Bulwark Takes: “Trump’s Disastrous BLS Pick is a Bad Sign for America’s Future” – Detailed Summary
Release Date: August 12, 2025
In this episode of Bulwark Takes, hosts JVL and Jonathan Cohn engage in an in-depth discussion with special guest Jason Furman, a former economist in the Obama administration and current Harvard professor. The central focus of the episode is President Donald Trump's controversial nomination of E.J. Anthony to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the broader implications this appointment has for America's economic data integrity and future.
Introduction
The episode kicks off with JVL introducing the topic of Trump’s nomination of E.J. Anthony to head the BLS. Anthony, a 37-year-old economist affiliated with the Heritage Foundation's Grover M. Herman Center for the Federal Budget, has garnered attention not for his scholarly contributions but for his presence in highly partisan outlets such as Breitbart and The Federalist.
JVL: "[...] he's 37 years old, so it must be a real hotshot economist." [00:00]
Overview of Trump's BLS Appointment
JVL expresses concern over Trump's decision to appoint someone from deeply partisan media outlets to lead a crucial statistical agency. He highlights the potential undermining of trust in government data, which is essential for economic decision-making.
JVL: "If we wanted to give the president the benefit of the doubt, he would appoint somebody who's really beyond reproach, who everybody respects. Instead, he reaches to the bottom of the barrel." [02:37]
Expert Opinions
Jason Furman's Perspective
Jason Furman rates the appointment as a "9" out of 10 in terms of insanity, emphasizing his frustration and the threat it poses to objective economic data.
Furman: "It's probably a 9. And I'm trying to restrain myself, otherwise I'll start foaming at the mouth and yelling." [01:26]
Furman elaborates on why Anthony's appointment is problematic, noting Anthony's lack of peer-reviewed work and his deep partisan leanings. He stresses that Anthony does not have the requisite experience in managing statistical data and is unlikely to foster confidence in the BLS’s outputs.
Furman: "He's extremely partisan, who does not understand the data that the organization produces, has not contributed anything to the understanding of statistics other than misleading mud throwing." [02:37-03:40]
Furthermore, Furman discusses the downstream consequences of undermining the BLS, including impaired policy-making and investment decisions due to unreliable data.
Furman: "Countries that have fired their statisticians have generally seen their currencies depreciate... Greece was cooking the books again." [07:05-10:13]
He warns of the long-term erosion of trust, which is foundational to economic stability and growth.
Furman: "Trust is actually very important. Economists have studied this and the basic issue is... trust really is an important contributor to economic growth." [17:26-18:13]
Jonathan Cohn's Insights
Jonathan Cohn supports Furman’s assessment, highlighting the overt partisanship of the appointment and the absence of subtlety in the administration’s actions. He draws parallels to past appointments, such as those to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), noting that unlike previous instances where appointed leaders proved to be reliable, Anthony’s appointment signals a blatant disregard for data integrity.
Cohn: "This does not appear to be someone who's like, published extensively in academic literature. There's just not, you know, all his publications are in these highly partisan outlets." [06:18]
Cohn also voices concerns about the gradual degradation of statistical quality across various federal agencies, which could ultimately impair governance and policy effectiveness.
Cohn: "We don't know what's working in education and isn't working in education. And this isn't the kind of thing that's going to just show up as, you know, people dying in the hospital or the currency collapsing." [12:10-13:45]
Implications for Data Integrity and Trust
The hosts discuss the critical role of the BLS in providing unbiased economic data, which serves as a cornerstone for policymakers, businesses, and financial markets. Furman asserts that while immediate impacts may not be drastic, the long-term consequences could be severe, including decreased trust in government data and higher economic volatility.
Furman: "The numbers that BLS produces are probably the single most important... that's how they're trying to navigate what right now, by the way, is a difficult road." [07:05]
Historical Comparisons and Future Consequences
The conversation delves into historical instances where nations compromised their statistical integrity, leading to economic turmoil. Furman cites Argentina and Greece as examples where manipulation of economic data preceded financial crises and massive defaults. He cautions that while the U.S. may not experience similar immediate fallout, the erosion of trust could set the stage for future economic instability.
Furman: "Argentina started faking the inflation data... culminated in a huge default and I believe the largest IMF program in its history." [10:13]
The Role of Trust in Economics
Wrapping up, Furman emphasizes the indispensable role of trust in economic systems. He explains that trust reduces transaction costs and fosters cooperation, which are essential for economic growth and stability. The undermining of trust through partisan manipulation of data threatens to unravel these foundational economic principles.
Furman: "Trust is actually very important. Economists have studied this and the basic issue is... trust really is an important contributor to economic growth and one that rich countries tend to do better on than poor countries." [17:26-18:13]
Conclusion
The episode concludes with a somber reflection on the future of economic governance in the United States. JVL and Cohn express uncertainty about the Senate’s ability to counteract the administration's efforts to politicize economic data. The discussion underscores a growing concern that persistent undermining of trust in government statistics could have far-reaching negative impacts on the nation's economic health and policy effectiveness.
JVL: "If voters don't react to this and don't say, no, no, we don't like that, go back to delivering real world outcomes for us. I don't know where this all leads." [14:20]
Furman: "This is one of many, many things that are deliberately destroying trust." [15:46]
JVL: "We're going to be looking forward to the September numbers." [18:33]
This episode of Bulwark Takes serves as a critical examination of the potential ramifications of politicizing economic data, emphasizing the essential role of trust and integrity in maintaining a robust and functional economic system.