Waters' ‘Can you shut him up?’ moment spotlights tariffs and inflation debate

During a House Financial Services hearing, Rep. Maxine Waters pressed Treasury official Scott Bessent as he argued tariffs are not inflationary, while Waters warned tariffs have raised prices on goods and housing costs. Analysts note tariffs can create one-time price increases and financial uncertainty, whereas unemployment tends to spike briefly before easing. The discussion also touches on housing affordability, with lumber prices and immigration cited as factors in supply and demand. The piece frames tariffs’ real-world impact as central to voters’ views on affordability ahead of the 2026 elections.