Economic mixed messages

Plus: lesser-known presidential candidates in N.H. and a busy week at DOJ

View this email online December 9, 2023 This week, we looked at the partisan politics of the economy, lesser-known presidential candidates and Trump's trials. The Big Picture: Economic Mixed Messages Mario Tama/Getty Images The economy’s good. The economy’s bad. It depends on who you ask — and increasingly which party is in the White House when you ask.  It was yet another strong jobs report Friday, exceeding expectations. Almost 200,000 jobs were created last month and unemployment dropped to 3.7%. People are spending at a record rate this holiday shopping season, $38 billion between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, up 8% from a year ago.  Despite all that, pessimism reigns. Polls have found just 1 in 5 rate the economy as either excellent or good. There are huge divides by party on the question of the economy, and there’s a stark switch that’s been taking place when there’s a new administration, especially among Republicans.  But the economic pessimism can’t simply be dismissed as all politics. Inflation has come down from double-digit highs last summer, but that doesn’t mean costs have come down, only that they’ve started to level off. Housing costs in many parts of the country remain high, and one of the tools for inflation declining – the Federal Reserve hiking interest rates substantially – has led directly to making buying a home significantly more difficult. How much stuff costs is always going to be top of mind for voters – and there's no easy solution politically. Biden and his campaign team have to hope that inflation continues to recede, the Fed becomes confident enough in the fundamentals of the economy to lower rates, and people feel a loosening of the pinch on their wallets in an election year. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent Read More Newsletter continues after sponsor message ICYMI: Top Stories Tamara Keith/NPR Espionage, assassination plots and war crimes: Merrick Garland’s had a lot on his plate lately. The Department of Justice this week announced war crimes charges against four Russian soldiers for alleged torture of an American citizen in Ukraine, and the arrest of a former U.S. ambassador on charges of working for Cuban intelligence services. Both of these come after last week’s arrest of a man allegedly plotting to kill an American citizen at the behest of a government official in india. We look at each of the cases on this episode of the NPR Politics Podcast. The lesser knowns make their pitch: NPR’s Tamara Keith made a trip to Manchester, N.H., and sent back a dispatch about one of the state’s best traditions: the Lesser-Known Candidate Forum. As the state gears up for the primary, the forum gives under-the-radar presidential candidates an opportunity to make their case to Granite Staters as to why they should head to the White House.  And then there were four (plus Trump): Four Republican candidates took to the stage on Wednesday in Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the fourth GOP debate. Nikki Haley got a lot of the limelight from her male competitors, who attacked the former U.N. ambassador as she’s risen in the polls and nabbed a crucial endorsement from the Koch network’s Americans for Prosperity Action.   Funding for Ukraine fails: The Senate has failed to move forward with approving funding for Ukraine and Israel over disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over border funding, despite warnings from President Biden that doing so would strengthen Russian President Vladimir Putin. "This cannot wait," Biden said. "Frankly, I think it's stunning that we got to this point in the first place." Trump’s plans for a possible second term: Former President Donald Trump has laid bare his plans for how he’d run things should he head back to the White House. His plan includes a restructuring of government agencies, making a large swath of government workers “at-will employees” and expanding his executive powers -- as well as overhauling the Justice Department to punish opponents. -- Jeongyoon Han, NPR Politics editorial assistant Help Keep the Conversations Going.   Support the NPR Network and stand for trustworthy journalism that keeps you informed, enlightened, and connected. Your donation fuels in-depth reporting, unbiased insights, and thought-provoking stories that matter.  Join us in sustaining an essential source of knowledge and perspective for a brighter future. Act now with your support today.  Donate Going Deeper: Trump's Trials Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images Each week in NPR's Trump Trials podcast, Scott Detrow and Domenico Montanaro break down what’s happened – and what’s upcoming – in the legal cases facing former President Donald Trump. 🎧 Visit Trump's Trials episode page to get caught up. Today’s episode, which will land this afternoon, looks at Trump’s push for cameras in the courtroom for the special counsel’s election interference case -- as well as the recent fate of fake electors who sought to improperly overturn the 2020 presidential election results. — Heidi Glenn, NPR digital editor The Shot: An Uphill Battle To The 2028 Olympics Alan Nakkash For NPR The Haudenosaunee Nationals -- a team of Indigenous lacrosse players who compete internationally -- would become the first Indigenous nation to secure an Olympic berth, if the International Olympic Committee allows them to compete. As NPR's Lexie Schapitl writes, they're not currently eligible for the Olympic games, because they don't represent a country with a national Olympics Committee -- and the IOC has resisted amending its rules. At the White House's Tribal Nations Summit on Wednesday, President Biden said he hopes the Haudenosaunee can be an exception. "Their ancestors invented the game. They perfected it for millenia. Their circumstances are unique. And they should be granted an exception to field their own team at the Olympics," Biden said. — Heidi Glenn, NPR digital editor Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from St. Louis Public Radio (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprpolitics@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! 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