John Authers, Columnist

When All the King’s Men Are Too Eager to Please

In the Powell drama, Donald Trump’s courtiers have let him down badly.

January 13, 2026 at 5:03 AM UTC

John Authers is a senior editor for markets and Bloomberg Opinion columnist. A former chief markets commentator at the Financial Times, he is author of “The Fearful Rise of Markets.”

Honest Abe looking down and away. — Honest Abe looking down and away.
Photographer: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

To get John Authers’ newsletter delivered directly to your inbox, sign up here.

Two apocryphal stories of English kings and their trouble with their courtiers might help explain what’s going on in Washington and the incredible battle between its two most powerful men, President Donald Trump and the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell.