Name: Rep. Waters Presses Bessent on Inflation, Iran and Tariffs
Uploaded: 2026-09-15T15:26:16+00:00
Duration: 219 s

Speakers

Maxine Waters — US Representative (D-CA)

Scott Bessent — Treasury Secretary

Summary

US Representative Maxine Waters sharply criticized Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a House hearing, blaming the administration's tariffs, Iran policy, and fiscal stance for higher consumer prices, elevated inflation, and rising Treasury yields. Waters cited a continued U.S. Treasury selloff, 30-year yields at 2007 highs, and the 10-year yield hitting 5%, while also pointing to rising crude oil prices from the Iran conflict. Bessent defended the U.S. bond market as the best performer in the world. The exchange was largely political and did not include explicit investment recommendations beyond market observations.

Waters criticized tariffs and Iran policy for higher prices.
She said average Americans pay $3,500 more for groceries, gas, energy, and healthcare.
She cited a continued Treasury selloff and 30-year yields at 2007 highs.
She noted the 10-year Treasury yield hit 5%.
She said crude oil prices continue to rise amid the Iran conflict.
Bessent defended the U.S. bond market as the world's best performer.
Waters also criticized the record $40 trillion debt and higher deficits.

Ideas

Maxine Waters US Representative (D-CA) 1:07

Iran conflict keeps crude oil rising.

Waters says crude oil prices continue to increase because of the administration's war of choice with Iran, and she notes that markets barely blinked at the so-called economic day against Iran while oil prices kept rising. This is a causal macro setup pointing to sustained upward pressure on crude oil.

Maxine Waters US Representative (D-CA) 1:34

Treasury selloff and rising yields persist.

Waters argues that the administration's tariffs, trade fights, and Iran policy are raising prices and borrowing costs, and she points to a continued selloff in U.S. Treasuries, with 30-year yields at levels not seen since 2007 and the 10-year Treasury yield hitting 5%. She frames this as a damaging macro setup that keeps upward pressure on yields rather than a clean active trade.

Scott Bessent Treasury Secretary 2:10

U.S. bond market best performer worldwide.

Bessent defends the U.S. bond market by asserting it has been the best performer in the world, implying a positive relative view on U.S. fixed income even as Waters criticizes the Treasury selloff and rising yields.

This Bloomberg Markets video, published September 15, 2026, features Maxine Waters, Scott Bessent discussing WTI, TLT. 3 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Maxine Waters, Scott Bessent · Tickers: WTI, TLT

Rep. Waters Presses Bessent on Inflation, Iran and Tariffs

Summary

Ideas

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