Ben Passty
@economicimpact.bsky.social
I study the economy, but I enjoy the vibe here. Posts also describe the daily lessons I learn—unintentionally—from the remarkable young humans in my house.
One more thing to worry about!
Space news is the best. Like, what do you mean there's a runaway supermassive black hole 10 million times bigger than the sun moving through space at 2 million miles per hour www.space.com/astronomy/bl...
James Webb Space Telescope confirms 1st 'runaway' supermassive black hole rocketing through 'Cosmic Owl' galaxies at 2.2 million mph: 'It boggles the mind!'
"The forces that are needed to dislodge such a massive black hole from its home are enormous."
www.space.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:32 PM
One more thing to worry about!
Reposted by Ben Passty
It appear that BLS made a big judgment error in its shelter calculation (effectively assuming 0 in October), leading to inflation understated.
It is, however, very unlikely this error was political. If anything the opposite: they stuck to algorithm rather than using judgment.
It is, however, very unlikely this error was political. If anything the opposite: they stuck to algorithm rather than using judgment.
December 18, 2025 at 2:59 PM
It appear that BLS made a big judgment error in its shelter calculation (effectively assuming 0 in October), leading to inflation understated.
It is, however, very unlikely this error was political. If anything the opposite: they stuck to algorithm rather than using judgment.
It is, however, very unlikely this error was political. If anything the opposite: they stuck to algorithm rather than using judgment.
Reposted by Ben Passty
BREAKING: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ discharge petition has reached 218 signatures, clearing the threshold needed to force a vote on a clean, three-year extension of Obamacare premium subsidies.
December 17, 2025 at 3:08 PM
BREAKING: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ discharge petition has reached 218 signatures, clearing the threshold needed to force a vote on a clean, three-year extension of Obamacare premium subsidies.
Reposted by Ben Passty
One of the biggest moments of my career:
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
December 16, 2025 at 3:21 PM
One of the biggest moments of my career:
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
Reposted by Ben Passty
Breaking news: The U.S. labor market lost 41,000 jobs over October and November, and the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.6 percent, the highest since 2021, underscoring concerns about the strength of the economy.
Labor market lost 41,000 jobs over October, November; unemployment rate up
The labor market cool down continued this fall, according to new jobs numbers released on a delayed scheduled by the Labor Department.
wapo.st
December 16, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Breaking news: The U.S. labor market lost 41,000 jobs over October and November, and the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.6 percent, the highest since 2021, underscoring concerns about the strength of the economy.
Wow!
Rob Reiner: I'm going to make a coming of age drama, a fantasy adventure story, a romantic comedy, a psychological horror and then a courtroom drama.
Us: Across your entire career?
Reiner: In a 6 year period.
Us: That sounds-
Reiner: -Each one will be arguably the best movie in that genre.
Us: Across your entire career?
Reiner: In a 6 year period.
Us: That sounds-
Reiner: -Each one will be arguably the best movie in that genre.
December 15, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Wow!
Reposted by Ben Passty
Happy (or not-so-happy) JOLTS Day to all who celebrate.
December 9, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Happy (or not-so-happy) JOLTS Day to all who celebrate.
Is there any accountability for Cruz lying like this?
December 3, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Is there any accountability for Cruz lying like this?
Reposted by Ben Passty
TODAY IS THE DAY!
GET OUT AND VOTE. Polls are open 7 AM - 7 PM
WE GOT THIS!!!!!!
GET OUT AND VOTE. Polls are open 7 AM - 7 PM
WE GOT THIS!!!!!!
December 2, 2025 at 11:59 AM
TODAY IS THE DAY!
GET OUT AND VOTE. Polls are open 7 AM - 7 PM
WE GOT THIS!!!!!!
GET OUT AND VOTE. Polls are open 7 AM - 7 PM
WE GOT THIS!!!!!!
Reposted by Ben Passty
Leavitt keeps saying we did good under laws of war.
We are not at war.
We are not at war.
We're not at war.
It's murder, not a war crime.
It's murder, not a war crime.
December 1, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Leavitt keeps saying we did good under laws of war.
We are not at war.
We are not at war.
Thread
Affordability is dominating the discourse. What I don't like about the conversation is that it focuses almost entirely on prices—as if the only way to make life affordable is to make things cheaper. But affordability is determined by prices *and pay.* 1/
December 1, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Thread
Reposted by Ben Passty
November 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Reposted by Ben Passty
Profile in Progress: Kate Compton Barr, U.S. House, NC-14, 2026: Kate Barr filed to challenge Tim Moore in the GOP primary for NC-14, flipping her “can’t win” theory into the only contest that counts: the primary.
@cantwinvictoryfund.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/twvme/p/...
@cantwinvictoryfund.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/twvme/p/...
Profile in Progress: Kate Compton Barr, U.S. House, NC-14, 2026
Kate Barr filed to challenge Tim Moore in the GOP primary for NC-14, flipping her “can’t win” theory into the only contest that counts: the primary.
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Profile in Progress: Kate Compton Barr, U.S. House, NC-14, 2026: Kate Barr filed to challenge Tim Moore in the GOP primary for NC-14, flipping her “can’t win” theory into the only contest that counts: the primary.
@cantwinvictoryfund.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/twvme/p/...
@cantwinvictoryfund.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/twvme/p/...
Reposted by Ben Passty
The subtext in JD Vance asking for "patience" on the economy: When leaders stop talking about current conditions and jump straight to rosy forecasts, they’re signaling the present isn’t defensible. That’s your cue to scrutinize the numbers, not just the narrative.
November 25, 2025 at 10:56 PM
The subtext in JD Vance asking for "patience" on the economy: When leaders stop talking about current conditions and jump straight to rosy forecasts, they’re signaling the present isn’t defensible. That’s your cue to scrutinize the numbers, not just the narrative.
Reposted by Ben Passty
Then: How did {wildly silly and incompetent person} ever get appointed to {position of power}?
Now, as I reach the age typical of people in {position of power}: Oh.
Now, as I reach the age typical of people in {position of power}: Oh.
November 25, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Then: How did {wildly silly and incompetent person} ever get appointed to {position of power}?
Now, as I reach the age typical of people in {position of power}: Oh.
Now, as I reach the age typical of people in {position of power}: Oh.
Reposted by Ben Passty
#GVerse #KingResist #Unite #FBaRmy
We stand with these #Veterans
🇺🇸Jason Crow
🇺🇸Chris Deluzio
🇺🇸Maggie Goodlander
🇺🇸Chrissy Houlahan
🇺🇸 Mark Kelly
🇺🇸 Elissa Slotkin
This is what courage looks like.
@kingresist.bsky.social
@coko.bsky.social
@katarinakriz.bsky.social
@browneyegirlhi.bsky.social
We stand with these #Veterans
🇺🇸Jason Crow
🇺🇸Chris Deluzio
🇺🇸Maggie Goodlander
🇺🇸Chrissy Houlahan
🇺🇸 Mark Kelly
🇺🇸 Elissa Slotkin
This is what courage looks like.
@kingresist.bsky.social
@coko.bsky.social
@katarinakriz.bsky.social
@browneyegirlhi.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
#GVerse #KingResist #Unite #FBaRmy
We stand with these #Veterans
🇺🇸Jason Crow
🇺🇸Chris Deluzio
🇺🇸Maggie Goodlander
🇺🇸Chrissy Houlahan
🇺🇸 Mark Kelly
🇺🇸 Elissa Slotkin
This is what courage looks like.
@kingresist.bsky.social
@coko.bsky.social
@katarinakriz.bsky.social
@browneyegirlhi.bsky.social
We stand with these #Veterans
🇺🇸Jason Crow
🇺🇸Chris Deluzio
🇺🇸Maggie Goodlander
🇺🇸Chrissy Houlahan
🇺🇸 Mark Kelly
🇺🇸 Elissa Slotkin
This is what courage looks like.
@kingresist.bsky.social
@coko.bsky.social
@katarinakriz.bsky.social
@browneyegirlhi.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Passty
November 20: We've updated our Labor Market spider chart to reflect September data from BLS: atlfed.org/4825XG9 #labor
November 20, 2025 at 8:03 PM
November 20: We've updated our Labor Market spider chart to reflect September data from BLS: atlfed.org/4825XG9 #labor
Reposted by Ben Passty
The labor market is not falling off a cliff, but it is loosening. With an unemployment rate at 4.44% and rising we think the Fed moves ahead with a third risk management rate cut in December to get policy closer to neutral
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The labor market is not falling off a cliff, but it is loosening. With an unemployment rate at 4.44% and rising we think the Fed moves ahead with a third risk management rate cut in December to get policy closer to neutral
Reposted by Ben Passty
24. As long as Trump was a victim – as long as he represented the heroic victimhood of “the nation” – he could be forgiven for anything, even crimes that ultimately hurt his followers.
November 19, 2025 at 12:33 PM
24. As long as Trump was a victim – as long as he represented the heroic victimhood of “the nation” – he could be forgiven for anything, even crimes that ultimately hurt his followers.
Reposted by Ben Passty
Nigeria's elimination from World Cup qualifying means eight of the 10 most populous nations will not be at the tournament ❌
With the USA taking a host-nation berth, only one of the 10 countries with the world's biggest populations actually qualified 🤯
With the USA taking a host-nation berth, only one of the 10 countries with the world's biggest populations actually qualified 🤯
November 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Nigeria's elimination from World Cup qualifying means eight of the 10 most populous nations will not be at the tournament ❌
With the USA taking a host-nation berth, only one of the 10 countries with the world's biggest populations actually qualified 🤯
With the USA taking a host-nation berth, only one of the 10 countries with the world's biggest populations actually qualified 🤯
Reposted by Ben Passty
Red and Blue Composition, by Ad Reinhardt, 1941 (flipped), 📸 by Andrew Mordzynski
November 17, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Red and Blue Composition, by Ad Reinhardt, 1941 (flipped), 📸 by Andrew Mordzynski
This is one of the smartest men I’ve met letting young people know that they have this opportunity abroad
FWIW Americans can go to college in Sweden, studying in English, while enjoying things like safety, gender equality, quality of life, and constitutional rights – and without breaking the bank: utbildning.su.se/english/educ...
November 13, 2025 at 5:07 PM
This is one of the smartest men I’ve met letting young people know that they have this opportunity abroad
Reposted by Ben Passty
I can't tell you how many interviews I've done where I've been asked: If Trump's policies are so problematic, why are U.S. stocks rising so rapidly.
A bit of international context illustrates the real issue here.
U.S. stocks have dramatically underperformed other advanced economies.
A bit of international context illustrates the real issue here.
U.S. stocks have dramatically underperformed other advanced economies.
November 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I can't tell you how many interviews I've done where I've been asked: If Trump's policies are so problematic, why are U.S. stocks rising so rapidly.
A bit of international context illustrates the real issue here.
U.S. stocks have dramatically underperformed other advanced economies.
A bit of international context illustrates the real issue here.
U.S. stocks have dramatically underperformed other advanced economies.
Reposted by Ben Passty
15. There are consequences to obeying a criminal president who:
*posts AI videos of himself shitting on ppl
*rips families apart & terrorizes neighborhoods
*murders fishermen under guise of law
*knocks down part of WH to put up a gold-gilded ballroom; *and withholds food while holding parties.
*posts AI videos of himself shitting on ppl
*rips families apart & terrorizes neighborhoods
*murders fishermen under guise of law
*knocks down part of WH to put up a gold-gilded ballroom; *and withholds food while holding parties.
November 7, 2025 at 2:08 PM
15. There are consequences to obeying a criminal president who:
*posts AI videos of himself shitting on ppl
*rips families apart & terrorizes neighborhoods
*murders fishermen under guise of law
*knocks down part of WH to put up a gold-gilded ballroom; *and withholds food while holding parties.
*posts AI videos of himself shitting on ppl
*rips families apart & terrorizes neighborhoods
*murders fishermen under guise of law
*knocks down part of WH to put up a gold-gilded ballroom; *and withholds food while holding parties.