Elizabeth Warren has gone on several talk shows insisting interest rates should be lowered. If you look at video from the last time Powell was being questioned by Congress there were many other Democratic congress-people asking him why he wouldn't lower rates.

Personally I trust Jerome Powell more than any other part of the government at the moment. The man is made of steel.

Jerome Powell belongs on Mt Rushmore if you ask me

Coziness with banks can certainly be an issue, I don't know specifics and that article is pay walled for me, but it sounds very believable to me.

That doesn't really change what I said regarding interest rates though.