The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a point when it meets tomorrow the first time it has cut rates in about a year.

But the meeting has also been described by those who watch the Fed as the strangest and most unprecedented meeting in many years.

And that's due to the changing membership of the board and because of the heavy political fire from President Trump as he seeks more control over the Fed.

His newest appointment to the Fed Board of Governors is Stephen Myron, who was sworn in just in time for the meeting today after being confirmed quickly last night by the Senate.

And the board member the president is trying to fire Lisa Cook remains in

her seat after a federal appeals court ruled against Mr. Trump last night. For a closer look,

we are joined now by David Wessel, director of the Hutchin Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy

at the Brookings Institution. It's always great to have you here at the desk. So we are not inside

that meeting, obviously, David, but let's talk about the dynamics. There's really nothing to have you here at the desk. So we are not inside that meeting, obviously, David.

But let's talk about the dynamics.

There's really nothing to compare this to in recent decades, right?

I mean, not even Nixon's pressure campaign on the Fed.

No, absolutely not.

This is really, I think we're wearing out the word unprecedented in this Trump administration.

But as you say, there's a governor who was sworn in just less than an hour before the meeting began,

and a governor who is there only because the appeals court ruled in her favor at the last moment.

So it is unusual. I'd love to be in. Some of these FOMC meetings, the federal marketing meeting, are probably boring.

This is one I would like to have seen.

Like, Stephen Myron has said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that I may not be the

smartest guy in the room, but I think I'm the most annoying guy in the room.

So I wonder whether he's keeping his mouth shut or speaking up.

And as you mentioned, Lisa Cook's future isn't settled yet. The president has indicated he's keeping his mouth shut or speaking up.

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