Interesting plot twist in the policy defense playbook. When Fed Chair Jerome Powell stepped up to publicly champion the central bank's independence, he didn't expect his cheerleaders to be the meme-stock rebels—retail traders who've made a name for themselves by challenging traditional market gatekeepers. Here's the thing: whether you're holding GameStop or Bitcoin, independence from political pressure matters when institutions make moves that ripple through markets. The retail crowd's backing of Powell's stance reveals something deeper: even contrarian investors recognize that central bank autonomy serves the broader market ecosystem. Sometimes the most unlikely allies emerge when the core principle—institutional integrity—aligns with everyone's interests.