserve, contradicting Vought's absurd claim that the CFPB can no longer seek financing from the Fed because the nation's Central Bank is operating at a loss.Despite the NTEU's string of successes, the fate of the CFPB still remains to be determined. The good news, however, is that there are ways that you can support the bureau as it rounds into its second year of the second Trump Administration. Learn more about the fight to save the CFPB from the CFPB Union website. Follow and share news from the NTEU account on Bluesky. Join the union's public demonstrations, if you live near or find yourself visiting Washington D.C. You can also help fund the NTEU's activities by purchasing any number of cheeky items in their online merchandise shop. Visit our Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/MoLsuperstructureMusic by Nahneen Kula: www.nahneenkula.com

A new nationwide class action lawsuit is accusing Rocket Companies of illegally steering homebuyers toward its mortgage and closing products — even when better rates may have been available elsewhere. The lawsuit alleges Rocket and its affiliates pressured real estate agents, including those at Redfin, to funnel clients to Rocket Mortgage and its title company, potentially violating the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, or RESPA. Rocket denies the allegations and says it will vigorously defend itself. In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down what the lawsuit claims, how the alleged referral arrangements worked, why the case references a prior Consumer Financial Protection Bureau investigation, and what this could mean for mortgage competition, agent referrals, and consumer choice going forward. Want to learn more? Visit www.Newsforinvestors.com  Source: https://www.scotsmanguide.com/news/class-action-lawsuit-accuses-rocket-of-illegal-steering-scheme/

In this episode of the Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast, we examine one of the most closely watched and increasingly controversial developments in consumer finance: earned wage access (EWA) products. EWA products allow workers to access a portion of wages they have already earned before their scheduled payday. Proponents describe these products as a valuable financial tool that helps consumers manage cash-flow shortfalls without resorting to traditional payday loans. Critics, including the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), argue that EWA products function as high-cost credit, often involving opaque fees that can trap consumers in cycles of debt. Our panel brings together industry and advocacy perspectives to explore the research, legal arguments, and regulatory uncertainty surrounding EWA, a market that has grown rapidly but remains unevenly regulated. Meet the Speakers ·        Alan Kaplinsky – Host and moderator. Founder and former Practice Group Leader of Ballard Spahr's Consumer Financial Services Group; now Senior Counsel. ·        Lucia Constantine – Senior Researcher at the Center for Responsible Lending, focusing on mortgage lending and predatory debt practices. ·        Yasmin Farahi – Deputy Director of State Policy and Senior Policy Counsel at CRL, specializing in small-dollar lending and state consumer protection initiatives. ·        Joseph Schuster – Partner in Consumer Financial Services Group at Ballard Spahr, with extensive experience advising on earned wage access products and their legal and regulatory treatment. Key Topics Covered in the Episode ·        What Is Earned Wage Access? An overview of EWA products, how they operate, and why they have become a focal point for regulators and consumer advocates. ·        Consumer Protection vs. Industry InnovationCRL presents research suggesting that EWA products operate as high-cost credit and may contribute to debt accumulation, while industry participants argue the products provide needed liquidity and differ fundamentally from traditional loans. ·        Fees, Tips, and Consumer Understanding A discussion of common pricing models, including expedited access fees and voluntary "tips," and whether consumers fully understand the true cost of using EWA services. ·        Research Findings CRL reviews studies conducted by it based on anonymized transaction data indicating frequent repeat usage, escalating fees, and increased overdraft activity among some users. ·        The Regulatory and Legal Landscape An examination of ongoing litigation, divergent state approaches, and federal regulatory ambiguity. While some states regulate EWA as credit, others have carved out exemptions. Courts are increasingly being asked to determine whether EWA products constitute "loans" under existing law. ·        Industry Responses and SafeguardsDiscussion of non-recourse structures, voluntary fee models, and industry-led efforts to mitigate consumer harm. ·        Policy Outlook Consideration of congressional interest, state-level reform efforts, and the likelihood of future regulatory intervention. Why This Episode Matters The debate over earned wage access is still in its early stages, but the outcome will have significant implications for fintech providers, employers, consumers, and regulators. This episode provides essential context and analysis for financial services professionals seeking to understand how EWA fits within existing consumer credit frameworks, and how that framework may change. Consumer Finance Monitor is hosted by Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel at Ballard Spahr and founder and former chair of the firm's Consumer Financial Services Group. We invite you to subscribe on your preferred podcast platform for weekly insights into key developments in consumer financial services law and regulation. Since its recording, there have been a few developments relevant to this episode. For instance, on December 22, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an advisory opinion that states the Truth In Lending Act (TILA) does not apply to certain "earned wage access (EWA) products," and it rescinds a proposed interpretive rule issued under former CFPB Director Chopra that classified these products as credit subject to TILA with their fees considered finance charges. The Center for Responsible Lending expressed opposition to this latest advisory opinion. On January 13, 2025, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on financial technology that included consideration of draft legislation on "Earned Wage Access," which CRL refers to as "payday loan apps." Around 200 nonprofits have written to Congress about their opposition to the version of this bill as introduced last session of congress.

Imagine a blueprint unfolding in Washington, one that could redraw the lines of American power. Project 2025, launched in April 2023 by the Heritage Foundation, is that plan—a 900-plus-page manifesto called Mandate for Leadership, crafted by former Trump officials and conservative allies to reshape the federal government for a potential Republican president in 2025.At its core, the project pushes the unitary executive theory, aiming to place the entire executive branch under direct presidential control. According to the Heritage Foundation's document, it calls for reclassifying tens of thousands of civil service workers as political appointees via Schedule F, stripping protections to replace them with loyalists. "The federal government should be no more than a statistics-keeping organization when it comes to education," it states, proposing to dismantle the Department of Education entirely, shifting programs like those under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to Health and Human Services.Concrete changes ripple across agencies. The Department of Justice and FBI would lose independence, with the FBI director accountable directly to the president, as the plan decries the DOJ as a "bloated bureaucracy... infatuated with a radical liberal agenda." Homeland Security would vanish, replaced by a streamlined immigration agency merging Customs and Border Protection and ICE. The Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau face abolition, while Medicare and Medicaid could see funding caps, work requirements, and voucher options. Environmental rules would shrink, taxes on corporations would drop, and a flat income tax proposed.Experts warn of sweeping impacts. The ACLU describes it as a "radical restructuring" threatening reproductive, LGBTQ, and immigrant rights. The National Federation of Federal Employees calls it a scheme to "destroy the Administrative State," enabling unlimited political hires on day one via a 180-day playbook of executive orders.These ambitions connect a broader vision: dismantling what proponents see as bureaucratic overreach to empower conservative priorities like school choice and nuclear innovation, while critics fear an imperial presidency eroding checks and balances.As 2025's transition looms, key milestones like personnel vetting—aiming for 20,000 in the Heritage database—and potential executive actions will test this blueprint's reach.Thanks for tuning in, listeners. Come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Find a bank that pays more, charges less, and keeps your money safe as rates adjust in 2026. How do you choose the best bank when savings rates are falling and fees won't quit? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss wealth inequality and retirement security to help you think bigger about what's “normal” in personal finance. They begin with a rapid-fire hot takes segment, with their perspectives on how money and power shape everyday life, why the decline of pensions shifts retirement risk onto workers, and questions worth asking about what a fairer safety net could look like. Then, banking Nerd Chanelle Bessette joins Sean and Elizabeth to discuss banking in 2026. They go over how to compare high-yield savings accounts as APYs drop, how to avoid common bank fees (like overdraft and ATM charges), and how to weigh digital-only banks versus brick-and-mortar options. They also cover how AI is changing customer service and fraud, why reduced consumer protections can raise the stakes for shoppers, and which banks topped NerdWallet's Best-of Awards in key categories. Our Nerds researched more than 250 banking products, narrowing down to just one winner per category: https://www.nerdwallet.com/l/awards-banking-2026?utm_source=sm&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=cm_organic_011926_podcast_sm_desc_allepisodes_best-of-banking  See all the winners of NerdWallet's Best-Of Awards: https://www.nerdwallet.com/l/awards?utm_source=sm&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=cm_organic_011926_podcast_sm_desc_allepisodes_best-of-awards  Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: high-yield savings account, best high-yield savings account, savings account interest rates, APY, online banks, best online banks, bank fees, overdraft fees, avoid overdraft fees, ATM fees, ATM fee reimbursement, Allpoint ATM network, MoneyPass ATM network, no-fee checking account, monthly maintenance fee, bank bonuses, certificate of deposit, CD rates, best CD rates, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, SoFi bank, Newtek Bank, best bank 2026, early direct deposit, two-day early direct deposit, savings buckets, savings goal buckets, Zelle transfer limit, bill pay checks, cash deposits at ATMs, fraud protection, bank fraud scams, AI in banking, banking chatbots, customer service chat, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, CFPB complaints, CFPB settlements, credit unions vs banks, pension plan, defined benefit plan, and 401(k) vs pension. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Turns out misleading a federal judge by telling her that the FEDERAL RESERVE HAS NO MONEY to justify not complying with her injunction to not put a Congressional agency devoted to protecting the consumer, is a very BAD thing. Michael Popok reports on a new order from Judge Amy Berman Jackson in which she calls out Trump's “Darth Vader” Russ Vought's roll in “starving” by claiming the Fed is busted, to protect the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from being put through the wood chipper. Sundays For Dogs: Get 40% off your first order of Sundays. Go to https://sundaysfordogs.com/LEGALAF or use code LEGALAF at checkout. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This hour, Ian Hoch talks about Lane Kiffin's great grocery basket heist. Then, Robert Lawless, Professor of Law & Co-Director of the Illinois Program on Law, Behavior, and Social Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, joins the show to break down what's happening to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and what 2026 could look like if it collapses.

On today's show, Ian Hoch gives glowing praise for the Broadway musical "Hell's Kitchen" at the Saenger Theater; Craig Pirrong explains about what's driving the price of silver to explode this year; Debbie Bresler has the details on the NOLA New Year's Eve Fireworks Show; Robert Lawless breaks down what's happening to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and what 2026 could look like if it collapses.

There is a federal agency whose only mission is to make sure that banks, credit card companies, and debt collectors don't screw over working-class Americans with fraud schemes, hidden fees, and the like, so naturally Trump, Musk, and DOGE have brought it to the brink of collapse. We'll talk about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the existential crisis it faces in 2026. Robert Lawless, Professor of Law & Co-Director of the Illinois Program on Law, Behavior, and Social Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, joins Ian Hoch to break down what's happening to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and what 2026 could look like if it collapses.

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for December 30, 2025. 0:30 We kick off today’s show with a major legal showdown as the U.S. Department of Justice takes aim at the state of Virginia over immigration and college tuition policy. We break down how Virginia law allows students without legal immigration status to qualify for discounted tuition if they attended Virginia schools, even as law-abiding U.S. citizens from states like West Virginia or North Carolina are forced to pay more. These benefits directly violate federal law, which prohibits states from offering post-secondary education benefits to illegal immigrants unless those same benefits are provided to all U.S. citizens on identical terms. It's a test of the Supremacy Clause and federal authority over immigration, and these policies normalize lawlessness one benefit at a time. 10:00 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. US Attorney General Pam Bondi said this week that the DOJ has already indicted 98 people with fraud in Minnesota this year. A federal judge has ruled that the Trump Administration does not have the authority to block funding to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. President Trump will become the first non-Israeli to be awarded the Israel Prize. 12:30 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:00 We dig into the unraveling scandal surrounding fraudulent daycare operations in Minnesota. As scrutiny intensifies, the focus turns to empty daycare centers—previously exposed by independent reporting— that are now suddenly filled with children, raising serious questions about timing and credibility. 16:00 The American Mamas Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson don’t hold back on this one. They take on the question of why it suddenly feels like everyone has a disability—and whether it’s about real need or working the system. While acknowledging legitimate conditions that truly require accommodations, they zero in on what they see as a disturbing trend: elite college students claiming disability status for special treatment, extra time, exemptions, and advantages. This isn’t about compassion anymore—it’s about entitlement. A culture that rewards victimhood, hands out loopholes, and teaches young people that being “broken” is a badge of honor. Comparing today’s mindset to the grit and pride of earlier generations, the Mamas warn that intelligence without ethics is dangerous, and a society that incentivizes weakness shouldn’t be surprised when responsibility, character, and resilience disappear. If you'd like to ask our American Mamas a question, go to our website, AmericanGroundRadio.com/mamas and click on the Ask the Mamas button. 23:00 Protests are breaking out across multiple cities in Iran as the country's economy spirals. The national currency has collapsed to record lows against the U.S. dollar, inflation has surged past 40 percent, and everyday life is becoming increasingly unlivable for ordinary Iranians. 24:30 Plus, we give director and actor Steven Grayhm a call. His film Sheepdog, is set to release nationwide on January 16, centered on the unseen battles of PTSD and the long-term cost of military service. Grayhm spent years traveling the country, listening to veterans, Gold Star families, and mental-health professionals, determined to tell their stories without political spin or Hollywood gloss. The result, he says, is a “love letter” to those who wore the uniform and the families who carried the burden alongside them. 32:00 Get TrimROX from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 According to newly revealed information, more than $5 billion in HUD rental assistance payments during the final year of the Biden administration were flagged as questionable or improper—an eye-popping figure that immediately raises red flags. According to newly revealed information, more than $5 billion in HUD rental assistance payments during the final year of the Biden administration were flagged as questionable or improper—an eye-popping figure that immediately raises red flags. The most jaw-dropping detail: over 30,000 of those payments allegedly went to people who were already deceased. 35:30 New data shows Bible sales in the United States are booming, with double-digit growth two years in a row, and that's a Bright Spot. The resurgence isn’t limited to Bible sales alone. Church attendance is rising, especially among young people, with Catholic parishes seeing growth even in major cities like New York—places long declared spiritually dead by the secular elite. Add in the historic election of the first American pope, and the signs of a broader faith revival are hard to miss. 39:30 Here’s something that stopped us in our tracks: Charlie Kirk was the most searched name in the world in 2025. Not just in the United States—globally. More than any other news story, more than any other headline, Charlie Kirk topped Google search inquiries worldwide. 41:00 And we finish off today's episode with the most popular New Year's resolutions. Follow us: americangroundradio.com Facebook: facebook.com / AmericanGroundRadio Instagram: instagram.com/americangroundradio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We start with the untimely death of President John F. Kennedy's granddaughter. The FBI and DHS are investigating fraud allegations in Minnesota. A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's latest attempt to gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Foreign ministers from 10 countries have issued a call to action in Gaza. Plus, we explain what's behind the rapid spread of two contagious illnesses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How is Vermont taking on the Trump Administration to restore funding to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? Plus, with winter upon us, we'll hear from a pediatric care physician about viruses to watch for that can affect the youngest Vermonters.

Taking a peek at the Fed Minutes the decision to shave a quarter point off the prime rate had some trouble.  This is the Business News Headlines for Tuesday the 30th day of December and thanks for listening. Yesterday you might have noticed we were off the air.  Technical issues...it's always something. In other news, the IRS has bumped up the business milage rate and we'll share. A judge makes a ruling about funding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and this matters. Meta buys a startup to broaden its AI business. Stolen seafood is on the menu this evening. We've got a hockey story for you.  We'll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and some bad news for Tesla. Let's go! Thanks for listening! The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

Today's episode features Part 2 of our November 4 webinar, "The CFPB's Most Ambitious Regulatory Agenda Ever."  (Part 1 of this series was released on December 18. We encourage you to listen to that episode as well). In Part 2, we continue to unpack the far-reaching implications of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) regulatory ambitions. The CFPB has published a sweeping agenda that promises to reshape the landscape for consumer financial services, and our panel of seasoned attorneys offers vital context and actionable insights for industry professionals, regulators, and informed consumers alike.   Key Topics Discussed:  ·        CFPB's Pre-Rule and Long-Term Actions - What's on the regulatory horizon, including advance notices and rulemaking targets that could reshape consumer finance. ·        Clarifying "Unfair, Deceptive, and Abusive" Practices - Will the CFPB issue new rules or guidance to define these critical terms? The panel reviews statutory definitions and industry implications. ·        Identity Theft and Coerced Debt Regulation - Proposed amendments to Regulation V including new protections for survivors of identity theft and economic abuse. ·        Redefining Large Market Participants - Examination of thresholds for CFPB supervision in areas like auto financing, debt collection, consumer reporting, and international money transfers, aiming to target the largest market players. ·        Qualified Mortgage Rules & Loan Originator Compensation - What changes might be coming to mortgage rules and compensation methods, especially for small-dollar loans? The industry's wishlist and regulatory challenges are explored. ·        The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) & Disparate Impact - Is the CFPB shifting its stance on disparate impact liability in lending? Hear the latest on the Trump administration's influence and evolving regulatory language. ·        CFPB's Withdrawal of Guidance Documents- A look at the Bureau's move away from guidance towards formal rulemaking and the impact on regulated entities. ·        Industry Feedback and Uncertainty - Lively discussion about compliance burdens, regulatory rescissions, and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the CFPB's future funding and priorities. Meet Your Speakers from Ballard Spahr:   ·        Alan Kaplinsky (Host & Moderator): Senior Counsel and Founder and former leader of Ballard Spahr's Consumer Financial Services Group  ·        Rich Andreano, Jr.: Partner and head of the firm's Mortgage Banking Group  ·        John Culhane, Jr.: Partner in the Consumer Financial Services Group  ·        Kristen Larson: Of Counsel, Consumer Financial Services Group   ·        Daniel Wilkinson: Associate, Consumer Financial Services Group   ·        Rob Lieber: Associate, Consumer Financial Services Group   ·        Aja Finger: Associate, Consumer Financial Services Group   Tune in as our expert panel breaks down the complexities, anticipated impacts, and the road ahead under the CFPB's ambitious agenda. Consumer Finance Monitor is hosted by Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel at Ballard Spahr, and the founder and former chair of the firm's Consumer Financial Services Group. We encourage listeners to subscribe to the podcast on their preferred platform for weekly insights into developments in the consumer finance industry.

A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule designed to give consumers greater control over their financial data is now in limbo under the second Trump administration. The rule has to do with how apps like Venmo and Zelle get access to your money in the bank so that you can send it on those payment platforms. Today, we'll share what a reconsideration of the rule could mean for you. But first: why gold is hitting new records.

A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule designed to give consumers greater control over their financial data is now in limbo under the second Trump administration. The rule has to do with how apps like Venmo and Zelle get access to your money in the bank so that you can send it on those payment platforms. Today, we'll share what a reconsideration of the rule could mean for you. But first: why gold is hitting new records.

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger Picture The [CB] is losing control of the economy, they wanted a crash instead Trump has turned it around and the economy is growing very quickly. The D’s are trying to convince the people that the economy is worse than what Trump is letting on, this will fail.Watch gold, silver and Bitcoin. The [DS] tried to gain control the military by having the seditious 6 tell the military not to obey, Trump gives them a dividend check to show he cares about them. The Epstein files were released, it all points to the Clinton’s and the D’s. The entire plan backfired on the [DS], boomerang. Every step of the way they are feeling the pain. The [DS] wants war and Trump is fighting against those countries who are suppose to be our allies. He will get peace in the end. Economy (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent BODIES Elizabeth “Pocahontas” Warren with a Devastating Reminder After She Claims Trump is Setting the Stage for the Next Economic Crash  Senator Elizabeth “Pocahontas” Warren (D-MA) made a poor decision trying to school Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier this week, and it spectacularly backfired. https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/2000915011154112623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2000915011154112623%7Ctwgr%5E4c8d9bec902c32b0cd01ee05619255f6315a3493%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Ftreasury-secretary-scott-bessent-bodies-elizabeth-pocahontas-warren%2F  substantial increase in private credit which is outside of the regulated banking system — that tells me that the regulated system is too constrained.” https://twitter.com/SenWarren/status/2001375798947885283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2001375798947885283%7Ctwgr%5E4c8d9bec902c32b0cd01ee05619255f6315a3493%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Ftreasury-secretary-scott-bessent-bodies-elizabeth-pocahontas-warren%2F https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent/status/2002138930410324028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2002138930410324028%7Ctwgr%5E4c8d9bec902c32b0cd01ee05619255f6315a3493%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Ftreasury-secretary-scott-bessent-bodies-elizabeth-pocahontas-warren%2F  Administration. Over-regulation is not the solution to what ails the American banking system. Rigorous, responsible supervision is. The initial report on the 2023 debacle by former Vice Chairman for Supervision, Michael Barr, was an exercise in obfuscation and sophistry. The American people deserve supervisors who are not asleep at the wheel, and the incoming Chairman of the Federal Reserve should undertake a thorough investigation of the systemic and oversight failures that led to that disaster. Source: thegaetwaypundit.com Trump announces that they've sold $1.3 BILLION worth of Gold Cards within Days Political/Rights https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer/status/2002011743254380602?s=20 More than a dozen politically exposed people and government officials’ names appear in the hundreds of thousands of pages of Jeffrey Epstein files made public Friday, sources said. And Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the DOJ discovered more than 1,200 victims and their families during the exhaustive review, explaining the process behind determining which files could be released in a letter to Congress exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital. https://twitter.com/Badhombre/status/2002388917618610413?s=20   home in New York to solicit money for her campaign and the DCCC. FBI was warned that Jeffrey Epstein was into child porn — but ignored it for 10 years, docs show   A former employee of late sex predator Jeffrey Epstein alerted the FBI that he was interested in “child pornography” and that he threatened to “burn her house down” decades before Epstein became an international fixation — but feds apparently did nothing. Source: nypost.com   If there was every anything about Trump, it would have been released before he reached the bottom of the escalator in 2015, the Comey FBI would have leaked it, and the Dems would have brought it up at some point while Biden was in office. But none of that happened. Why? Because Epstein leads to the Dems, and people like myself have been trying to warn the world about it for 10+ years.  https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2002408563193368834?s=20  and it worked brilliantly. Could you imagine if in Trump's first term he released all this stuff about Epstein? The public would not have believed it, and the Dems/MSM would have claimed it was all politically motivated and fabricated by Trump. The only way this Epstein disclosure was going to work, was to get the public to beg for it. So that's what Trump did. https://twitter.com/MikeBenzCyber/status/2002450017647301084?s=20 https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2002530633394934144?s=20   partner with Wolfe via the TerraMar project, which is also connected to the Clintons and the Clinton Foundation. What is Nathan Wolfe known for? Searching for bat coronaviruses in Ukraine via USAID Project PREDICT, via his biolab company, Metabiota, which was funded via Rosemont Seneca, which is partially owned by Hunter Biden. Russia accused Wolfe and his biolab company of creating genome-specific biological weapons in Ukraine. This situation has been addressed by RFK Jr. and Tulsi multiple times, and has been a major topic at the UN for over 3 years now. So Epstein had an interest in eugenics and he had financial/social connections to virologists who were making genome-specific biological weapons via USAID grants in Ukraine. Nathan Wolfe even directly thanked Epstein in his 2011 book “The Viral Storm: The Dawn of the New Pandemic Age” where Wolfe predicted the COVID pandemic 8 years before it happened… So what am I getting at? I think Epstein had plans to engage in ethnic cleansing/population control/genocide via biological weapon, and I think he had something to do with Covid. Epstein is at the epicenter of the Deep State empire. He was essentially a real life James Bond villain. The timing could not be worse. He and Hillary are in the middle of trying to fight subpoenas to testify in person to the House Oversight Committee on the Epstein matter and what they might know. They want to submit sworn statements. Republican Committee Chair James Comer (KY-1) wants to be able to question and cross-examine them in person.  DOGE Geopolitical U.S. Snatches Venezuela Oil Tanker in Dark‑Hour Strike on Narco‑Terror Funding In a stealth operation carried out before dawn on Dec. 20, the U.S. Coast Guard—working alongside the Department of War—seized an oil tanker last seen in the terrorist state of Venezuela. The United States accused the ship's operators of moving sanctioned crude to fuel narco‑terror activity. Officials issued a stark warning to traffickers: “We will find you, and we will stop you. https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/2002481990755627050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2002481990755627050%7Ctwgr%5E0acb5b51ea0ddfb03f7a0e25a375c9245159ce68%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.breitbart.com%2Ft%2Fassets%2Fhtml%2Ftweet-5.html2002481990755627050 https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/2002504193924342003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2002504193924342003%7Ctwgr%5E1410e2476c70f24b31810862ee2f8e034c77bc3e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.breitbart.com%2Ft%2Fassets%2Fhtml%2Ftweet-5.html2002504193924342003  conduct maritime interdiction operations — through OPERATION SOUTHERN SPEAR — to dismantle illicit criminal networks. Violence, drugs, and chaos will not control the Western Hemisphere. Source: breitbart.com U.S. imposes sanctions on family and associates of Venezuela’s Maduro and his wife The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on family members and associates of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as Washington ratchets up pressure on the Venezuelan president. The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement that it had imposed sanctions on seven people it said were tied to Maduro and his wife. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused them of “propping up Nicolás Maduro’s rogue narcostate.” “ Source: cbc.ca War/Peace Zelenskyy Announces Eastern Ukraine Citizens Will Not Be Allowed to Vote in Elections Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to hold elections if there is a ceasefire.  However, eastern Ukraine citizens, those currently living in the Donbas region, who are supportive of Russia, will not be permitted to vote. This creates a rather bizarre official hypocrisy within the Zelenskyy regime.  The official position of Zelenskyy is that Eastern Ukraine will never be accepted as a part of the Russian federation. Zelenskyy has recently noted, with EU leadership support, that his government will never recognize Eastern Ukraine as part of the Russian federation.  However, this same region, approximately 20% of Ukraine, will not be permitted to participate in his controlled election. Essentially, any Ukraine resident who does not support Zelenskyy will not be permitted to vote in any election, if any election is ever permitted.  Additionally, Zelenskyy notes that “there is the practice of voting abroad,” however, any region not controlled by Zelenskyy cannot submit votes. Source: zerohedge.com A Lie And Propaganda’: Gabbard Fact-Checks Reuters’ Russia Scaremongering In Real Time    Reuters posted an anonymously-sourced story pushing the idea that Russia is bent on reconstituting the Soviet Union. Before the metaphorical ink had dried, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard pounced, condemning the story as “a lie and propaganda” on behalf of “warmongers” seeking to derail President Trump’s drive to end the long and bloody Ukraine war.   Reuters vaguely attributed the purported US intelligence conclusions about Russia to “six sources familiar with US intelligence.”    https://twitter.com/DNIGabbard/status/2002484806978834862?s=20  narrative to block President Trump's peace effort, and fomenting hysteria and fear among the people to get them to support the escalation of war, which is what NATO and the EU really want in order to pull the United States military directly into war with Russia. The truth is the US intelligence community has briefed policymakers, including the Democrat HPSCI member quoted by Reuters, that US Intelligence assesses that Russia seeks to avoid a larger war with NATO. It also assesses that, as the last few years have shown, Russia's battlefield performance indicates it does not currently have the capability to conquer and occupy all of Ukraine, let alone Europe. https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/2002503405156151648?s=20   invade/conquer Europe (in order to gin up support for their pro-war policies). The truth is that ‘US intelligence' assesses that Russia does not even have the capability to conquer and occupy Ukraine, what to speak of ‘invading and occupying' Europe.   Source: zerohedge.com WATCH: US CENTCOM Releases Footage from Operation Hawkeye Strikes Against 70+ ISIS Targets  US Central Command released footage from Operation Hawkeye strikes against ISIS militants and facilities on Friday night. “Tonight, U.S. and Jordanian forces struck 70+ ISIS targets in Syria with 100+ precision munitions. Peace through strength,” CENTCOM said on X. This is one of 10 operations conducted in Syria and Iraq since the December 13 ambush in Syria, which left multiple American service members injured and two soldiers and a civilian interpreter killed. Twenty-three terrorist operatives have been killed or detained, according to CENTCOM. “We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists who seek to harm Americans and our partners across the region,” CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said. TAMPA, Fla.- Following the attack on U.S. and partner forces last Saturday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commenced Operation Hawkeye Strike at 4 pm ET against ISIS in Syria, Dec. 19, at the Commander in Chief's direction. Source: thegatewaypundit.com   of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria, and is fully in support. All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A. DONALD J. TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Medical/False Flags [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2002717078722052256?s=20  reclassify serious crimes as less severe “intermediate offenses” that are not publicly reported. https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/2002421989886075083?s=20 BREAKING: HUD Sec. Scott Turner CONFIRMS major investigation into Boston for anti-white public housing discrimination“They were using discriminatory housing policies in their city! We found a quote on their website that said they will integrate ‘racial equity at every level of city government.'”“They put race above reality. They put race above merit and need. Our job at HUD is to enforce and uphold the fair housing – and they were evading and encouraging landlords and property owners to evade the Fair Housing Act!”“They have been put on NOTICE. We uphold and enforce this law.” https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2002091915819253766?s=20  weaponized against Minnesota!” GOOD. IT’S CALLED ACCOUNTABILITY, TIM. “They’re threatening us with this. And this is what happens when you have a floundering presidency, and it is about those ballrooms and everything else. Now we’re back on transgender folks. And these are healthcare providers providing the best guidance to parents and children to get their care.” “It’s on every front! It’s CDLs, it’s transportation money, it’s money across the board that they have weaponized!” He should be worried. https://twitter.com/AAGDhillon/status/2002596210620969230?s=20 https://twitter.com/ScottAdamsSays/status/2002531244131991931?s=20 https://twitter.com/cb_doge/status/2001646253655097726?s=20 https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2002203857955549464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2002203857955549464%7Ctwgr%5E7d1378774cdcbdfe43552d1c5b5ef213bd4f721f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.breitbart.com%2Ft%2Fassets%2Fhtml%2Ftweet-5.html2002203857955549464 President Trump's Plan Democrats Have Devised a Plan to Compete With Turning Point USA for Young Voters and it's Going to be a Disaster Democrats have decided that they need to have their own version of Turning Point USA in order to appeal to young voters and what they have come up with is the most Democrat thing ever. It's going to be a total disaster. It's called the ‘DNC National Youth Coordinated Table'. It's not a grassroots group, it's completely fabricated. And you can just imagine how meetings of this group are going to go, with mini-groups within the group fighting for dominance and power. Newsweek reported on this: Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2002577300802711720?s=20 DOJ Appeals Controversial Ruling That Disqualified Trump-Appointed U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, Resulting in the Dismissal of Charges Against Letitia James and James Comey The Department of Justice has formally appealed a controversial ruling that disqualified Interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, a decision that directly led to the dismissal of federal charges against James Comey and Letitia James. According to a Notice of Appeal filed on December 19, the Trump-led DOJ is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to overturn a lower-court ruling that declared Halligan's appointment unconstitutional and voided every prosecutorial action she took while in office. Source: thegatewaypundit.com JUST IN: DOJ Wins Motion to Unseal Documents on Investigation into Trump Shooter Thomas Crooks The Department of Justice announced that it successfully moved to unseal documents related to the investigation into would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks.  “The Department of Justice received court approval to disclose to Congress documents gathered as part of the FBI's investigation of Thomas Crooks and his attempt to assassinate President Trump,” the Western District of Pennsylvania announced on X. A copy of the motion and order can be found here. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/AAGDhillon/status/2002596363138445539?s=20 Justice Department Sues Four States Including Georgia After Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger Sides With Democrats in Failure to Produce Voter Rolls https://twitter.com/AAGDhillon/status/2001775020566286614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2001775020566286614%7Ctwgr%5Ee92dad24c2453e3b35c6a465ec1523cafbc35499%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Fjustice-department-sues-four-states-including-georgia-after%2F Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/MAGAVoice/status/2001992915850260516?s=20 https://twitter.com/MarkPaoletta/status/2002483634251461079?s=20   memorial to President John F. Kennedy and now additionally honors President Donald J. Trump, who has brought America back and saved the Trump-Kennedy Center. The Board's action is permissible under the statute and no legislation is necessary. The Board’s action does nothing to change the statutory title. Instead, the Board has–in line with longstanding Executive Branch practice–designated a new name. For example, The Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer, within the Office of Management & Budget, is designated by statute as the “Office of Electronic Government.” But it's long gone by the name “Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer” in official, public, and internal communications. Similarly, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is designated by statute as the “Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.” But since the beginning, the agency has long gone by the name Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or CFPB in all official communications, correspondence with the Hill, titles and signage on its buildings. The “United States Institute of Peace” was established by statute but was renamed by the Department of State as the “Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace.” The Department of War was established as the “Department of Defense” by statute in 1947. Earlier this year, President Trump authorized the use of the name “Department of War” and the name is now etched on the Pentagon's building and in official correspondence and public communications. It is entirely fitting for the Board of Trustees to vote to add President Trump to the title so that this Center is now named The Donald J. Trump And The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. President Trump has provided superb leadership at every level to save the Kennedy Center from financial ruin and wokeness, and to bring our national treasure to new heights! Thank you, @kencen Board of Trustees for honoring President Trump. I have been going to the Kennedy Center for decades and have never seen such energy and excitement as I did at the Christmas tree lighting and Noel performance. The Golden Age is here!   AND ORDER. As your next Governor, Bruce will continue to fight hard to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes, and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, Advance Election Integrity, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment!   Bruce Blakeman is a FANTASTIC guy, will win the big November Election and, without hesitation, has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Governor of the ONCE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK (IT CAN BE GREAT AGAIN!). BRUCE BLAKEMAN WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!  (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

As the year draws to a close, it's clear that the post-COVID hiring bonanza has ended, and job-hunting has gotten trickier. Experts are predicting next year to be marked by more of the same: a low-hire, low-fire labor market. Plus, the Nasdaq asks the SEC for permission to allow close to 24/7 trading, and a federal appeals court is blocking the firing of most workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

As the year draws to a close, it's clear that the post-COVID hiring bonanza has ended, and job-hunting has gotten trickier. Experts are predicting next year to be marked by more of the same: a low-hire, low-fire labor market. Plus, the Nasdaq asks the SEC for permission to allow close to 24/7 trading, and a federal appeals court is blocking the firing of most workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Today's episode features Part 1 of our November 4 webinar, "The CFPB's Most Ambitious Regulatory Agenda Ever." In this packed episode, our expert panel breaks down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's largest and boldest regulatory agenda to date. Discussing an unprecedented lineup of 24 rulemaking items that could reshape the consumer financial services industry. What's Included: Unprecedented Regulatory Activity: We unpack why this semi-annual agenda stands out, the record number of proposed rules, and what this means for financial institutions, FinTechs, and consumers alike. Hot Topics Covered: From sweeping changes in mortgage servicing to open banking (1033 of Dodd-Frank/personal financial data rights), small business lending rules (1071 of Dodd-Frank), and the rollout of the Financial Data Transparency Act, we cover all the major initiatives and legal battles on the horizon. Industry Insight: Hear why certain rules are stirring up controversy, what compliance challenges lie ahead, and how litigation and funding woes at the CFPB might impact the pace of change. Practical Impact: Learn about technical corrections in remittance transfer rules, new standards for data sharing, and what these changes mean for day-to-day business operations. Meet Your Speakers from Ballard Spahr: Alan Kaplinsky (Host & Moderator): Senior Counsel, founder and former leader of Ballard Spahr's Consumer Financial Services Group  Rich Andreano, Jr.: Partner and head of the firm's Mortgage Banking Group  John Culhane, Jr.: Partner in the Consumer Financial Services Group  Greg Szewczyk: Chair of the firm's Privacy and Data Security Group  Mudasar Pham-Khan: Associate, Consumer Financial Services Group  Kristen Larson: Of Counsel, Consumer Financial Services Group  Daniel Wilkerson: Associate, Consumer Financial Services Group  Rob Lieber: Associate, Consumer Financial Services Group  Aja Finger: Associate, Consumer Financial Services Group  Tune in for strategic insights and practical tips to help you prepare for the CFPB's evolving rulebook. Whether you're a compliance leader, financial executive, or simply interested in how Washington's boldest moves will impact your world, this episode is your essential guide to what's next in consumer financial services. Don't miss Part 2, coming next week with even more updates and expert perspectives! Consumer Finance Monitor is hosted by Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel at Ballard Spahr, and the founder and former chair of the firm's Consumer Financial Services Group. We encourage listeners to subscribe to the podcast on their preferred platform for weekly insights into developments in the consumer finance industry.

Wednesday, December 11th, 2024New York Attorney General Tish James says she's not going to drop the $450M civil fraud case against Trump just because he was elected President; Mike Flynn's long running lawsuit against the government for the Russia investigation has been dismissed; The Supreme Court has refused to lift the gag order against Donald Trump; the Manhattan DA has filed his brief opposing Trump's motion to dismiss the 34 felony counts against him; Trump's Department of Justice secretly spied on members of Congress and journalists according to an inspector general report; Mitch McConnell fell after a GOP Senate lunch and is receiving medical care; more than 4 million people will share $1.8B in refunds from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and Allison and Dana deliver your Good News.Guest: Harry LitmanHost, Talking Feds Podcast; Law Professor; Former US AttorneyTalking Feds Substack (harrylitman.substack.com)Talkingfeds.comHarry Litman - Blue Sky (@harrylitman)Harry Litman Twitter (@harrylitman) Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Interview recorded - 2nd of December, 2025On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming on Bill Moreland. Bill is the founder of Bankregdata.During our conversation we spoke about Bills thoughts on the credit markets, regulatory shift, risk in banks, private credit risks, large bank blowup and more. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction1:18 - Overview of credit markets7:27 - Regulatory shift24:38 - What does this mean?32:53 - Private credit44:48 - Large bank blowup53:33 - One message to takeaway?Bill Moreland is a partner in a company/website called BankRegData.com. The Austin, Texas company BankRegData started in 2010 to provide a web aggregated Federal Depository Insurance Company (FDIC) insured Bank Quarterly Call Report data and additionally offer a narrative/interpretation on the bank book dynamics (see 2016 Q4 Asset Review or Winners & Losers: Citigroup). Since 2012 this data is taken from the FFIEC Central Data Repository. FFIEC is the acronym for the Federal Financial Institution Examination Council. The FFIEC is an interagency standards committee across five banking regulators including: Federal Reserve Board of Governors , Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (note the Securities Exchange Commission is not listed as one of the regulators in the FFIEC.). What BankRegData does is aggregate, and to some degree normalize, the Quarterly Call Report Data. BankRegData will get you (to a good first approximation) the distribution of securities ( deposits, mortgages, credit card accounts, loans, and tradable securities) at a quarterly aggregation level across the Banking Book of the major Bank Holding Companies.Bill Moreland - Website - https://www.bankregdata.com/main.aspX - https://x.com/BankRegDataLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-moreland-097586/WTFinance -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfniTunes -https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-fatseas-761066103/Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Even with the year-long purge of long-standing federal government agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau still stands as a bulwark for people who seek information and resources in their dealings with financial institutions. On this episode, James 'Jim” McCarthy of McCarthy Hatch shares about his days getting the bureau off the ground—and how his company utilizes real-time risk prediction for the consumer financial industry to smooth the path for consumers and FIs to achieve positive complaint resolutions.

If not for Social Security, more than 37% of older adults would live below the official poverty line, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. But even with Social Security benefits, about 10% of older adults still live in poverty. Today, we hear from one North Carolinian living at that economic line. Also: a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau "humility pledge" and parsing today's (vintage) government economic reports.

If not for Social Security, more than 37% of older adults would live below the official poverty line, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. But even with Social Security benefits, about 10% of older adults still live in poverty. Today, we hear from one North Carolinian living at that economic line. Also: a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau "humility pledge" and parsing today's (vintage) government economic reports.

The Trump administration is refusing to take funds to pay for ongoing operations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, arguing the funding structure is illegal. What does this mean for the agency's future, including its recent efforts to curb the small business lending data rule and define open banking? Kate Berry of American Banker and Evan Weinberger of Bloomberg Law weigh in on what's going on and what happens next. 

On today's wide-ranging program, Ralph welcomes David Dayen of “The American Prospect” to discuss the Democrats caving on the shutdown. Then, Ralph speaks to Dani Noble from Jewish Voice for Peace about their BDS campaigns, efforts to block weapons shipments to Israel, and the state of the ceasefire in Gaza. Finally, Ralph speaks to original Nader's Raider Sam Simon about his new memoir, “Dementia Man: An Existential Journey.”David Dayen is the executive editor of the American Prospect, an independent political magazine that aims to advance liberal and progressive goals through reporting, analysis and debate. His work has appeared in the Intercept, HuffPost, the Washington Post, and more. He is the author of Chain of Title: How Three Ordinary Americans Uncovered Wall Street's Great Foreclosure Fraud and Monopolized: Life in the Age of Corporate Power.If Congress is saying: We have the power of the purse, and we have the ability to dictate to the President what he is able to do or not do with federal funding, then why not go the whole way? To me, that was the entire purpose of the shutdown— to stop the President from ignoring Congress and initiating his own prerogatives as it relates to government funding. It is really making Congress completely irrelevant in the process which they constitutionally are supposed to dictate.David DayenEvery time Trump has been in power and there's been a national election, he's lost it. He lost the midterm elections in 2018. He lost the presidential election in 2020. He lost the off-year elections in 2017 and 2019. He lost (just last week) the elections in 2025. He is not equipped to have an agenda that appeals to the American people when he's in power. And so I firmly agree that Democrats are likely to do well in the elections next year, as they just did. The one thing that can stop that is: completely punching your base in the face, after you succeed politically in backing Republicans into a corner.David DayenDani Noble is a Strategic Campaigns Organizer at Jewish Voice for Peace.Israel bonds (which very few people know much about) are direct loans to the Israeli military and government. They are unrestricted. They have no guardrails around what those funds can be used for, et cetera. And this is a main way that the Israeli military and government generate an unrestricted slush fund to be able to continue their genocidal assault on Gaza, to continue funding for the atrocities being committed against Palestinians—even as their government and economy suffers and/or operates with a massive deficit.Dani NobleThis bill would essentially block the Trump administration from delivering some of the deadliest weapons to Israel. So it's an essential, essential step in what we need to do fundamentally—which is a full arms embargo to stop arming the Israeli military and government…It's the most supported piece of legislation in support of Palestinian rights that we've ever seen.Dani NobleSam Simon is an author, playwright, and attorney. His new book Dementia Man: An Existential Journey is based on his award-winning play of the same name.There's also a social cost. A sense that everything I've ever built personally—my cars, my homes, my savings—that were all going to be available as a legacy to my family, they have to be spent in my few years of my life just to keep me alive. There needs to be a community response to that—and that's shorthand for the government. It doesn't force people to go broke to stay alive.Sam SimonNews 11/14/25* This week, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a new tranche of over 20,000 pages of documents related to infamous financier and sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. These documents include damning emails between Epstein and various high-power individuals like Steve Bannon, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and current U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack. However, the emails that have received the most attention are those regarding President Donald Trump. In these emails, Epstein claimed Trump “knew about the girls,” and claimed that, “i [i.e. Epstein] am the one able to take him [i.e. Trump] down.” Perhaps most shocking, Epstein claims to have been with Trump during Thanksgiving in 2017, according to NBC. If true, it would directly contradict Trump's repeated insistence that he had no contact with Epstein since their falling out in the mid 2000s, either 2004 or 2007, per PBS.* The newly released Epstein files reinforce another narrative as well: that Epstein was an asset for Israeli intelligence. Drop Site news has done excellent reporting on Epstein helping to “Broker [an] Israeli Security Agreement With Mongolia,” “Build a Backchannel to Russia Amid [the] Syrian Civil War” and “Sell a Surveillance State to Côte d'Ivoire.” Most recently the independent outlet has published an expose on Epstein's relationship with known Mossad spy Yoni Koren. According to this piece, “Epstein's personal calendars reveal that…[Koren] lived at Epstein's Manhattan apartment for multiple stretches between 2013 and 2016.” There is also evidence that Epstein wired money to Koren. However, the reasons behind this transfer, and the details of their relationship, remain murky.* More Epstein information is likely to be released in the coming days. This week, the longest ever government shutdown in American history concluded with capitulation by centrist Democrats in the Senate. However, the conclusion of the shutdown finally broke the logjam over the swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva, the newly elected Democratic Congresswoman from Arizona. Grijalva immediately fulfilled her vow to be the 218th signature on the Discharge Petition forcing a vote on the release of the Epstein files, joining all 213 other House Democrats and four Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace, per the Hill. In her first speech, Grijalva emphatically stated, “Justice cannot wait another day.” House Speaker Johnson has promised to bring the matter to a vote next week and many Republicans who did not sign the petition are expected to vote for it, with sponsors angling for a veto-proof majority. At that point, all eyes will turn to the Senate.* Even still, the Democrats blinking in the government shutdown showdown has infuriated many members of Congress, candidates and Democratic-aligned organizations, who are now calling for Chuck Schumer to step aside as Senate Minority Leader. Journalist Prem Thakker is keeping a running tally of these calls, which so far includes 12 Congressional Democrats – with major names like Pramila Jayapal, Mark Pocan, Rashida Tlaib, and Ro Khanna among them – along with candidates like Seth Moulton, Mallory McMorrow, Saikat Chakrabarti and Graham Platner. Beyond these individuals however, this call has been echoed by groups ranging from Our Revolution to Social Security Works to College Democrats of America, among many others.* Moving to economic matters, one other consequence of the protracted government shutdown is that the Bureau of Labor Statistics was “largely idle,” meaning it did not collect the crucial fiscal information it is responsible for gathering, including October jobs numbers and Consumer Price Index changes. According to POLITICO, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said this information is unlikely to ever be released. She of course blamed that on the opposition in Congress, saying “Democrats may have permanently damaged the federal statistical system.” This is somewhat laughable, as the Trump administration has all but gone to war with the economic data collection functions of the federal government whenever that data has made him look bad.* Another bad sign for the economy in general, and for consumers in particular, is the rise of what are generously called “Flex Loans.” A new investigation by ProPublica in partnership with the Tennessee Lookout, examines the rise of this new strain of ultra-high-interest loan, with annual interest rates as high as 279.5%. This, combined with a lending cap of $4,000 – nine times higher than a traditional payday loan – has led to Advance Financial, the leading lender in Tennessee, suing over 110,000 people across the state since 2015. According to the data, judgments against consumers usually end up in the thousands, and 40% result in garnished wages. Loans of this variety were illegal before 2015, but the Tennessee legislature allowed them through and while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has sought to protect financial services consumers from these types of predatory lending schemes, the Trump administration's attempts to kneecap the agency have rendered it powerless.* Meanwhile, a dearth of consumer protections is yielding horrific consequences in a completely different area: AI. A new CNN report details how ChatGPT encouraged a Texas 23-year-old, Zane Shamblin, to kill himself. In heart-wrenching detail, this story paints a picture of Shamblin on the edge of suicide, and the AI chatbot helping to push him towards death. As Shamblin held a gun to his own head, the bot wrote, “You're not rushing. You're just ready,” later adding, “Rest easy, king…You did good.” According to this piece, the chatbot “repeatedly encouraged [Shamblin] as he discussed ending his life” for months, and “right up to his last moments.” Shamblin's parents are now suing ChatGPT's parent company, OpenAI, alleging the company endangered their son's life by, “tweaking its design last year to be more humanlike and by failing to put enough safeguards on interactions with users in need of emergency help.” The victim's mother, Alicia Shamblin, is quoted saying, “I feel like it's just going to destroy so many lives. It's going to be a family annihilator. It tells you everything you want to hear.”* In more positive consumer protection news, former Biden FTC Chair Lina Khan has hit the ground running in her new role helping to manage the transition for New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Per Semafor, Khan has been “scouring city and state laws — some overlooked by past mayors and some too new to have been tested yet — for legal footing for Mamdani's priorities.” Apparently, “Khan has privately discussed targeting hospitals that bill patients for painkillers available more cheaply at corner drugstores and sports stadiums charging nosebleed prices for concessions,” and “Other avenues for enforcement include a new state law that requires companies to tell customers when they are using algorithmic pricing. The law took effect this week, forcing Uber and DoorDash to start disclosing, but the incoming Mamdani administration plans to police laggards.” In short, it seems like the incoming Mamdani administration will use any and all legal and administrative means at their disposal to bring down costs for New Yorkers – as he promised again and again during the campaign. And, if there is one consumer regulator who can accomplish this, it is Ms. Khan.* Turning to Hollywood, Variety has published a major new piece on newly-minted Paramount CEO David Ellison's first 100 days. This piece covers everything from his attempts to curry favor with President Trump to the battle to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Buried within this story is an indication that “Paramount maintains a list of talent it will not work with because they are deemed to be ‘overtly antisemitic.'” The criteria for this modern blacklist however is opaque, especially troubling given that Ellison has deputized Bari Weiss – an ardent Zionist and censor of pro-Palestine speech – as the “Editor-in-chief” of CBS News. According to Drop Site, the studio “recently condemned a filmmakers' boycott of Israeli institutions signed by Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, and Olivia Colman, among more than 4,000 others, declaring that Israel is carrying out genocide and apartheid.” Would Ellison blacklist these stars for “overt antisemitism”?* Finally, for some good news, the Economist is out with a stunning article on the success of China's transition to renewable energy. In the much-quoted opening paragraph, this piece reads “The SCALE of the renewables revolution in China is almost too vast for the human mind to grasp. By the end of last year, the country had installed 887 gigawatts of solar-power capacity—close to double Europe's and America's combined total. The 22m tonnes of steel used to build new wind turbines and solar panels in 2024 would have been enough to build a Golden Gate Bridge on every working day of every week that year. China generated 1,826 terawatt-hours of wind and solar electricity in 2024, five times more than the energy contained in all 600 of its nuclear weapons.” If that doesn't demonstrate the horizon of what is possible, given the requisite political will and determination, I don't know what will.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

This week, a court filing showed that the Trump Administration has declared the current funding structure for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to be illegal. The agency was created in the wake of the global financial crisis to protect consumers and collect consumer complaints. Project 2025 architect Russell Vought is currently acting director of the CFPB. He has said repeatedly that he wants to see the CFPB close its doors, and back in February, he ordered employees of the agency to stop working. To talk more about the Trump Administration taking yet another axe to the CFPB and what happens next, we spoke to David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect.And in headlines, the Justice Department sues to block new Congressional district boundaries approved by California voters, the State Department makes it harder for people with conditions including cancer and diabetes to obtain visas, and Kristi Noem gives out $10,000 bonus checks to some TSA agents who worked through the shutdown.Show Notes: Check out The American Prospect – https://prospect.org/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Everyone in their right mind already knows the gift: Trump ran on helping working people, then immediately threw working Americans to the wolves in favor of helping the ultra-wealthy. But it's not just Trump who is screwing us; he's made it easier for businesses to exploit the average American as well. He recently eviscerated the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has stood in place to defend average Americans from unethical and predatory business practices. So what happens now, and how can we look to defend ourselves with the wolves circling? To answer this, Adam sits with progressive Julie Morgan, of the progressive think tank the Century Foundation, who worked in both with the CFPB and the Department of Education.SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/adamconoverSEE ADAM ON TOUR: https://www.adamconover.net/tourdates/SUBSCRIBE to and RATE Factually! on:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/factually-with-adam-conover/id1463460577» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fK8WJw4ffMc2NWydBlDyJAbout Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com.» SUBSCRIBE to Headgum: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadGum?sub_confirmation=1» FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/headgum» FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/headgum/» FOLLOW us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headgum» Advertise on Factually! via Gumball.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bankruptcies appear to be mounting in the subprime auto lending business. This all comes as auto loan delinquencies are rising, and the price of new and used cars stays stubbornly high. Amid all this, the Trump administration is quietly exploring a rollback of federal supervision of subprime auto lenders. Then, could federal law override state law that prevents medical debt from affecting your credit score? Plus, OpenAI goes from non-profit to for-profit.Correction (Oct. 29, 2025): The introduction for the story about Consumer Financial Protection Bureau oversight of auto loan lenders in this episode contained an error that has been corrected. The threshold for which companies the CFPB can investigate involves how many loans those companies originate.

Newt talks with Vance Ginn, former associate director for economic policy at Office of Management and Budget (OMB) about the economic impact of the government shutdown. They discuss the intricacies of government spending, the role of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the challenges of achieving a balanced budget. Ginn emphasizes the need for fiscal responsibility, highlighting the importance of reducing waste and inefficiencies within government operations. Their conversation also covers the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with Ginn arguing for a reduction in government intervention in consumer markets. Additionally, they address healthcare reform, advocating for a system that prioritizes patient care over bureaucracy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.