Maxine Waters left her mark as one of the chief critics of the Trump era, probing the former president’s finances and clashing with financial regulators and Wall Street CEOs during viral hearings she led as chair of the House Financial Services Committee. Beyond the high-profile clashes, Waters has worked with Republicans to produce industry-backed legislation to reauthorize key business and insurance programs, while securing aid for hard-hit renters during the Covid-19 pandemic. After graduation, she served as a staffer for a city councilman, which launched her into politics.