As the Job Market Cools, Trump Goes Scorched Earth

What's Happening

Economy

As the Job Market Cools, Trump Goes Scorched Earth

What's going on: There’s growing fallout after President Donald Trump fired Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner Erika McEntarfer Friday — just hours after the agency dropped a report that shocked economists (and they’ve seen a lot lately). The jobs readout confirmed what many on LinkedIn already knew: The market is rough. Only 73,000 jobs were added in July, and previous reports for May and June were revised down by a combined 250,000 jobs — a blow to Trump’s narrative that the US economy is “booming.” The president lashed out on social media, claiming without evidence that McEntarfer “rigged” the numbers to hurt him. Economists, meanwhile, pointed to other reasons for the slowdown: higher interest rates, workforce cuts, tariffs, and stricter immigration policies have all put pressure on hiring.

What it means: While White House Economic Adviser Kevin Hassett defended Trump’s decision, critics on both sides of the aisle have accused the president of “shooting the messenger.” Even Trump’s first-term BLS Chief William Beach said there’s no way the commissioner could rig the numbers on a report that’s compiled by 40 people. He warned the move “sets a dangerous precedent” and could erode trust in the BLS for years to come. Experts say that kind of distrust isn’t just a political problem — it’s a practical one. If Americans can’t rely on neutral data, it gets a lot harder to diagnose and respond to real economic issues. By the look of the latest numbers, those issues may already be here.   

Related: The Class Divide Among Working Women Is Widening (Axios)

Health

The White House's IVF Pledge Is a No-Go… for Now

What's going on: President Donald Trump once declared himself the “father of IVF” and promised to make fertility treatments more affordable — even suggesting the government would cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) or require insurers to do so. (IVF can cost $12,000-to-$25,000 per cycle.) But six months into his second term, the White House has put plans to mandate IVF coverage on ice, sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post. They said the administration has also pulled back from proposals to expand access through the Affordable Care Act — an effort that Democrats supported, too. A senior White House official said IVF remains a “huge priority,” but added that Trump can’t move forward without Congress (which hasn’t necessarily stopped him on other issues).

What it means: Behind the scenes, the GOP is wrestling with how — or whether — to help with IVF coverage. Social conservatives, concerned about falling birth rates, are pushing for stronger government support for families and childbirth (ICYMI, “baby bonuses” could be a thing). Other Republicans worry mandates will raise premiums and spark backlash ahead of the midterms. The recent GOP spending bill increased the child care tax credit but also stripped nutrition assistance and medical coverage from millions of families, sending mixed signals about the party’s approach to family policy. Meanwhile, for those facing fertility struggles, the challenge cuts across party lines. As one woman told CBS: “This struggle of IVF is nonpartisan.”

Related: The White House Has Plans for an “Infertility Training Center” (NYT Gift Link )

Tech

Rest in Prompt? AI Obituaries Are on the Rise

What's going on: Crafting an obituary for a loved one can be deeply emotional, therapeutic, and…exhausting. But lately, more families are opting to let AI tools handle the writing. Some funeral homes now offer custom software that generates obituaries — just plug in biographical details and personality traits, and the AI crafts a tribute. Some loved ones don’t even realize a bot wrote the farewell, thanks to poetic (and occasionally fictional) flourishes. Despite some technical hiccups and “hallucinations,” many say the AI-written obits offer relief at a time of emotional chaos. As one man told The Washington Post: “I was mentally not in a place where I could give my mom what she deserved. And this did it for me.” 

What it means: For grieving families, AI can be a welcome helper: No looming blank page, no need to check for typos (who can forget that “beloved aunt” Curb Your Enthusiasm episode?). However, critics argue AI risks “flattening” grief into a polished, generic template — more resume than remembrance. Mental health professionals add that this is one area where emotion shouldn’t necessarily meet automation, because writing can help us process. Of course, there can also be a dark side with AI. “Obituary pirates” exploit tributes, often by using AI to create fake, rushed, or low-quality obits online, usually to generate ad revenue or clicks, Wired reports. Still, future generations may find that AI’s support can help make the incredibly difficult process of saying goodbye just a bit easier.

Related: How AI Helped One Writer Process Her Sister’s Death (Believer Magazine)

Settle This

Panera Bread says it’ll no longer make this item from scratch… and we have questions.

Game Time

Wake your brain up this Monday with a game of Flipart. Just rotate the pieces to fit within the frame and get ready to feel the rush when they all fall into place. Get into it.