Katy O'Donnell

1 week ago | politico.com | Katy O'Donnell

A major shakeup at the top U.S. housing regulator is drawing protests from Democrats, who fear the Trump administration is rushing to privatize the two government-run companies that finance much of the industry. Selling off Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which together back about half the country’s $13 trillion residential mortgage market, could destabilize the already struggling industry and push up borrowing costs, they say.

1 week ago | politico.com | Declan Harty |Katy O'Donnell

Editor’s note: Morning Money is a free version of POLITICO Pro Financial Services morning newsletter, which is delivered to our subscribers each morning at 5:15 a.m. The POLITICO Pro platform combines the news you need with tools you can use to take action on the day’s biggest stories. Act on the news with POLITICO Pro. It was supposed to be a banner year for Wall Street’s deal-making machine. Then President Donald Trump’s trade war happened.

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Ari Hawkins |Nahal Toosi |Daniel Desrochers |Katy O'Donnell

It’s a sign that even as the administration tries to reassure financial markets, business leaders and fellow Republicans that they have an end game for the market-shaking duties, the White House is still very far from reaching any substantive trade deals with major foreign partners. Rapid progress will be even harder because now the administration is trying to negotiate bilateral deals with nearly 100 countries simultaneously to achieve a murky set of goals.

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Ari Hawkins |Nahal Toosi |Daniel Desrochers |Katy O'Donnell

President Donald Trump and his top trade officials say they are negotiating with trading partners to reduce the steep tariffs scheduled to go into effect on Wednesday. But many foreign governments who want to talk are still waiting by the phone. The Philippines is still waiting for a reply to its request for a meeting, according to one official from the country. The United Kingdom pitched the White House on a framework for a trade deal but failed to avoid the tariff increases.

3 weeks ago | politico.com | Katy O'Donnell

When President Donald Trump unveils his broad slate of new tariffs Wednesday, one industry that typically gets a sympathetic ear from the former real estate magnate is likely to feel especially vulnerable — homebuilding.