meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
FRONTLINE: Film Audio Track | PBS

The President vs. the Fed

FRONTLINE: Film Audio Track | PBS

FRONTLINE

Documentaries, Pbs, Tv & Film, Wgbh, Frontline

4.62.4K Ratings

🗓️ 27 May 2026

⏱️ 53 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

FRONTLINE examines President Donald Trump’s unprecedented attempts to assert control over the most powerful institution in the U.S. economy: the Federal Reserve.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Thanks for listening to the Frontline Audiocast, the enhanced audio version of our documentaries.

0:06.4

We also produce a podcast, The Frontline Dispatch, available wherever you get your podcasts. Jerome Powell's term as Fed chairman is set to expire.

0:31.8

Significant day for the central bank as it transitions to new leadership.

0:35.6

Correspondent James Jacoby traces the battle between Donald Trump and the central bank.

0:40.3

If I want him out, he'll be out of there real fast, believe me.

0:43.3

You think that this is all part of an effort by the president and this administration to get his hands on this powerful economic lever?

0:50.3

I think he's been very clear about that.

0:51.3

In a lot of ways, this is a consequential power struggle. I mean, these are two of the most influential policy makers in the world.

0:58.0

Economically, this is the most important bite of the second Trump administration.

1:02.0

Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats.

1:06.0

That's when you knew the fight was on. I mean, the real fight was on.

1:09.0

This agency feels it is not under any obligation to be accountable.

1:13.6

It's not just a struggle between President Trump and Chair Powell.

1:17.6

It's a struggle over the future design of the federal government.

1:21.6

Now on Frontline, the President versus the Fed.

1:25.6

President Donald Trump, the President versus the Fed.

1:33.9

President Donald Trump add-ons for months with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell,

1:38.5

who revealed on Sunday he's under criminal investigation by Trump's Justice Department.

1:42.4

Colby Smith is a New York Times reporter covering the Federal Reserve.

1:47.6

It's Sunday night and all of a sudden there's a video posted on the Fed's website with a message from Powell.

1:49.0

Good evening.

1:50.0

On Friday, the Department of Justice served the Federal Reserve with grand jury

...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 17 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from FRONTLINE, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of FRONTLINE and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.