What A Day Why Trump’s Economy is Weird AF
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May 14, 2025 
Ben Casselman, the Chief Economics Correspondent for The New York Times, dives into the perplexing state of the U.S. economy. He reveals the disconnect between rising consumer anxiety and optimistic economic indicators, despite lingering fears of recession. Casselman discusses the impact of President Trump's tariffs and how they shape public sentiment versus hard data. The conversation also touches on significant political moves, like easing sanctions on Syria and the complexities surrounding Afghan refugees. Get ready for a whirlwind tour of economic trends!
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Economic Sentiment vs. Data Disconnect
- Economic sentiment indicators like consumer and business confidence have tanked recently.
- However, hard economic data such as spending and hiring remain relatively strong, causing a disconnect.
Economic Data Lags Reality
- Economic data inherently lags real-world events, causing confusion during rapid changes.
- This lag makes it hard to anticipate immediate recession signals, similar to early COVID pandemic dynamics.
Policy Changes Shape Economic Feelings
- Rapid, changing policies affect public economic perceptions before hard data shifts.
- If tariffs are removed soon, the confusing economic signals might dissipate without major impact.