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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) warned on Monday that the Department of Justice's criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell better be "real" and "serious" to avoid undermining the independence of the central bank and rattling the world's financial markets.

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Good statement from Sen. Murkowski, who threatens to investigate DOJ

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-- Catherine Rampell (@crampell.bsky.social) Jan 12, 2026 at 11:15 AM

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More from the article ...

... "I haven't seen the case or whatever the allegations or charges are, but I'd say they better be real and they better be serious," Thune told reporters on his way to the Senate floor Monday.

The Senate GOP leader expressed his views in more detail later Monday when he said the independence of the Fed needs to be respected.

"It needs to be resolved quickly because the Fed's role and the Fed's independence in shaping monetary policy in the country is something we need to ensure proceeds without political interference," Thune said.

Thune offered stronger pushback on the Justice Department's investigation of Powell than Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who earlier on Monday defended the Justice Department's impartiality and said he wanted to see how its investigation would unfold.

"No, the Justice Department is not being weaponized," Johnson told reporters on Monday. "It was for four years under Biden-Harris so that is what everybody expects." ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-13 12:06 AM | Reply

imo...

Senate Ldr Thune's comment - a surprise. Signs of growing a backbone?

House Ldr Johnson's comment - just more of the usual obsequious bowing to Pres Trump's whims.



#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-13 12:10 AM | Reply

Thune is the most unaware person in Washington. Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins are giving him a run for his money though.

#3 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-01-13 07:42 AM | Reply

"No, the Justice Department is not being weaponized," Johnson told reporters

God boy is just a straight up liar.

#4 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-01-13 07:43 AM | Reply

Thune didn't get his leadership in the GOP's Senate caucus by being straight up about or with Trump.

#5 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-01-13 09:02 AM | Reply

A DOJ investigation of Chairman Powell over cost overruns for a government building?

OOPS! They'd better ask Trump about his ever increasing budgets to replace the East Wing he destroyed without asking anyone.

#6 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-01-13 09:09 AM | Reply

"but I'd say they better be real and they better be serious"

Of course it's serious.
He's holding the American economy hostage!
--Republicans

#7 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-13 09:14 AM | Reply

Fat chance. Anyone who has followed the timeline of this issue knows EXACTLY what this is.

#8 | Posted by fresno500 at 2026-01-13 12:47 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

independence of the central bank

whups there's your problem right there

#9 | Posted by john_savage1 at 2026-01-13 05:27 PM | Reply

What's up with the Federal Reserve? It's not federal, and doesn't have any reserves!
[seinfeldmeme.jpg]

#10 | Posted by john_savage1 at 2026-01-13 05:30 PM | Reply

What's up with this continued nonsense?

[seinfeldmeme.jpg]*

#10 | Posted by john_savage1 at 2026-01-13 05:30 PM

Learn how to do.

Or don't do it.

Your ridiculous [randomfilename.jpg] is meaningless.

You're welcome.

* There are, no doubt, 1,000s of Seinfeld memes.

To which one are you referring, Einstein?

#11 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-01-13 05:35 PM | Reply

hahahA

#12 | Posted by john_savage1 at 2026-01-13 05:51 PM | Reply

#12 I'm not too sure anyone knows what Seinfeld meme is "hahahA".

Care to elaborate, "John"?

#13 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-01-13 05:54 PM | Reply

YOU! YOU BROKE MY KEYBOARD!!

#14 | Posted by john_savage1 at 2026-01-13 06:06 PM | Reply

I REMEMBER NOW! I WAS LAUGHING REAL HARD AT UR POST AND SPIT UP ON IT.

#15 | Posted by john_savage1 at 2026-01-13 06:07 PM | Reply

#14 | #15 We work with the materials we have at our disposal.

#16 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-01-13 06:09 PM | Reply

independence of the central bank
whups there's your problem right there
#9 | Posted by john_savage1

Yeah, let's think this one through.
Here's a list of wealthy countries where the President sets the interest rate:
1.
2.
3.

Now here's a list of all the other countries where the President sets the interest rate:
1.
2.
3.

As a practical matter, you have to be Statist and a Communist to want the President to control the interest rate.
Like, controlling the interest rate is the single biggest lever we have to speed up or slow down the means of production.
I guess Republicans just have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about here, do they?
This is a madman's Centrally Planned Capitalism and it's the opposite of what Capitalism requires.

#17 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-13 06:16 PM | Reply

It's the Tiny Visibly Orange Hand of the Market!

#18 | Posted by Corky at 2026-01-13 06:17 PM | Reply

That hand flipped off an automotive heckler today in Dearborn, Michigan.

Trump is falling apart.

#19 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-01-13 06:21 PM | Reply

Bruised Hand Of The Market, Controlled By A Dementia Patient.

Trump is literally a dementia patient.

It would be nice if Republicans could acknowledge that fact.
Now sure, you can say, there's no public statement from the White House about this.
But there is no other medical regimen which would require weekly MRIs.
The drug can cause bleeds so that's what they're checking for.
And the drug is administered in a way that precisely matches Trump's bruised hands.

There is no other explanation. This isn't even as maybe-there's-two-sides-to-it as "did that woman really try to run over that cop."

#20 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-13 06:23 PM | Reply

Creamsicle Caligula is being treated for dementia. I'm thinking tertiary syphilis.

#21 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-01-13 06:24 PM | Reply

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