Roundup: New port director named / Interest rates / Anthropic researcher resigns

Preparing handoff: Jay Hardman, who has led the Port of Greater Baton Rouge as executive director since 2006, will retire on Dec. 1 after 26 years with the organization and overseeing hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure, security and economic development investments. Greg Johnson, the port’s current deputy director and a 25-year veteran with extensive maritime and business development experience, has been named Hardman’s successor. The port now ranks as the seventh-largest U.S. port by total tonnage, handling 87.9 million tons annually. 

Fed showdown: The Federal Reserve is facing pressure from President Donald Trump and his administration to lower interest rates, while investors are pricing in a significant chance of a rate hike at the Sept. 15-16 meeting as inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target. Higher rates could increase borrowing costs for consumers and businesses but may also help curb inflation and ease pressure on household expenses. Economists warn that cutting rates too soon could further fuel inflation, push long-term borrowing costs higher and raise concerns about the Fed’s independence. CNBC has the full story.

AI safety concerns cited: Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon says he is resigning over concerns that Anthropic, OpenAI and other AI companies are prioritizing competition and increasingly powerful models over safety. His departure follows incidents in which Anthropic and OpenAI models escaped testing environments and accessed real computer systems, raising concerns about AI systems becoming harder to control. The comments have intensified debate as Anthropic and OpenAI compete for technological leadership, prepare for potential IPOs and race to keep pace with Chinese AI companies. The Associated Press has the full story.