Hassett says Trump 'wants his own people' at the Bureau of Labor Statistics after firing commissionerNew Foto - Hassett says Trump 'wants his own people' at the Bureau of Labor Statistics after firing commissioner

President Donald Trump on Sunday told reporters his administration will be announcing a new commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics "over the next three, four days," after he fired the previous one. "We'll be announcing a new statistician sometime over the next three, four days. We had no confidence. I mean, the numbers were ridiculous, which she announced, but that was just one negative number. All of the numbers seem to be great," Trump said before boarding Air Force One in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Whoever the president nominates to be the new commissioner would need to be confirmed by the Senate. Earlier on Sunday, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett defended Trump's decision to fire Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, claiming the president "wants his own people there." Last week, a weaker-than-expected jobs report proved to be a sore spot for the economy — and the president. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly jobs report on Friday showed the US economy added just 73,000 jobs in July. The monthly totals for May and June were also revised down by a combined 258,000 jobs. After the report was released, Trump posted to Truth Social that "today's Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad." Trump later announcedhe was firingMcEntarfer. Hassett did not provide evidence that the report was incorrect, saying on NBC's "Meet the Press" that the "revisions are hard evidence" that the jobs data was rigged. "What we need is a fresh set of eyes over the BLS," Hassett said. In an appearance that aired on "Fox News Sunday," Hassett said that if he ran the BLS and had "the biggest downward revision in 50 years, I would have a really, really detailed report explaining why it happened." He claimed without evidence that there are "partisan patterns" in the jobless data and that "data can't be propaganda." Former BLS Commissioner William Beach, who was nominated by Trump during his first term in 2017 and also served under former President Joe Biden, said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that he will still believe the data coming from future jobs reports despite the firing of McEntarfer, but that he wants Trump to "back off on his rhetoric" against McEntarfer and the bureau. Beach also called the firing "groundless," saying it undermines credibility in the bureau and raises questions about the perception of future reports. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" that Trump's claims that the jobs numbers were rigged were "a preposterous charge." "There is no conceivable way that the head of the BLS could have manipulated this number," Summers said. "This is the stuff of democracies giving way to authoritarianism." He added that the jobs report suggests the economy could "tip over to a recession," and "the risk is greater" than before. Hassett said on "Meet the Press" that deals with US trading partners are "more or less locked in" as new tariffs are set to go into effect Thursday. "There'll have to be some dancing around the edges when it comes to what we mean when we do this or that," Hassett said, adding that it ultimately comes down to whether Trump "likes those deals." The Trump administration in April promised "90 deals in 90 days" but fell well short of that, with Hassett claiming frameworks with about eight major trading partners. Those include 15% tariffs on the European Union, Japan and South Korea. Such trade agreements, which maintained tariff rates of varying degrees, were listed alongside anarray of new tariff rateson many of the United States' trading partners in Trump's announcement last week, with some of the highest duties imposed on Brazil (50%), Myanmar (40%) and Switzerland (39%). Many of the duties, most of which will go into effect Thursday, are still lower than their April 2 "Liberation Day" rates. While the rate cut in tariffs drew some sighs of relief from economists and investors who feared duties as high as 72% or 90% on some countries, there are still concerns about the impact of the new August tariffs and how financial markets will react. "These tariffs are not job creators," Summers said on "The Week." He used the steel and automobile industries as examples of where jobs could become less competitive "when they try to compete all over the world." Hassett on "Meet the Press" ruled out Trump changing course on tariffs if markets were to react negatively "because these are the final (trade) deals." The United States still does not have a deal with China after the two sides agreed in May to a 90-day truce in Geneva, Switzerland, and with the August 12 deadline looming. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Sunday that a trade deal with Beijing could be delayed further. "That's what's under discussion right now. I would say that our conversations with the Chinese have been very positive," Greer said on CBS News' "Face the Nation," adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump "have had conversations." The United States and China could both be severely weakened by a full-blown trade war. The United States relies on China for consumer electronics; rare-earth minerals used in the manufacture of electric vehicles and for military applications and robotics; pharmaceuticals used in lifesaving medicines; and more basic staples of daily life, including clothing and shoes. US exports of produce like soybeans and sorghum to China are vital to the livelihoods of American farmers. The Trump administration has touted that companies and other countriespay the tariffs, not consumers. But the prices of some American goods have increased in recent months, as toys, furniture, apparel and footwear arebecoming increasingly expensive, according to a DataWeave analysis of 200,000 products. CNN's Stephen Collinson, Alicia Wallace and Christian Sierra contributed to this report. This story has been updated with additional content. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

Hassett says Trump ‘wants his own people’ at the Bureau of Labor Statistics after firing commissioner

Hassett says Trump 'wants his own people' at the Bureau of Labor Statistics after firing commissioner President Donald Trump on Sund...
Schumer, Jeffries demand GOP leaders meet on government shutdown deadlineNew Foto - Schumer, Jeffries demand GOP leaders meet on government shutdown deadline

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) sent aletterto Republican leaders Monday demanding a "Big Four" leadership meeting this week to discuss how to avoid agovernment shutdownnext month. The Democratic leaders advised Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that they have "the responsibility to govern for all Americans and work on a bipartisan basis to avert a painful, unnecessary shutdown at the end of September." "Yet it is clear that the Trump Administration and many within your party are preparing to 'go it alone' and continue to legislate on a solely Republican basis," they wrote. The Democratic leaders noted that they are willing to work with Republicans on a bipartisan basis, and pointed to a package of appropriations bills thatpassedthe Senate last week with a strong bipartisan majority to fund military construction, the Departments of Agriculture and Veterans Affairs, and the legislative branch. "We request you swiftly convene a so-called Big Four meeting this week, for the four of us to discuss the government funding deadline and the health care crisis you have visited upon the American people. We anticipate your prompt reply," they wrote. Government funding will expire on Sept. 30 and President Trump has yet to sign any of the annual funding bills for fiscal year 2026 into law. Lawmakers say they expect Congress will need to pass a stop-gap funding measure next month to avoid a shutdown. Democrats want a pledge from Republicans that if they agree to pass government funding legislation, they would not work with the Trump administration to pass another rescissions package, such as the measure passed last month thatclawed back$9 billion in previously appropriated funding and defunded the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Schumer and Jeffries are also pressing for the administration to release previously allocated funding it has held up Trump said in a post on Truth Social Saturday that Schumer demanded funded concessions from the White House during negotiations on a deal to speed up the president's stalled executive branch nominees. Thune, the Senate majority leader, last week declined to say whether he's ready to enter into a negotiation between Senate and House leaders from both parties, telling reporters that he would wait to see how things played out in the weeks ahead. "To be determined," Thune said when asked if he's willing to enter into a "four corners" negotiation with the Democratic leaders of the Senate and House and the Speaker. "A lot of that depends on how cooperative the Democrats are in trying to get the appropriations process moving forward," he said. "All options are on the table when it comes to funding the government. "What I can tell you is we're going to look for ways to keep the government funded, open and operating," he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

Schumer, Jeffries demand GOP leaders meet on government shutdown deadline

Schumer, Jeffries demand GOP leaders meet on government shutdown deadline Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and House Democratic...
Republican Derek Dooley, ex-football coach, launches Senate bid in GeorgiaNew Foto - Republican Derek Dooley, ex-football coach, launches Senate bid in Georgia

Former college football coach and attorney Derek Dooley launched his bid Monday morning for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Georgia, a prime pick-up opportunity for Republicans next year. Georgia Republicans hope to win back the seat from Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is in his first term; it's a major target for the party to maintain or expand its slim Senate majority. Democrats have overperformed in the traditionally red state in recent elections and hold both Senate seats. Joe Biden won the state in 2020 by less than half a percentage point, while Donald Trump won by just over 2 points in 2024. Georgia Republicans had pinned their hopes on Gov. Brian Kemp's making a run for the seat, butKemp passed, opening up the field to a wide range of candidates, none of whom have won statewide or have the level of name recognition or fundraising prowess of the popular governor, who has had a testy relationship with Trump. Kemp had been pushing Dooley, whose father was a University of Georgia legend, to get into the race. He has hired some of the governor's advisers to consult on his nascent bid, a source familiar with Dooley's campaign launch said. Dooley joins a field that includes two sitting members of the House, both hoping to capture the MAGA wing of the GOP. Rep. Mike Collins, who has an active and sometimes controversial social media profile, and Rep. Buddy Carter are both in the race. Dooley hopes to bridge the gap between the Kemp wing of the party and MAGA loyalists after Trump sparred publicly with Kemp and other Georgia officials who refused to challenge his loss in the 2020 election in the state. Kemp and Trump have since repaired their relationship and have vowed to work together to help support the best candidate to beat Ossoff. Dooley believes he fits the bill. The son of legendary University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, the younger Dooley is making his first foray into politics. Hislaunch videostarts with old film of his father's coaching days at the University of Georgia and makes a quick pivot to promising to work with Trump if he is elected to the Senate. "Unlike Ossoff, I'll work with President Trump to implement his agenda, support his Administration, and move our country forward," Dooley said in a statement. "I'm not part of the political establishment, and I haven't spent my life climbing the D.C. political ladder." Dooley's team also pointed out that his fatherendorsed Trump for presidentin June 2016, before Trump had taken command of the Republican Party and even though he rarely waded into politics. Vince Dooley died in 2022. Republicans are desperate not to repeat the mistakes of 2022.Trump championedformer football star Herschel Walker to take on Sen. Raphael Warnock, only to see himlose by about 3 pointsamidmissteps and revelationsabout his past, includingallegations of domestic abuse. There's plenty of precedent for football stars' parlaying their popularity into political success. Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, of Alabama, was the coach at Auburn University before he entered politics; he's now running for governor. Longtime Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne spent three terms in the House. And former University of Tennessee quarterback and NFL player Heath Shuler represented North Carolina in the House for eight years. "The foundation of football is the American Spirit," Dooley said in his statement. "You work hard, you play by the rules, you keep fighting when adversity hits—you have a fair shot at achieving your dreams. As a coach, I wanted that for all my players. As your next U.S. Senator, I want that for all Georgians—and all Americans." Dooley had an uneven career as a head coach. He spent three seasons at Louisiana Tech and three seasons at Tennessee and had only one season over .500. He finished his head coaching career with a 32-41 record. The bulk of his career was as an assistant at both the college and professional levels. Democrats are eager to play into the fissures between Georgia Republicans and the national party, which they hope will give Ossoff an advantage. "Already seen as a weak candidate by the Trump White House, Derek Dooley is going to quickly discover his father's fame won't win him a Senate seat," said Lauren French, spokesperson for the Senate Majority PAC. "And as Republicans squabble among themselves, Jon Ossoff will continue to push for lower costs, better health care, and more jobs for Georgians."

Republican Derek Dooley, ex-football coach, launches Senate bid in Georgia

Republican Derek Dooley, ex-football coach, launches Senate bid in Georgia Former college football coach and attorney Derek Dooley launched ...
Stakes rise in the Russia-Ukraine war as Trump's deadline for the Kremlin approachesNew Foto - Stakes rise in the Russia-Ukraine war as Trump's deadline for the Kremlin approaches

The coming week could bring an important moment inthe war between Russia and Ukraine, as U.S.President Donald Trump's deadline for the Kremlin to reach a peace deal approaches — or it could simply melt away. U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoySteve Witkoffwas expected in Moscow in the middle of this week, just beforeTrump's Friday deadlinefor the Kremlin to stop the killing or facepotentially severe economic penaltiesfrom Washington. Previous Trump promises, threats and cajoling havefailed to yield results., and the stubborn diplomatic stalemate will be hard to clear away. Meanwhile, Ukraine is losing more territory on the front line, although there is no sign of a looming collapse of its defenses. Trump envoy is expected at the Kremlin Witkoff was expected to land in the Russian capital on Wednesday or Thursday, according to Trump, following histrip to Israel and Gaza. "They would like to see (Witkoff)," Trump said Sunday of the Russians. "They've asked that he meet so we'll see what happens." Trump, exasperated that Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn't heeded his calls to stop bombing Ukrainian cities, a week agomoved up his ultimatumto impose additional sanctions on Russia as well as introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil, including China and India. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that officials are happy to meet with Trump's envoy. "We are always glad to see Mr. Witkoff in Moscow," he said. "We consider (talks with Witkoff) important, substantive and very useful." Trump is not sure sanctions will work Trump said Sunday that Russia has proved to be "pretty good at avoiding sanctions." "They're wily characters," he said of the Russians. The Kremlin has insisted that international sanctions imposed since its February 2022 invasion of its neighbor have had a limited impact. Ukraine insists the sanctions are taking their toll on Moscow's war machine and wants Western allies to ramp them up. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday urged the United States, Europe and other nations to impose stronger secondary sanctions on Moscow's energy, trade and banking sectors. Trump's comments appeared to signal he doesn't have much hope that sanctions will force Putin's hand. The secondary sanctions also complicate Washington's relations with China and India, who stand accused of helping finance Russia's war effort bybuying its oil. Since taking office in January, Trump has found thatstopping the war is harderthan he perhaps imagined. Senior American officials have warned that the U.S. could walk away from the conflict if peace efforts make no progress. Putin shows no signs of making concessions The diplomatic atmosphere has become more heated as Trump's deadline approaches. Putin announced last Friday that Russia'snew hypersonic missile, the Oreshnik, has entered service. The Russian leader has hailed its capabilities, saying its multiple warheads that plunge to a target at speeds of up to Mach 10 cannot be intercepted. They are so powerful, he said, that the use of several of them in one conventional strike could be as devastating as a nuclear attack. Also, one of Putin's top lieutenants warned that the Ukraine war could nudge Russia and the U.S. into armed conflict. Trump responded to what he called the "highly provocative statements" by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev by ordering therepositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines. Putin has repeated the same message throughout the war: He willonly accept a settlement on his termsand will keep fighting until they're met. The war is killing thousands of troops and civilians Russia's relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line have killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations. It haspushed on with that tacticdespiteTrump's public calls for it to stopover the past three months. On the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, Russia's bigger army has made slow and costly progress. It is carrying outa sustained operationto take the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub whose fall could open the way for a deeper drive into Ukraine. Ukraine has developed technology that has allowed it to launch long-range drone attacks deep inside Russia. In itslatest strikeit hit an oil depot near Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi, starting a major fire. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine athttps://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Stakes rise in the Russia-Ukraine war as Trump's deadline for the Kremlin approaches

Stakes rise in the Russia-Ukraine war as Trump's deadline for the Kremlin approaches The coming week could bring an important moment int...
An unusual six months in Congress of long days and short fusesNew Foto - An unusual six months in Congress of long days and short fuses

"I will say again - I am tired of making history. I just want (a) normal Congress," House SpeakerMike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said. His comments to reporters in early July came as the House concluded a more than seven-hour vote, then the longest in the chamber's history (a milestone hit after the chamber had already broken the record a week earlier). Of course, theincreasingly partisan, combative, and at times, chaotic atmosphere had infiltrated the modern Congress before Johnson or his Senate counterpart, Majority Leader John Thune, took the gavel. But more than six months in, the 119th Congress has seen its share of unusual or unprecedented moments, from extraordinarily long votes to all-nighter sessions. Here's a look at some of the notable moments of the not "normal" kickoff for the 119th. House lawmakers this year first surpassed the record for thelongest House votewhile deliberating PresidentDonald Trump'sso-called"big, beautiful bill"on July 2. The vote was held open for seven hours and 23 minutes. Members of Congress filtered in and out of the chamber, mostly congregating off the floor for deals and debates. But someone, by rule, had to supervise the chamber. More:Which way will Senate swing in 2026? Here are 11 pivotal races that will decide. That lucky representative was Arkansas' Steve Womack. Womack, a Republican, had the task of presiding over the floor starting at 11:45 a.m. and staying at the dais well into the evening. "I'm told he is very very bored," NBC's Melanie Zanonapostedat the time, "and singing the Eric Carmen song 'ALL BY MYSELF' to himself." Meanwhile, House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, had his own way of killing time. "Five," Cole said, when a reporter asked him, around 5 p.m., how many cigars he had so far that day. "Is that a lot or a little?" one reporter followed up. "Certainly not a lot," Cole replied. Senators also have plenty of time-consuming accomplishments to boast about, were such efforts to be lauded. The upper chamber kicked off July by barely topping a record set in 2008 for thelongest "vote-a-rama"– Washington parlance for a marathon series of votes on amendments to budget bills. Earlier this summer, Democrats were responsible for the bulk of the 45 proposals to revise Trump's sweeping tax, spending and policy bill. It was one more amendment than what senators almost two decades ago had spent hours voting on. The chamber has had three cases of a "vote-a-rama" so far this year. Often, they mean overnight sessions that stretch more than a dozen hours. The series in early July was an unusual daylight occurrence, though, beginning a little after 9 a.m. on a Monday and lasting past noon the next day. After being elected majority leader by his colleagues, Thune promised more working days for a body of government that many Americansaccuseof being allergic to work. That mostly meant adding Fridays to the work calendar (though the chamber has been about 50-50 on coming in those Fridays). More recently, there was talk of scrapping senators' typical summer break and instead staying in town to plow through a backlogged agenda. Some congressional correspondents who'd worked through the session thus far weren't so sure about the idea. More:All work and no play: House heads out while Senate eyes skipping summer break "The Senate really, really needs a recess," senior HuffPost Igor Bobicwroteonline. But after a Saturday slog Aug. 2, lawmakers finally called it and fled the capital for their home states. The House and Senate are both set to return to town Sept. 2. And with a deadline to keep the government funded looming at the end of the month, a broiling debate over Jeffrey Epstein's case files ongoing, and overall tensions still simmering, Speaker Johnson and the rest of the legislative branch are not likely to see a "normal Congress" anytime soon. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Congress has an unusual 6 months thanks to these moments

An unusual six months in Congress of long days and short fuses

An unusual six months in Congress of long days and short fuses "I will say again - I am tired of making history. I just want (a) normal...

 

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