Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, is less reserved than the average banker. He explains why vibes are overrated, why the Fed’s independence is non-negotiable, and why tariffs could bring the economy back to the Covid era.
Yesterday
687. Are Prediction Markets the Best Forecasting Tool Ever — or Just Another Casino?
The promise is that they can beat the experts at predicting inflation, elections, and FDA approvals. But right now, roughly 90 percent of the action is sports. Is this a future we want to bet on? Stephen Dubner speaks with, among others, the C.E.O. of Kalshi. (Part one of a two-p ... Show More
48m 39s
Sep 16
How to Be a Double Unicorn, with John Urschel | Better in Person
He was thriving in the N.F.L., but then he decided to focus on mathematics — a subject he now teaches at M.I.T. John walks Stephen Dubner through the whole story, teaches him some blocking techniques, and explains why some infinities are bigger than others. If you'd like to see t ... Show More
32m 32s
Sep 11
686. Why Is It So Hard to Find an NFL Quarterback?
For decades, teams have tried (and mostly failed) to predict which college quarterbacks will thrive in the pros. Is the science finally catching up? Stephen Dubner speaks with a scout, a psychologist, a data warrior, and a Hall of Fame quarterback who nobody wanted. SOURCES:Scott ... Show More
58m 20s
Oct 2025
What’s up with the US economy? With Austan Goolsbee
Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a voter on the Fed’s interest rate-setting committee, speaks to the FT’s economics commentator Chris Giles about the outlook for the US economy amid a boom in AI investment, sluggish hiring, President Donald Tr ... Show More
24m 57s
Jul 2024
Austan Goolsbee Talks Fed Policy, Inflation Data
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee said policymakers should cut interest rates if US inflation continues to fall back to the 2% target.
The Chicago Fed chief, speaking Tuesday on Bloomberg TV in Sintra, Portugal, said he feels “we are on a path to 2%” infla ... Show More
9m 4s
Sep 2021
The Fed is Out of Control
The Fed is neither Federal, a bank, nor is does it hold any reserves. The big question is, should we end the Fed? Today’s guest is a critic of the federal government’s fiscal policies, especially the existence of the Federal Reserve.
Dr. Ron Paul, a former Congressman and host o ... Show More
46m 24s
Nov 2021
Why Hasn’t Biden Reversed Trump’s Tariffs to Fix Inflation?
Economist Austan Goolsbee, who also served on the council of economic advisors for president Barack Obama, explains why Everyone Hates Biden over the economy, what it’ll take to fix this inflation issue (clue: Trump tariffs?) and why subsidizing green energy like oil all comes ba ... Show More
19m 27s
Dec 2022
Investors Are Mistaken About the Fed’s Mistake - Ep 860
· Weakening economy will expand inflation· Bitcoin is building a trapdoor, not a bottom.· Jobs under Biden were returned, not created.Cut your wireless bill to $15 a month. For a limited time, buy any 3-month Mint Mobile plan and get 3 more months FREE at https://mintmobile.com/g ... Show More
38m 52s