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Josh Barro

  1. business
    The Trump Boycotts Pose a Grave Danger to the Equinox and SoulCycle BusinessesStephen Ross’s backing of Trump threatens not only the Equinox and SoulCycle brands but the broader business strategy they support.
  2. the top line
    If Jeffrey Epstein Stole From Leslie Wexner, Why Didn’t Wexner Sue?He could have tried to get Epstein indicted for the theft. He could have sued. Didn’t he want his money back?
  3. the top line
    China’s Not a Currency Manipulator AnymoreHilariously, Trump’s “currency manipulator” designation is aimed at China’s failure to manipulate its currency as we wanted.
  4. trade war
    What Does a Trade War Worst-Case Scenario Look Like? Intelligencer staffers discuss the intensifying economic battle between China and the U.S.
  5. the top line
    China’s Yuan Devaluation Poses a Major Reelection Risk to Donald TrumpThe sharp decline in stocks underlines how this escalation in trade tensions could have some serious economic consequences.
  6. the top line
    Trump Can Trade-War His Way to Interest-Rate Cuts — Even Though It’s StupidIt’s simple: When the president does things that hurt the economy, that gives Jerome Powell & Co. more room to cut rates.
  7. democratic debates
    How Badly Did Kamala Harris Stumble at the Democratic Debate?Intelligencer staffers discuss who shined (Cory Booker), who didn’t (Harris), and who did what they needed to do (Joe Biden).
  8. the top line
    The Fed May Have Had No Choice But to Confuse Us AllJerome Powell faces an interesting challenge: how be clear about his intentions, even as he’s improvising to clean up Trump’s messes.
  9. the top line
    On Stock Buybacks, Democrats Are Making a Classic Republican ErrorIf they want firms to pay higher wages, then they should enact policies that do that directly.
  10. the top line
    The T-Mobile/Sprint Merger Remedy Makes No SenseIf the whole rationale behind the merger that a small fourth carrier can’t compete with the big guys, why create a new one?
  11. the top line
    Why We Can’t Figure Out Why American Infrastructure Is So ExpensiveAnd why it’s going to be so expensive to find an answer.
  12. the top line
    Is Netflix Necessary?The streaming giant might be facing a moment of truth about its business model.
  13. the top line
    Here’s Why Airline Safety Videos Have Gotten So ElaborateThey used to have the drab feel of corporate instructional videos. But in recent years, airlines have sensed a branding opportunity.
  14. the top line
    Is the New Bipartisan Consensus on Interest Rates an Illusion?Republicans and Democrats have found rare alignment on monetary policy. But will “the hack gap” reopen if a Democrat becomes president?
  15. the top line
    It’s Time to Stop This Ridiculous Hotel Pricing Practice“Resort fees” and “destination fees” are used to mislead consumers about room rates. Washington, D.C., is suing to keep operators honest.
  16. the top line
    There’s No Need for the Senate to Confirm Anyone to the Federal ReserveThe best tool Congress has to protect the Fed from Trump is the one they have been using: Their authority to refuse to confirm his nominees.
  17. the top line
    Democrats Should Fight Doctors and Hospitals, Not InsurersThey’re ignoring the key element in our health care system that’s making it unaffordable: providers and the payments they require.
  18. the top line
    Planet Fitness Celebrates Members Who Pay for Its Product But Don’t Use ItThere is an odd incentive if you own a gym: You need to find a way to attract customers who are not especially eager about your product.
  19. democratic debates
    Was Beto O’Rourke Really That Bad?Intelligencer staffers discuss who made an impression and who tanked at Wednesday night’s debate
  20. the top line
    Instead of Juul, San Francisco Should Have Banned CigarettesOr gotten ahead of the vaping more effectively by piloting an effective age-restriction regime.
  21. the top line
    Stephen Moore’s New Crypto Start-up Is Dumb Even by Crypto Start-up StandardsThe conservative commentator and failed Fed nominee’s business partner describes the plan, such as it is.
  22. the top line
    Here’s Who Trump Should Have Made Fed ChairmanNeel Kashkari, like Trump, thinks the Fed should cut interest rates. The problem is that those beliefs stem from principle, not politics.
  23. the economy
    Fed Chair Powell Says He’s Not Going Anywhere, But the Fed’s Moving Toward TrumpU.S. Fed chairman Jerome Powell says he intends to serve his term, but the Fed appears to be ready to cut interest rates.
  24. the top line
    The One Weird Trick for Leaving the Euro That Shows Why Countries Can’t Leave ItThe Italian government has floated the idea of a new national quasi-currency. But it’s not the answer to the country’s financial problems.
  25. the top line
    America’s Eighth-Largest Bank Will Have a Stupid Name: ‘Truist’I almost feel bad making fun of it. But I do think they are making a business mistake.
  26. trade war
    The Dangers of Trump’s Trade WarsIntelligencer staffers chat about the president’s ill-considered tariff policy in the aftermath of his big Mexico walkback.
  27. the top line
    Kudos to the States Suing to Block Sprint/T-Mobile MergerAs the state attorneys general suing on antitrust grounds know, competition among four national cellular providers serves Americans well.
  28. the top line
    SoulCycle Has Found a Brilliant Way to Monetize LoyaltyCustomers scramble to reserve the best bikes at the most timely classes, so the company will start acting more like an airline.
  29. the top line
    Today, Bad News Is Good News for StocksThe jobs numbers were dismal — but the market seems optimistic that Trump might get that rate cut he’s been asking for.
  30. the top line
    Trump Can Only Move Interest Rates by Hurting the EconomyIf he pushes stock prices down enough by starting trade wars, he knows he might get the Fed to act.
  31. the top line
    Spec Mansions for Billionaires Is Not As Good a Business As It Seemed LikeAbout 50 such houses are currently for sale in L.A., and there isn’t enough dumb money around to buy them all.
  32. the economy
    Trump’s Two-Front Trade War Is UnsustainableIt appeared that Trump was, for once, behaving strategically on trade. Not anymore.
  33. the economy
    The Recurring Recession FearAn Intelligencer chat about how seriously to take another round of inauspicious economic signals.
  34. urban planning
    Why New York Can’t Have Nice ThingsIt costs three times more to build a subway station here than in London or Paris. What if we could change that?
  35. the top line
    The Trade War Is Getting Big Enough to Hurt the EconomyThe stock and bond markets are saying there might be a real problem.
  36. the top line
    Uber’s Irrational Pricing Is a Problem for Policy-makersHow do you incentivize a company that seems hell-bent on generating massive losses?
  37. the top line
    Trump Is Adjusting His Trade Strategy to Be More RealisticAnd this looks like a nod at something Trump hates: multilateralism.
  38. the top line
    The Banks That Ran Uber’s IPO Feared This Would HappenThe stock tumbled in its first few days on the market. But did the banks make it worse?
  39. the top line
    Trump’s Failure to Control the Fed Is a Huge Problem for His Trade PolicyEven though the economy is good, Trump still thinks trade deficits are bad. But the tools he hopes to use to fight them aren’t going to work.
  40. the top line
    Trump’s Tariffs Only Work If Americans Pay ThemThis fact is inseparable from the president’s eagerness to impose them.
  41. the top line
    Here’s Why Airplane Boarding Got So RidiculousAirlines have increasingly settled on a boarding order driven by social stratification.
  42. the top line
    There Is No Way Donald Trump Actually Lost $1.17 BillionThe lesson of Trump’s massive reported losses from 1985 to 1994 is not that he was a comically bad businessman, but that he was comically undertaxed.
  43. vision 2020
    How Worried Should Democrats Be That Trump Won’t Concede?If he loses in 2020, he’ll likely contest the results. Intelligencer staffers debate how much that matters.
  44. the top line
    Trump Faces Same China Dilemma As Ever: He Loves Tariffs, Investors Hate ThemIf he wants China to take his trade threats seriously, he’s got to be ready to accept a big drop in the Dow.
  45. the top line
    Donald Trump Has Failed to Take Control of the Federal ReserveNot that he hasn’t tried. But Stephen Moore’s withdrawal just highlights the Fed’s ongoing independence.
  46. the top line
    The New GDP Report Shows the Economy Is Neither Heating Nor CoolingThe economy is likely to remain good enough for the president to brag about it through the 2020 election. But not great.
  47. the top line
    Uber’s Plan to Lose Money on Every Ride and Make It Up in Volume, AnnotatedThe ride-sharing company has laid out a vision for profitability. It is not compelling.
  48. work
    People Who Claim to Work 75-Hour Weeks Usually Only Work About 50 HoursThey’re lying to you — but also maybe to themselves.
  49. the top line
    I Cut the Cord, But Not to Save Money. TV on the Internet Is Just Better Now.TV through the internet now provides a better user experience than traditional cable.
  50. the top line
    Good News: A Recession Looks Less Likely NowAfter some scary data in recent months, the economy seems to be humming along nicely again.
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