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‘Textbook Authoritarianism’: Trump Nominee Faces Backlash Over Jobs Report Plan

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President Donald Trump’s pick to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Heritage Foundation economist E.J. Antoni, is facing backlash after reports that he would consider suspending the crucial monthly jobs report, calling it flawed.

“How on earth are businesses supposed to plan – or how is the Fed supposed to conduct monetary policy – when they don’t know how many jobs are being added or lost in our economy? It’s a serious problem that needs to be fixed immediately,” Antoni told Fox Business.

His solution is to publish the data less often—a move that could send shockwaves through the business world.

“Until it is corrected, the BLS should suspend issuing the monthly job reports but keep publishing the more accurate, though less timely, quarterly data,” he said. “Major decision-makers from Wall Street to D.C. rely on these numbers, and a lack of confidence in the data has far-reaching consequences.”

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President Trump fired the previous Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, after the BLS released downward revisions of more than 250,000 for April and May.

“I was just informed that our Country’s ‘Jobs Numbers’ are being produced by a Biden Appointee, Dr. Erika McEntarfer,” Trump wrote in an August 1 social media post, baselessly accusing her of having “faked the Jobs Numbers before the Election to try and boost Kamala’s chances of Victory.”

The 141-year-old Bureau of Labor Statistics is an independent statistical agency and part of the U.S. Department of Labor. Installing what critics are calling a highly partisan commissioner would be unprecedented in modern times.

Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich issued a warning: “The independence of the Bureau of Labor Statistics is vital. If politicized, it can’t be trusted as a source of information. Who did Trump just put in charge of the agency? E.J. Antoni — chief economist at the Heritage Foundation and contributor to Project 2025.”

“On top of being the Heritage Foundation’s Chief Economist, E.J. Antoni is literally the 5th Contributor named in Project 2025,” noted journalist Ahmed Baba. “You can’t make this up. Trump is seeking to put the BLS — and America’s economic data — in the hands of a Project 2025 extremist.”

READ MORE: Trump Melts Down Over Elizabeth Warren’s Accusations

Economics writer Joey Politano wrote: “An ‘economist’ so dumb I had to explain to him how the import price index works last month will now lead the BLS…”

Former Obama White House Chief Economist Jason Furman, a professor of economics remarked: “I don’t think I have ever publicly criticized any Presidential nominee before. But E.J. Antoni is completely unqualified to be BLS Commissioner. He is an extreme partisan and does not have any relevant expertise. He would be a break from decades of nonpartisan technocrats.”

The Atlantic’s Dr. Norman Ornstein, a political scientist warned: “Be sure to absorb the latest inflation and jobs reports from BLS. They are the last accurate ones you will see at least for the next 3+ years.”

U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) wrote: “Installing a crank economist to only publish favorable or distorted data on the economy (inflation, jobs numbers, etc.)  Textbook authoritarianism – mum from my GOP colleagues.”

“Can’t have bad jobs numbers if there are no jobs numbers,” snarked Aaron Fritschner, Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA).

READ MORE: Supreme Court Asked to Overturn Landmark Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

 

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‘Real Mental Problems’: Trump Calls for Firing Fed Chair

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November 19, 2025

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President Donald Trump unleashed another attack on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, calling for the firing of the independent agency chief who has just months left in his term. Experts this week suggested eroding the Fed’s independence could trigger stagflation.

In a speech at the U.S.—Saudi Investment Forum on Wednesday, President Trump urged his Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, to “work on” getting Powell to lower interest rates. Experts warn that lowering interest rates inappropriately could lead to even higher inflation.

“He’s got some real mental problems,” Trump told the audience at the Kennedy Center, referring to Powell. “He’s — something wrong with him.”

READ MORE: FBI Declared LGBTQ Pride Flag ‘Political Signage’ in Letter Firing Employee: Lawsuit

“I’d be honest, I’d love to fire his a –. He should be fired. Guy’s grossly incompetent,” Trump charged. “And he should be sued for spending $4 billion to build a little building. I’m building a ballroom that’s gonna cost a tiny fraction of that, and it’s bigger than the whole thing put together.”

Trump was referring to the renovations at the Federal Reserve. The Fed does not rely on tax dollars for its operations.

“You gotta work at him, Scott,” Trump continued from the podium. “The only thing Scott’s blowing it on is the Fed. Because the Fed, the rates are too high, Scott. And if you don’t get it fixed fast, I’m gonna fire your a –, okay?”

READ MORE: GOP Senator: Patients Should Shop for Health Care Like They Buy Shampoo

Critics weighed in on Trump’s attack.

“If you are a single-issue ‘affordability’ voter, this should be concerning,” remarked Catherine Rampell, the economics editor for The Bulwark.

Andrew Ackerman, who covers the Fed for The Washington Post, appeared to mock the president: “Trump: I want to fire Jay Powell but Scott Bessent won’t let me.”

READ MORE: ‘Stunning Moment’: Trump Defends MBS While Ignoring CIA’s Khashoggi Murder Assessment

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FBI Declared LGBTQ Pride Flag ‘Political Signage’ in Letter Firing Employee: Lawsuit

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3 hours ago

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November 19, 2025

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An FBI employee has filed a First Amendment civil lawsuit alleging he was fired for displaying an LGBTQ pride flag near his desk. The flag reportedly was presented to him after it was flown outside the Bureau’s field office in Los Angeles. According to the lawsuit, his dismissal notice, signed by Director Kash Patel, claimed the flag was “an inappropriate display of political signage.”

David Maltinsky, a 16-year FBI veteran who was just weeks away from being promoted to agent status, claimed his firing was unlawful and sent a “ripple of fear” through LGBTQ employees at the FBI.

“I have determined that you exercised poor judgment with an inappropriate display of political signage in your work area during your previous assignment at the Los Angeles Field Office,” the letter reads, according to a CBS News exclusive report. “Pursuant to Article II of the United States Constitution and the laws of the United States, your employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigation is hereby terminated.”

READ MORE: GOP Senator: Patients Should Shop for Health Care Like They Buy Shampoo

Maltinsky is suing to have his job restored. In the lawsuit, Maltinsky alleges that a complaint was filed against him on President Donald Trump’s first day in office this year.

“We’re not the enemy and we’re not some political mob,” Maltinsky told CBS News. “We’re proud members of the FBI, and we have a mission to do. We go to work every day to do it.”

“The ripple effect of fear has been felt. Many gay colleagues have removed Pride flags from their desks, allies have removed Pride flags from their desk,” he added.

MS NOW last month reported that Maltinsky’s termination letter was “sent on the first day of a nationwide government shutdown that created job uncertainty throughout the federal workforce.”

Maltinsky had “won an Attorney General’s Award in 2022 in recognition of his work, according to a Justice Department news release.”

READ MORE: ‘Stunning Moment’: Trump Defends MBS While Ignoring CIA’s Khashoggi Murder Assessment

 

Image by Tony Webster via Wikimedia Commons and a CC license

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GOP Senator: Patients Should Shop for Health Care Like They Buy Shampoo

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4 hours ago

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November 19, 2025

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Now that President Donald Trump has said he will not sign any legislation to allow Affordable Care Act subsidies to be reinstated next year, Republican lawmakers are looking for ways to implement the president’s goal of giving funds directly to Americans instead of insurance companies.

One Republican lawmaker, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana — a medical doctor — shared his idea for how the system might work.

Senator Cassidy is the powerful chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and has sway over health care decisions. He also cast a decisive vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

READ MORE: Economist Sounds Stagflation Alarm as Food Costs Rise Under Trump

Cassidy compared making health care decisions to a shopper at a grocery or drug store.

“By giving the patient the money herself, though, she becomes a wiser consumer,” Senator Cassidy told Fox News on Wednesday.

“And just think about it. If she goes and gets two types of shampoo and one’s a dollar cheaper, she’ll get the cheaper one,” he said. “And the other one lowers their price.”

“Once you give her the power of having the purse, the power of making the decision, she’s gonna shop, get the lower price,” he insisted. “That begins to save her money and squeeze fat and waste out of the healthcare system that ultimately translates into lower premiums.”

Cassidy praised the shopping around for lower priced health care as the “first step in lowering healthcare costs.”

READ MORE: ‘Stunning Moment’: Trump Defends MBS While Ignoring CIA’s Khashoggi Murder Assessment

 

Image via Wikimedia Commons/ Public domain

 

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