In this thought-provoking segment of the Weekly Mortgage Update, industry veterans unpack the growing disconnect between market narratives and actual Fed messaging. With headlines misrepresenting measured commentary from Fed officials like Christopher Waller, and markets showing surprising restraint despite escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the conversation turns toward media responsibility, central bank transparency, and the implications for mortgage professionals. The discussion spans everything from the limits of the FOMC’s influence to the potential role of AI in financial modeling—and even touches on the BIS’s quiet coordination among central banks. With over 250 years of combined mortgage experience among the panelists, this roundtable delivers a grounded, informed take on today’s economic fog.