2601. U.S. Demographics: Largest 5-year cohorts, and Ten most Common Ages in 2024
Bill McBride discusses U.S. population demographics, highlighting the largest age cohorts in 2024 and their implications for the economy.
2602. The authoritarian takeover attempt is here
Noah Smith discusses the Trump administration's authoritarian actions, including unlawful arrests and implications for due process and the rule of law in America.
2603. Will American soft power triumph through AI?
Tyler Cowen discusses how AI models reflect Western ideals, suggesting American soft power will influence global thought and decision-making through technology.
2604. Europe deplores America's 'chlorinated chicken.' How safe is our poultry?
The post discusses European concerns over U.S. poultry practices, particularly the use of chlorine, amidst efforts to increase American exports to Europe.
2605. Exclusive: Climate activists were hacked. There was a link between victims and an alleged attacker
An argument that climate activists were targeted by hackers linked to the fossil fuel industry to undermine legal actions against them.
2606. The spat over VAT
Lilly Quiroz discusses the implications of the VAT system and President Trump's criticisms of it.
2607. Conference: “Global Shocks, Macroeconomic Spillovers and Geopolitical Risks: Policy Challenges” [updated with links]
Menzie Chinn discusses the implications of global shocks, macroeconomic spillovers, and geopolitical risks presented at a recent conference in Brussels.
2608. Tax Privacy
An argument that government access to income data raises privacy concerns, exploring public disclosure practices in various countries and their implications for transparency and societal attitudes.
2609. The 4 factions of Trump 2.0
An argument that Trump's tariff policies are inconsistent and unpopular, causing confusion among traders and opposition even within his support base, potentially harming his political standing.
2610. Inflation Targets: Cutsinger’s solution
Bryan Cutsinger discusses the implications of raising the Fed's inflation target on households' financial decisions and the demand for real money balances.
2611. Lawler: Update on Mortgage/MBS Rates and Spreads
An update on mortgage-backed securities yields and spreads, highlighting recent fluctuations due to Treasury rates and market volatility.
2612. Incoherence, Grand Plans, and Politicians’ Self-Interest
Pierre Lemieux analyzes Donald Trump's tariff decisions, suggesting they reflect self-interest and incoherence rather than a grand strategy, similar to behaviors seen in other political leaders.
2613. Meta and the FTC face off in court over monopoly claims
Bobby Allyn discusses the trial between Meta and the FTC, highlighting key witnesses and the potential impact on Meta's future.
2614. Science as Society and Dealing with Empirical Crises in Social Science
Scott Cunningham discusses the nature of science as a social organization, emphasizing trust and the consequences of empirical crises in social science research.
2615. Watch Inventory and Why Measures of Existing Home Inventory appear Different
Bill McBride discusses the importance of monitoring existing home inventory to predict housing market trends and price fluctuations.
2616. The Hidden Cost of Buying American
Jadrian Wooten discusses how tariffs affect American consumers and the complexities of global trade, challenging the notion that buying American avoids higher costs.
2617. Democrats Shouldn’t Support Tariffs
An argument that tariffs harm U.S. manufacturing and are politically detrimental for Democrats, advocating for direct industrial policies instead.
2618. Katy Perry, Gayle King and others reflect on their brief but historic trip to space
Rachel Treisman discusses the launch of a Blue Origin rocket featuring an all-female crew, including celebrities like Katy Perry and Gayle King.
2619. What would a real anti-China trade strategy look like?
Noah Smith discusses the implications of Trump's trade strategy on U.S.-China relations and proposes a coalition-based approach to counter China's economic influence.
2620. Housing April 14th Weekly Update: Inventory up 1.6% Week-over-week, Up 33.4% Year-over-year
Bill McBride discusses the increase in active single-family housing inventory, noting significant week-over-week and year-over-year changes in 2025 compared to previous years.