Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, joined in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk, discussing inflation, tariffs, interest rates, immigration, the housing crisis — and whether he ever gets to go into the vault.

Much of the conversation centered on housing and what role the Federal Reserve plays in addressing the crisis. Kashkari’s answer was simple: add supply.

We also talked about tariffs, the workforce, and artificial intelligence — and how those factors are affecting business, especially small ones.

On tariffs, Kashkari says his job is to speak plainly about their impact, noting that uncertainty around tariffs tends to drag the economy down.

As for the workforce, he emphasized that immigration is key, and noted that local elected officials agree: the U.S. needs a functioning legal immigration system.

Kashkari's stop at WIZM happened after both a roundtable discussion with large and small La Crosse area businesses and then a town hall at the Chamber of Commerce. 

There are 12 Federal Reserve Banks in the U.S., and Kashkari says this one — the Ninth District — is fairly diverse, calling it a “mini U.S.” that represents a little of everything.

Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, joined in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk, discussing inflation, tariffs, interest rates, immigration, the housing crisis &mdash; and whether he ever gets to go into the vault.
Much of the conversation centered on housing and what role the Federal Reserve plays in addressing the crisis. Kashkari&rsquo;s answer was simple: add supply.
We also talked about tariffs, the workforce, and artificial intelligence &mdash; and how those factors are affecting business, especially small ones.
On tariffs, Kashkari says his job is to speak plainly about their impact, noting that uncertainty around tariffs tends to drag the economy down.
As for the workforce, he emphasized that immigration is key, and noted that local elected officials agree: the U.S. needs a functioning legal immigration system.
Kashkari's stop at WIZM happened after both a roundtable discussion with large and small La Crosse area businesses and then a town hall at the Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;
There are 12 Federal Reserve Banks in the U.S., and Kashkari says this one &mdash; the Ninth District &mdash; is fairly diverse, calling it a &ldquo;mini U.S.&rdquo; that represents a little of everything.

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM - La Crosse  Talk Interviews

WIZM’s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin.
Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at wizmnews.com and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities. Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.

WIZM&rsquo;s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin. Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/">wizmnews.com</a> and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities.&nbsp;Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.