Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast Justin Wolfers & Shaughnessy Naughton
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May 9, 2026 
Shaughnessy Naughton, founder of 314 Action who recruits and trains scientists for public office, talks about electing doctors and protecting research. Justin Wolfers, economist and Platypus Economics founder, discusses jobs, inflation, and the broader costs of war. Short, sharp conversations on science in politics, economic signals, and the stakes for public health and national policy.
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Slower Job Growth Reflects Falling Population Growth
- Jobs growth appears modest: recent monthly payrolls average ~50,000 and unemployment is roughly flat, not collapsing despite headlines.
- Justin Wolfers links low job creation to near-zero population growth from decreased immigration, reducing demand for new jobs.
Trust The BLS Numbers Not Cabinet Spin
- Official economic statistics (BLS) remain largely trustworthy despite political noise, but the information environment is fractured by cabinet misinformation.
- Wolfers warns to trust data collection methods, not political spin from cabinet members.
Make Big Numbers Human By Per Person Scaling
- Large dollar figures (millions, billions, trillions) are meaningless unless scaled to something human like per-person cost.
- Wolfers converts $25 billion war spending to ~$75 per American to show how framing changes perception.