Steve Rattner
@steverattner.bsky.social
Former head of Obama Auto Task Force. Wall Street financier. Contributing Writer to NY Times Op-Ed. Morning Joe Economic Analyst. 🌐
The unemployment rate dropped for the second month in a row, to 4.3%.
February 11, 2026 at 2:19 PM
The unemployment rate dropped for the second month in a row, to 4.3%.
Payroll growth rose to 130K in January, its highest level since Trump took office.
February 11, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Payroll growth rose to 130K in January, its highest level since Trump took office.
Trump needs to get serious about competing with China. (And that doesn’t involve more tariffs.)
More in my latest for @nytopinion.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
More in my latest for @nytopinion.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
Opinion | I Just Returned From China. We Are Not Winning.
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Trump needs to get serious about competing with China. (And that doesn’t involve more tariffs.)
More in my latest for @nytopinion.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
More in my latest for @nytopinion.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
When it comes to competing with China, punitive trade policies are a distraction. Instead, we need to beat China at its own game.
More in latest for @nytopinion.nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
More in latest for @nytopinion.nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
Opinion | I Just Returned From China. We Are Not Winning.
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:13 PM
When it comes to competing with China, punitive trade policies are a distraction. Instead, we need to beat China at its own game.
More in latest for @nytopinion.nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
More in latest for @nytopinion.nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
The only time in recent history that more Republicans retired from the House was the 2018 midterms, when a blue wave fueled by backlash to the Trump admin swept Dems back into control of the House.
cc: @nbcnews.com
cc: @nbcnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:55 PM
The only time in recent history that more Republicans retired from the House was the 2018 midterms, when a blue wave fueled by backlash to the Trump admin swept Dems back into control of the House.
cc: @nbcnews.com
cc: @nbcnews.com
In the first third of FY2026, federal spending on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, defense, and interest all grew substantially, while the rest of the budget took a cut.
February 10, 2026 at 4:50 PM
In the first third of FY2026, federal spending on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, defense, and interest all grew substantially, while the rest of the budget took a cut.
New data shows that over 86% of ICE arrests didn’t involve anyone accused or convicted of a violent crime.
cc: @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy
cc: @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy
February 10, 2026 at 4:50 PM
New data shows that over 86% of ICE arrests didn’t involve anyone accused or convicted of a violent crime.
cc: @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy
cc: @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy
Donald Trump is not beating China.
In my latest for @nytopinion.nytimes.com, I explain where he’s gone wrong.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
In my latest for @nytopinion.nytimes.com, I explain where he’s gone wrong.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
Opinion | I Just Returned From China. We Are Not Winning.
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Donald Trump is not beating China.
In my latest for @nytopinion.nytimes.com, I explain where he’s gone wrong.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
In my latest for @nytopinion.nytimes.com, I explain where he’s gone wrong.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
If Donald Trump wants to fend off Chinese threats to American preeminence, he needs to stop vacillating between trade wars and trade negotiations and focus on getting our own house in order.
More in my latest for @nytopinion
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
More in my latest for @nytopinion
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
Opinion | I Just Returned From China. We Are Not Winning.
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:14 PM
If Donald Trump wants to fend off Chinese threats to American preeminence, he needs to stop vacillating between trade wars and trade negotiations and focus on getting our own house in order.
More in my latest for @nytopinion
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
More in my latest for @nytopinion
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...
Consumer sentiment inched upwards in February.
February 6, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Consumer sentiment inched upwards in February.
The gap between unemployed job seekers and job openings is widening. There are now 1.15 job seekers for every opening.
February 5, 2026 at 3:07 PM
The gap between unemployed job seekers and job openings is widening. There are now 1.15 job seekers for every opening.
Job openings in the US dropped to 6.5M in December, and November's numbers were revised downwards.
February 5, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Job openings in the US dropped to 6.5M in December, and November's numbers were revised downwards.
Trump loves to boast that he’s won trillions of new investments in the US, but if so, it hasn’t shown up in the data yet.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
February 5, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Trump loves to boast that he’s won trillions of new investments in the US, but if so, it hasn’t shown up in the data yet.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
Trump loves to fabricate astronomical investment numbers — his latest is $18T. The White House website reports about half that amount, and even that is likely an exaggeration.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
February 5, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Trump loves to fabricate astronomical investment numbers — his latest is $18T. The White House website reports about half that amount, and even that is likely an exaggeration.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
Trump’s manufacturing renaissance has yet to materialize. In fact, America lost 68K manufacturing jobs in 2025.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
February 5, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Trump’s manufacturing renaissance has yet to materialize. In fact, America lost 68K manufacturing jobs in 2025.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
Trump claims that factories are being constructed across America, but in reality, spending on manufacturing-related construction has declined during his administration.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
February 5, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Trump claims that factories are being constructed across America, but in reality, spending on manufacturing-related construction has declined during his administration.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
Before Trump took office, retail prices were trending downwards. His tariffs reversed that pattern.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
February 5, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Before Trump took office, retail prices were trending downwards. His tariffs reversed that pattern.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
Trump likes to complain that he inherited the worst inflation in history, but the truth is that he started his term with inflation at a manageable 3%.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
February 5, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Trump likes to complain that he inherited the worst inflation in history, but the truth is that he started his term with inflation at a manageable 3%.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
Welfare fraud should always be taken seriously, but the right’s characterization of it as an immigrant problem is completely off-base — US citizens account for 95% of fraud losses.
cc: @cato.org
cc: @cato.org
February 3, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Welfare fraud should always be taken seriously, but the right’s characterization of it as an immigrant problem is completely off-base — US citizens account for 95% of fraud losses.
cc: @cato.org
cc: @cato.org
Instead of chasing quixotic wealth taxes, those who want the rich to pay their fair should focus on this: low capital gains rates under-tax a huge portion of income for the highest-earning Americans.
cc: @taxfoundation.bsky.social
cc: @taxfoundation.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Instead of chasing quixotic wealth taxes, those who want the rich to pay their fair should focus on this: low capital gains rates under-tax a huge portion of income for the highest-earning Americans.
cc: @taxfoundation.bsky.social
cc: @taxfoundation.bsky.social
I’ll join The Common Good on Wednesday 2/4 to discuss my forecast for the economy in 2026. RSVP for the in-person lunch at the link below.
www.thecommongoodus.org/upcoming-eve...
www.thecommongoodus.org/upcoming-eve...
2026 Economic Forecast — The Common Good
Brace yourself for a powerhouse briefing on the 2026 economic forecast. Steven Rattner , one of the most influential voices on the U.S. economy joins The Common Good for an exclusive briefi...
www.thecommongoodus.org
February 2, 2026 at 8:50 PM
I’ll join The Common Good on Wednesday 2/4 to discuss my forecast for the economy in 2026. RSVP for the in-person lunch at the link below.
www.thecommongoodus.org/upcoming-eve...
www.thecommongoodus.org/upcoming-eve...
My weekly blogs on my @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social charts are now on substack.
Today, I explained the Fed's decision to pause interest rate cuts.
open.substack.com/pub/stevenra...
Today, I explained the Fed's decision to pause interest rate cuts.
open.substack.com/pub/stevenra...
Rate Cuts On Pause
On MS NOW’s Morning Joe today, Steven Rattner broke down the Fed’s decision to pause interest rate cuts.
open.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:35 PM
My weekly blogs on my @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social charts are now on substack.
Today, I explained the Fed's decision to pause interest rate cuts.
open.substack.com/pub/stevenra...
Today, I explained the Fed's decision to pause interest rate cuts.
open.substack.com/pub/stevenra...
Interestingly, while economic indicators are relatively stable, consumer confidence has been steadily dropping.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
January 29, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Interestingly, while economic indicators are relatively stable, consumer confidence has been steadily dropping.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
Employment growth numbers since liberation day average slightly above zero. When taking into account predicted downward revisions, the data says we’re losing jobs.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
January 29, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Employment growth numbers since liberation day average slightly above zero. When taking into account predicted downward revisions, the data says we’re losing jobs.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
GDP growth can remain strong despite a weak labor market because productivity is high — each existing worker is producing more, but we’re not hiring many new workers.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
January 29, 2026 at 2:21 PM
GDP growth can remain strong despite a weak labor market because productivity is high — each existing worker is producing more, but we’re not hiring many new workers.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart