NBC Meet the Press August 3 — Kevin Hassett and Sen. Alex Padilla
10 snips
Aug 3, 2025 
Kevin Hassett, former Director of the White House National Economic Council, delves into the political implications of President Trump's decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics amid disappointing jobs reports. Meanwhile, Senator Alex Padilla discusses California's strategic response to Texas' redistricting moves. The conversation touches on trust in economic data, the Democratic Party's internal struggles, and broader issues like immigration and federal funding disparities. It's a gripping exploration of the intertwining realities of politics and economics.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump Fires BLS Head Over Jobs Data
- President Trump fired the BLS commissioner after a weak jobs report and downward revisions to prior months' data.
- Administration claims big revisions indicate unreliable numbers, not direct evidence of rigging.
BLS Data Preparation Is Independent
- The commissioner of BLS does not influence pre-release job data numbers; they're finalized before review.
- Firing the commissioner is essentially 'shooting the messenger' for delivering unwanted news.
Tariff Strategy Targets Fairness
- President Trump's administration is pushing tariffs on countries like the UK, Japan, and EU while negotiating deals with them.
- Canada faces higher tariffs due to lack of deal, reflecting the administration's demand for 'fairness'.