Free Republic

Yes, Congress is aware the national debt recently surpassed $22 trillion for the first time in U.S. history. No, members don’t think they’ll do anything to seriously address it anytime soon. “I don’t see anybody prioritizing it, and sadly folks often prioritize things when crisis hits. I don’t want a debt spiral crisis to hit,” said Rep. Rob Woodall, Georgia Republican. “I hear lots of conversations about how to spend a whole lot more.” With the spending process for 2019 now wrapped up, lawmakers are turning their attention to exactly how they plan to avoid $126 billion in cuts set...

Financial markets are beginning to believe the Federal Reserve. That's the simplest explanation for the tumble that major stock indexes took on Tuesday, which saw the 10-year Treasury yield rise to a four-month high and the U.S. dollar index hit its highest level in seven months. While the U.S. central bank's key overnight lending rate is barely above zero and policymakers have repeatedly reined in their intentions for further hikes, markets have taken each Fed pronouncement with a grain of salt. Whether investors doubted the Fed's resolve or its economic forecast, markets have been pricing in an even lower-rate future...

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped more than 150 points before holding about 115 points lower, with Goldman Sachs contributing the most losses. The index briefly broke below the 18,000 mark and hit its lowest level since July 7. The S&P 500 fell 0.6 percent after sliding more than 1 percent earlier in the session, with financials shedding more than 1.5 percent to lead decliners. The Nasdaq composite underperformed, falling 0.8 percent. At session lows, the three major indexes traded more than 1 percent lower at session lows.

The last time the Fed hiked was in December of last year. Even though it was well-telegraphed, it still led to two months of heightened market volatility that saw the S&P 500 tumble 13 percent before recovering. If the minutes reveal a divided Fed that might try to accelerate the course of rate hikes in the year ahead, that likely would move markets.

The Federal Reserve is raising expectations for an interest rate rise this year, even as early as next month, after two policymakers on Tuesday said the economic stars now appear to be aligning despite weak U.S. economic growth in the first half of 2016. New York Fed President William Dudley said "it's possible" to raise rates at the Sept. 20-21 policy meeting given evidence of wage gains and a tighter labor market that could boost inflation, while Dennis Lockhart of the Atlanta Fed said a hike next month is in play. The comments, which prompted investors to boost bets on...