Will Trump’s Fed nominee do the president's bidding?

Here & Now Anytime

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4.1 • 953 Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2026

⏱️ 19 minutes

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Summary

Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh is arguing the Federal Reserve should stay independent on interest rates and step back from roles that go beyond its core mission. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams details the heightened political pressure on the central bank and what Warsh’s hearing has entailed.

Then, Apple CEO Tim Cook will step down from his role in September, and John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, will take his place. Technology writer and podcaster Kara Swisher explains more.

And, a newly discovered fossil from 250 million years ago offers proof that our mammal ancestors laid eggs. Paleobiologist Caroline Abbott shares more about the discovery.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	WBUR Podcasts, Boston.
0:05.7	It's still a pretty independent organization, but it's not despite what the president wants.
0:12.7	Kevin Warsh says he's not going to be Trump's sock puppet if he's confirmed as chair of the Federal Reserve.
0:28.9	Yeah. if he's confirmed as chair of the Federal Reserve. It's Tuesday, April 21st, and this is here and now anytime from NPR and WBUR.
0:34.4	I'm Chris Bentley.
0:39.0	Today on the show, a big shake-up at Apple, as long-time CEO Tim Cook announces he
0:45.8	will step down. What does it mean for the company and for the placement of this show
0:50.3	in the Apple podcast rankings? All right, well, we'll answer at least one of those questions in a few minutes.
0:56.2	Also, a 250 million-year-old surprise in our ancient family tree.
1:02.8	This thing that I've held in my hand might have been the first direct evidence of an egg.
1:07.7	How about that, huh?
1:09.5	But first, if you want to be the Fed chair, first you've got to sit in the hot seat.
1:15.5	At a hearing of the Senate Banking Committee, that is, President Trump's pick to run the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, had his confirmation hearing today.
1:24.2	To the president, to the Congress, the nation, I owe my best judgment and my
1:30.6	most faithful efforts in serving the mission that you in Congress assigned to the Federal Reserve,
1:37.3	including full employment and stable prices. Warsh told senators that he would keep the Fed independent
1:43.5	despite political pressure from the White House.
1:47.4	Kimberly Adams was watching the hearing. She's senior Washington correspondent for Marketplace, and she spoke to Scott Tong.
1:53.9	I mean, there's so much pressure. The president is very openly saying anywhere people will listen to him talk about the Fed, that he wants the Fed to be
2:01.6	lowering interest rates. And current Chair J. Powell has been very firm in saying that he will not
2:06.5	allow the president to influence his decision and the decisions of the Federal Open Market
2:10.8	Committee more broadly. But at the same time, the White House and the DOJ has launched an investigation
	...

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