The Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates unchanged today, ending a streak of cuts from the last three meetings. The target range stays at 3.5% to 3.75%. The vote was 10-2, with Governors Miran and Waller dissenting because they wanted another cut. Jerome Powell said the economy is on solid footing despite consumer confidence hitting low levels. He noted that the labor market has stabilized, but inflation remains elevated. He didn't offer much guidance on the next meeting in March, stating they are keeping options open and will decide based on incoming data. A significant portion of the press conference focused on Fed independence amid tensions with the White House. Powell declined to comment on specific clashes or the DOJ investigation but emphasized that political influence hurts the central bank's credibility.