Remembering
James Robison

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The Brew: Time’s Up for the Fed? Bessent Calls for Sweeping Investigation

By Gayle McQueary Published on July 22, 2025

Is it time to put the Federal Reserve under a microscope?

Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for a comprehensive review of the Federal Reserve’s overall function, extending beyond the current controversy over its $2.5 billion building renovation cost overruns in Washington. On CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Bessent questioned whether the Fed has succeeded in its mission, comparing its performance to the Federal Aviation Administration, which decided that DEI programs are more important than safety. He suggested that significant mistakes within the Fed would prompt a thorough investigation.

President Donald Trump has pressed the Fed to significantly lower its federal funds rate, currently at a target range of 4.25% to 4.50% with an effective rate of 4.33%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Bessent supports further rate cuts, arguing that inflation — reported currently to be between 2.6% and 3.1% — has been manageable despite tariff concerns. He also criticized the Fed’s mindset during this time of visible growth in America’s economy.

The comments come amid heightened tensions between the White House and the Fed, fueled by conflicting reports about Trump’s intentions to fire Chairman Jerome Powell, as we mentioned last week. But Trump told reporters this is “highly unlikely.” Bessent, a potential candidate to replace Powell, has been at the center of this controversy after The Wall Street Journal reported he advised Trump against firing Powell.

The Fed last cut rates in December 2024, reducing the target range from 4.50%-4.75%, but mortgage rates and Treasury yields rose afterward, reflecting market dynamics. The Fed has since maintained this range through its 2025 meetings (January, March, May, and June), with changes unlikely to happen at next week’s interest rate meeting. However, there is hope the Fed will cut rates in September, given the slowing of inflation and the success of deals for manufacturing in America.

Time will tell, but wouldn’t it be nice to see the kinds of gas and grocery prices we enjoyed during Trump’s first term again?

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a … Drone

Things are about to get sky-high in in southeastern Arizona. The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, already known for blazing trails, announced it will soon launch a groundbreaking drone pilot program to enhance surveillance of the U.S.-Mexico border. The program is part of an initiative aligning with an executive order from President Trump that seeks to advance the U.S.’s leadership in unmanned aerial systems for national security and defense.

Located in rugged terrain along the southern border spanning a whopping 6,200 square miles, Cochise County has long been recognized as a pioneer in leveraging technology for border enforcement under Sheriff Mark Dannels’s leadership. The department has already deployed high-resolution camera networks, sensor-integrated mobile units, and ground surveillance radar systems, earning praise from President Trump and Vice President JD Vance during high-profile visits.

“This program represents the next phase of smart border enforcement,” said Captain Tim Williams. “The southern border is a critical national security frontier, and … U.S.-built drones will enhance our ability to protect communities, address humanitarian concerns, and respond to evolving threats.”

The sheriff’s office will use the Draganfly Family of Drones, including long-endurance fixed-wing UAVs for extended surveillance, AI-enhanced quadcopters for rapid-response missions, and thermal-imaging drones for search-and-rescue and nighttime operations. These drones are designed to withstand harsh environments, and feature secure data architecture, making them ideal for mission-critical tasks.

Just wondering: how many reports of UFO sightings do you think the sheriff’s office will receive after the program launches?

Malcolm-Jamal Warner Passes Away

Malcom-Jamal Warner, the 54-year-old actor best known for playing Theodore “Theo” Huxtable on The Cosby Show in the late 1980s, reportedly drowned yesterday while vacationing with his family in Costa Rica. Warner’s official cause of death was asphyxia after he was caught by a high current in the water; he was discovered Sunday afternoon.

Warner leaves behind a wife, a daughter, and a legacy that shaped many young people from his time on television. The show broke new ground in its portrayal of black families in America: an intact family unit led by a doctor (Bill Cosby) and independent but supportive working mother (Claire, an attorney). Its strong emphasis on family values and positive relationships, including the strong father/son dynamic between Cosby and Warner, offered a more life-giving take than that offered in previous sitcoms such as Sanford and Son.

Prairie State Voter Roll Cleanup

Yesterday, the United States Department of Justice filed a statement of interest to join forces with Judicial Watch in a lawsuit to compel Illinois to clean up its voter rolls. The lawsuit, filed in March 2024, accuses the Illinois State Board of Elections of slacking on the duties imposed by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. With a hearing set for next week in federal district court, this case is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for ensuring fair elections nationwide.

The NVRA isn’t just bureaucratic fine print — it’s the law that keeps voter rolls from turning into a chaotic free-for-all. It requires states to actively remove the names of voters who’ve passed away or moved out of state, and it lays out a clear process for doing so: If someone doesn’t respond to an address-confirmation notice and skips voting in two consecutive federal elections, their registration gets the boot. The U.S. Supreme Court gave this rule a gold star in 2018, making it crystal clear that states have to keep their voter lists scrupulously tidy.

But Illinois? It’s been caught napping.

Judicial Watch’s lawsuit points out that 23 Illinois counties, home to nearly a million registered voters, managed to remove only 100 registrations over a two-year period. That’s like cleaning out a closet and tossing just one sock! Judicial Watch calls this number “absurdly small,” arguing it’s proof that these counties aren’t even trying to comply with federal law.

The Justice Department’s statement of interest is a big deal, signaling that this isn’t just Judicial Watch’s fight — it’s a federal priority. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division, didn’t hold back.

“It is critical to remove ineligible voters from the registration rolls so that elections are conducted fairly, accurately, and without fraud,” she said. “Under the NVRA, states have the responsibility to conduct a robust program of list maintenance. The Department of Justice will vigorously enforce those requirements to ensure compliance.”

The filing notes that the case raises “critical questions” about how the NVRA is enforced, putting Illinois on notice.

Will other states take note of the Justice Department’s interest in this case and help secure future elections? We sure hope so! After all, who wants a repeat of 2020?

Along The Stream…

Wanda Alger shares three ways you can strengthen your faith in God’s promises: revisit past prophetic messages, rebuild your conviction in the spiritual gifts, and record lessons for future generations.

Later today, Pastor Shane Idleman shares some salient thoughts about pop culture in “Doesn’t the Bible Say ‘Judge Not’? Chip & Joanna Think So.”

 

Gayle McQueary is The Stream’s social media specialist. She has a background in production and an opinion on most news headlines.