Federal Employees

Business

Old Second Bancorp Greenlights $43.9M Buyback, Fueling Valuation Debate After Strong Quarter

Following Federal Reserve clearance and robust Q4 results, Old Second Bancorp's board authorizes a significant share repurchase program. The move amplifies discussions on whether the regional bank's stock, despite steady gains, remains undervalued or if risks in its concentrated Illinois market are being overlooked.

Feb 2, 2026

Trump Nominates Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to Helm Central Bank Amid Probe into Current Chair Powell

Former President Donald Trump has announced Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve governor and economic advisor, as his pick to lead the central bank. The nomination comes as incumbent Chair Jerome Powell faces a federal investigation related to his congressional testimony.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Trump's Fed Pick Sparks Metals Meltdown: Gold, Silver Tumble as Hawkish Outlook Strengthens Dollar

Precious metals extended their sharp decline following President Trump's nomination for the next Federal Reserve chair, a move markets interpret as locking in higher interest rates and boosting the U.S. dollar's appeal.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Released but Not Resolved: A Father and Son's Uncertain Future After Immigration Detention

A Minnesota judge has freed five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father from federal custody, but their asylum case—and a heated national debate over immigration enforcement—rages on.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Warsh's Fed Balance Sheet Ambition Faces Daunting Market Realities

Nominee Kevin Warsh's desire to aggressively shrink the Federal Reserve's multi-trillion dollar holdings collides with a financial system now structurally dependent on ample liquidity, making rapid contraction a high-risk endeavor, analysts say.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Capgemini Sells U.S. Government Arm, Citing Regulatory Hurdles and Strategic Misalignment

French IT giant Capgemini initiates the sale of its U.S. federal subsidiary, Capgemini Government Solutions, attributing the move to restrictive oversight rules for classified contracts and a desire for strategic focus.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

SEC and CFTC Forge Unified Front with 'Project Crypto' to Streamline Digital Asset Oversight

In a landmark move to end regulatory ambiguity, the SEC and CFTC have formally merged their 'Project Crypto' into a single rulebook. The joint initiative aims to harmonize federal oversight of crypto markets, drawing clearer lines between securities and commodities as legislative efforts advance in Congress.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Vanishing Numbers: How America's Fraying Economic Data Infrastructure Threatens Jobs and Stability

A quiet crisis is eroding the foundation of U.S. economic decision-making. As key federal data agencies face budget cuts, political pressure, and operational challenges, the resulting information gap could leave policymakers and businesses 'flying blind,' increasing the risks of policy missteps, deeper recessions, and prolonged unemployment.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Portland Mayor Demands ICE Departure Following Use of Tear Gas on Protesters, Including Children

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has called for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to leave the city, condemning federal agents' deployment of tear gas and other crowd-control munitions against a weekend protest he described as peaceful.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Teenage Brothers Trade Classrooms for Frontline ICE Watch in Minneapolis

Sam and Ben Luhmann, homeschooled teenagers from Chicago, have become full-time documentarians of federal immigration operations in Minneapolis, joining a growing wave of citizen observers amid heightened tensions and controversial enforcement tactics.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Shutdown Showdown: Speaker Johnson Navigates ICE Debate and Funding Impasse

With a partial government shutdown underway, House Speaker Mike Johnson confronts a dual crisis: securing passage of a federal funding package and mediating an intensifying political battle over the scope and tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bitcoin's Fate Hinges on U.S. Labor Data and MicroStrategy Earnings This Week

As Bitcoin grapples with volatility below $80,000, a packed U.S. economic calendar—featuring key jobs reports and MicroStrategy's Q4 earnings—is poised to dictate the cryptocurrency's near-term trajectory by shaping Federal Reserve policy expectations.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bank of America Navigates Legal Storm and Digital Future Amid Epstein Lawsuit and Stablecoin Policy Talks

As a federal judge advances a lawsuit tying Bank of America to Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking network, the financial giant simultaneously positions itself at the forefront of stablecoin regulation discussions with Coinbase and the White House, creating a complex risk-and-opportunity landscape for investors.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Utah Banker Who Built a Wall: Marriner Eccles and the Battle for Fed Independence

As political pressure on the Federal Reserve intensifies, the legacy of Marriner Eccles—the Utah banker who architected its modern independence—offers a crucial lesson. A BYU expert explains why shielding monetary policy from politics remains vital for economic stability.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Judge Orders Release of Five-Year-Old Detained by ICE, Condemns 'Cruel' Pursuit of Deportation Quotas

A five-year-old boy and his father have been released from immigration detention after a federal judge sharply criticized ICE's tactics, accusing the agency of a 'perfidious lust for unbridled power' in a case that has ignited national outrage.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Minnesota Boy, 5, Returns Home After ICE Detention Sparks Legal and Political Firestorm

A five-year-old boy and his father are back in Minnesota following their release from a Texas immigration detention facility, a case a federal judge called the result of an 'ill-conceived' pursuit of deportation quotas that traumatizes children.

Feb 2, 2026

World

DOJ Official Signals End of Road for New Epstein Charges Despite Document Flood

A senior Justice Department official has indicated that the recent massive release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents is unlikely to lead to new federal prosecutions, stating that the trove of 'horrible photographs' and emails does not itself constitute prosecutable evidence, even as the revelations trigger political fallout abroad.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Judicial Conduct Complaint Dismissed in High-Profile Clash Over Trump-Era Deportations

A federal appeals court has thrown out a Justice Department misconduct complaint against a judge who blocked deportations to El Salvador's notorious prisons, citing a lack of evidence. The ruling highlights ongoing tensions between the judiciary and executive branch over immigration enforcement.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Judge Orders Release of 5-Year-Old and Father from ICE Custody Amid Heated Asylum Dispute

A federal judge has ordered the release of a five-year-old boy and his father from immigration detention, sparking a public clash between Trump administration officials and Democratic lawmakers over the family's asylum status and the treatment of migrant children.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Markets Reel as Geopolitical Thaw and Fed Pick Reshape Landscape

Oil prices plunged and precious metals extended their historic sell-off as easing US-Iran tensions and President Trump's hawkish nominee for Federal Reserve Chair triggered a dramatic dollar rally, sending shockwaves through global markets.

Feb 2, 2026