当地时间1月11日，美国联邦储备委员会主席鲍威尔回应刑事指控威胁，称此指控为"借口"，核心原因 是美联储没有迎合总统偏好设定利率。 对美联储主席鲍威尔发起刑事调查的是哥伦比亚特区检察官珍妮娜·皮罗。她本人其实是总统特朗普的 长期盟友。 一方面是要借此向鲍威尔施加最大化的压力，迫使他在剩余任期更加配合特朗普政府降息的要求，实现 特朗普政府在中期选举之前所谓"稳定通胀"的政治诉求。 另外一方面可能也是为5月之前特朗普提名自己的"亲信"来接任美联储主席制造足够的舆论氛围，从而 也好削弱鲍威尔及其支持者对后续提名的影响力。总体上还是借助司法手段来实现政治目的和政党私利 的操作。 这对包括美联储在内的独立机构原本应该保持的独立性造成了极大影响，也导致这些机构未来会比较明 显地失去相关市场或者社会的公信力，甚至也会导致相关机构彻底无法有效履行正常职责。 这种做法如果未来成为美国的政治惯例，甚至会直接殃及美国政治生态，威胁全球金融秩序的稳定。 来源：环球资讯广播 据知情官员透露，美国哥伦比亚特区联邦检察官办公室已对美国联邦储备委员会主席鲍威尔展开刑事调 查，调查内容涉及美联储对其华盛顿总部大楼的翻修工程，以及鲍威尔是否就该 ...

Core Points - The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) publicly rejected a proposal from the Trump administration that required universities to sign agreements with specific terms in exchange for priority access to federal funding [1] - MIT's president, Sally Kornbluth, stated that the proposed agreement included values and principles that the institution does not agree with, such as limiting freedom of speech and institutional independence [1] - The agreement's premise fundamentally contradicts MIT's core beliefs, emphasizing that scientific funding should be based solely on research value [1] Summary by Sections MIT's Rejection of the Proposal - MIT is the first university to reject the Trump administration's "sign agreement for funding" proposal [1] - The proposal was sent to nine universities, including the University of Arizona, Brown University, Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Southern California [1] Specific Terms of the Proposal - The agreement included specific terms such as limiting the enrollment of international undergraduate students, freezing tuition for five years, prohibiting consideration of race and gender in hiring and admissions, and banning any actions that "disparage" conservative views [1] Responses from Other Universities - The Trump administration requested these universities to respond by October 20 [1] - The mayor and city council of Tucson, where the University of Arizona is located, opposed the university signing the agreement, while the leadership of the University of Virginia found certain terms of the agreement "extremely unacceptable" [1] Broader Context of Government Actions - Since Trump's return to the White House in January, the U.S. government has threatened to investigate dozens of universities on charges of "anti-Semitism" and has threatened to cut or reduce federal funding [2] - Some universities, like Columbia University, have reached settlement agreements with the Trump administration, while others, such as Harvard University, have chosen to continue legal battles [2]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the erosion of trust in U.S. economic data due to actions taken by the Trump administration, including the dismissal of key officials and the undermining of independent statistical agencies [1][2][3]. Group 1: Impact on Economic Data - The U.S. Department of Labor's employment data, crucial for assessing the economy's health, was reported to be significantly weaker than expected, leading to President Trump's dismissal of the Labor Statistics Bureau chief [1]. - Trump's appointment of a loyalist to the Labor Statistics Bureau raises concerns about the independence and quality of economic data, as the new appointee has previously suggested halting employment data releases [2]. - The government's budget cuts have led to the disappearance of hundreds of data sets and over 8,000 government web pages, which are essential for public policy and economic analysis [3]. Group 2: Alternative Data Sources - Some institutional investors have begun using alternative data, such as satellite imagery, to gain insights into economic performance, indicating a shift in how market participants assess economic conditions [4]. - The reliance on alternative data raises concerns about market fairness, as access to such data is often limited to wealthier investors, creating disparities in information availability [4]. - While advancements in technology are making alternative data more accessible, it is still years away from fully replacing traditional economic data collection methods [4].

Group 1 - Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers expressed concern over unprecedented political pressure and personal attacks against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, warning that anyone who cares about the independence of U.S. institutions should be alarmed [1] - President Trump escalated his attacks on Cook, signing a document to remove her from the Federal Reserve Board, citing alleged dishonesty and potential criminal behavior, which raises questions about her credibility as a financial regulator [1][2] - Summers highlighted the increasing tension between the White House and the Federal Reserve, noting Trump's repeated calls for interest rate cuts, which exacerbates conflicts with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell [1] Group 2 - Trump intensified pressure on Cook following allegations of mortgage fraud, demanding her resignation and threatening termination if she did not comply, while Cook firmly denied the accusations and stated she would not be bullied [2] - Summers warned that if such pressure tactics become normalized in U.S. politics, it could lead to a gradual erosion of market frameworks and potentially result in what he termed "Argentinization," characterized by economic turmoil due to populist policies and political interference [2] - Summers has been a vocal critic of Trump's policies, previously condemning the recently passed "Big and Beautiful Act" for potentially leading to another financial crisis due to increased debt obligations [3] Group 3 - Summers expressed confidence in Jerome Powell's integrity, asserting that Powell's decisions are based on conviction rather than political pressure [4] - Summers, a prominent figure in economics, has held significant positions including Treasury Secretary under President Clinton and President of Harvard University, and currently serves as an honorary president of Harvard [4]

Core Viewpoint - The appointment of EJ Antoni, a conservative economist and critic of official economic data, as the new head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) raises concerns about the political independence and credibility of BLS data [1][7]. Group 1: Appointment and Background - EJ Antoni has been nominated by President Trump and is known for his strong conservative views, having been a senior advisor during Trump's first term [2]. - Antoni's appointment requires Senate confirmation, and he is backed by influential figures like Steve Bannon, who believes Antoni is the perfect choice for the role [2]. Group 2: Recent Events and Implications - The dismissal of former BLS head Erika McEntarfer followed a disappointing employment report, which showed an average job growth of only 35,000 over the past three months and significant downward revisions to previous data [3][4]. - Trump's claims that the employment data was manipulated for political purposes have sparked significant controversy, with experts expressing concerns about the integrity of BLS [4]. Group 3: Potential Reforms and Challenges - Antoni plans to conduct a comprehensive review of BLS's data collection and processing methods, aiming to increase transparency [6]. - The Trump administration has proposed broader reforms that would place BLS under the Department of Commerce, potentially leading to budget cuts and staffing reductions, which could exacerbate existing financial challenges [6]. Group 4: Importance of BLS Data - BLS is crucial for informing various business and policy decisions, including wage standards and social security adjustments, and its independence is now under unprecedented scrutiny due to the political nature of the new appointment [7].

Group 1 - The Ukrainian Security Service conducted large-scale searches of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, accusing some employees of having ties to Russia [1][3] - The Anti-Corruption Bureau stated that the searches were conducted without court approval and have effectively paralyzed the agency [1][3] - G7 ambassadors and the EU representative in Ukraine expressed serious concerns regarding the investigation into the Anti-Corruption Bureau, emphasizing the importance of supporting independent institutions and good governance [3] Group 2 - The Security Service arrested an Anti-Corruption Bureau official on charges of espionage for Russia and another official with alleged business ties to Russia [3] - The Anti-Corruption Bureau reported that at least 15 of its staff members were subjected to around 70 searches, with force used during one of the searches despite no resistance [3] - The G7 and EU representatives highlighted the significant progress Ukraine has made in reforms, stressing the importance of maintaining these achievements for continued support against adversaries [3]