Abby Phillip Presses Jennings: ‘Should the Fed Be Independent of the Whims of Any President of the United States?

EXCERPT:

PHILLIP: "I‘m going to step in here because I don‘t want us to change the subject. Okay? We are talking about the independence of the Fed. Do you agree or disagree that the Fed should be independent?"

JENNINGS: "I think the president should be able to render an opinion about monetary policy."

PHILLIP: "That, actually, is a — that is a yes-or-no — hold on, Shermichael."

JENNINGS: "Whether he should be able to fire him is an open question."

PHILLIP: "That is a yes-or-no question. Should the Fed be independent of the whims of any president of the United States?"

JENNINGS: "I think the president ought to be able to have opinions -- "

PHILLIP: "Why can't you say yes or no?"

SINGLETON: "Previous presidents — "

PHILLIP: "Shermichael, no. Hold on a second."

JENNINGS: "I think it‘s an open question whether they should be able to fire the head of the Fed. Some Republican senators don‘t agree."

PHILLIP: "So, Scott — "

JENNINGS: "But I just think the idea that the president should not have any opinion about monetary policy is crazy."