The American Economy with Jason Furman

The American economy is at a moment of tension. Growth is resilient, unemployment is low, and demand continues to hold. Yet beneath the surface, structural pressures are building. Persistent inflation, rising deficits, and geopolitical fragmentation are shaping the economic outlook. Consumer sentiment is weak, even as headline indicators point to expansion. In episode 9 of The Transponder, host Samuel George speaks with economist Jason Furman about the current state of the U.S. economy and the forces that will define its trajectory in the years ahead. Drawing on his experience as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama, Furman unpacks  the post-pandemic recovery, the evolving role of fiscal policy, and the trade-offs facing policymakers as they navigate inflation, debt, and how AI could shape long-term growth and employment. Critically, he argues that despite strong headline indicators, the U.S. economy is entering a period where the tradeoffs facing policymakers are becoming sharper and harder to avoid.