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Hello there.
Hundreds of investing and finance newsletters hit my (and maybe your) inbox every week. This is the best of the best of policy from the past week. Every Wednesday, we’ll wrap up finance, and every Friday, we’ll take on tech.
This week, we’ve got…
📏 Powell Said, “Maybe…Kinda…Sorta” for September
⚡️ The Policy Pulse
🦁 Best to Let Sleeping Lawsuits Lie
₿ The Coin Toss
😆 Meme of the Week
🏛 Political Portfolio Spotlight: Rep. Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R-NJ)
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📏 Powell Gives an Inch, and Markets Run With It
The market heard “rate cuts” and immediately popped champagne. Powell, on the other hand, barely raised an eyebrow. His Jackson Hole speech was the monetary policy equivalent of a shrug. He hinted that cuts might be on the table, but only if the data plays nice. Still, that was enough to send the market flying. Nvidia, Meta, and Amazon all rallied, even as Powell warned that tariffs could still reignite inflation.
Not everyone at the Fed is ready to party. Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid threw cold water on the September cut hype, saying inflation is still too sticky and the “last mile” is the hardest. Meanwhile, the labor market is flashing mixed signals. Wage growth for job switchers has fallen below that of job stayers, a rare reversal that usually only shows up during recessions. Workers are clinging to their jobs, and long-term unemployment is quietly ticking up.
Back in Washington, President Trump is still publicly pressuring the Fed to slash rates and threatening to fire Governor Lisa Cook over mortgage fraud allegations. If he succeeds, he could stack the Fed board with loyalists and tilt policy in his favor, testing how independent the Fed really is. Investors banking on a smooth, data-driven path to lower rates might want to hedge that bet.
⚡️ The Policy Pulse
China backed India against US tariffs, with its ambassador pledging to defend the WTO system after the US imposed duties of up to 50% on Indian exports.
President Trump capped EU tariffs at 15% on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumber after earlier threats of 250%.
French winemakers warned of tariff fallout, saying new US duties could devastate exports. The wine and spirits sector was left out of the latest EU trade deal.
Gold prices dipped as traders pulled back on rate-cut bets in anticipation of Jackson Hole, ultimately betting on a stronger dollar.
The FBI raided John Bolton’s home and office as part of a national security probe into leaked classified documents.
Iran held urgent talks with Europe to avoid UN sanctions “snapback” before the August 31 deadline.
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🦁 Supplements, Substantiations, and Suits. Oh My!
The supplement industry is trying to pull off the regulatory heist of the decade. Xlear, a Utah-based company that sells xylitol-infused gum and nasal spray, is doubling down on a 2021 lawsuit against the FTC to kill the agency’s long-standing requirement that health claims be backed by actual evidence. If they win, it could open the floodgates for a $70 billion industry in which venture capitalists can say whatever they want, which used to apply only to the AI industry (jokes, jokes).
VCs when they have to respond to an email during their 2 month European vacation
— #VCs Congratulating Themselves 👏👏👏 (#@VCBrags)
4:27 PM • Aug 18, 2025
The lawsuit comes as the Trump administration scales back enforcement across the board. The FTC has lost a quarter of its advertising staff, and the DOJ has shifted lawyers away from consumer protection. Meanwhile, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is stacking the deck with allies who want to gut FDA and FTC oversight.
A victory for Xlear might start a bull run for companies in the supplement and alternative health space. If the FTC loses, expect a wave of new product launches, aggressive marketing, and possibly even IPOs from companies no longer shackled by substantiation rules. But if the courts reverse course later, the fallout could be brutal. High risk, high reward.
₿ The Coin Toss
Bitcoin surged off key support after Powell hinted at rate cuts, triggering $375 million in liquidations. ETH led gains with a 16% rally to a new ATH of $4,953.
DOJ signals shift in crypto enforcement policy with official stating "merely writing code, without ill intent, is not a crime".
Pennsylvania bill could jail officials who hold crypto after 90 days in office, with violations carrying potential $50,000 fines and prison time for lawmakers.
CFTC opened public comment on digital asset rules, launching the next phase of its “Crypto Sprint” to address leveraged trading
Coinbase tightened hiring rules after North Korean hackers exploited its remote work policy.
😆 Meme of the Week
make sure you're positioned accordingly, anon
— #Mike Dudas (#@mdudas)
12:46 PM • Aug 25, 2025
🏛 Political Portfolio Spotlight
Elected officials have had a tremendous amount of success in the market recently.
I want to keep you updated on what they’re trading and when—so you can leverage that intel as you plan out your own portfolio.
Analysis provided by quiverquant.com.
Remember to always DYOR.
Rep. Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R-NJ)
💲 Top Trades This Week:
[BUY] Check Point Software (CHKP)
[BUY] Abbott Laboratories (ABT)
[SELL] Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
[SELL] Stryker Corp. (SYK)
[SELL] Adobe Inc. (ADBE)
🔍 Analysis:
Kean reported 5 trades on August 20th, with ticket sizes ranging $1,001–$50,000. He made low- to mid-five-figure trims in Johnson & Johnson and Stryker Corporation and a smaller sale of Adobe, while adding Check Point Software and Abbott Laboratories. The pattern reads as a measured rotation out of medtech and big pharma and into cybersecurity and diversified healthcare cash flows, balancing risk as late-summer earnings and rate uncertainty play out.
🎙 Tell Us Your Thoughts
⭐️ What did you think of today's edition?
That’s all for today. Write us and let us know your thoughts on the market, the newsletter, or the weather—we’d just love to hear from you.
Till next time,
— Brandon and Blake with Invested Inc.
Disclosures
The information provided in Finance Wrapped is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice, investment advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Finance Wrapped is not a registered investment advisor, broker-dealer, or licensed financial planner. Always do your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. We may hold positions in or receive compensation from the companies or products mentioned. Disclosures will be made where applicable.