1281. Can a Despised Autocrat Consolidate Power?
An argument that explores whether a despised autocrat can consolidate power despite poor economic performance and widespread public disapproval, drawing historical comparisons.
1282. BLS revision shows annual hiring was overstated by 911,000 jobs
Scott Horsley discusses a Labor Department report indicating that U.S. job growth may have been overestimated by 900,000 jobs in the past year.
1283. Employment: Preliminary annual benchmark revision shows downward adjustment of 911,000 jobs
Bill McBride discusses a preliminary benchmark revision indicating a downward adjustment of 911,000 jobs in the U.S. employment statistics for March 2025.
1284. Are Westerners turning back into medieval peasants?
An argument that Western civilization is regressing by rejecting key technologies, drawing parallels to historical examples of societal decline due to anti-science sentiments.
1285. Here's what happens when private equity buys homes in your neighborhood
Alex Mayyasi discusses the impact of corporate landlords on rent prices and neighborhood diversity, highlighting the challenges they pose to homeownership.
1286. Interview with Dean Karlan: US Government Foreign Aid
The post discusses Dean Karlan's experiences as USAID's chief economist, focusing on the challenges of implementing effective foreign aid and the impact of political constraints.
1287. Rupert Murdoch buys out 3 of his children to seal fate of his media empire
David Folkenflik discusses Rupert Murdoch's buyout of three children, impacting the control of his media empire.
1288. Clifford Winston: “Academic Toadies Impair Government Performance”
Menzie Chinn discusses how Clifford Winston criticizes the Trump Administration's hiring of academics who compromise their standards, negatively impacting government performance.
1289. Lower Trade Deficits and More Foreign Investment?
A discussion on the decline of foreign tourism in the U.S., its economic implications, and the contradictions of protectionist policies regarding trade and foreign investment.
1290. Recession Watch Metrics
An argument that various economic indicators, including housing sales and the yield curve, are being monitored to assess potential recession risks in the U.S. economy.
1291. What Cardboard Can Tell Us About the State of the Economy
An argument that cardboard box production serves as a leading economic indicator, reflecting consumer demand and potential recession signals through its fluctuations.
1292. Scott Bessent, Sleazy Smearer
Paul Krugman criticizes Scott Bessent's attacks on the Federal Reserve and discusses the implications of Trump's administration's choices for economic leadership.
1293. What is an American?
The post explores the evolving definitions of American identity, particularly among right-wing nationalists, emphasizing the complexities of ethnicity, ancestry, and cultural heritage in America.
1294. Housing September 8th Weekly Update: Inventory Down 1.7% Week-over-week
Active single-family housing inventory decreased by 1.7% week-over-week, with notable trends compared to previous years and seasonal patterns observed since 2015.
1295. World Cup tickets are on sale. Scoring them may not be easy — or cheap
Ticket sales for the upcoming World Cup are expected to be challenging and expensive for fans.
1296. Food-makers are phasing out artificial dyes. The problem: Americans love the color
The discussion centers on food brands' decisions to eliminate artificial dyes while maintaining consumer appeal and the implications for marketing and perception.
1297. The U.S. is a major importer of Indian products made from Russian oil
The post discusses U.S. imports of oil products from India, highlighting the reliance on Russian oil by Indian refineries.
1298. “Is the US already in recession?”
Menzie Chinn analyzes key economic indicators to assess whether the US is in a recession, focusing on employment and growth trends.
1299. Carlos Alcaraz wins his 2nd U.S. Open at match delayed by Trump's attendance
Sequoia Carrillo discusses Carlos Alcaraz's second U.S. Open victory, highlighting the match delay caused by the president's attendance.
1300. More than 90,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees recalled over potential loss of drive power
A recall affects over 90,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees due to a risk of losing drive power, specifically targeting 2022 to 2026 plug-in hybrid electric models.