NBC Meet the Press Meet the Press NOW — August 5
Aug 5, 2025
Peter Navarro, former senior counselor to President Trump, discusses the controversial firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner and the implications for labor data. He delves into Trump's trade strategies, including tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, aiming to boost domestic production. Meanwhile, Steve Kornacki highlights the intense redistricting crisis in Texas, where Democratic lawmakers are using evasion tactics to counter Republican efforts that may disenfranchise communities of color, sparking urgent discussions on transparency and accountability.
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Jobs Data Failure Criticism
- Peter Navarro claims the worst jobs report miss in 50 years indicated severe incompetence at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- He argues this failure warranted firing the commissioner and highlights prior data manipulation under Obama.
Critique of Federal Reserve Chair Powell
- Navarro calls Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell the worst in history due to multiple policy timing errors harming growth.
- He sees current high interest rates as an emergency suppressing jobs and increasing debt costs.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Strategy
- Navarro stresses the need to bring pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the US for strategic security.
- He warns relying on foreign sources risks vulnerability to blackmail despite possible short-term price increases.