Max Boot

Trump Fired America’s Economic Data Collector. History Shows the Perils.

President Trump didn't like the jobs numbers, so he fired the person responsible for producing them.
It's a move that has been tried before, by leaders of countries from Argentina to Greece to the Soviet Union. It rarely ends well.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b... #EconSky

Trump’s ‘Slap in the Face’ Puts Neutral Switzerland in Trade-War Crossfire Swiss officials and business leaders reacted with shock and confusion after the president’s executive order imposing a 39% tariff—a higher rate than all but three nations. The reason for it? A skyrock...

“In a land famed for its neutrality and order, the Swiss reacted with shock and confusion to Trump’s decision to impose a 39% tariff—higher than all but three nations on last week’s executive order.” www.wsj.com/economy/trad...

Analysis | After 47 years on the political beat for The Post, it’s transition time Dan Balz writes on his retirement from full-time work at The Washington Post after 47 years.

Dan Balz: Whatever the outside world may think, there has been no slacking off in our newsroom. My colleagues continue to break stories, dig deep and hold the president and others with power — elected and otherwise — to account. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

After a Lag, Consumers Begin to Feel the Pinch of Tariffs

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/02/b...

For ten months, Russia hurled tens of thousands of soldiers at Ukraine’s fortified lines near Toretsk—and bled out

Despite losing 50,000 troops, including 20,000 killed, Moscow failed to break Ukrainian defenses
euromaidanpress.com/2025/08/02/s...

Opinion | The Trump Economy Stumbles The President has his new world tariff order in place, but jobs and growth don’t look so good.

“The tariff tax increase in dollar terms at Mr. Trump’s current rates will be close to $360 billion a year. That’s among the largest tax increases in recent history.” www.wsj.com/opinion/dona...

Trump fires labor statistics chief after large revision to jobs report Trump orders firing of Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, after release of large revisions to employment data

“The president is risking material economic harm through his politicization of the BLS and of official government data,” said Michael Strain, an economist at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

What to make of POTUS's attempt to fire the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)?

Let's run down what knowledgable people are saying...

The totally groundless firing of Dr. Erika McEntarfer, my successor as Commissioner of Labor Statistics at BLS, sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the statistical mission of the Bureau. For a full statement opposing this move, read:

Trump’s first BLS Commissioner, Bill Beach, calls today’s firing groundless and dangerous.
www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...

I was just informed that our Country’s “Jobs Numbers” are being produced by a Biden Appointee, Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of Labor Statistics, who faked the Jobs Numbers before the Election to try and boost Kamala’s chances of Victory. This is the same Bureau of Labor Statistics that overstated the Jobs Growth in March 2024 by approximately 818,000 and, then again, right before the 2024 Presidential Election, in August and September, by 112,000. These were Records — No one can be that wrong? We need accurate Jobs Numbers. I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified. Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can’t be manipulated for political purposes. McEntarfer said there were only 73,000 Jobs added (a shock!) but, more importantly, that a major mistake was made by them, 258,000 Jobs downward, in the prior two months. Similar things happened in the first part of the year, always to the negative. The Economy is BOOMING under “TRUMP” despite a Fed that also plays games, this time with Interest Rates, where they lowered them twice, and substantially, just before the Presidential Election, I assume in the hopes of getting “Kamala” elected – How did that work out? Jerome “Too Late” Powell should also be put “out to pasture.” Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Unquestionably the most dangerous and corrupt attack on the independence of US economic data in American history. Trump is firing the head of the BLS, a longtime civil servant confirmed 86-8 by the Senate, simply because the job numbers came in below his expectations today

Death toll soars in Russian strike on Kyiv; Germany to send air defenses Ukrainian officials said a Russian aerial attack was the most deadly on Kyiv this year.

Ukrainian officials said Friday that the death toll in Kyiv from a Russian aerial bombardment the day before had nearly doubled overnight to at least 31, as more bodies were pulled from under rubble, making it the deadliest strike on the capital this year. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

‘Loyalty Enforcer’ Laura Loomer Targets Additional Officials

“Ms. Loomer has claimed credit for the removal of at least three senior officials from the National Security Agency: General Timothy Haugh, the former director; Wendy Noble, his deputy; and now Ms. Doss, the agency’s top lawyer.” www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/u...

In a Country Trump Says Nobody’s Heard Of, Tariffs Bring Chaos President Trump promised Africa that trade would replace aid, but in one of the world’s poorest countries his administration is slashing both.

“President Trump promised Africa that trade would replace aid when he dismantled America’s foreign-assistance programs soon after taking office this year. But here in one of the world’s poorest countries, his administration is slashing both.” www.wsj.com/world/africa...

Analysis | The Fact Checker rose in an era of false claims. Falsehoods are now winning. Longtime Fact Checker Glenn Kessler takes stock as he departs The Washington Post.

My final #FactChecker --> The Fact Checker rose in an era of false claims. Falsehoods are now winning. wapo.st/41kFq2G

Trump says sharper tariffs to take effect in a week, including 35% for Canada The Trump administration changed its tariff regime late Thursday night. Canada will face 35 percent tariffs but Mexico got a 90-day reprieve from higher rates.

The real Liberation Day will come if the courts liberate us from all these tariffs imposed without congressional authorization. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Smithsonian removes Trump from impeachment exhibit in American history museum A temporary placard, on display since 2021, described the president's historic impeachments. Officials said the exhibit was restored to an earlier version following a review of legacy content.

WaPo keeps breaking stories. www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Opinion | The good news about murder Homicides are way down. What happened, what we can learn and how progressives became crime fighters.

The good news about murder:
Homicides are way down.

My essay on the need to acknowledge and understand why crime is declining — and how to build on success: What happened, what we can learn and how progressives became crime fighters.

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

I am worried what this says about the state of Ukraine's air defenses. They need more air defenses pronto!

More Than 1,000 Troops Are Withdrawn From L.A.

Another win for Los Angeles tonight: 1,000 more troops are retreating.

We will continue this pressure until ALL troops are out of L.A.

Trump’s Tariff Authority Is Tested in Court as Deadline on Trade Deals Looms Federal appeals judges are considering the legality of the president’s moves to impose levies.

“If Trump wins in court, he will gain vast new powers to impose and relax taxes at will on foreign companies and individuals with U.S. connections, according to trade-law experts.” www.wsj.com/economy/trad...

‘Welcome to hell’: Inside the mega prison where the U.S. deported migrants Interviews with 16 former detainees of El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center offer the most complete view yet of conditions inside the notorious prison.

“One detainee was beaten unconscious. Others emerged from the dark isolation room covered in bruises, struggling to walk or vomiting blood. Another returned to his cell in tears, telling fellow detainees he’d just been sexually assaulted.” www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

The media’s geographic bias strikes again A lone shooter in New York leads to nonstop coverage, while other shootings are ignored.

A mass shooting in New York dominated national headlines this week. Similar tragedies in Reno, Detroit, and Atlanta barely registered. Josh Levs calls out the media’s coastal bias.

A Trump Ally Pressed for a Mexican Citizen’s Release from ICE Custody The office of Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana asked the Department of Homeland Security to release the detainee, who is married to a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

After nearly two months in ICE custody, Paola Clouatre, who is married to a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, secured her release from a Louisiana detention center this week following an intervention by Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican lawmaker.

Like I said last week:

The outcome of the anti-corruption protests shows that Ukraine remains very much a democracy. wapo.st/46Y8HE4

Ukraine adopts new anti-corruption law as protests force Zelensky to retreat The Ukrainian parliament acted to undo changes to two anti-corruption offices after mass protests forced President Volodymyr Zelensky to reverse course.

Good news. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Modi’s ‘True Friend’ Trump Deals India Another Blow With Tariff Threats

Alienating India is strategic malpractice. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/31/w...

U.S. stiffens sanctions against judge at center of U.S.-Brazil feud The sanctions against Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes dramatically escalates a feud between the Trump administration and the Brazilian government.

It’s ridiculous for the Trump administration to apply Magnitsky Act sanctions—intended to punish human rights violators—against a judge trying to uphold the rule of law in the world’s fourth largest democracy. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Seven dead in Kyiv, including 6-year-old, after overnight Russian strikes Kyiv officials said at least 10 children were injured in the capital by the strikes, the highest number for a single night since the Russian invasion began.

More than 80 people were injured in the strikes including 10 children…. The capital’s mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said it represented the highest number of children injured in one night in Kyiv since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Trump puts trade deal in doubt after Canada backs Palestinian state President Donald Trump said it would be “very hard” to reach a deal with Canada after the country said it plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September.

What does the Israel-Palestinian conflict have to do with US-Canada trade? The answer should be “nothing.” www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...