If you want to see an unscripted moment where politics and the central bank collide, thank Ken Sonner for sending over this clip of President Trump and Fed Chair Powell addressing the press. (Complete with pressure for lower rates, a misstatement of the cost, and with the President taking his hard hat off because “there’s not too much danger.”) Every president through history has wanted lower rates to spur growth; Robbie Chrisman is in Rapid City, South Dakota, where he reports that growth is surging, which appeals to some but not those who “liked it the way it was.” Interest rates may be a topic on today’s episode of Last Word at 10am PT, Brian Vieaux, Christy Soukhamneut, Kevin Peranio, and Courtney Thompson. They will certainly explore the real factors driving up loan origination costs, focusing on sales compensation rather than just credit or insurance. They’ll also examine the housing market’s mixed signals, including rising refi activity, steady rates, and the implications of record-high home prices amid growing inventory and price cuts. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s podcasts are sponsored by Wholesale Mortgage Direct (WMD), whose mission is to deliver high demand, innovative products unique to the wholesale industry, including MyEQNow, which is one-of-a-kind TraDigital HELOC platform. WMD is your trusted partner for innovative HELOC, NonQM and/or Reverse options. Today’s has excerpts from an interview with the MBA’s Bob Broeksmit on Mortgage Matters earlier this week addressing a variety of current action items on MBA’s docket.)