Author: herquetc1

Kevin Warsh nominated as next Federal Reserve Chair

Business

Hailey Whitlock, Staff Writer

The last few months in the economic sector have been fraught with tension as President Trump frequently criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell due to his disagreements pertaining to the rate of interest cuts. The chair, appointed by Trump himself, has faced increased scrutiny from the executive branch, making it evident that Powell’s term would not be renewed in 2026. As such, speculation began about who the president would nominate to lead the Federal Reserve when Powell’s term expires in May of 2026. 

On Jan. 30, 2026, President Trump announced his decision: Kevin Warsh. Warsh, who served on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors during Bush’s presidency, is no stranger to economic crises. During his previous term on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, Warsh served from 2006 to 2011, overlapping with the Great Recession of 2008. Under the leadership of chair 

Ben Bernanke, he, along with other key Federal Reserve officials, took on the daunting task of assisting in managing rates during a very challenging economic time for the country. 

In fact, due to his experience during the Great Recession, Warsh was a top contender for the role of the chair of the Federal Reserve during President Trump’s first term. Instead, the president chose Powell; per ABC News, he described Powell at the time of the 2017 appointment as a “consensus builder” who “understands what it takes for the economy to grow.” 

However, now Trump saves the praise for Warsh, posting on social media per AP News: “I have known Kevin for a long period of time, and have no doubt he will go down as one of the GREAT Fed Chairmen, maybe the best. On top of everything else, he is ‘central casting,’ and he will never let you down.” 

He is not the only one supportive of Warsh; as reported on the official White House webpage, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Chairman Tim Scott penned, “As a former Federal Reserve Governor, Kevin has deep knowledge of markets and monetary policy that will be essential in this role. Federal Reserve independence remains paramount, and I am confident Kevin will work to instill confidence and credibility in the Fed’s monetary policy.” 

Despite the praise, many wonder at the choice of Warsh; Warsh has been known to be a “hawk” when it comes to interest rates, preferring higher interest rates to slow inflation. This perspective, illustrated throughout his time on the Federal Reserve, is in direct contradiction to the preferred methods of the president calling into question why the president would pick a chair for the Federal Reserve who has proven himself to be so diametrically opposed to his preferred method. In recent years, Warsh has begun making statements more in line with cutting interest rates, as the president launched his search for the next Federal Reserve chair. Despite past evidence, Trump calmly stated that Warsh does want to cut interest rates. Analysts at Renaissance Macro Research put it simply: “Kevin Warsh has been a monetary policy hawk his entire career and most importantly during a time when the labor markets fell out of bed. His dovishness stems from convenience. The President risks getting duped.” This perspective holds that Warsh has changed his public view of interest rates to align with what the president is looking for, and will likely return to his views if selected. 

Yet to see if such a prediction is accurate, the nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. Senator Tillis, a member of the banking committee that is called to consider the nomination, has stated that he will oppose the nomination until a Justice Department investigation pertaining to Powell is resolved. It is speculated that the investigation has political motives and is a way for the president to attempt to pressure the chair into lowering rates. Per AP News, Tillis wrote that Warsh is a “qualified nominee,” yet emphasized that “protecting the independence of the Federal Reserve from political interference or legal intimidation is non-negotiable.” It is speculated that without Tillis’ support, the confirmation will not be passed. However, Trump responded by stating per ABC News, “If he doesn’t approve, we’ll just have to wait until somebody comes in who will approve it,” alluding to the end of Tillis’ term early next year. 

Record Snowfall Halts La Salle Operations for 48 Hours

News

Claire Herquet, Editor-in-Chief

PHILADELPHIA – A major snowstorm that buried Philadelphia last week forced La Salle University to shut down on‑campus operations on Jan. 26 and 27. NBC10 reported that “neighbors, mass transit providers, school districts and entire municipalities have been left to dig out and deal with the tons of accumulated snow.”

This was a record-breaking year for Philadelphia; according to 6ABC, the city recorded 9.1 inches of snow between Saturday and Sunday, surpassing the previous snowfall record of 8.5 inches during the winter of 2000.

In response to hazardous travel conditions and limited city services on Monday morning, La Salle University suspended all on‑campus operations on Monday and Tuesday, shifting classes and administrative functions to remote formats where possible. Essential personnel continued to report as scheduled, while non‑essential staff were instructed to work remotely.

The closure aligned with widespread disruptions across the region, as many Philadelphia‑area schools also announced shutdowns or virtual learning days due to the storm’s impact.

Some students were overjoyed to have a break from attending classes, especially our commuter population; however, others missed having the true hands-on guidance of in person classes and the ability to participate in extracurricular activities. Gia Lorenzo, ‘27, expressed her thoughts about the temporary switch, stating, “I honestly thought I would like being remote and it would’ve given me a break, but it threw my entire week off and I felt like I was back in the pandemic again. However, it was very needed for those who commute to school because the conditions outside were so dangerous.”

EmmaGrace McSorley, ‘27, echoed the sentiment, expressing, “I did not like how we held remote classes because it felt like I took a trip down memory lane to March 2020. It is harder for me to learn remotely compared to in person lectures. I am glad that our campus was closed for safety reasons, as I would not have wanted my professors and faculty to be risking their lives on the roads. But, I find that interacting in the classroom is more effective than asking students to turn on their cameras and mics while stuck at home.”

In a message to the entire La Salle community on the morning of Jan. 28, President Daniel J. Allen penned a message extending his gratitude to all campus personnel who endured the snowstorm and its implications for the sake of keeping our campus safe and in line to continue its operations. He shared, “I want to offer special thanks to our colleagues in Public Safety, Facilities, Dining Services, Athletics, and Residence Life. You showed up when conditions were challenging, when travel was difficult, and when staying home would have been the easier choice. This includes our student workers who stepped in to ensure certain buildings and services were open and available to serve their fellow students when professional staff could not get to campus. Your commitment ensured that students who remained on campus were safe, supported, and cared for.”

As temperatures are gradually rising and crews continue clearing Philadelphia’s roads and sidewalks, La Salle is expected to resume normal campus operations for the remainder of the spring semester. The storm served as a reminder of how quickly winter weather can disrupt life in Philadelphia – and how essential personnel coordinated cleanup efforts are for the city moving forward.