How Trump firing a data chief threatens jobs-stats credibility

About this episode

<p>Trump <a href="https://apple.news/A558t6Jf6ShGcK31irBh0Vg">fired a key official</a> after she delivered some bad news about jobs numbers. Courtenay Brown with <a href="https://apple.news/A2ghZf-QBSbiHf1qEdxA5xg">Axios</a> explains what that means for the credibility of government statistics, and unpacks what we learned about the U.S. economy from last week&rsquo;s flurry of news.</p> <p>As Trump pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine, many thousands of children taken from the country to Russia are still missing. Simon Shuster, a senior correspondent at <a href="https://apple.news/A-qT-mcYUQhaoZdAPEHQ50g">Time</a>, joins to discuss his reporting.</p> <p>It&rsquo;s been one month since severe rain and flash floods overwhelmed Texas Hill Country and killed at least 135 people. During public hearings, state lawmakers have scrutinized the official disaster response and heard from <a href="https://apple.news/AynGkhZd1SNGBsDGy2Pbppw">survivors</a>. Emily Foxhall with the <a href="https://apple.news/AuIGDS9szR4aEIl3yFHtkUg">Texas Tribune</a> unpacks the key takeaways.</p> <p>Plus, Hamas released videos of emaciated Israeli <a href="https://apple.news/AoIrYc_IiRhCrvtlGnyRhVQ">hostages</a>, why state lawmakers in <a href="https://apple.news/Agnz6dDNSS8WgnJmufCJXBw">Texas</a> are temporarily fleeing, and the Russian region shaken by an earthquake is now <a href="https://apple.news/AHUkURQ4KSaaD4Jok7qF6Sg">contending with a volcano</a>.</p> <p>Today&rsquo;s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.</p> <p><em>Correction:&nbsp;President Trump&rsquo;s new tariffs will take effect on Thursday, Aug. 7.&nbsp;A previous version of this episode said&nbsp;they will&nbsp;take effect&nbsp;on&nbsp;Friday, Aug. 8.</em></p>