Paul Krugman

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

It has been obvious for months that workers would need a lot more aid. But the gang that couldn't think straight did nothing — and hasn't even come up with a starting point for negotiations https://t.co/ywvpw7UrRZ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

After three and a half years of MAGA, America cuts a pathetic figure compared with every other wealthy nation https://t.co/40er2BS9Y4 — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

RT @nytopinion: “Italy’s bureaucracy isn’t famed for its efficiency, nor are its citizens known for their willingness to follow rules,” @Pa… — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

Now that the team formerly known as racist insult has become the Washington Football Team, I expect my employer to become the New York Newspaper and my other employer the City University of New York. Oh, wait — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

PS: there will only be 2 job reports after the one coming in 2 weeks. Even if they're good, which is unlikely, how much can that help Trump at this point? fin/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

It's a really terrible time to be cutting off aid to 30 million unemployed Americans. But that's what Rs in the Senate are doing, apparently believing that restaurant workers etc. are living the good life on the dole and need to be forced back into their petri dishes 3/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

We really don't know whether the next official employment number, which will be for "July" but actually a snapshot of the 2nd week, will be a small positive or negative. Politically that may matter; the reality is that either way we're stuck deep in a hole 2/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

The unemployment claims number was terrible by any normal standard, although it's kind of the new normal. It's one of various indicators suggesting a stall in the economic recovery 1/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

RT @JustinWolfers: After offending much of the economics profession with his sneering tone and racially insensitive remarks, Uhlig’s triump… — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

Kind of amazing how the Northeast has gone from virus hotspot to a demonstration of what Americans could do if we didn't have such terrible leadership https://t.co/2TR8XjE3Gx — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

But recent events make it clear that it isn't just malice; ignorance is also driving GOP economic positioning 7/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

Now, this doesn't mean that Rs are or will be honest. Their deficit posturing was clearly hypocritical; they didn't even flinch when Trump's tax cut exploded the deficit, and you know they'll suddenly become deficit hawks if Biden makes it 6/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

And it sure looks as if Rs really believe, in the teeth of the evidence, that UI is holding back recovery by encouraging workers to remain idle — not sustaining the economy by supporting consumer demand 5/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

Well, right now people like Ted Cruz are making the same argument, and waging a war on unemployment benefits, with Trump in the WH. This suggests that Cruz et al really are ignorant, not realizing that ending worker support is likely to hammer the economy and ensure R defeat 4/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

That is, did they actually believe that amid a slump, when people are being forced to tighten their belts, the govt should tighten its belt too (which deepens the slump)? Or did they just pretend to believe that with a Dem in the WH? 3/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, it wasn't entirely clear what was motivating R demands for austerity in the face of mass unemployment. Was it sabotage — trying to hamstring Obama's crisis response? Or actual ignorance? 2/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

GOP flailing over what to do now that reopening has stalled sheds light on the old "Evil or stupid?" controversy. It's now clear that the answer is, both 1/ https://t.co/t68Dg7Jep3 — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

Almost no serious economists think that this virtual elimination of extra benefits is a good idea 3/ https://t.co/orKKEZISJl — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

Why not hire people to dress up as John D. Rockefeller and hand out dimes? It would do about as much good 2/ https://t.co/0T5kdhGlts — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

This is insulting. $100 a week?? 1/ https://t.co/3QTSDj4m02 — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

RT @bencasselman: For several weeks, real-time data has suggested that the U.S. economic recovery could be stalling. Now there is evidenc… — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

Totally predictable the moment Larry Kudlow proclaimed a V-shaped recovery — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

I mean, here's what gets you a Presidential Medal of Freedom 2/ https://t.co/HprwhbTjsa — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

But that ideology failed totally in 2008-2010, and its grip on the GOP just became stronger 1/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

The result is that millions of Americans are going to lose crucial support this weekend — and Rs have barely begun to negotiate with themselves, let along try to reach a deal with Ds to help the nation. Total, and totally predictable, disaster. fin/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

So we have a party fixated on the notion that unemployment benefits are preventing people from taking jobs, even though essentially no economists agree 8/ https://t.co/PwDZijCwv3 — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

Some of this has to do with the party's failure to come to a reckoning with the failure of its ideology during the last crisis. Nobody who predicted runaway inflation, soaring interest rates, or massive job loss from Obamacare has faced any consequences, or learned anything 7/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

And it's clear that the WH and Senate Rs gave literally no thought to economic policy options if emergency aid expired and the coronavirus was still raging. Even now, they seem fixated on creating a jobs boom that isn't going to happen 6/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

But denial has consequences. Sunbelt states stayed open for infection long past the point where looming disaster was apparent; even now, key states aren't requiring masks or closing gyms 5/ — PolitiTweet.org

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

Mike Pence's infamous mid-June op-ed was actually a cry of desperation: data from outside the NY area already made it clear that a second surge was beginning. But Rs had no answer besides denial 4/ https://t.co/VLtr6GJeoy — PolitiTweet.org