Michael Stratford

Washington, D.C.

Economic Policy Reporter at POLITICO

Economic policy reporter @Politico. [email protected]. DM for Signal.

Articles

Wall Street executives warn of economic turbulence

1 week ago | politico.com | Michael Stratford |Victoria Guida

The chief executives of some of Wall Street’s top firms are warning about the precarious state of the U.S. economy as President Donald Trump’s trade war roils financial markets and sparks inflation fears among consumers. “Uncertainty and anxiety about the future of the markets and the economy are dominating each and every client conversation,” BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said Friday on an earnings call for his company, the world’s largest asset manager.
Bessent’s Art of the Deal: Treasury chief at center of global trade showdown

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Michael Stratford |Daniel Desrochers

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has won out as a leading voice within the White House on President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy. Now he has to deliver on trade deals. The former hedge fund manager will take a lead role in negotiating agreements with upwards of 75 governments to stave off economy-roiling tariffs, most of which are on pause for three months. His boss, President Donald Trump, will be breathing down his neck.
‘90 days is going to be too short’: Bessent faces perilous path on trade talks

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Michael Stratford |Daniel Desrochers

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has won out as a leading voice within the White House on President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy. Now he has to deliver on trade deals. The former hedge fund manager will take a lead role in negotiating agreements with upwards of 75 governments to stave off economy-roiling tariffs, most of which are on pause for three months. His boss, President Donald Trump, will be breathing down his neck.
Democrats take aim at Trump’s latest tariffs - Live Updates - POLITICO

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Jordain Carney |Mia McCarthy |Kyle Cheney |Jennifer Scholtes |Ali Bianco |Ben Leonard | +6 more

After finding success in a Tuesday disapproval vote, a new resolution could come to the floor later this month.
White House pushes lawmakers to embrace Trump tariffs as markets tank - Live Updates - POLITICO

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Meredith Lee |Mia McCarthy |Kyle Cheney |Jennifer Scholtes |Jordain Carney |Ali Bianco | +6 more

Talking points sent to Capitol Hill tout how Trump is “revolutionizing global trade.”
Treasury defangs anti-money-laundering law

1 month ago | politico.com | Michael Stratford

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.
Wall Street hoped Scott Bessent would keep Trump in check. He had other ideas.

1 month ago | politico.com | Sam Sutton |Michael Stratford

The Treasury secretary’s muted reassurances to financial markets shows there may be no one in the administration willing to stand in the way of Trump’s agenda. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was expected by some on Wall Street to play a moderating force in the administration. But he's emerged as a proponent of President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policy that's roiling financial markets.
Growing backlash to merging bank regulators

1 month ago | politico.com | Michael Stratford

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. Community bankers and state banking supervisors are pushing back on the idea of consolidating or merging the federal agencies that regulate banks.
‘Who's going to be in charge here?’ Democrats press Trump's CFPB pick

1 month ago | msn.com | Katy O'Donnell |Michael Stratford

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‘Who's going to be in charge here?’ Democrats press Trump's CFPB pick

1 month ago | politico.com | Katy O'Donnell |Michael Stratford

“It seems to me the timing of that announcement is designed to embarrass you and to show exactly who is in charge of the agency right now — Elon Musk and his little band of hackers,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the panel, told McKernan. Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) also questioned how much authority McKernan would have.