
Pulte Sees No Scenario Where Trump Isn't in Control of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte said he cannot envision a situation where President Donald Trump relinquishes control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, emphasizing there is a need to keep implicit guarantees intact as the administration considers potential options for the two mortgage giants.
'I don't see any scenario where the president isn't in control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,' Pulte said during an interview with Bloomberg Television Thursday.
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CBS News
14 minutes ago
- CBS News
Congressman Dan Goldman says he confronted ICE agents arresting asylum seekers at routine hearings in NYC
New York Congressman Dan Goldman says he witnessed federal immigration agents with masks arresting asylum seekers at routine court appearances in New York City. The recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity came after the Trump administration increased arrest quotas, which has shaken the city's immigrant community and sparked protests over "expedited removals." Congressman Goldman confronts ICE agents in NYC Goldman said he confronted ICE agents last week in the lobby a building where immigration hearings are held and his office is located. It followed a night of chaotic protests over ICE tactics in New York City. "There were about a dozen plainclothes ICE agents, many who had masks ready to put on, waiting for immigrants coming out of their regularly-scheduled court appearances," Goldman said Sunday on CBS News New York's "The Point with Marcia Kramer." Rep. Dan Goldman's office released video it says shows the congressman confronting federal immigration agents waiting to arrest asylum seekers at routine court hearings in New York City. Rep. Dan Goldman's office The latest outcry over ICE started with the detainment of a Bronx public school student following an asylum hearing. Over 20 protesters were then arrested at a demonstration after several more people were detained at the federal immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan. "These are people seeking legal status here the right way," Goldman, who confronted agents at 290 Broadway, said. "None of these people are criminals, none of them are murderers or child rapists. None of that." The Democratic congressman said arresting unsuspecting asylum seekers trying to follow the law will have negative effects down the line. "It also creates really perverse incentives," he said. "So other people must react to this and say, well, if I go to court, I'm gonna get picked up and kicked out, so I'm not gonna go to court, and I'm gonna go further underground, and I'm not gonna pay taxes through my work visa, and I'm not gonna pay social security ... which creates more desperation." "Why are you wearing masks to hide your face?" Goldman said he asked the agents why they had masks and if they were told to ramp up arrests, but he said they did not respond. "I was a federal prosecutor for 10 years. I worked with ICE agents, I worked with law enforcement agents. I never saw any of them wear masks. This is brand new," he said, "and the question is, if everything is legitimate and proper, why are you wearing masks to hide your face?" The Department of Homeland Security has said the masks protect agents from doxing. To watch the full interview with Goldman, click here.


CBS News
20 minutes ago
- CBS News
Bessent defends tariff policy as retailers weigh price hikes: "Some are and some aren't"
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday defended the Trump administration's escalating tariff policies, saying that while some companies have already announced price hikes, he thinks others will choose not to. "Some are and some aren't," Bessent said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." He pointed to companies like Home Depot and Amazon who have indicated they will not pass on tariff costs to consumers, whereas others, such as Walmart and Best Buy, have signaled potential price increases. President Trump on Friday announced that the tariff on foreign steel will double from 25% to 50%, effective June 4, and accused Beijing of violating a recent trade agreement by withholding critical exports like rare earth minerals. "I made a FAST DEAL with China in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation, and I didn't want to see that happen. Because of this deal, everything quickly stabilized and China got back to business as usual," Mr. Trump wrote on Friday morning on his Truth Social app. He added, "The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!" Mr. Trump's announcement is the latest in the tariff standoff, coming nearly two months after Mr. Trump announced "Liberation Day" tariffs on the U.S.' trading partners, eventually hiking the levy on Chinese to 145%. China responded with a 125% tariff on U.S. goods. In May, the U.S. eased the tariff on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, including a 10% baseline levy plus a fentanyl-specific 20% levy. China agreed then to reduce its 125% tariff on American goods to 10%. Bessent on Sunday emphasized the White House's intention is not to "decouple" from China but to "de-risk,"and defended the new trade stance as essential to national and economic security. "What China is doing is holding back products essential for industrial supply chains in India and Europe," Bessent said. "That is not what a reliable partner does." Retailers, however, have sounded the alarm about the ripple effects of the ongoing U.S.-China trade standoff. Walmart, Best Buy, and Target have warned that high tariffs on imports from Asia could drive up prices for American consumers. Bessent addressed such warnings as speculative, highlighting companies who have opted not to raise prices. "I know what Home Depot and Amazon are saying," he said. "They're not raising prices. There's a wide aperture here. Different companies are doing different things. They are making decisions based on their customers, what they think they're able to pass along to their customers, what they want to do to keep their customers." Asked whether the administration has identified sectors where Americans will feel the impact most, Bessent pointed to easing food and energy prices, and insisted that overall inflation is falling. "Egg prices have collapsed," he said, crediting the administration's economic council and trade policies. Although egg prices have come down from the highest levels earlier this year, the Consumer Price Index showed in May that egg prices are still 49% higher than they were in May 2024. Despite industry concerns, Bessent argued Sunday that companies often offer worst-case scenarios on earnings calls to shield themselves from legal risk. "They have to give the worst case," he said. "Because if they haven't, and something bad happens, then they'll be sued."
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
3 accused of using $600K in stolen SNAP benefits to buy bulk amounts of candy, energy drinks in Ohio
Three people are facing charges after a nearly year-long investigation into the use of card skimmers to steal $600,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits across Ohio, according to a spokesperson with the Ohio Department of Public Safety. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Columbus residents Ionut Bizga, 33, Doina Bacelan, 32, and Juan Hernandez, 26, were each indicted in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in May for a 'pattern of corrupt activity and food stamp fraud.' TRENDING STORIES: Person rescued after reportedly falling off cliff while running from deputies, sergeant says 9-year-old girl seriously injured after being hit by a car in Dayton Police investigating after man shot in the arm in Dayton The investigation began in August 2024 after the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) received a complaint that stolen SNAP benefits were being used for fraudulent Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) transactions at Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale stores in Columbus, the spokesperson said. The OIU conducted surveillance at these shops and identified three suspects who appeared to be using stolen benefits to buy merchandise. In October, investigators tracked the suspects to an apartment at The Gardens in Columbus, according to the spokesperson. Agents linked the suspects to the fraudulent EBT purchases by using several surveillance techniques and store video. These purchases totaled at least $600,000. According to the spokesperson, the suspects allegedly bought bulk amounts of candy and energy drinks with the stolen benefits, which totaled around $3,000 each visit. The candy and drinks were kept in storage units across Columbus and then shipped out of state in box trucks. They were often sold to a local distributor. The spokesperson said investigators saw the three suspects and several other unidentified individuals installing credit card skimmers at stores in Ohio and Kentucky. The OIU worked with the Ohio State Highway Patrol St. Clairsville Post to conduct a felony traffic stop of Bizga's car on Interstate 70 on May 14, 2025. Bizga and Bacelan were inside the car and arrested for outstanding warrants from Franklin County, the spokesperson said. OIU agents interviewed the suspects with the help of a U.S. Secret Service translator. After obtaining a search warrant for the car, investigators found over $62,000 in cash, several gold coins, gold jewelry, four cell phones, suspected cloned credit cards and records inside. On May 15, agents executed search warrants at five storage units, three cars and one house throughout Franklin County. The following items were seized at the listed locations: 32 cases of energy drinks at Public Storage on Morse Road 232 cases of energy drinks and 205 cases of candy at A+ Storage on East Livingston Avenue 125 cases of candy and seven cases of energy drinks inside a Kia Sedona Two laptops, six credit card skimmers, a credit card terminal, and 18 suspected cloned gift cards inside a Volkswagen Jetta Various records and criminal tools inside a Honda Odyssey Two laptops, two cell phones, 36 suspected cloned gift or credit cards, and a magnetic card reader/writer to create cloned EBT inside a home in the 3500 block of McCallum Club The spokesperson said they are working to identify additional suspects who have pending charges. EBT recipients are encouraged to keep their benefits safe by keeping all card numbers and PINs private, using the ConnectEBT app, and reporting any suspicious transactions to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]