NewsNation Chief Washington Correspondent and The Hill on NewsNation moderator Blake Burman shares his political reporting and campaign viewpoints leading into the 2024 election.

I’ve said this repeatedly during “The Hill on NewsNation”: Jay Powell could ultimately be one of the most important people to watch in the upcoming presidential election. We heard from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve yesterday, who tamed expectations for an interest rate cut next month. However, as I write this, the market is currently pricing in a roughly 95% chance the Fed cuts interest rates in May. If that starts to happen, along with future cuts, how will that shape the electorate’s perception of the Biden economy, along with its own personal financial situation? The Fed will meet five times between now and Election Day: March 20, May 1, June 12, July 31 and September 18. “We don’t think about politics. We think about what’s the right thing to do for the economy,” Powell said late last year. However, Powell’s moves, one way or another, could loom large over the election. 

Question to consider: If rate cuts occur as we get closer to the November election, how do you think Donald Trump (or the Republican nominee) will respond in real time? 

The Battle for the Union Vote 

President Biden scored a win by picking up the endorsement of the United Auto Workers. Trump then trashed the UAW head, and met with leadership from the Teamsters Union in D.C. Today, President Biden will meet with UAW workers in Michigan, a state that will likely prove to be pivotal in November. Here’s how the union vote played out in 2020: 

Our panel broke down why Trump is making a play for the Teamsters vote. That union, by the way, has roughly 1.3 million members nationwide.  

Question to consider: if Trump is able to win the Teamsters’ endorsement, what do you think that graphic from above could look like for 2024? 

Great Scott? 

Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s former White House Chief of Staff and NewsNation contributor, is now saying Senator Tim Scott should be viewed as a serious contender to be Donald Trump’s potential VP nominee. That’s a change in tune from Mick.  

“Blake, the last couple of weeks I’ve been on the show talking about folks who might be on the vice presidential list. I always said that Tim Scott would be off the list, but his move last week to endorse Trump before the South Carolina primary really got my attention. As I mentioned before, I talked to Tim. He told me why he did that. But again, he had the perfect excuse to stay neutral in that race until after South Carolina. Nikki Haley, after all, literally gave him a Senate seat. So this is an affirmative move on his part. And I think you have to sort of put him back on the list again,” Mick told us.  

You can watch Mick’s full explanation here:  

Question to consider (one that Mick has noted): If/when Trump is the last Republican in the race, is he more likely to choose a running mate who might have presidential ambitions down the line, or someone who would simply be in it to serve alongside him and then move on (like Dick Cheney to President George W. Bush)? 

A New Libertarian Leader? 

Robert F. Kennedy said in our NewsNation Town Hall last year that he had no plan B. He was running as a Democrat. Well, we know how that ended up: He’s now campaigning as an independent. But could he eventually be on the top of the ticket for the Libertarian party? NewsNation Political Editor Chris Stirewalt explains why RFK Jr. might end up going that route. Simply put; it’s about ballot access. Chris breaks it down in full: 

Question to consider: Do you think this move is inevitable? If so, when? 

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The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.