Nicole Lappin

You've heard me talk a few times on the pod about the theory that President Trump is using tariffs to put negative pressure on the economy so that the Fed lowers interest rates and the US can refinance its $36 trillion debt problem. And yes, lower rates would make that debt a lot cheaper to service.

But if the Fed slashes rates too aggressively, it can freak out bond investors who start to worry about the Fed panicking. That fear drives up the cost of borrowing longer term and can shake faith in America's credit worthiness, which is not a vibe. OK, last problemo, I promise. Lower interest rates also is bad news for savers.

But if the Fed slashes rates too aggressively, it can freak out bond investors who start to worry about the Fed panicking. That fear drives up the cost of borrowing longer term and can shake faith in America's credit worthiness, which is not a vibe. OK, last problemo, I promise. Lower interest rates also is bad news for savers.

But if the Fed slashes rates too aggressively, it can freak out bond investors who start to worry about the Fed panicking. That fear drives up the cost of borrowing longer term and can shake faith in America's credit worthiness, which is not a vibe. OK, last problemo, I promise. Lower interest rates also is bad news for savers.

Right now, we are finally seeing decent rates on high yield savings accounts averaging over 4 percent nationally. That is great news for retirees and anyone playing it safe. But if rates go down, so do those yields. And with inflation still above 3%, a 1% return on your savings account, remember those, can actually result in a net loss. That's what economists call a negative real return.

Right now, we are finally seeing decent rates on high yield savings accounts averaging over 4 percent nationally. That is great news for retirees and anyone playing it safe. But if rates go down, so do those yields. And with inflation still above 3%, a 1% return on your savings account, remember those, can actually result in a net loss. That's what economists call a negative real return.

Right now, we are finally seeing decent rates on high yield savings accounts averaging over 4 percent nationally. That is great news for retirees and anyone playing it safe. But if rates go down, so do those yields. And with inflation still above 3%, a 1% return on your savings account, remember those, can actually result in a net loss. That's what economists call a negative real return.

And what I call robbery. And worst of all, if inflation comes back, they'll have to hike rates yet again. It's kind of this yo-yo policy that is exactly what causes recessions. So yeah, bullying Jerome Powell into cutting interest rates might feel good in the moment, Mr. President. But let us not forget, rock bottom interest rates were never, ever normal. Low interest rates were a shot in the arm.

And what I call robbery. And worst of all, if inflation comes back, they'll have to hike rates yet again. It's kind of this yo-yo policy that is exactly what causes recessions. So yeah, bullying Jerome Powell into cutting interest rates might feel good in the moment, Mr. President. But let us not forget, rock bottom interest rates were never, ever normal. Low interest rates were a shot in the arm.

And what I call robbery. And worst of all, if inflation comes back, they'll have to hike rates yet again. It's kind of this yo-yo policy that is exactly what causes recessions. So yeah, bullying Jerome Powell into cutting interest rates might feel good in the moment, Mr. President. But let us not forget, rock bottom interest rates were never, ever normal. Low interest rates were a shot in the arm.

It was the drug the economy was on in the years after 2008. I remember those years. Well, we almost saw an apocalypse. Then we became junkies for these low interest rates. And then we went to rehab. And now we are itching for another fix. But rock bottom interest rates are not normal. They are extreme measures. You don't give a patient morphine just for funsies. It's not a party drug.

It was the drug the economy was on in the years after 2008. I remember those years. Well, we almost saw an apocalypse. Then we became junkies for these low interest rates. And then we went to rehab. And now we are itching for another fix. But rock bottom interest rates are not normal. They are extreme measures. You don't give a patient morphine just for funsies. It's not a party drug.

It was the drug the economy was on in the years after 2008. I remember those years. Well, we almost saw an apocalypse. Then we became junkies for these low interest rates. And then we went to rehab. And now we are itching for another fix. But rock bottom interest rates are not normal. They are extreme measures. You don't give a patient morphine just for funsies. It's not a party drug.

You do it because there's a serious problem. There's serious pain. Do we want to feel that pain just to get a little high? I don't think so. So stay in money rehab, Washington. Stay in money rehab. For today's tip, you can take straight to the bank. I'm budgeting a little extra cash to invest around the time the Fed meets next, which is May 6th and 7th.

You do it because there's a serious problem. There's serious pain. Do we want to feel that pain just to get a little high? I don't think so. So stay in money rehab, Washington. Stay in money rehab. For today's tip, you can take straight to the bank. I'm budgeting a little extra cash to invest around the time the Fed meets next, which is May 6th and 7th.

You do it because there's a serious problem. There's serious pain. Do we want to feel that pain just to get a little high? I don't think so. So stay in money rehab, Washington. Stay in money rehab. For today's tip, you can take straight to the bank. I'm budgeting a little extra cash to invest around the time the Fed meets next, which is May 6th and 7th.

That's the Fed's next opportunity to change the Fed rate or keep it the same. No matter what JPOW decides on, there will be an investment opportunity. If the Fed keeps the rate the same, the stock market will probably react poorly, which is a buying opportunity from my perspective.

That's the Fed's next opportunity to change the Fed rate or keep it the same. No matter what JPOW decides on, there will be an investment opportunity. If the Fed keeps the rate the same, the stock market will probably react poorly, which is a buying opportunity from my perspective.

That's the Fed's next opportunity to change the Fed rate or keep it the same. No matter what JPOW decides on, there will be an investment opportunity. If the Fed keeps the rate the same, the stock market will probably react poorly, which is a buying opportunity from my perspective.

Keeping a little cash on the sidelines for buying opportunities is also a powerful psychological trick to help you keep calm during market downturns. It helps reframe the whole thing of what could be seen as a negative or stressful moment into a positive one. Money Rehab is a production of Money News Network. I'm your host, Nicole Lappin. Money Rehab's executive producer is Morgan Levoy.