‘Very, very troublesome development’: Economist reacts to potential new BLS chief

Economic Data & Political Influence - Concerns arise over potential political manipulation of economic data, specifically at the Bureau of Labor Statistics [2] - The integrity of the Bureau of Labor Statistics is emphasized, highlighting the credibility and experience needed for the role [3] - The possibility of rigging data is dismissed, emphasizing the established processes and controls in place [5] - The administration's credibility is at risk if it attempts to discredit independent data, as people are aware of ongoing economic challenges [4] - The president's claims of political manipulation send a negative signal, potentially discouraging the release of credible data [7] - Cooking economic statistics is likely to be exposed quickly, triggering market reactions and internal dissent [8] - The administration is accused of trying to enforce a false version of reality by pressuring government agencies to align with its views [11][12][13] - There are concerns about scrubbing data related to vaccines and climate change, undermining independent data relied upon for policy decisions [15] Trade & Tariffs - The president's strategy involves leveraging tariffs to push forward a geopolitical agenda [19] - The EU may not be able to fulfill its promise of $600 billion in exchange for lower tariffs [16] - A 15% tariff rate is considered a potential floor, marking a significant change in the world economy [17][18] - The president's tactics involve extreme escalation to pressure countries into submission [22]