Rob Seamans

Because it’s cheaper than this?

I'll take the W.

It's 2.50 at my local grocery store. That picture is from Grand Central Station, and is likely aimed at the billion or so tourists taking selfies.

One of my favorite things is the rebirth of Honest Tea in the form of Just Ice Tea.

Industrial policy for the final frontier: Governing growth in the emerging space economy | Brookings Aleksandraviciute, Impink, and Seamans explore the emerging economics and policy implications of commercial space activity

🌍 Space is no longer a separate domain—it shapes economic growth, regional development, and global governance. Mija Aleksandraviciute, Michael Impink, and I argue for a strategic industrial policy to ensure inclusive, resilient growth.

Full article: www.brookings.edu/articles/ind...

📋 Industrial policy for space must move beyond deregulation. Priorities include:
-Foundational infrastructure investment
-Aligning incentives & regulatory frameworks
-Entrepreneurial ecosystem & workforce development
-Coordination across federal, state, & international actors

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Enables Competition in the Commercial Space Industry PROMOTING COMMERCIAL SPACE INNOVATION: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to streamline regulations and foster a competitive

📑 Policy responses are emerging. In Aug 2025, Pres. Trump signed an executive order to accelerate commercial space: streamlined environmental reviews, updated launch regulations, and coordinated oversight of spaceport infrastructure.

www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...

⚠️ Governance & infrastructure gaps:
-Orbital congestion & debris
-Liability and property rights in space
-Underinvestment in public goods (spaceports, test facilities, monitoring)

--> Private innovation accelerates, but common frameworks and infrastructure often lag.

Industrial policy for the final frontier: Governing growth in the emerging space economy | Brookings Aleksandraviciute, Impink, and Seamans explore the emerging economics and policy implications of commercial space activity

💡 Economic impacts are twofold:
1️⃣ Direct gains—new firms, jobs, and services in space sectors
2️⃣ Spillovers—advances in sensors, materials, and disaster resilience on Earth

Read more in our @brookings.edu article

www.brookings.edu/articles/ind...

🚀 The space economy is evolving from government-led missions toward commercial markets: satellite broadband, Earth observation, space tourism, even orbital manufacturing. Falling costs expand access—but they also raise complex economic and governance questions.

The BLS is NOT postponing the monthly inflation report, the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Rather, the delay is for the annual Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX). CEX provides the "weights" for the CPI and other inflation measures.

The Friends of BLS strongly support the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), its leadership, staff, and mission. Since its founding in 1884, BLS has been guided by first commissioner Caroll D. Wright’s principle: to “fearless[ly]” publish facts “without regard to the influence those facts may have upon any party's position or any partisan's views.” On September 9, 2025, BLS staff lived up to this standard by releasing preliminary benchmark job estimates for the Current Employment Statistics program, following their usual transparent and scientific methods. The results showed a likely downward revision of 911,000 jobs as of March 2025—about 0.6% of U.S. employment. Such adjustments vary in size, but are fundamentally routine, correcting for misreporting and non-response bias. Unfortunately, the Administration responded by questioning the agency’s integrity and calling BLS “broken.” The Secretary of Labor claimed the revision undermines public confidence in the data. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The revision reflects BLS doing its job: providing accurate, objective information regardless of political consequences. What truly threatens BLS is chronic underfunding, recent understaffing, and erosion of trust. Since 2010, BLS has lost 20% of its budget (adjusted for inflation), and the President’s FY26 Budget proposes another 8% cut. Furthermore, the Bureau has lost about 20% of its staff since January and a third of its leadership positions are vacant. Despite having ready-to-implement modernization plans, the agency lacks the people and resources to update its programs...

"We strongly support the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), its leadership, staff, & mission..."

Since 1884 founding, guided by 1st commissioner's principle: "`fearless[ly]' publish facts `without regard to the influence those facts may have upon any party's position or any partisan's views.'”

Tillis says he will not consider Lisa Cook Fed replacement amid legal dispute Republicans likely need unanimous GOP support to advance picks out of the Banking panel, where they have a 13-11 majority.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a Senate Banking Republican, says he will not consider a replacement for Lisa Cook's seat on the Fed board unless/until a court rules her firing was legal.

Suggests Pres. Trump will NOT be able to fill her seat unless that happens.

From Politico: www.politico.com/live-updates...

Tommy Devito is walking around the North End.

Fyi - A bucket list item of mine is to get added to this

I attended one of the last iterations and it was a great. We received a ton of great feedback on our paper from the journal editors and others in the audience. I can highly recommend the event!

not what i was planning to include in my July jobs report recap (in progress) but here we are

My take: AI is an easy scapegoat-- certainly easier to blame instead of economic and political uncertainty.

Moreover, most firms haven't adopted AI in any meaningful way (Census research puts adoption at about 9% of firms).

AI Is Already Disrupting Labor, and Recent Grads Could Be a ‘Lost Generation’ It’s a particularly bad time to be an unemployed 20-something.

Is AI to blame for the softening labor market?

I don't think so, at least not in full. AI is an easy scapegoat, and execs feel better blaming AI rather than economic or policy uncertainty.

These and other thoughts in a recent interview for @gizmodo.com -- gizmodo.com/ai-is-alread...

I’ve taught the ⁦‪#Ryanair‬⁩ case many times. First time to experience it IRL!

Opinion | 11 tips for becoming a columnist Here’s my advice for handling the awesome responsibility of this job.

Some professional news: After more than a decade of columnizing at The Washington Post, I'm taking the buyout.
This is my last column. It is my advice to any other lucky pundits who land a perch like this -- with 11 principles I've aspired to, even if I haven't always achieved them:
wapo.st/3TU2fGw

Like "Infrastructure week"

I have to admit I am now starting to notice a bit of an improvement. Perhaps my initial experiences were somewhat isolated.

I'd adjust your sentence to "people started seeing it wasn't the end of the world".

I've posted before about this: to the average new yorker, traffic seems just as bad as it always has been. You can show me all the charts you want, and I'll tell you: traffic here sucks.

Schrier to RFK Jr: You gave Cassidy the answer he needed to hear in order to get his confirmation vote, then as soon as you were secretary you turned around & fired all 17 members. You lied. I also want to be clear that I will lay all responsibility for every vaccine-preventable death at your feet.

Opinion | Trump is finally building his wall. We’ll all suffer the consequences. The president’s travel ban is just his latest economic barbarism.

Trump has been walling us off from foreign-made goods, ideas, and most significantly, humans. This month, Trump banned entry from most or all nationals from 21 countries; leaked memo suggests another 36 to be added.
Trump is finally building his wall, and Americans will pay for it.

(And Catholics everywhere rejoice).

The New York Times asked me for a new job that AI will create.

I suggested "sin eater."

(lots of good discussion of many other jobs in the article: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/m...)

A.I. Might Take Your Job. Here Are 22 New Ones It Could Give You.

A.I. Might Take Your Job. Here Are 22 New Ones It Could Give You.

@robcapps.bsky.social wrote an excellent article
@nytimes.com with views from yours truly, @emollick.bsky.social, @erikbryn.bsky.social and others.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/m...

American Bar Association files suit to halt government intimidation of lawyers and law firms CHICAGO, June 16, 2025 — The American Bar Association today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, more than two dozen federal departments and agencies, and the heads of those departments and ag...

American Bar Association files suit to halt government intimidation of lawyers and law firms www.americanbar.org/news/abanews...