Latest news with #conservatorship
Fast Company
27-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
The risk to the housing market if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conservatorship ends
Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert's ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac support the mortgage industry by buying mortgages from lenders and selling mortgage-backed securities to investors. They were placed into conservatorship by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) in September 2008 after suffering massive losses during the housing crash, threatening the stability of the U.S. financial system. The U.S. Treasury provided a bailout to keep them afloat, and they have remained under government control ever since—despite returning to profitability. While the U.S. Treasury owns the majority of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac profits through senior preferred stock agreements, the common and preferred shares that existed before conservatorship were never fully wiped out. Once Wall Street realized Donald Trump had won the 2024 election, the stocks of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac spiked as the market priced in higher odds that the second Trump administration would attempt to end that conservatorship. After all, one of Trump's biggest backers this cycle was Bill Ackman, a leading proponent of releasing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from conservatorship. The odds of conservatorship ending—or at the very least, an attempt to unwind it—increased this week after Trump posted on social media: 'I'm giving very serious consideration to bringing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public.' Then, on Thursday evening, Bill Pulte, the director of FHFA, tweeted out a podcast he did with Donald Trump Jr. centered on the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Those aren't the kind of public moves the administration would make unless it is seriously considering a push to end conservatorship or wants to further test financial market reaction to the idea. What would this do to mortgage rates? The reason housing stakeholders should pay attention is the long standing concern that ending conservatorship could put upward pressure on mortgage rates and more strain on housing affordability. Once released, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could need to hold more capital to absorb losses. To build and maintain that capital, they may need to increase guarantee fees charged to lenders. In addition, upon release, unless there's an 'explicit guarantee' or backstop from Congress, investors may demand higher returns to account for increased risk. Those concerns are real enough that back in February, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae wouldn't get released from conservatorship if doing so put upward pressure on mortgage rates/mortgage spreads. 'The priority for a Fannie and Freddie release, the most important metric that I'm looking at is any study or hint that mortgage rates would go up. Anything that is done around a safe and sound release [of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac] is going to hinge on the effect of long-term mortgage rates,' Bessent said in February. On Friday, Bessent reaffirmed in an interview with Bloomberg that the privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac hinges on mortgage rates, saying: 'It [privatization of Fannie and Freddie] is a goal for this administration. Again, we're doing peace deals, tax deals, and trade deals. As we land some of those deals then we will focus on that [privatization of Fannie and Freddie]. But what I can tell you is that we are doing a great deal of studying at Treasury because the one requirement for this privatization is that they are privatized in such a way that mortgage spreads do not widen.'
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Britney Spears' ex Sam Asghari surfaces with new girlfriend after pop star's police run-in over wild plane act
Britney Spears ' ex-husband Sam Asghari surfaced in Los Angeles with his new girlfriend on Saturday - two days after the singer's shocking act on a private jet sparked fresh fears for the singer's health and got the police involved. The pop icon, 43, who was freed from her conservatorship in 2021, was flying from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to LAX with her security on Thursday when she starting drinking, before lighting up a cigarette and smoking it, per TMZ. It was reported flight attendants were 'alarmed and ordered her to put out the cigarette' - with the singer complying. Spears was said to have acted in a 'difficult' manner during the flight and when the plane landed, she was met by authorities and 'warned about her conduct' - before being allowed to leave. A source later told People, 'This is not her first warning. She doesn't exactly follow the rules.' Now Asghari, who was with Spears from 2016 until 2023 and married to her for 14 months, has been glimpsed with his current flame, ex-cheerleader Brooke Irvine. He wore a clinging grey tank top that showed off his cloven-in-marble physique and rippling muscles, teamed with white trousers and a backwards baseball cap. Meanwhile Irvine, a real estate agent who went public with Asghari on New Year's Day 2025, flaunted her sculpted midriff in a white cutoff sweater. On Friday, Spears responded to the explosive scandal with a video of herself on the plane toasting the camera - accompanied by a bizarre caption in which she wrote that she 'thought officials greeted me as support and I was like WOW I feel special !!!' 'Me yesterday !!!' she wrote alongside the clip of her on the plane before insisting the fracas was 'actually incredibly funny' and launching into a rambling explanation. 'Some planes I've been on you can't smoke mostly but this one was different because the drink holders were on outside of seat !!! Confession it was my first time drinking VODKA!!! I swear I felt so SMART !!!' she exclaimed. 'I was like wow what the heck is in there !!! I felt so clear and smart !!! And said I want a cigarette so bad !!! My friend put it in my mouth and lit it up for me so I was like OH SO THIS IS A PLANE WHERE YOU CAN SMOKE !!!' she claimed. 'I do so apologize to anyone I offended but the flight attendants always make sure I'm way at the back of plane anyways !!!' She then sensationally wrote, possibly in jest: 'I thought officials greeted me as support and I was like WOW I feel special !!!' 'I do so apologize to anyone I offended but the flight attendants always make sure I'm way at the back of plane anyways !!!' she wrote Spears followed up the statement with one of her trademark Instagram dance videos - this time including footage of her swigging from a bottle Spears then joked: 'I've never been to an international airport !!! Am I famous or something ???' with some crying laughing emoji sprinkled in. 'The flight attendant called officials because I smoked a cigarette !!! And embarrass me which jeez I thought was kinda much but she didn't like me the moment I got on plane !!! Nobody was on the plane for first 20 minutes and she wouldn't let me get out of my seat I wanted to stand up !!!' Spears insisted. 'She acted so weird about making sure I sat down and it was weird !!! I didn't like the way she put the seatbelt on me and invaded my space !!! Oh well you guys like my flower choker ??? B tiny is coming soon and thats something we have added !!! It's honestly adorable !!!' Spears followed up the statement with one of her trademark Instagram dance videos - this time including footage of her swigging from a bottle. The clip was set to the classic Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee song Despacito, which was released in 2017 and famously remixed with Justin Bieber. After the airplane incident took place on Thursday, a spokesman for air carrier and private plane service JSX told in a statement: 'We have no comment regarding the alleged events described.' Smoking is strictly prohibited on all JSX flights, including private jets. LAX police confirmed to the publication they did not respond - and 'it appears someone from Customs may have issued the warning' to Spears. has contacted representatives for Britney Spears and LAX for further comment. Back in December 2024, Spears raised alarm bells when she was pictured bringing a grill lighter onto a private plane as she jetted off to celebrate her birthday. It is not known why Spears — who previously burnt down her home gym in 2020, after an accident with two candles — was holding the lighter but she even kept the device over her mouth as she spoke with members of her entourage. Single, standard lighters - such as cigarette lighters - are generally allowed on private jets in carry-on luggage. However torch lighters, or any other type with a large flame, such as the one carried by Spears, are usually not permitted onboard per TSA regulations. Spears previously revealed she burned off her eyebrows and eyelashes after attempting to turn on the fireplace in her bedroom earlier in 2024. Spears and Asghari married in 2022 after seven years together, but separated just over a year later in July 2023, before Asghari officially filed for divorce on August 16, 2023; seen in 2019 Spears' latest drama comes after ex Sam Asghari took a cruel swipe at their marriage, while praising his new relationship. He called their union 'Hollywood,' while also saying his four month long relationship with Brooke was 'all about love,' as the pair made their red carpet debut at the grand opening weekend of The Tryst hotel. 'It's all about love. That's what it is,' Asghari told Us Weekly on April 25, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. 'It's not about the industry, it's not about Hollywood,' he continued. 'It's about what really is the most important thing, and that's being present, being in the moment and supporting others that are doing this same thing.' Sam was with the I Did It Again singer from 2016 to 2023. Sam and Britney met on the set of her Slumber Party music video in October 2016 and the following month they sparked romance rumors with the personal trainer posted a photo (which he later deleted) on Instagram.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Britney Spears Given Warning After Lighting Cigarette on Flight — and It's Not the First Time (Exclusive Source)
Britney Spears' latest vacation ended on a sour note when the singer was reprimanded for her in-flight behavior. Multiple sources confirmed to PEOPLE that while traveling from Cabo San Lucas to Los Angeles with her security, the "Toxic" singer was drinking alcohol and lit a cigarette during the flight, which is a violation of federal aviation regulations. The move alarmed flight attendants on the charter plane, who insisted that Spears, 43, put out the cigarette — which she did. Regardless, authorities were contacted mid-flight. When the plane landed in LAX, Spears was met by authorities and warned about her in-flight conduct, and was then free to leave, PEOPLE has learned. "This is not her first warning," a source tells PEOPLE exclusively. "She doesn't exactly follow the rules." JSX, the public charter operator that Spears was aboard, has no comment regarding the incident, while a rep for Spears did not return a request for comment. TMZ was first to report the news. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Spears was under a conservatorship for 13 years following mental health concerns after a series of troubling incidents in the early 2000s. Her father Jamie served as the conservator of her estate. She successfully petitioned the court to terminate the conservatorship in November 2021. Since the conservatorship ended, Spears has released her best-selling memoir, The Woman in Me. In the tell-all book, she spoke about her childhood, her relationship with Justin Timberlake, dancing with a snake during the 2001 MTV VMAs and other anecdotes about her life in the spotlight. Ahead of Spears' book release, the singer exclusively told PEOPLE about moving on from the conservatorship that oversaw her life from 2008 to 2021. "Over the past 15 years or even at the start of my career, I sat back while people spoke about me and told my story for me,' she said about reclaiming her voice. 'After getting out of my conservatorship, I was finally free to tell my story without consequences from the people in charge of my life," Spears added. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Britney Spears Given Warning After Lighting Cigarette on Flight — and It's Not the First Time (Exclusive Source)
Britney Spears' latest vacation ended on a sour note when the singer was reprimanded for her in-flight behavior. Multiple sources confirmed to PEOPLE that while traveling from Cabo San Lucas to Los Angeles with her security, the "Toxic" singer was drinking alcohol and lit a cigarette during the flight, which is a violation of federal aviation regulations. The move alarmed flight attendants on the charter plane, who insisted that Spears, 43, put out the cigarette — which she did. Regardless, authorities were contacted mid-flight. When the plane landed in LAX, Spears was met by authorities and warned about her in-flight conduct, and was then free to leave, PEOPLE has learned. "This is not her first warning," a source tells PEOPLE exclusively. "She doesn't exactly follow the rules." JSX, the public charter operator that Spears was aboard, has no comment regarding the incident, while a rep for Spears did not return a request for comment. TMZ was first to report the news. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Spears was under a conservatorship for 13 years following mental health concerns after a series of troubling incidents in the early 2000s. Her father Jamie served as the conservator of her estate. She successfully petitioned the court to terminate the conservatorship in November 2021. Since the conservatorship ended, Spears has released her best-selling memoir, The Woman in Me. In the tell-all book, she spoke about her childhood, her relationship with Justin Timberlake, dancing with a snake during the 2001 MTV VMAs and other anecdotes about her life in the spotlight. Ahead of Spears' book release, the singer exclusively told PEOPLE about moving on from the conservatorship that oversaw her life from 2008 to 2021. "Over the past 15 years or even at the start of my career, I sat back while people spoke about me and told my story for me,' she said about reclaiming her voice. 'After getting out of my conservatorship, I was finally free to tell my story without consequences from the people in charge of my life," Spears added. Read the original article on People
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Britney Spears recalls Colin Farrell memory as she twirls in negligee
Britney Spears twirled in a see-through negligee in her latest social media dance video. The 43-year-old singer appeared to be enjoying some mimosas as she recalled a memorable evening with actor Colin Farrell. 'Last time I wore an actual nightgown out was a La Perla nightgown at a premiere with Colin Farrell,' she wrote, adding: 'I wonder why conservatorship had me wear three layers of tights for 20 years hmmm ???' But Britney got one of the details wrong. When she attended the The Recruit premiere with Colin, now 48, in 2003, she actually wore a cream-toned pajama top, rather than a nightgown. In her 2023 memoir, The Woman In Me, Britney wrote: 'In the course of our fun time together, [Colin] took me to the premiere of a spy thriller he was in called The Recruit with Al Pacino.' Regarding her outfit, the Lucky singer said: 'I wore a pajama top. 'I thought it was a real shirt because it had miniature studs on it but I see the photos and I think, "Yeah, I definitely wore a full-blown pajama top to Colin Farrell's premiere."' The two stars were in the midst of a passionate but brief fling at the time. Explaining their ardor, the Billboard Music Award winner revealed: 'Brawl is the only word for it — we were all over each other, grappling so passionately it was like we were in a street fight.' Britney was under a court-ordered conservatorship for 13 years before being released in November 2021. She alleged her estranged father Jamie Spears, 72, would constantly call her 'fat' and kept her on a strict diet of 'chicken and canned vegetables' for almost two years. Regarding why she incorporates her hair into her wild online videos she explained that in her memoir as well. 'As performers, we girls have our hair,' she explained. 'That's the real thing guys want to see. They love to see the long hair move. They want you to thrash it. If your hair's moving, they can believe you're having a good time.' 'In the most demoralizing moments of my Las Vegas residency, I wore tight wigs, and I'd dance in a way where I wouldn't move a hair on my head,' she said, explaining why she was rebelling. 'Everyone who was making money off me wanted me to move my hair, and I knew it -so I did everything but that.'
