@SteveRoth The inflation rate for the past 12 months has fluctuated around 3 percent (annualized) with, I think, no discernible trend in any direction. The real story is that we appear to have a new normal that has existed for a year, not that inflation has been gradually declining (as reporters keep insisting).

@anneapplebaum Probably for the same reasons why the US continues to operate the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. Apparently their balloons have flown several missions over the US, and probably elsewhere, in recent years.

@danielschuman Luckily the Supreme Court does not handle documents that are classified for national security reasons. SCOTUS keeps "secrets" for much the same reasons that you or I do.

@DeanBaker13 Another good analysis, but "too few workers" because of retirements is a problem of insufficient supply, not a problem of excess demand, right? Retirement doesn't boost consumption, but it can decrease worker-supplied consumables. Related, asking retirees to eat less is a Bowles-Simpson non-solution. Econ questions often seem improperly framed.

@pkrugman Look at the change in the CPI over the past 6 months. It's 0.16 percent. Inflation was a big problem--through JUNE.

@pkrugman I am not convinced that the House has 7 sane Republicans.

@pkrugman Inflation over the past 4 months (July-Oct), annualized, is 2.7%. It may be higher over the coming months, but it is not high enough to justify policies to toss folks out of work.

@sethcotlar Sadly, the total number of Nazis/fascists in the United States probably exceeds that of any other country.