Connect with us

INTERNACIONAL

What Trump’s next pick to lead the Federal Reserve means for your wallet

Published

on


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

No institution has more influence over what Americans can afford than the Federal Reserve, one most people rarely follow but feel every month in their finances.

Advertisement

That influence isn’t always obvious. The Fed doesn’t decide what groceries or cars cost, but it does determine how expensive it is to borrow money to pay for them. And right now, borrowing is costly. High interest rates mean larger monthly payments on mortgages, car loans and credit cards, even if the sticker price of a home or vehicle hasn’t changed.

That makes the Fed’s leadership especially consequential. On Friday, President Donald Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to succeed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, a move that could alter how aggressively the central bank approaches interest rates.

TRUMP NOMINATES KEVIN WARSH TO SUCCEED JEROME POWELL AS FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR.

Advertisement

Kevin Warsh, former governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve, was tapped by President Donald Trump to lead the Fed. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Trump has blamed Powell for not cutting rates more aggressively, even as he has repeatedly described the economy as strong. Historically, rate cuts have usually been reserved for times of economic weakness, not growth.

That disagreement over rates has real-world consequences. For many Americans, the effects are most visible in the housing and auto markets, two of the biggest expenses for most families. You’re not paying more only because the home or car suddenly costs more. You’re paying more because the money to buy it does.

Advertisement

Those elevated borrowing costs are acting like a form of second inflation, pushing mortgages, car loans and credit card bills to levels that stretch household budgets thin. That’s why everyday life can still feel more expensive. Prices may not be climbing as quickly anymore, but the cost of paying for big purchases continues to rise.

THE PRICE OF BUILDING A HOME KEEPS CLIMBING — AND UNCERTAINTY ISN’T HELPING

New homes being built by CastleRock Communities in Kyle, Texas.

Mounting costs on builders ultimately get passed on to buyers, pricing many out of the market. (Matthew Busch/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Economists say affordability will not meaningfully improve until the Fed begins cutting rates and keeps them low long enough to ease pressure on long-term borrowing.

Advertisement

That backdrop has become a political liability for Trump, who campaigned on restoring affordability and easing household financial strain but now faces growing voter skepticism over whether those promises are materializing.

A recent Fox News poll underscores the stakes. When voters were asked what President Donald Trump’s top priorities should be, nearly four in 10 cited either the economy overall (19%) or prices (17%).

Affordability concerns are also giving Democrats an early edge in the generic congressional ballot, which asks voters which party they would support in their U.S. House race this November. While largely hypothetical at this stage, the question offers an early baseline for the coming election, according to Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who said the poll is an early read, not a forecast.

Advertisement

 «We ask about it at this point simply to get a sense of how short-term forces might play out in the general election,» Shaw said.

YEAR IN REVIEW: HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ECONOMIC AGENDA IS SHAPING UP SO FAR

President Donald Trump looks on at a crowd gathered at a rally addressing the nation's economy in Pennsylvania

President Donald Trump has begun a nationwide tour to address economic concerns. (Daniel Torok/Official White House Photo)

Democrats leaned heavily on affordability themes in state and local elections this fall, and it paid off.

Advertisement

In places like Virginia, New York and New Jersey, where voters have been squeezed by high housing costs and utility bills, Democratic candidates seized on Trump’s early economic moves, including his trade policy, to argue that his policies were worsening the affordability crisis rather than easing it.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani waves to supporters after being elected the next mayor of New York City.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani placed affordability at the center of his campaign to helm America’s largest city. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis/Getty Images)

They promised to rein in energy costs, expand affordable housing and protect middle-class wages, a message that resonated with voters and, analysts say, reflects a broader trend. In an economy where many still feel stretched thin, the party that speaks most directly to people’s pocketbooks often wins.

Advertisement

The Fed’s decision about rate cuts will shape the economy’s trajectory and how affordable life feels for millions of Americans in the new year.

federal reserve,economy,donald trump,white house

INTERNACIONAL

La Iglesia católica de Honduras pide una “paz desarmada” durante el Viacrucis en Tegucigalpa

Published

on


Una persona que representa a Jesús participa en el viacrucis de Semana Santa este viernes, en Tegucigalpa (Honduras). EFE/ Gustavo Amador

La Iglesia católica de Honduras ha realizado un enérgico llamado a la sociedad para recuperar el sentido espiritual de la Semana Santa y construir una nueva humanidad basada en una “paz desarmada y desarmante”. Durante la celebración del Viacrucis del Viernes Santo en Tegucigalpa, el arzobispo José Vicente Nácher enfatizó que la verdadera transformación no se logra por la fuerza ni por el poder, sino mediante la entrega y la donación, elementos centrales del mensaje cristiano, según datos de la agencia EFE.

“El Señor no se impone con la fuerza del poder, sino que redime a través de la entrega y la donación. Es esa nueva lógica, la lógica de Dios, que es más grande que la de los hombres en un mundo, desgraciadamente, en el que pareciera que las armas son la única voz posible”, afirmó Nácher ante una multitud marcada por la presencia femenina y las altas temperaturas, consignó EFE.

Advertisement

Durante el recorrido por las catorce estaciones, el prelado hondureño subrayó que la Iglesia seguirá proclamando que la paz auténtica solo se alcanza cuando se renuncia a la violencia y se respeta la dignidad de los más vulnerables. Nácher pidió a los fieles que se conviertan en “misioneros en el reino de Dios mediante nuestras oraciones y nuestro apoyo a los demás”, y rogó por “un corazón generoso” para que la solidaridad guíe las acciones de los creyentes.

Uno de los mensajes más contundentes del arzobispo, según EFE, estuvo dirigido a la defensa de los territorios indígenas y al respeto por la dignidad de los más desfavorecidos. Nácher exigió al Estado hondureño asumir su responsabilidad en la reparación de los daños ocasionados a comunidades despojadas de sus tierras, haciendo un llamado explícito a proteger los derechos humanos y a combatir la indiferencia.

TEGUCIGALPA (HONDURAS). Una persona simula la caída de Jesús durante el recorrido del viacrucis de Semana Santa este viernes, en Tegucigalpa (Honduras). EFE/ Gustavo Amador
TEGUCIGALPA (HONDURAS). Una persona simula la caída de Jesús durante el recorrido del viacrucis de Semana Santa este viernes, en Tegucigalpa (Honduras). EFE/ Gustavo Amador

“Pedimos perdón por la indiferencia ante el sufrimiento de quienes son manipulados por intereses ajenos al bien común”, expresó el religioso durante la ceremonia, y exhortó a la sociedad y a las autoridades a trabajar por una sociedad “más justa”.

El arzobispo también lamentó que los pobres “son descartados de los planes de los que tienen el poder” y exhortó a que el mensaje de Jesucristo llegue “a los oídos y el corazón de los gobernantes”, reiterando la urgencia de atender a los sectores excluidos y marginados.

Advertisement

En el inicio de la Semana Santa, la Iglesia católica hondureña hizo un llamado a la esperanza frente a los desafíos de la pobreza, la violencia y la migración. Recordó a los fieles que el mensaje de la cruz no representa una derrota, sino un “signo de victoria” y un motivo de solidaridad con los más marginados.

“En nuestra realidad hondureña, marcada por la pobreza, la migración, la desintegración familiar y la violencia, muchos sienten que la cruz es demasiado pesada. Sin embargo, Jesús nos enseña que no estamos solos, él camina con nosotros, toma sobre sí nuestras cargas y nos anima a mirar siempre adelante, a no perder la esperanza”, subrayó la Iglesia en su mensaje a la población.

TEGUCIGALPA (HONDURAS): Personas pasan frente a alfombras de aserrín durante las actividades de Semana Santa este viernes, en Tegucigalpa (Honduras). EFE/ Gustavo Amador
TEGUCIGALPA (HONDURAS): Personas pasan frente a alfombras de aserrín durante las actividades de Semana Santa este viernes, en Tegucigalpa (Honduras). EFE/ Gustavo Amador

El Viacrucis del Viernes Santo, celebrado en Tegucigalpa y replicado en las principales ciudades del país, reunió a miles de personas en un acto de fe y reflexión. Honduras, con una población de 10 millones de habitantes, se caracteriza por su mayoría católica, y la Semana Santa constituye una de las manifestaciones religiosas de mayor arraigo y participación en la vida social. En la capital, una de las alfombras más largas, elaborada por decenas de hombres y mujeres contratados por la Alcaldía, superó los 600 metros en la Avenida Cervantes, sirviendo de escenario para la procesión del Santo Entierro.

El llamado de la Iglesia católica de Honduras, recogido por la agencia EFE, invita a la sociedad a rechazar la violencia, defender la dignidad de los pueblos indígenas y mantener la esperanza, apelando a la fe como motor para una transformación profunda en el país. El mensaje busca recuperar el sentido espiritual de la Semana Santa, proponiendo una humanidad nueva, donde la paz, la justicia y la solidaridad prevalezcan sobre la fuerza y el poder.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

INTERNACIONAL

Cuba releases 2,000 prisoners amid Trump pressure, energy crisis

Published

on


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Cuba’s government released more than 2,000 prisoners as the island faces mounting economic pressure linked to U.S. sanctions and worsening fuel shortages.

Advertisement

The Cuban Embassy in Washington said authorities granted pardons to 2,010 inmates under provisions of the country’s constitution, citing factors such as good behavior, time already served and health conditions.

«This humanitarian and sovereign gesture was based on a careful analysis of the nature of the offenses committed by the inmates, their good conduct while in prison, [and] the fact that they had served a significant portion of their sentences,» the embassy said in a statement posted on X.

RUSSIA SHIPS FUEL TO CUBA USING ‘SPOOFING’ TACTIC CHALLENGING TRUMP EMBARGO: REPORTS

Advertisement

Inmates celebrate as they walk free from La Lima prison in Havana on April 3, 2026, after Cuba announced it would pardon 2,010 prisoners amid mounting U.S. pressure. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)

Officials said those released include young people, women, older adults, as well as foreign nationals and Cuban citizens who live abroad but were imprisoned on the island.

The government said it excluded prisoners convicted of serious crimes, including murder, sexual assault, violent robbery, drug offenses and corruption of minors, as well as repeat offenders.

Advertisement

CUBA’S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL GRID COLLAPSES, LEAVING WHOLE ISLAND WITHOUT POWER

The move marks the second prisoner release this year and comes during Holy Week, which Cuban officials described as a customary period for such actions.

The release comes as Cuba grapples with a deepening economic and energy crisis driven in part by a renewed pressure campaign from the Trump administration aimed at cutting off the island’s access to foreign oil. The restrictions have contributed to widespread fuel shortages, blackouts and growing unrest across the country.

Advertisement

WATCH: Cuban power blackout sparks protests as Trump hints at US intervention

President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on any country that sends oil to Cuba and has pressured nations such as Mexico to halt shipments as part of a broader effort to squeeze the island’s energy supply.

The U.S. also allowed a tanker to deliver fuel to Cuba earlier this week after months of severe shortages, with the White House framing the move as a humanitarian exception rather than a shift in policy.

Advertisement

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Recently released Cuban prisoner hugging a woman outside prison gate in Havana

A man embraces a loved one after being released from La Lima prison in Havana on April 3, 2026, as Cuba began freeing more than 2,000 inmates. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump has also escalated his rhetoric, recently saying «Cuba’s next» while discussing U.S. actions abroad, though he later sought to downplay the remark.

The deepening crisis has also sparked protests and clashes across the island.

Advertisement

Cuba has been under communist rule since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution, and is now led by President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who succeeded Raúl Castro in 2018.



cuba, world, donald trump, energy, foreign policy, geopolitics, sanctions

Advertisement
Continue Reading

INTERNACIONAL

Final charge dropped in yearslong Harris-era case against pro-life activist

Published

on


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A California judge on Wednesday cleared the final legal hurdle in the long-running prosecution of a pro-life activist who alleged in undercover videos that abortion providers were illegally profiting from fetal tissue.

Advertisement

«As promised, the final charge has been DISMISSED and the case completely expunged— —after a couple months’ administrative delay, and a truly bizarre last-minute ‘April Fool’s’ attempt by @PPFA and @NatAbortionFed to overturn the State’s agreement,» Center for Medical Progress founder David Daleiden tweeted on Wednesday, including a previous statement made on the reached settlement.

Daleiden, who alongside undercover journalist Sandra Merritt, faced 15 charges filed by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra in 2017. The charges stemmed from an investigation prompted by former California Attorney General Harris’ office, who left her position as state attorney general in January 2017 after being elected to the U.S. Senate.

APPEALS COURT HEARS MEDICAID FRAUD CASE THAT COULD COST PLANNED PARENTHOOD $1.8 BILLION

Advertisement

David Daleiden, a defendant in an indictment stemming from a secret investigation of his undercover videos of Planned Parenthood, stands in a Houston courtroom, Feb. 4, 2016. (David J. Phillip / Ap)

In January 2025, Daleiden and Merritt each pleaded no contest to one felony count under a settlement with California, which dismissed the remaining charges. Under the agreement, they faced no jail time, fines, or admissions of wrongdoing.

On Wednesday, San Francisco County Judge Brian Ferrall dropped the last charge against Daleiden and expunged the case. 

Advertisement

In a statement made last year, Daleiden said that the end of «the lawfare launched by Kamala Harris [is] a huge victory for my investigative reporting for the public’s right to know the truth about Planned Parenthood’s sale of aborted baby body parts.»

NEWSOM BAILS OUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD WITH $140M TO KEEP 100 CLINICS OPEN AFTER TRUMP CUTS

Planned Parenthood gender identity

Planned Parenthood chapters in Texas worked with a national organization to create a guide which eliminates women from discussions on pregnancy.  (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

In January 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta cast the plea deal as a victory for reproductive healthcare access, saying in a press release that his office had secured felony convictions. Under the agreement, Daleiden and Merritt were required to have no contact with, stay away from, and not name the victims in the recordings, and to obey all laws, including by not making additional unlawful recordings.

Advertisement

DEMOCRATS ESCALATE ANTI-TRUMP LAWFARE BY TARGETING CONGRESS IN PLANNED PARENTHOOD FUNDING FIGHT

«While the Trump Administration is issuing pardons to individuals convicted of harming reproductive health clinics and providers, my office is securing criminal convictions to ensure that Californians can exercise their constitutional rights to reproductive healthcare,» Bonta said in a statement at the time. «We will not hesitate to continue taking action against those who threaten access to abortion care — whether by recording confidential conversations or other means.»

Daleiden released the videos in 2015 of Merritt having conversations with Planned Parenthood leadership and abortionist doctors, who described procedures ensuring fetal organs remain intact and can be harvested. 

Advertisement
Bob Bonta

State Attorney General Rob Bonta taking questions on Aug. 28, 2025.  (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

In response to the videos, Harris’ office opened an investigation into Daleiden and Merritt for violating the state’s recording law. In April 2016, California’s Department of Justice issued a search warrant and raided Daleiden’s Huntington Beach apartment, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Daleiden accused the raid of being politically motivated at the time. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Advertisement

The release of the videos pushed the Senate Judiciary Committee to call the Department of Justice to investigate Planned Parenthood Federation of America. No charges were ever brought against the nation’s largest abortion provider.

Daleiden was sued by Planned Parenthood for damages and was ordered in 2019 to pay $2.4 million in damages and more than $13 million in attorney’s fees.

Fox News Digital reached out to Planned Parenthood, Harris, Daleiden, and the National Abortion Federation for comment.

Advertisement

abortion, kamala harris, california, trials

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Tendencias