Margaret H. Zhang

August 1, 2025 AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION Committee on Economic Statistics and Committee on Government Relations Statement from the American Economic Association on the Dismissal of the BLS Commissioner Leaders of the American Economic Association express their grave concern over the dismissal of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) earlier today. The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions. Undermining the independence or credibility of these agencies threatens the integrity of the information that markets, institutions, and the public rely on every day. Measuring the vast and dynamic U.S. economy in real time is inherently challenging. It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as more complete and higher-quality data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor-not failure or bias. The BLS has long had a well-deserved reputation for professional excellence and nonpartisan integrity. Safeguarding this tradition is vital for the continued health of the U.S. economy and public trust in our institutions. We call upon elected officials to respect and preserve the independence of the nation's statistical infrastructure. Lawrence Katz President, American Economic Association Katharine Abraham President-Elect, American Economic Association Karen Dynan Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Economic Statistics Kenneth Troske Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Government Relations

Statement from the largest economics association about the BLS firing

As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements

This is a big deal

Judge Boasberg is the rare public official who is acting like the executive branch's respect for the rule of law is critical to the success of the American project and a prosperous global economy. More judges and politicians should take cues from him.

TRUMP IS BUILDING A DICTATORSHIP With an all-out assault on democratic norms and the rule of law, President Donald Trump is amassing far more power than any previous U.S. president, creating unmistakable momentum toward establishment of a fascist dictatorship.

Dear mainstream media,
You’re nibbling around the edges of the Trump disaster without reporting the huge overall story that’s in front of you. Feel free to use this headline and lead paragraph, no charge.
Sincerely, Mark

Trump Shoots the Messenger Firing the BLS Commissioner moves us into banana republic territory

New, from me:
Trump just fired the head of the BLS, accusing her of rigging data.
The reality is that by shooting the messenger reporting on the negative effects of his economic policies, Trump pushed America further into banana republic territory.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trump-shoo...

Trump Orders Firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Chief After Weak Jobs Report President Trump said he directed his team to fire the top Bureau of Labor Statistics official after the bureau issued a weak jobs report on Friday. Trump in a social media post said Erika McEntarfer, ...

By design, federal statistical agencies operate independently to guard against politicization of data collection and reporting.

This is an alarming and dangerous move that threatens the scientific integrity of independent statistical agencies across the government. www.wsj.com/livecoverage...

The BLS is legit a national treasure. Or was until now.

The bar exam is a hazing ritual. In my state it’s also rooted in racism: we did not require a bar exam until our flagship HBCU opened a law school in 1947. As a person who hires new law school grads each year, I see no value in the test. Much more to be learned from an interview and writing sample.

Issue spotting: please describe a factual scenario that reflects conscious indifference or reckless disregard sufficient to support a claim for punitive damages in connection with a cause of action for personal injury or wrongful death. You have 140 characters or less to provide your answer.

Fuck the Bar Exam
Abolish the Bar Exam
And so much love to that taker, wherever you are

WHO. TO BE CLEAR. WE DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE STILL ALIVE.

asking reporters to hold NCBE's feet to the fire on this - @juliametraux.bsky.social

As a doctor, you've got to be freakin' kidding:

"security officers arrived with equipment and were “performing chest compressions” according to the Redditor...One tipster reports that “the proctors waited until the lunch break to let the paramedics in"

Good thread on the potential for escalation in Trump's defiance of judicial authority 👇

'It is hell': Migrants returning to Venezuela describe life in El Salvador prison where U.S. sent them Venezuelan migrants imprisoned for months in El Salvador under a U.S. immigration crackdown have reunited with their families.

“Every day, we asked God for the blessing of freeing us from there so that we could be here with family, with my loved ones,” said Carlos Uzcátegui. “Every day, I woke up looking at the bars, wishing I wasn’t there.”

This violates R.I. Gen. Laws § 11‑24‑2.3 on its face which provides protections for gender identity in public accommodations in Rhode Island.

Brown University is openly admitting it will brazenly violate Rhode Island state law. I expect lawsuits will follow.

Donate to Help Bring Paola Home to Her Family, organized by Adrian Clouatre My wife Paola has been in ICE custody at Richwood Correctional in Monroe, LA. We m… Adrian Clouatre needs your support for Help Bring Paola Home to Her Family

An utterly horrific story- but she’s been released now at least, according to an update on their gofundme www.gofundme.com/f/help-bring...

#AbolishTheBarExam

💯

the Third Circuit situation is awful. Bove is awful. NJ, DE, and PA took a hit today that they will feel.

Bove’s nomination also does significant damage to the FedSoc alliance; I don’t think we know exactly how that will play out yet.

Bove is genuinely still on the hook for possible criminal contempt charges. Which, if the DC Circuit ever gets off its ass and does something about its "administrative" stay (since APRIL), may require him to testify under oath, despite being a judge. Unprecedented situation.

Unconscionable. Shame on every senator (including my own) who voted for this

A dark day for the Senate and the judiciary.

One way Democrats could atone for this—and they're partly to blame, after gifting this vacancy to Donald Trump—is by leaving no stone unturned and then moving to impeach and remove Emil Bove permanently from judicial office.

And yes, there's precedent:

I would like to see him disbarred, even if he still is a judge

Yes please can we all agree to do this??!?

In this case I hope the ever-collegial Third Circuit judges break form and uniformly refuse to respect him or condone him on their midst

🖕

This is a disgrace. He is already impeachable

THIS IS A DISASTER 😭😭😭😭😭😭

170. DOJ's (Ridiculous) Misconduct Complaint Against Chief Judge Boasberg DOJ's complaint that Chief Judge Boasberg engaged in "misconduct" would be laughably stupid if it didn't reflect such a transparently obvious and dangerous attempt to delegitimize the federal courts.

Me on the factually misleading and analytically ridiculous misconduct complaint DOJ has filed against Chief Judge Boasberg—and the dangerousness of DOJ so openly trying to undermine public confidence in the only institution that has been even partially effective at checking the Trump administration:

Reminded that law students are in the throes of the bar exam. Best of luck, and may you block the whole experience out entirely after, like I have.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate is set to vote as soon as Tuesday evening to confirm former Trump lawyer Emil Bove for a lifetime appointment as a federal appeals court judge despite vocal Democratic opposition and a new whistleblower complaint against him. The whistleblower provided Congress with an audio recording of Bove that runs contrary to some of his testimony at his confirmation hearing last month, according to two people familiar with the recording. The audio is from a private video conference call at the Department of Justice in February in which Bove, a top official at the department, discussed his handling of the dismissed corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, according to transcribed quotes from the audio reviewed by The Associated Press.

Lordy, there are tapes

The administration is aiming for a new status quo and I worry that they aim to make J. Boasberg an example by somehow getting him sanctioned/deligitimized. I hope this fizzles out, but it could escalate in unpredictable ways.