Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Louis Johnston

@ldjeconomics.bsky.social

320 followers 680 following 530 posts

William E. and Virginia Clemens Professor of Economics and the Liberal Arts at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University. Telling the stories of Minnesota's economy, past and present. https://www.csbsju.edu/economics/person/louis-johnston/

www.csbsju.edu

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · Feb 17

From @timothysnyder.bsky.social

1 2 10

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · 2d

Join us tomorrow night!

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · 3d

Happy Sputnik Day!

www.minnpost.com/macro-micro-...

Enjoy the Internet, GPS or student loans? Then you should celebrate Sputnik Day - MinnPost

Fifty-seven years later, the moon landing is only the most conspicuous result of Sputnik’s launch.

www.minnpost.com

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · 15d

"Linking tens of thousands of ``orphan train'' riders and comparable non-relocated children to Census records through 1940, we find no systematic evidence that relocation itself improved adult economic outcomes."
www.nber.org/papers/w34282

Riding to Opportunity: Geographic and Household Effects from the Orphan Trains

Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...

www.nber.org

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · 16d

Menzie is making an important point about recession dating. Read his post, then read how the NBER dates recessions: www.nber.org/research/bus...

Reposted by Louis Johnston

Ed Belongia MD @belongia.bsky.social · 18d

"No vaccine was tested more extensively than the RNA vaccines, and no vaccine was given to more people than the mRNA vaccines, & they were found to be incredibly safe...and effective. They saved 20 million lives, & they stopped a pandemic that was shutting down the world."
-Drew Weissman

Matthew Herper @matthewherper.bsky.social · 18d

Winner of mRNA Nobel Prize says ACIP member’s claim that Covid vaccines persist is “absolutely impossible”

In Q&A, Drew Weissman says vast literature shows Covid shots are safe, refutes claims from Retsef Levi
www.statnews.com/2025/09/20/d...

Winner of mRNA Nobel Prize says ACIP member’s claim that Covid vaccines persist is “absolutely impossible”

In a Q&A with STAT, Nobel winner Drew Weissman addressed concerns raised about Covid shots at a recent meeting of federal vaccine advisers.

www.statnews.com

5 160 520

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · 18d

Thanks, @tptalmanac.bsky.social, for the opportunity to talk about current economic issues (Fed, labor markets, farm economy, railroads)
www.tpt.org/almanac/vide...

Almanac - The Fed Lowers Interest Rates - Twin Cities PBS

Economics professor Louis Johnston talks interest rates, job reports and more.

www.tpt.org

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · 19d

Got mine today...

Why seniors who want covid shots should consider getting one this week

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Analysis | Why seniors who want covid shots should consider getting one this week

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is weighing changes to coronavirus vaccine recommendations that could make it harder for some seniors to access them.

www.washingtonpost.com

1 3

Reposted by Louis Johnston

Jack Speer @jackspeer1.bsky.social · 23d

Before you amp up the vitriol on this issue, on either side of the political spectrum , you might want to watch a true leader dealing the country’s divide more than 50 years ago. Sadly Americans ignored his message. Hopefully not again. youtu.be/A2kWIa8wSC0

Indianapolis, 1968: Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King and a historic call for peace

YouTube video by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights

youtu.be

1 2

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · 29d

Minnesota economy news:
www.startribune.com/minnesota-st...

Minnesota Star Tribune to sell Minneapolis printing plant, lay off 125 workers

The state’s largest media company will continue printing 7 days a week, but will outsource printing to Iowa.

www.startribune.com

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · Sep 4

Reposted by Louis Johnston

Joseph Zeballos-Roig @josephzeballos.bsky.social · Sep 4

Former top Fed official Sarah Bloom Raskin to me on Miran keeping a foot in WH if he serves at the Fed:

“This dual-reporting structure is exactly the opposite of independence. I would predict that a clear-eyed Senate would view this proposed arrangement as… a show stopper” qz.com/stephen-mira...

Trump's pick for key Fed slot won't give up White House job

Stephen Miran says he’ll take only unpaid leave from the White House if confirmed to the FOMC — a plan a former official called “the opposite of independence”

qz.com

6 28 95

Reposted by Louis Johnston

Michael Clemens @mclem.org · Sep 4

Every American should read this. Americans are wise and we can recognize the voice of nonpartisan integrity. Purging our public service of people like Susan Monarez will harm all Americans.

Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · Sep 4

Blistering op-ed by fired CDC director Susan Monarez: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC and Me

Opinion | Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC and Me

I was fired after 29 days because I held the line and insisted on rigorous scientific review.

www.wsj.com

13 41

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · Sep 2

You bet I signed!

See who else did: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

1 5

Reposted by Louis Johnston

Adam S. Hersh, Ph.D. @ahecon.bsky.social · Sep 2

Nearly 600 economists, Nobel Laureates sign open letter supporting due process for Lisa Cook and Federal Reserve independence for the good of our economy and democracy. Great work from @tderyugina.bsky.social organizing such a quick response. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Over 450 Economists Back Cook, Fed Independence in Open Letter

Prominent economists are rallying behind Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook after President Donald Trump moved to fire her based on allegations that she committed mortgage fraud.

www.bloomberg.com

5 100 260

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · Aug 31

Applies to social science too...

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/s...

Historians See Autocratic Playbook in Trump’s Attacks on Science

www.nytimes.com

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · Aug 31

Well that makes me feel better 🙄“he has advocated eliminating the Federal Reserve and returning to a gold-backed standard for currency.”

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

How Trump picked a pro-MAGA, Heritage Foundation economist for BLS

President Trump’s pick for Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, E.J. Antoni, has been backed by Trump adviser Stephen Moore and Stephen K. Bannon.

www.washingtonpost.com

1 2

Reposted by Louis Johnston

Liz (or Lizzie) Kim 김혜성 💫 @lizzielizliz.bsky.social · Aug 28

Mayor Brandon of Chicago responds to a question from a reporter if pushing back will make things harder?

“Can you imagine if my ancestors would have had the same rationale? Let’s not fight against the Confederacy. Let’s just try to get along, and maybe one day they’ll give us our freedom?”

73 1.6K 5.4K

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · Aug 27

Happy birthday, Walter Heller! @hellerhurwicz.bsky.social
Remembering Minnesota’s Mr. Economics, Walter Heller www.minnpost.com/macro-micro-...

Remembering Minnesota’s Mr. Economics, Walter Heller - MinnPost

He had a profound influence on macroeconomic policy that continues to this day.

www.minnpost.com

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · Aug 27

Local economy news:
www.startribune.com/bluestem-lay...

Bluestem, parent company of Fingerhut, to close St. Cloud hub

Wednesday’s announcement includes 118 layoffs in St. Cloud, as well as 19 at the headquarters in Eden Prairie.

www.startribune.com

Reposted by Louis Johnston

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · Aug 27

YELLEN: “.. Trump’s attempted sacking of Cook should be met with outrage, not with shrugs. .. And the financial community must raise its voice against a direct assault on the credibility of the dollar itself.”

@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/d2ea...

39 230 760

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · Aug 26

www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · Aug 26

He has no idea what he's talking about...

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Aug 26

Lutnick: "The Department of Commerce is going to start issuing its statistics on the blockchain, because you are the crypto president."

Louis Johnston @ldjeconomics.bsky.social · Aug 26

open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...

1 1

Reposted by Louis Johnston

Ben Casselman @bencasselman.bsky.social · Aug 26

Just received this statement from Lisa Cook:
"President Trump purported to fire me 'for cause' when no cause exists under the law, and he has no authority to do so. I will not resign. I will continue to carry out my duties to help the American economy as I have been doing since 2022."

Ben Casselman @bencasselman.bsky.social · Aug 26

President Trump said he is firing Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve governor, "effective immediately." It's his most direct assault yet on Fed independence -- and a step that it is far from clear he can legally take.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/u... #EconSky

Trump Says He Is Removing Lisa Cook From Federal Reserve Board

www.nytimes.com

81 1.4K 4.7K