The Federal Reserve is deeply divided right now between officials who think it should cut interest rates next month and those who don't. One plausible result of the vote would create a stunning irony.

The big picture: Usually, as a Fed watcher, you don't spend much effort counting votes. The policy committee reaches a consensus decision, and if there is a dissent or two, that is a footnote at best. • These are not normal times. The details of the vote count matter in light of policy divides. • Consider one particularly wild — but fully plausible — way the votes could shake out.

State of play: If the leadership triumvirate of chair Jerome Powell, vice-chair Philip Jefferson, and New York Fed President John Williams decide a rate cut is in order, they will surely be joined by the three

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