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LetMyPeopleVote

(177,554 posts)
4. Maddowblog-White House eyes punishments for economists who told the truth about tariffs, consumers
Wed Feb 18, 2026, 05:52 PM
Wednesday

Donald Trump’s top economist didn’t just disagree with consensus economic research, he also suggested he wants to see researchers “disciplined.”



https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/white-house-eyes-punishments-for-economists-who-told-the-truth-about-tariffs-consumers

Unfortunately for the White House, almost a year after Trump advanced his tariffs agenda, experts have scrutinized the evidence and concluded that their predictions were correct. From the Congressional Budget Office to international scholars to the National Bureau of Economic Research, all of the available data points in the same direction: American consumers, not foreign companies, are paying more as a result of the Republican president’s policy.

Last week, still more evidence emerged. Research published by economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Columbia University found that, through last fall, 90% of the economic burden from Trump’s tariffs fell on Americans, not foreigners.....

The trouble is, Team Trump doesn’t want economists and researchers to make reality clear.

Hassett on new study from NY Fed showing 90% of tariff burden is being shouldered by US firms & consumers: "The paper is an embarrassment. It's I think the worst paper I've ever seen in the history of the Fed system. The people associated with this paper should presumably be disciplined."

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-02-18T14:18:16.156Z


....Justin Wolfers, an economist at the University of Michigan, mocked Hassett’s on-air comments, writing via Bluesky, “Happy Kevin wants economists to be disciplined by their bosses for contradicting the regime’s understanding of The Truth.”

Paul Krugman released a related video on the subject, making a compelling case that Hassett’s call to discipline economists was “thuggish.” Krugman added, “That’s incredible. That’s like saying, ‘If you carefully study the data and come up with results that we in the Trump administration don’t like, we will punish you personally — or we will try to.”

In all likelihood, if the White House were serious about targeting the researchers, those efforts would fail. But as Krugman concluded, the public threat is itself “horrible.”

The war on dissent is ongoing, and there’s every reason to believe it’s getting worse.

Recommendations

12 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

MAGA thinks someone else pays tariffs the same way Mexico paid for the wall IronLionZion Wednesday #1
They must have not done enough 'connect the dots' puzzles in their youth travelingthrulife Yesterday #32
For telling the truth..... Lovie777 Wednesday #2
simple question no one will ask rampartd Wednesday #3
Maddowblog-White House eyes punishments for economists who told the truth about tariffs, consumers LetMyPeopleVote Wednesday #4
Hassetts version of truth is PRAVDA Fichefinder Wednesday #9
Well, Kevin..... paleotn Wednesday #5
The Federal Government has no jurisdiction over Federal Reserve employees Wiz Imp Wednesday #6
I came here to say this. maxsolomon Wednesday #7
I am reminded of a song! BidenRocks Wednesday #8
Send them to Room 101 muriel_volestrangler Wednesday #10
Kevin Hassett - Typical right wing gaslighting asshole. mdbl Wednesday #11
That one puts the ass in Hassett peppertree Wednesday #16
Kevin Hassett is part of the Trump regime... GiqueCee Wednesday #12
That's very North Korean esque Mr. Sparkle Wednesday #13
This message was self-deleted by its author niyad Wednesday #14
Go for it, Kevin and keep in mind, there is such a thing as DISCOVERY. MLWR Wednesday #15
I don't call him Asshat for nothing Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Wednesday #17
F'ing lying twerp. Bristlecone Wednesday #18
I have a receipt provocateur7 Yesterday #19
Any surveys on how people see tariffs and who actually pays for them? Aussie105 Yesterday #20
The flogging will continue Dr. T Yesterday #21
Down is up, Up is Down COL Mustard Yesterday #22
Literally a fascist bootlicker wolfie001 Yesterday #23
This guy has smiling while lying perfected. pwb Yesterday #24
The Grinning Nazi. dem4decades Yesterday #27
Anyone who tells the truth must be punished in a fascist system IronLionZion Yesterday #25
I sense a woodshed moment bucolic_frolic Yesterday #26
Kevin could use a date with the cat himself. Turbineguy Yesterday #28
Hassett is an idiot Deminpenn Yesterday #29
Post truth society BlueWaveNeverEnd Yesterday #30
Maddowblog-White House eyes punishments for economists who told the truth about tariffs, consumers LetMyPeopleVote Yesterday #31
Doublethink, Doublespeak: "nineteen eight-four" Brought to Life in Our country SorellaLaBefana 22 hrs ago #33
Kevin, show us who actually 'does' pay the tariffs. Norrrm 15 hrs ago #34
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