Recapping Powell’s Turbulent Legacy & Fans Go Crazy Over Swatch Collab

May 15, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

This Morning Brew Daily episode reviews Jerome Powell's eight-year stint as Federal Reserve chair amid his transition out of the role, spotlights hype around a surprise luxury watch collaboration, highlights tobacco companies' regulatory gains on vaping, and covers Honda's unprecedented operating loss, alongside lighter news like NFL schedule releases.

Powell's Fed Legacy and Leadership Shift

Jerome Powell's tenure as Fed chair, ending after eight years, navigated major shocks including COVID-19, high inflation, Russia's Ukraine invasion, and Middle East tensions. He earned praise for aggressive pandemic stimulus that stabilized markets—Trump once called him his "most improved player"—and for achieving a soft landing by curbing inflation from 9% peaks while preserving jobs, defying recession forecasts. Critics point to his "transitory inflation" misjudgment in 2022, when supply chain issues proved stickier, leading to 40-year inflation highs still above target. Rapid rate hikes, the fastest in four decades, triggered a banking mini-crisis, exemplified by Silicon Valley Bank's collapse from low-yield bonds on balance sheets.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:57) **NFL Schedule Release Hype** - Hosts recap viral team videos turning schedule drops into social media events
2 (02:38) **Jerome Powell's Fed Tenure Ends** - Recapping eight turbulent years navigating COVID, inflation, wars, and Trump pressure
3 (03:23) **Powell's COVID Response & Inflation Stumbles** - Detailed praise and critique on stabilizing markets vs. slow inflation reaction
4 (06:35) **Powell's Defense of Fed Independence** - Stood firm against Trump via public video amid investigation threats
5 (07:28) **Kevin Warsh Takes Over as Fed Chair** - Slimmest confirmation (54-45); concerns over yielding to Trump rate cuts
6 (08:32) **AP x Swatch Watch Collab Frenzy** - Luxury Audemars Piguet partners budget Swatch on $400 Royal Pop pocket watch
7 (12:09) **Stock of the Week: Tobacco Industry** - FDA chief resignation unlocks flavored vapes after Trump pressure and donations

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

#846: Kevin Warsh confirmed as the next Fed Chair as Jerome Powell looks back on a tumultuous tenure. Swatch and Audemars Piguet collaborate on a Royal Pop collection that has fans waiting in long lines outside. The tobacco industry scores a win as the FDA clears the way for them to make flavored vapes. Honda posts its first-ever annual loss after a pullback from EVs. Finally, what the heck is Instagram’s ‘Instants’?

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