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Fed Up With The Noise

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Source: Tenor

If you thought that the geopolitical and market headlines were going to quiet down in 2026, you must’ve forgotten it’s a mid-term election year. Trump’s weekend tweets put a lot of assets in motion, but don’t worry, we’ll break it all down below. 📝 

POLICY
Fed Chair Powell Targeted By DOJ 🎯 

The Trump Administration has wanted lower rates since before taking office, but is now looking to move from rhetoric to action. ⚔️ 

Sunday evening, in a video on the Federal Reserve website, YouTube channel, socials, etc., Chairman Jerome Powell issued a statement outlining that the Department of Justice (DOJ) was investigating him in relation to the $2.5 billion renovation of the central bank’s headquarters and his congressional testimony about it.

In the two-minute video, Powell stood firm and did not mince words when sharing what he felt was the real motivation behind this investigation. The three quotes below summarize it well, but you can watch the full video for yourselves.

• “The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President,”

• “This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions — or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation,”

• “In every case, I have carried out my duties without political fear or favor, focused solely on our mandate of price stability and maximum employment…Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. I will continue to do the job the Senate confirmed me to do, with integrity and a commitment to serving the American people.”

Takes from across the aisle, global officials, and marketplace participants flooded in today, with the consensus seeming to be that this is a slippery slope. Should the Fed be politicized and lose its independence, fears are that we could run the economy very hot and end up in a hyperinflationary environment. That’s likely why Gold, Silver, and other precious metals continued soaring. 🔥 

There are a lot of moving pieces, but it’s important to know that the FOMC has the power to pick its own chair, that Powell’s term doesn’t end until mid-May (and his term as a Fed Governor isn’t up until January 31, 2018), and that opinions across the government are still being shared. Whatever happens, it will not be quick nor easy.

For now, the market is interpreting this as Trump looking to run the economy hot by any means, including reducing interest rates and other fiscal measures. We’ll have to see how things play out in the coming days and weeks, as the stock market awaits more information and returns its focus to earnings season, which kicks off tomorrow with JPMorgan Chase. 💰️ 

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And with the public chasing headlines about the SpaceX IPO, insiders like Musk and Thiel are close to locking up the next wave of space profits.
However, this time, there’s a narrow opening to get in front of the billionaires.
Starfighters Space (NASDAQ: FJET) is a little-known U.S. space company using the world’s largest private fleet of F-104s to slash payload-to-orbit costs — and investors can get in now.
Starfighters has flown real missions, operates literally next door to SpaceX, and has worked with NASA, Lockheed Martin, GE Aerospace, and the U.S. Air Force.
While Reuters keeps retail investors focused on SpaceX, early capital is quietly positioning in $FJET.
This is the unfair phase before institutions arrive before the billionaires lock up the profits… before the early advantage door closes.

*3rd Party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Stocktwits. See disclosure here.

POLICY
Credit Card Rate Cap Could Kneecap These Stocks 💳️ 

Friday night after the bell, Trump kicked off the weekend by teasing a cap on credit card interest rates. He’s calling for companies to cap rates at 10% beginning on January 20th and maintain them for a year, or face consequences. ✂️ 

The news sent Capital One, American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and other consumer-lending-linked stocks down on the day. And many analysts speculate this is the first of many “stops” that the Trump Administration will try to pull out in 2026 ahead of the midterm elections to raise approval ratings. That’s why he’s very focused on affordability issues in housing, healthcare, energy, and other highly-visible areas. It all ties in to what’s happening with the Federal Reserve. 👆️ 

Source: Truth Social

In other consumer news, Walmart’s pivot to becoming a “tech-forward” retailer continues as the Nasdaq 100 index confirms it will replace Astrazeneca on January 20th. Additionally, Walmart partnered with Google to make it easier for shoppers to discover and buy items through Google’s AI assistant, Gemini. It also expanded its drone delivery service by partnering with Google-owned WING. 🛒 

Meanwhile, red-hot retail stocks fell despite pre-announcing strong holiday numbers. Abercrombie & Fitch fell 18%, American Eagle Outfitters dipped 4%, and Urban Outfitters shed 12% on disappointing guidance. 🏬 

POPS & DROPS
Top Stocktwits News Stories 🗞️ 

• Bitwise says the labor market is the fix for a “materially underpriced” Bitcoin

• Budget carriers Allegiant and Sun Country merge in $1.5B deal

• Dan Ives says Apple could have 35% upside amid Gemini tie-up

• Google partners with top retail chains for Gemini AI agent tool

• SpaceX could skip a traditional IPO in favor of a Tesla reverse merger

• Exxon Mobil falls after Trump threatens Venezuela exclusion

• Taiwan Semi jumps as US indicates it’s nearing a trade deal with Taiwan

• Pfizer outlines 2026 turnaround plan as stock lags healthcare sector

• Meta announces a new compute initiative and cuts to Reality Labs unit

Don’t miss a story! Follow @StocktwitsNews for a live feed in real time. ✍️ 

STOCKS
Alibaba Blasts Through Resistance 🤯 

Some analysts believe that emerging market stocks, particularly Chinese stocks, could outperform U.S. stocks again in 2026. Over the weekend, that thesis spread like wildfire over Twitter and Stocktwits, with many pointing to “diversified bet” Alibaba as the next big name to run. 🧐 

Well, with little news behind it, the stock was up 10% as the Stocktwits community flagged a clean breakout of its recent consolidation zone. Sentiment turned higher into “extremely bullish” territory, as investors and traders put it on their radars for the days and weeks ahead. 🧭 

Source: TradingView

STOCKTWITS VIDEO
ICYMI: Exclusive Executive Interviews From CES 👀

Michele Steele and our team were on the ground in Vegas at CES 2026, getting the latest scoop directly from executives of retail investor favorites. Catch up below!

• SoundHound CEO outlines why voice is the most natural interface and where the company is leaning in.

• Serve Robotics CEO breaks down why scale is the unlock for unit economics and how the company plans to expand across its six current markets.

• Richtech Robotics CEO walks us through the company’s transformation and how it’s staying focused on solving real-world problems for businesses.

• Amprius CEO breaks down the company in plain English: “lighter, longer, stronger — meaning electric vehicles can go farther by swapping batteries.

• Quantum Computing CRO breaks down how the company is focused on real-world applications, not just theory.

WHAT’S ON DECK
Tomorrow’s Top Things 📋

Economic data: December Consumer Price Index (8:30 am ET), September & October New Home Sales (10:00 am ET), January RCM/TIPP Economic Optimism Index (10:10 am ET), Fed Musalem Speech (10:35 am ET), Fed Barkin Speech (4:00 pm ET). 📊
Pre-Market Earnings: JPMorgan Chase ($JPM), Delta Air Lines ($DAL), Bank of New York Mellon ($BK). 🛏️
After-Market Earnings: RCI Hospitality Holdings ($RICK). 🌕️ 

P.S. You can listen to all of these earnings calls on Stocktwits.

Links That Don’t Suck 🌐

🤯 Michael Oliver says Silver could hit $200 to $500 during htis bull run 

🪙 Michael Saylor’s Strategy buys Bitcoin worth about $1.25B — shares rally

🥪 Jersey Mike’s strikes European expansion deal led by founder Peter Cancro

💊 On Day 1 of JPM, no blockbuster headlines, but biotech newsmakers still move markets

📝 Lawmakers are preparing to try again on major crypto bill. Why it matters and what happens next

🎮️ GameStop’s Musk-like CEO pay plan for Ryan Cohen sparks retail debate; stock still a laggard

*3rd Party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Stocktwits. See disclosure here. 

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