1401. GDP and Living Standards
Scott Sumner analyzes the disparity between GDP per capita and perceived living standards in the US and Canada, focusing on healthcare, military spending, and crime rates.
1402. Settlement reached in investors' lawsuit against Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other company leaders
The Associated Press reports on a settlement reached in a lawsuit involving Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other company leaders regarding investor claims.
1403. A 'Crypto Week' win: Congress passes 1st major crypto legislation in the U.S.
The post discusses the passage of significant crypto legislation in the U.S., highlighting its implications for the crypto industry and political figures involved.
1404. Noise versus signal in LLM assessment of quality
Scott Cunningham explores the reliability of LLMs in assessing literary quality through experimental feedback from AI models on his poetry.
1405. LA Ports: Traffic Down 3% YoY in June
Bill McBride discusses the decline in container traffic at LA ports, highlighting its implications for trade and seasonal patterns in imports and exports.
1406. Interest Rate Cuts and Federal Reserve Independence
An argument that political pressure on the Federal Reserve could undermine its independence, affecting economic performance, but presidential influence over monetary policy is limited.
1407. How did Condé Nast go from dominance to decline? A new book explains
Terry Gross discusses Michael Grynbaum's exploration of Condé Nast's rise and decline as a cultural force through its influential publications.
1408. The Sputnik vs. Deep Seek Moment: The Answers
Alex Tabarrok discusses the contrasting U.S. responses to the Sputnik and DeepSeek moments, attributing differences to the rise of zero-sum thinking and changing political dynamics.
1409. The Road to MechaHitler
An argument that AI is perceived as a left-leaning technology by conservatives, while discussing the political implications of this view and its relation to economic issues.
1410. NAHB: "Builder Confidence Edges Up in July"'; "Negative territory for 15 consecutive months"
Bill McBride discusses the slight increase in builder confidence for July, despite ongoing economic challenges and negative sentiment in the housing market for over a year.
1411. Retail Sales Increased 0.6% in June
Bill McBride discusses the increase in retail sales for June, highlighting monthly and year-over-year changes based on Census Bureau data.
1412. A well-run economy needs an independent Federal Reserve, says former reserve bank head
Steve Inskeep discusses Loretta Mester's views on the necessity of an independent Federal Reserve free from fiscal political interference.
1413. Why more residents are saying 'No' to AI data centers in their backyard
Residents in Virginia express growing opposition to the proliferation of data centers in their communities, raising concerns about environmental and social impacts.
1414. When is cosplay a crime?
Wailin Wong explores the legal complexities of cosplay and intellectual property, highlighting the balance between creative expression and corporate rights.
1415. NBA Future of the Franchise Rankings 2.0
Nate Silver analyzes NBA teams' future championship potential, considering roster changes and decision-making processes affecting their long-term success.
1416. Dixie Cups, CAFE Standards, and Numeracy
An argument that resource savings diminish with increased usage, illustrated through Dixie cups and CAFE standards, emphasizing the importance of marginal thinking in economics.
1417. Tariffs are a tax. Are you already paying it?
The discussion centers on the impact of tariffs on American consumers, highlighting how these taxes affect prices and the economy.
1418. Trump floats firing the Federal Reserve chair as White House criticism boils
Deepa Shivaram discusses President Trump's comments on potentially firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell amid growing criticism from the White House.
1419. The alternative to rage bait
An argument that awe can effectively engage audiences in libertarian discourse, serving as a healthier alternative to the prevalent use of anger and outrage in communication.
1420. Tradeoffs of Lower Fertility Rates
Timothy Taylor discusses the implications of declining fertility rates on global population dynamics, economic growth, and government finances.