Congress may be heading out the door for its annual summer recess, but there is still plenty going on in Washington that could affect markets and portfolios. Host Mike Townsend dives into why the Federal Reserve remains the most important policy story for investors, including this week's decision to hold interest rates steady, the committee's cautious approach to inflation, and new Chair Kevin Warsh's plan for a major overhaul of how the Fed operates. He also discusses how the ever-evolving tariff regime is creating planning challenges for companies; how AI regulation and public resistance to data centers are emerging as key issues for this booming industry; the Bureau of Labor Statistics focus on ensuring the integrity of economic data; and efforts by Congress to avoid a pre-election government shutdown. Plus, Mike shares his outlook for the highly competitive midterm elections and why he thinks split control of Congress is the most likely outcome. 

WashingtonWise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/WashingtonWise.

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The policy analysis provided by the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned are not  suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decisions.

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Performance may be affected by risks associated with non-diversification, including investments in specific countries or sectors. Additional risks may also include, but are not limited to, investments in foreign securities, especially emerging markets, real estate investment trusts (REITs), fixed income, municipal securities including state specific municipal securities, small capitalization securities and commodities. Each individual investor should consider these risks carefully before investing in a particular security or strategy.

All names and market data shown are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

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