U.S. consumers still struggling with inflation; Erin Andrews on the upcoming NFL season

Summary

"Here's the Scoop" - Episode Summary U.S. Consumers Still Struggling with Inflation; Erin Andrews on the Upcoming NFL Season
Release Date: August 12, 2025
Host: Morgan Chesky with co-host Brian Cheung

---

Top Story: Inflation Trends and Tariffs Impact

Overview:
In this episode, Morgan Chesky and co-host Brian Cheung delve into the latest inflation report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The discussion centers on the rising consumer prices in July, the influence of newly implemented tariffs, and the broader implications for U.S. consumers.

Key Points Discussed:

1. July Inflation Data:

   • Consumer Price Increase: The BLS reported a 2.7% year-over-year increase in consumer prices for July. This rise aligns with expectations but marks a significant uptick from previous months.
   • Stabilized Food and Energy Prices: Food and energy sectors maintained relatively steady prices, which helped offset spikes in other areas such as housing and car insurance.

   Notable Quote:
   Brian Cheung [01:59]:
   "When you see it rising to 2.7%, that's certainly not good news. Although it is a market improvement from some of that 9% inflation that we saw in the summer of 2022."

2. Impact of Tariffs:

   • Recent Tariff Implementation: Brian highlights that recent tariffs affecting approximately 70 countries only took effect the previous week, hence their impact isn't yet reflected in the July data.
   • Delayed Effect on Inflation: Economists predict that the full effects of these tariffs may take anywhere from three to twelve months to manifest in consumer prices.
   • Immediate Signs in Specific Sectors: Despite the delay, preliminary indicators such as a 9-10% price increase in furniture between June and July suggest that tariffs are beginning to influence certain goods, particularly those imported from China with a 30% tariff rate.

   Notable Quotes:
   Brian Cheung [03:08]:
   "Tariffs, tariffs, right. And a lot of people have been asking me... like, when is gonna happen?"

   Brian Cheung [03:54]:
   "Furniture prices just between June and July in the course of one month went up by 9, 10 of a percent... likely owe themselves to tariffs."

3. Broader Inflationary Pressures:

   • Services Sector Inflation: Airline fares saw a 4% increase from June to July, attributed to summer travel demand rather than tariffs. Dental services also experienced a 2.6% price rise.
   • Grocery Prices: Interestingly, food prices remained flat in the July report; however, annual data still shows a significant increase, raising concerns about future trends.

   Notable Quotes:
   Brian Cheung [04:23]:
   "Airline fares... up by 4% in just one month."

   Morgan Chesky [05:20]:
   "These numbers... it kind of feels like on the other end it's becoming a death by a thousand cut situation."

4. Leadership Changes at BLS:

   • New BLS Director Nominee: Following the firing of the former BLS head, the President nominated E.J. Antoni, the chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, to lead the agency.
   • Concerns Over Partisanship: There is apprehension about potential biases in future inflation reporting, though Brian reassures that altering the methodology or data is challenging due to the agency's established procedures and numerous staff members involved.
   • Senate Confirmation: Antoni's nomination faces scrutiny, but bipartisan support appears likely given the political dynamics.

   Notable Quotes:
   Brian Cheung [06:37]:
   "It's not possible to change the numbers that easily... it's not just like one person is in a room and writes everything down."

   Brian Cheung [07:07]:
   "It's hard to imagine a world where Senate Republicans would want to go against the president on that."

---

Feature Interview: Erin Andrews Discusses the Upcoming NFL Season

Guest: Erin Andrews, Fox Sports Broadcaster and Entrepreneur
Timestamp: [09:11] - [14:59]

Overview:
Erin Andrews joins Morgan Chesky to provide her insights and preparations for the forthcoming NFL season. The conversation touches on her extensive preparation methods, work-life balance, key storylines to watch, and her collaboration with NFL legend Tom Brady.

Key Points Discussed:

1. Preparation for the NFL Season:

   • Daily Research Routine: Erin emphasizes the rigorous preparation involved, including daily packets containing articles on every team, extensive interactions with players and coaches, and participation in lengthy conference calls.
   • Staying Informed: She highlights the importance of being thoroughly prepared to ask pertinent questions and understand the nuances of the game, especially since she doesn't play professionally herself.

   Notable Quotes:
   Erin Andrews [10:14]:
   "We do a ton of prep heading into football season and we do a ton of prep during it as well."

   Erin Andrews [10:56]:
   "For me, it's really, really important just because I've never played. I don't know how to make an adjustment at half."

2. Balancing Professional and Personal Life:

   • Family Commitments: As a new mother with a two-year-old, Erin discusses how she manages her time between demanding work schedules and family life.
   • Constant Connectivity: She admits that staying updated is a necessity, with an NFL game or show always in the background.

   Notable Quotes:
   Erin Andrews [11:43]:
   "I'm a new mom. I have a 2 year old. I have a husband, a dog, a family... They deserve my attention as well."

3. Key Storylines for the Upcoming Season:

   • Eagles' Performance: Erin is keen to see if the Eagles can replicate their past successes while managing injuries and coaching changes.
   • Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes: She observes the Chiefs' dynamics post-Super Bowl and Mahomes' resilience.
   • Aaron Rodgers' Transition: Erin expresses empathy for Rodgers' challenging start with the New York team and looks forward to developments.
   • Micah Parsons in Dallas: A perennial storyline that garners significant attention each season.

   Notable Quotes:
   Erin Andrews [12:17]:
   "The Aaron Rodgers storyline continues and I'm excited. I felt so bad for Aaron about the way his very first game with New York took place."

   Erin Andrews [13:23]:
   "Are they going to be able to repeat? Injuries are such a big thing... How is their defense going to build off what they did?"

4. Collaboration with Tom Brady:

   • Working with an NFL Icon: Erin shares her experiences working alongside Tom Brady in his second broadcasting season.
   • Mutual Learning: She appreciates Brady's unique perspective, stating that his insights surpass even extensive personal research.
   • Positive Outlook: Erin is optimistic about Brady's continued growth in broadcasting.

   Notable Quotes:
   Erin Andrews [13:32]:
   "Tom is the best on and off the field... We're excited for a second season with him."

   Erin Andrews [14:00]:
   "You think to yourself, holy crap, I'm listening to Tom Brady as my coworker break it down. So it's pretty awesome."

5. Super Bowl Predictions:

   • Maintaining Neutrality: Erin refrains from making specific predictions, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the NFL.
   • The NFL as Reality Drama: She likens the NFL to an engaging reality show where outcomes are continually in flux.

   Notable Quotes:
   Erin Andrews [14:23]:
   "I have no prediction because you don't know what the heck's gonna happen."

---

Additional Headlines

While the primary focus was on inflation and the NFL season, the episode also touched upon several other noteworthy headlines:

• Trump Administration's Immigration Crackdown:

  • Record detentions reaching 60,000 individuals.

• Weather Forecasts:

  • A shift from summer heat to a predicted cold winter across much of the U.S.
  • European glaciers experiencing rapid melting, with significant volume loss reported in the journal Nature.

• Taylor Swift's New Album Announcement:

  • Announced via the Kelce Brothers podcast, generating widespread anticipation and discussion about her influence on the music industry and fan spending.

---

Conclusion

This episode of "Here's the Scoop" offers a comprehensive analysis of the current inflation trends affecting U.S. consumers, highlighting both statistical data and real-world implications. Additionally, the in-depth interview with Erin Andrews provides listeners with valuable insights into the upcoming NFL season, blending professional expertise with personal perspectives. The episode effectively balances detailed reporting with engaging conversations, ensuring listeners are well-informed on both economic and sporting fronts.

---

Notable Timestamped Quotes:

• Brian Cheung [01:59]:
  "When you see it rising to 2.7%, that's certainly not good news."

• Brian Cheung [03:54]:
  "Furniture prices just between June and July in the course of one month went up by 9, 10 of a percent."

• Erin Andrews [10:56]:
  "For me, it's really, really important just because I've never played."

• Erin Andrews [14:53]:
  "I have no prediction because you don't know what the heck's gonna happen."

---

This summary encapsulates the main discussions and insights from the episode, providing a clear and detailed overview for those who haven't listened to the podcast.

Transcript

[Dan Snow]

So, folks, you might have noticed the weather's changing out there. The sun appears to be out, the days are longer. This is in the northern hemisphere, of course, and it's got me excited for road trips, days out exploring, and long walks to castles on windswept crags. And if you're looking forward to all that, too, I've got the perfect companion podcast to join you on your adventures this summer. I'm Dan Snow, host of the Dan Snow's History Hit Podcast, where I whisk you away into the greatest stories in history. Join me on the high seas as we follow the swashbuckling escapades of Francis Drake. On the Spanish Main, we unravel the myths of the Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae. I'll tell you everything you need to know about how the American Revolution started and what it would have taken for you to survive the Black Death in medieval Europe. Rackets, luck. This is the podcast you need if you seek to escape into history. And we can all use a little escape at the moment. Check out Dan Snow's history wherever you get your podcasts.

[Morgan Chesky]

Foreign hey, friends. Welcome to here's the scoop from NBC News. I'm Morgan Chesky on the pod Today. Football season is right around the corner, so we've got a big preview for you with the one and only Aaron Andrews, plus new signals about the winter we've got in store. And let's be honest, you already know Taylor Swift's 12th album is coming down the pike. Are you ready for it? But we gotta start with our top story, the latest inflation numbers. A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows consumer prices rising as expected in July, with both food and energy prices staying about the same. Now, that helped offset increases in other areas like housing and car insurance. There's lots to talk about here, so I gotta tap my co host and business and data correspondent Brian Cheung for the lowdown. Hey, Brian.

[Brian Cheung]

Morgan. What's up, man?

[Morgan Chesky]

Yo. So top line here. What should our takeaway be?

[Brian Cheung]

Well, what we learned is probably what we already know. I mean, I don't know about you, but going to the grocery store, going to Target to pick up everyday essentials. I mean, things are getting more expensive. And this report tells us that. Exactly how expensive are they getting? 2.7% between July of this year and July of last year. And I think what's important about this is that when you look at the previous rates of inflation over the past few months, that that is going in the wrong direction. We were somewhere in like the mid two percents, the low 2% as of January. So when you see it rising to 2.7%, that's certainly not good news. Although it is a market improvement from some of that 9% inflation that we saw in the summer of 2022.

[Morgan Chesky]

We're talking a lot about numbers here. It's easy sometimes get lost in those. You mentioned some real world examples. Any other spots that you think consumers are really going to be feeling this bump?

[Brian Cheung]

Well, I think that the big shadow that's being cast over all these inflation numbers are the tariffs. Tariffs, tariffs, right. And a lot of people have been asking me, as I kind of go out to lunch with friends or when I'm talking with family members, like, yo, these tariffs, like when is gonna happen? We've been talking, I've been hearing you, Brian, talk about this on TV like every single day or on the pod as well.

[Morgan Chesky]

Exactly.

[Brian Cheung]

And I always remind people, yes, we've been talking about the tariffs for a while, but you have to remember the tariffs that impacted like 70 countries, that, that only took effect last week. So for that reason, this report doesn't show that, because this report only covers the month of July. So it won't be until perhaps next month that we'll start to see that impact, if we even do. Because economists have been saying, well, actually it could take months, three, six, maybe even 12 months for the full impact of the tariffs to be seen through the data and then felt by us at the store. But one thing is that as of the last month in June, economists have been telling me you actually are starting to see signs of the tariffs already in these reports. And one example is furniture. Have you tried to buy a couch or a table or anything recently, Morgan?

[Morgan Chesky]

I moved a year ago, so fortunately I was ahead of the curve on that.

[Brian Cheung]

So, okay, so you were tariff proofed on that front. But furniture prices just between June and July in the course of one month went up by 9, 10 of a percent. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but economists have been pointing out to me those types of large increases over the course of just one month are unusual and do likely owe themselves to tariffs. Especially when you consider so much furniture comes from China, which has been tariffed at a 30% rate for months now.

[Morgan Chesky]

And we're actually seeing it move in categories outside of trade. Right?

[Brian Cheung]

Yeah. And that's the thing, is that when you talk about tariffs, you're mostly talking about goods, things that have to get pulled off of a ship at a port, put onto a train. So that it can arrive at your local target for you to buy. But when you think about services, these are things that are largely not subject to tariffs. So you think about airline fares, for example. That was a place where we saw significant inflation in this report. It was up by 4% in just one month. So between June and July, prices went up by 4%. Now, of course, that going up in price is likely due to summer travel demand. A lot of people trying to get on flights during July 4th weekend. There are other examples of these types of services as well. One big point of inflation in this report was dental services. I guess it costs a little bit more to get your cleaning. That's up by 2.6%. Again, not something necessarily related directly to the tariffs. I think you know, those other goods categories, there are only certain pockets where you're starting to see the impact. But it's not because the tariffs haven't done anything. It's because a lot of those tariffs didn't really begin yet as of the time of the data collection of this survey.

[Morgan Chesky]

And when you're mentioning These numbers, Brian, 2% here, 3% there, it kind of feels like on the other end it's becoming a death by a thousand cut situation.

[Brian Cheung]

Yeah, well, and again, what we're talking about here are monthly changes. And so a 4% increase in airline fares in just one month in and of itself might not be all that bad. I mean, you know that's going to be another $4 on $100 ticket, although I guess you're not probably not flying on a $100 ticket unless you're flying Spirit airlines one way. But nonetheless, it is a point where if you compound that and there are multiple months of 4% increases, then over the course of a year, you see how that piles up. And I think that's a bigger deal for things like grocery prices, where actually in this month we saw 0% increase. There was no increase in food prices between June and July. Again, that's positive. But I do think that that's a one month trend. We don't know if that's going to reverse or if that's going to change. But grocery prices across the board over the last year are still up pretty significantly.

[Morgan Chesky]

Finally, Brian, before we let you go, this report on inflation from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is an entity that's beginning an awful lot of eyeballs after the President fired their former leader. Now he's named at least a potential successor and it comes with a little bit of controversy, Right?

[Brian Cheung]

Yeah. So he has nominated this new person, E.J. antoni, who's the chief economist at the Heritage foundation, which is a conservative think tank based out of D.C. to lead the agency. And he's already been getting a lot of scrutiny because obviously a lot of people are wondering, would this be someone who would be tilting the numbers or fudging the numbers, perhaps in Trump's favor?

[Morgan Chesky]

Can someone do that?

[Brian Cheung]

Well, the thing is that it's not that easy to do. And in fact, there have been former BLS heads that have said after the firing of the Last one, Erica McIntarfer, that it's not possible to change the numbers that easily. It's not just like one person is in a room and writes everything down. It is hundreds of staffers that go out, collect the data, put it together in the same methodology that they've been doing for decades to put out these numbers. It's not like you can just erase it with some white tape and then put a new number over it. But regardless, this new person, if they leave the agency, they could choose to make big changes to the way that the data is collected or even suspend the data entirely. We don't know what this person is going going to do, but some of his previous writings even have conservatives concern that he will be partisan. In fact, there's someone at the American Enterprise Institute, which is another conservative think tank in D.C. saying he would not support someone like this. So this person, E.J. antony, would need to get Senate confirmation. It's not a shoo in, but it does seem like the president has picked this person. It's hard to imagine a world where Senate Republicans would want to go against the president on that.

[Morgan Chesky]

Brian Chung, our business and data correspondent who makes the complicated stuff make sense. Thanks, man.

[Brian Cheung]

Thanks, Morgan.

[Morgan Chesky]

All right, we're going to take a quick timeout, and when we're back, well, I'll give you a hint. That's right, a little peek at some gridiron glory. Stick around.

[Brian Cheung]

Do you want to know what it's like to hang out with Ms. 13 El Salvador, how the Russian mafia fought battles all over Brooklyn in the 1990s? What about that time I got lost.

[Morgan Chesky]

In the Burmese jungle hunting the world's biggest meth lab? I'm Sean Williams.

[Brian Cheung]

And I'm Danny Gold, and we're the hosts of the Underworld podcast. We're journalists that have traveled all over reporting on dangerous people and places. And every week, we'll be bringing you a new story about organized crime from.

[Morgan Chesky]

All over the world, available wherever you get your podcasts.

[Brian Cheung]

This week only on Meet THE press as the fight in Texas intensifies over redistricting and its impact on the midterms, Kristen Welker sits down with Governor J.B. pritzker and former Attorney General Eric Holder.

[Morgan Chesky]

Plus Senator Lindsey Graham, only on Meet the Press.

[Brian Cheung]

Listen to the full episode now, wherever.

[Morgan Chesky]

You get your podcasts. And welcome back to here's the scoop from NBC News. May be hard to believe for those of you listening to this in your beach chairs, but the NFL is officially kicking into high gear. It's already the second week of the NFL preseason with the regular season officially beginning on Thursday, September 4th. Yeah. Right here on NBC. So we decided to run across the street and speak to a figure, a star of the sports world who just so happens to be this week's co anchor of Today with Jenna and Friends, Fox Sports broadcaster and entrepreneur Erin Andrews. Erin's here to give us her insight and kind of fill us in on how she prepares herself for the upcoming season. And trust us, we know it's a big week for football podcast. So we are awfully grateful she's joining ours. Erin, first off, a welcome to the pod. Very glad to have you here. You've been a pro at this for so long. What anticipation are you feeling going into this season?

[Erin Andrews]

Yeah, I actually just opened up my email before I got on here and saw that we got our first kind of big email for week one of the season. So we do a ton of prep heading into football season and we do a ton of prep during it as well. I've enjoyed the time off. You know, I'm, I'm gonna not love getting back on an airplane so much, but it's also great to be around the, the greatest and the most talented athletes in the world and, you know, the best coaches and general managers and so forth. So whenever we get to see these guys, it's always like, happy New Year. So I'm looking forward to it.

[Morgan Chesky]

How do you stay so on top of everything here going into this season?

[Erin Andrews]

Well, it's really hard, especially with the news cycle being the way it is. I mean, with things breaking overnight, it's really, really hard. We usually get a packet sent to us every single day of most of the articles written about every team. We talk to a lot of players. We talk to a lot of coaches. We do conference calls with both teams that last usually about two to two and a half hours. Then we privately hold our own calls with players to get even more research. But for me, it's really, really important just because I've never played. I Don't know how to make an adjustment at half. I've seen enough and I've been around enough and I've had enough players tell me what's going on. But you just want to make sure you're as prepared as possible.

[Morgan Chesky]

Social media has absolutely changed the game. It's made everything 24 hours. Are you able to even carve out any time for yourself during the season?

[Erin Andrews]

Well, you have to, right? I mean, I'm a new mom. I have a 2 year old. I have a husband, a dog, a family. So, you know, they deserve my attention as well because I am gone probably three, sometimes four days out of the week. So you do have to be present. But I'm not gonna lie. In the background is always either an NFL game or an NFL show just to keep us updated. Good news is my husband doesn't mind.

[Morgan Chesky]

There are certain storylines that already have emerged to some degree, even before an official snap has been played. What are you kind of keying in on ahead of the season?

[Erin Andrews]

Well, I think, you know, the ones everybody else is like the Eagles, are they going to be able to repeat? Injuries are such a big thing. Want to keep Saquon Barkley upright? How is their defense going to build off what they did? They didn't lose much and they did lose their offensive coordinator. So that'll be interesting to see how they do with that. Kansas City, always a big story. I saw shots of Patrick Mahomes in camp the other day. People always make comments about his body, which is ridiculous. The guy has results on the field which people won't have. But getting over what happened in the Super Bowl, I was there. I've never seen the Chiefs body language, you know, vibe get beat like that before. The Aaron Rodgers, you know, storyline continues and I'm excited. I felt so bad for Aaron about the way his very first game with New York took place. You don't want to see a guy go out like that. So I'm looking forward to seeing what develops in Pittsburgh. So, yeah, those are just a couple of storylines. Are they going to get Micah Parsons done in Dallas? That's always a big storyline for us at Fox. So, yeah, just a. Just a few to name.

[Morgan Chesky]

You're going to be working alongside Tom Brady this year. Have you given him any tips as he begins this broadcasting career in his second season?

[Erin Andrews]

No, I, I don't give the goat any tips. I ask him for tips of how I could have fantastic European vacations like he does. That's the tip I want. Um, no, Tom is. Tom is the best on and off the field. We were all just together last week and just saying how excited we were for this year. He's only going to get that much better. You don't doubt the go. We're excited for a second season with him.

[Morgan Chesky]

For a guy who built his career on the little things, the preparation, you gotta think that translates pretty well to broadcasting.

[Erin Andrews]

He sees things that if even If I read 800 articles, he will see things so differently than I ever will. And it's still a really cool pinch yourself moment to sit in production meetings and, you know, hear his perspective and what he thinks and what he's heard. And you think to yourself, holy crap, I'm listening to Tom Brady as my coworker break it down. So it's pretty awesome.

[Morgan Chesky]

Any super bowl predictions this far out? And yes, I know how crazy that sounds, but I have to ask.

[Erin Andrews]

The good news about what I do for a living is I don't take the bait. I stay neutral. I have no idea what's going to happen. The NFL is the best reality show out there. No disrespect to Bravo or anything like that, but you never know what's going to happen every single day. It is a 24 hour news cycle every single day of the year. So no, I have no prediction because you don't know what the heck's gonna happen.

[Morgan Chesky]

Erin Andrews, thanks so much for making time.

[Erin Andrews]

Thank you. Thank you so much.

[Morgan Chesky]

All right, time now for some headlines. And we start with some new numbers on the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. It is now clear there's been a significant increase in both arrests and detentions. According to an ICE official, as of this week, a record 60,000 people are being held by authorities. Hey, this just in. It is still summer today. About 23 million of us are roasting under heat alerts from the west clear up to the northern bits of New England. But if you're dreaming of swapping that sweat for snow, the Farmers Almanac has a little be careful what you wish for moment. Their winter forecast is in and it's calling for a long stretch of cold for most of the country. And for my folks up there on the northern plains, if you're dreaming of a white Christmas, the almanac says you've got the best odds for a sleigh ride this year. That's the weather stateside. But across the pond in Europe, we're eyeballing a different kind of forecast. European glaciers are melting faster than anywhere else on the planet. New research in the science journal Nature finds European Glaciers lost about 4, 40% of their volume in the last 25 years. NBC News foreign correspondent Molly Hunter just visited the Stubai glacier in Austria.

[Erin Andrews]

One third of Austrian glaciers will vanish in the next five years, according to climate scientists. One of the other short term and very visible consequences of climate change and then of glacial melt is these huge rock slides. And we've been hearing it all day up here. It's kind of the soundtrack of being up here at 9,000ft as these rocks slides falling. But the bigger problem, which is what we've seen in recent weeks, is when those landslides, when those avalanches, those large mass alpine movements, which is what they call them, start to reach villages down on the valley floor.

[Morgan Chesky]

You can see the remarkable video and learn more about Molly's big [e-mail] okay, and now the moment so many of you have been waiting for.

[Brian Cheung]

Yep. What's in it?

[Erin Andrews]

This is my brand new album, the Life of a Showgirl.

[Morgan Chesky]

Yeah, that's pretty much exactly what the Internet sounded like too when Taylor Swift announced her new album the Life of a Showgirl on where else? The Kelce Brothers podcast New Heights early this morning. The drop was teased after a mysterious countdown appeared on Swift's website last night. But hey, let's be honest, real Swifties knew all this already. In fact, Taylor Swift has become such a force, even outsiders such as myself knew a new album was brewing. Swift just won her 14th Grammy in 2024, finished a two year long record breaking tour run. And get this, some of her heiress tour merch still going for hundreds of dollars on ebay. I mean it kind of makes me wonder when Taylor Swift actually rests and most of all how her fans wallets keep up. We'll just add this to the long list of reasons. While she'll sure doesn't seem that way.

[Brian Cheung]

That'S gonna do it for us.

[Morgan Chesky]

And here's the scoop from NBC News. Thanks for listening. We'll have a brand new episode right here come tomorrow. For NBC News, I'm Morgan Chesky, foreign over the helm of NBC nightly news. A 75 year old broadcast. It's a great responsibility. Good evening, I'm Tom Yamas. You have to go out there to bring people at home closer to the store.

[Brian Cheung]

Wildfires continue to be a threat.

[Morgan Chesky]

With that massive hurricane comes the massive response.

[Brian Cheung]

The best replacement in our business know how to listen.

[Morgan Chesky]

And when you listen, you get the truth.

[Brian Cheung]

For NBC News NBC News, I'm Tom Yamas. That's what we do every night.

[Morgan Chesky]

NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. Evenings on NBC.