The whole point of the fed’s policy on the rates was to tamp down on inflation while at the same time avoiding a recession. They are, of course, economists. At this point we look like we have good odds to pull of what they were intending to pull off.
I don’t know where you get your information from, but if you thought no one thought was predicting a soft landing until a few months ago, well it’s safe to say you don’t really pay much attention to these things because plenty of economists have been predicting it likely, or going to happen, even for a long time. I’ve only heard a handful of economists even come close to virtually assuring a recession.