". . . Good journalism ought to be honest, and I’ve honestly struggled to figure out what’s been going on with the U.S. economy. But under the theory that good journalism ought to also be descriptive even at the risk of being wrong, I think I owe readers, and myself, a general theory of weirdness.
So here’s my best shot at summarizing the past three years of perplexity: We’re living in a yo-yo economy.
The Economy Is Still Very, Very Weird
It’s the most important economic lesson of the decade: What goes up must come down (and what’s gone down will probably go up again).
This is Work in Progress, a newsletter by Derek Thompson about work, technology, and how to solve some of America’s biggest problems. Sign up here to get it every week.
So, maybe I should start with an apology. Since the coronavirus pandemic began, my economic analysis has devolved into what I imagine must be a frustrating theme for readers: Everything is just weird, okay?
I said the rental market was being weird. I said home sales were being weird. I said consumers were being weird too. At one point, I threw up my hands and cried uncle by saying we live in the “everything-is-weird economy,” hoping to save myself some time. Then calls for a recession came pouring from the heavens, and I was forced to say those were weird too.
ENJOY A YEAR OF UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE ATLANTIC—INCLUDING EVERY STORY ON OUR SITE AND APP, SUBSCRIBER NEWSLETTERS, AND MORE.
Editor's note: Pentagon has said it is
tracking a suspected Chinese spy balloon that has been spotted over the
country's airspace in recent days. Four experts shared their views on
the incident with China Daily. Excerpts follow:
An American flag waves outside the US Department of Justice Building in Washington, Dec 15, 2020. [Photo/Agencies]
More of a 'political balloon'
This morning Fox News said that a suspected Chinese spy balloon was
hovering "over Montana", where there are "sensitive US ballistic missile
assets".
CNN has posted the same story, saying that Pentagon has full custody
of this "suspected Chinese surveillance balloon" and that "we have
communicated the seriousness with which we take the issue".
So far, this story has been catchy enough to get "retired generals" and "patriotic young men" in the US interested.
However, it seems to me that this is not a media event, but rather a
political balloon from Washington to maneuver the domestic audience
before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives on his
widely-expected first visit to China.
Like the news about high-ranking generals lately talking about a
war with China by 2025, this news seeks to alarm US citizens that the
threat from China is not remote, but everywhere and in everyday life.
The US military is fully prepared and is ready to confront China.
At a time when Sino-US diplomatic exchanges are being arranged,
Washington hawks are getting in the way. For those who profit from
Sino-US problems, the prospect of improving bilateral relations is
definitely not a good sign. But we shall not let their tricks succeed.
Wang Wei, a researcher at the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
There is no need to dehumanize Chinese journalists
宋婧祎
4 - 5 minutes
Twitter profile of Chen Weihua on his personal page. [Photo by chinadaily.com.cn]
As a long-time China Daily columnist, I'm aware of people outside
China frequently distorting and misinterpreting my views as representing
those of the newspaper, the Chinese government or the Communist Party
of China.
Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon Hovering Over U.S., Pentagon Says
Nicholas Reimann
Updated Feb 2, 2023, 06:12pm EST
Topline
"A suspected Chinese spy balloon is flying over the U.S., though its
current location and exact capabilities remain unclear, the Pentagon
told multiple news outlets Thursday, just days before the U.S. Secretary of State is scheduled to make a high-profile trip to China.
Key Facts
Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told NBC News the object is a “a high-altitude surveillance balloon” that officials are monitoring closely.
The balloon was seen Wednesday over Billings, Montana, after
crossing the Aleutian Islands in Alaska and going over Canada, according
to NBC News.
President Joe Biden proposed shooting down the balloon Wednesday
but the Pentagon opted against the move due to the potential for
civilian casualties, according to theWall Street Journal, citing officials with knowledge of the matter.
A senior official told ABC News the balloon is the size of three buses and possesses a technology bay.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.
Crucial Quote
“Once the balloon was detected, the U.S. government acted immediately
to protect against the collection of sensitive information,” Ryder told
NBC News. . ."
3 hours ago · China has often complained about surveillance by the United States, including its deployment of ships or planes near Chinese military exercises.
2 hours ago · The Pentagon said February 2 it was tracking a Chinese spy balloon flying high over the A balloon in the sky over Billings, Mont., in images ...