The Breakdown: How Can the Fed Help the Economy?

The Breakdown: How Can the Fed Help the Economy?

The Breakdown: How Can the Fed Help the Economy?

In a major speech last month, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke pledged to buy more longer-term securities if the economy continues to worsen. But will this benefit really trickle down to individuals?

Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky
Pocket
Email

In a major speech last month, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke pledged to buy more longer-term securities if the economy continues to worsen. But how exactly will that boost the economy? And will this benefit somehow trickle down to individuals? Nation DC Editor Chris Hayes and Washington Post economic writer Neil Irwin answer these questions and more on this week’s edition of The Breakdown.

The Breakdown In a major speech last month, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke pledged to buy more longer-term securities if the economy continues to worsen. But how exactly will that boost the economy? And will this benefit somehow trickle down to individuals? And given the fact that interest rates are already very low, what can the Fed do to stimulate the economy beyond further cutting these rates? The Nation‘s DC Editor Chris Hayes and Washington Post economic writer Neil Irwin answer these questions and more on this week’s edition of The Breakdown.

 

Related Links

The Washington Post‘s economics blog Political Economy.
Irwin on Bernanke’s speech.
The full text of Bernanke’s speech.

Subscribe to The Breakdown on iTunes to listen to fresh takes on the confusing concepts that make politics, economics and government tick. A new episode every week!

Time is running out to have your gift matched 

In this time of unrelenting, often unprecedented cruelty and lawlessness, I’m grateful for Nation readers like you. 

So many of you have taken to the streets, organized in your neighborhood and with your union, and showed up at the ballot box to vote for progressive candidates. You’re proving that it is possible—to paraphrase the legendary Patti Smith—to redeem the work of the fools running our government.

And as we head into 2026, I promise that The Nation will fight like never before for justice, humanity, and dignity in these United States. 

At a time when most news organizations are either cutting budgets or cozying up to Trump by bringing in right-wing propagandists, The Nation’s writers, editors, copy editors, fact-checkers, and illustrators confront head-on the administration’s deadly abuses of power, blatant corruption, and deconstruction of both government and civil society. 

We couldn’t do this crucial work without you.

Through the end of the year, a generous donor is matching all donations to The Nation’s independent journalism up to $75,000. But the end of the year is now only days away. 

Time is running out to have your gift doubled. Don’t wait—donate now to ensure that our newsroom has the full $150,000 to start the new year. 

Another world really is possible. Together, we can and will win it!

Love and Solidarity,

John Nichols 

Executive Editor, The Nation

Ad Policy
x