We just talked live with Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan, and a dedicated explainer and demystifier of the most difficult economic topics. We dug into why we are only now beginning to see the impact of Trump’s tariffs and the new budget on everyday Americans, how attacks on independent institutions like the Bureau of Labor Statistics don’t just obscure data but threaten to transform the way we live, and how everyone can benefit from a better understanding of economics. Wolfers talked to us about:
Why it’s so hard to trust surveys and polls these days — and what that means for the economy as people experience it every day
How Trump is remaking the United States into a “command and control” society — and why Trump is so much worse at governing than his authoritarian peers
Why times of crisis are opportunities to make a big difference
It’s a conversation we think you’ll find illuminating, frightening, and even hopeful, and we don’t think you’ll want to miss any of it. Just click on the video player above to watch the entire conversation.
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To learn more about how the economy works and why it matters to you, listen to Justin Wolfer’s podcast, Think Like an Economist, cohosted by fellow economist and partner Betsey Stevenson, and presented by friend of The Ink Nastaran Tavakoli-Far.
Join us for Live conversations this week!
Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 19, at 12:30 p.m. Eastern, we’ll talk to journalist Evan Osnos about his new book about oligarchy and inequality, The Haves and Have-Yachts. Then on Wednesday, August 20, at 12:30 p.m. Eastern, we’ll meet with The Ink Book Club.
To join and watch, download the Substack app (click on the button below) and turn on notifications — you’ll get an alert once we’re live, and you can watch, chat, and even participate in the conversation during our Book Club meetings from your iOS or Android mobile device. If you’re using a computer, you can also watch (and ask questions in the text chat) on our homepage.
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