The Dispatch Podcast Texas Showdown | Roundtable
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Aug 8, 2025 
Join Megan McArdle, a Washington Post columnist known for her incisive economics commentary, along with political analyst Chris Stirewalt and conservative columnist Kevin Williamson, as they dive into the political chaos of Texas. They tackle contentious redistricting tactics and debate the impact of gerrymandering on elections. McArdle expresses her frustration over the recent BLS firing, raising concerns about data integrity in politics. The group also humorously reflects on the quirks of political maneuvering and personal travel experiences.
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Challenges in Economic Data Collection
- Lower survey response rates and economic volatility make economic data collection harder.
- BLS faces more frequent large revisions, but this reflects difficulty, not incompetence.
Data Utility Despite Imperfections
- Consistent flawed data is still useful if the bias is known.
- Concern grows that Trump rejects objective economic data if it conflicts with his views.
Erosion of Objective Truth
- Trump's politics embody postmodernism’s denial of objective truth.
- Eroding trust in facts destabilizes public life and governance.
