This podcast episode explores the origins, structure, and powers of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal agency created in 2010 to protect consumers from predatory financial practices. The CFPB was designed to be more effective and independent than other regulatory agencies, with features such as a single-director structure and funding from the Federal Reserve. However, the CFPB has faced criticism and legal challenges, particularly from Republicans, regarding its structure, accountability, and authority.