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The Fed Decides Wednesday — Here's What It Means for Your Mortgage, the Loonie, and Your RRSP

  Monday, July 27, 2026 The U.S. Federal Reserve hands down its rate decision at 2 p.m. ET on July 29. For most Canadians it will feel like background noise. It isn't — here's the plain-language version of why it touches your mortgage, your cross-border spending, and whatever's sitting in your RRSP. The short version: Markets are pricing roughly a two-in-three chance the Fed holds its rate at 3.50%–3.75% on Wednesday. That's not the story. The story is that this is one of the least certain "sure thing" holds in years — and Chair Kevin Warsh's press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET could matter more than the decision itself. Why this meeting is different The Fed has held its benchmark rate steady at 3.50%–3.75% through every meeting so far in 2026. On paper, Wednesday should be more of the same. Under the hood, it's messier. Persistent inflation, running well above the Fed's 2% target for a fifth straight year, has kept a rate hike on the table. The oil-...

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Armed Guard Presence in D.C. Marks New Phase of Trump’s City Deployments

Armed members of the South Carolina National Guard are positioned outside of Union Station in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025.


National Guard units patrolling the U.S. capital under President Donald Trump’s orders have begun carrying firearms, a move officials describe as a “measured escalation” in the ongoing federal security operation.

The change follows a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth late last week, authorizing certain units to carry M17 pistols or M4 rifles while on specific missions. According to the Pentagon, all armed personnel have undergone training and operate under strict rules of engagement, with force permitted only as a last resort in response to imminent threats.

An Associated Press photographer documented members of the South Carolina National Guard stationed outside Union Station on Sunday, visibly equipped with holstered handguns. Officials emphasized that not all troops will be armed — those in administrative or transport roles are expected to remain without weapons.

The development comes as Trump signals potential expansions of these deployments to other Democratic-led cities, including Baltimore, Chicago, and New York. His remarks have sparked political clashes, particularly with Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who has criticized the president’s use of federal forces in local jurisdictions.

Thousands of Guard members and federal officers are now active in Washington, drawing both support and protests from residents. The administration maintains the measures are aimed at combating crime and homelessness, while opponents argue they represent an unprecedented federal overreach into local law enforcement.

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