WSJ's Take On the Week

Why This Ex-Trump Economist Says the Fed Needs to Raise Interest Rates

WSJ's Take On the Week

Show Notes

In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Telis Demos is joined by Heard on the Street editor Aaron Back to discuss the economy, inflation, and the appointment of the new Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh. They are joined by Joe Lavorgna, Americas chief economist at SMBC and a former counselor to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Lavorgna argues that the Fed has an inflation problem that is so entrenched that it calls for a hike. Lavorgna breaks down how massive fiscal stimulus and the recent supply shock from the Iran War and the Strait of Hormuz closure have pushed inflation higher, making a disinflationary boom unlikely. He addresses the question of whether AI-induced productivity will be disinflationary, and how we’ll know. This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ’s investing and wealth management reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at [email protected]. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com. Further ReadingTrump Picked Warsh for Fed Chair to Cut Rates. Markets Are Bracing for the Opposite. The Fed Keeps Getting Hit With New Shocks in Its Yearslong Inflation Fight For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.

More from WSJ's Take On the Week

Oct 18, 2026

It’s election season again, and affordability is on the ballot for voters. High gas prices, energy costs and persistent inflation continue to squeeze households—what does that mean for the upcoming midterm elections and the stock market?

Oct 11, 2026

Interest rates are up, and high-yield savings accounts are back— so why is so much of your cash still under-earning? In this episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried explore why it’s time to rethink where your money sits and treat cash as a true asset class.

Oct 4, 2026

In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Miriam Gottfried and Heard on the Street columnist Jonathan Weil break down why U.S. Treasury yields hit their highest levels since 2002, and how the delay of highly anticipated IPOs from AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic could reshape the market. Next, they analyze whether these postponements are solely driven by AI safety concerns or if they signal broader weakness in the IPO market.

Sep 27, 2026

In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Miriam Gottfried is joined by guest co-host and WSJ markets reporter Sam Goldfarb to break down the unprecedented surge in the 10-year Treasury yield. Meghan Swiber, U.S. rates strategist at Bank of America, joins the show to discuss what influences these yields, and how a 5% yield affects everyday borrowing costs including mortgage rates, which are again topping 7%.

Sep 20, 2026

In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried break down the conversation around AI safety and development, and how markets have reacted. Plus, OpenAI is now expected to have its initial public offering next year instead of this year. Will Anthropic follow suit? They also analyze the Federal Reserve's recent unanimous decision to hike interest rates, the mechanical impact of 10-year Treasury yields crossing 5%, and how these macroeconomic shifts are reshaping the bond market.

See all episodes →