Newsmax Host Clarifies Colleague’s Jobs Report Remark

During a live broadcast on El-Balad, Newsmax host Marc Lotter corrected co-host Sharla McBride regarding the February jobs report. McBride had mistakenly claimed that the U.S. economy added 92,000 jobs. However, Lotter promptly clarified that the economy actually lost 92,000 jobs.

Correction on Air

The segment began with McBride introducing what she thought was breaking news about the jobs report. She stated, “Last month’s jobs report was just released moments ago, with the economy adding 92,000 jobs in February.” Lotter quickly interjected, saying, “Actually, we lost 92,000 jobs.” McBride acknowledged the error, attributing it to a mistake in the show’s script.

Labor Market Overview

The February jobs report, issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, provided a grim assessment of the labor market. Beyond the reported loss of jobs in February, previous months’ figures were also revised downwards.

• December’s job numbers were adjusted downward by 65,000 positions.
• This means the U.S. economy lost approximately 17,000 jobs in December.
• The unemployment rate increased slightly from 4.3% in January to 4.4% in February.

Market Reaction

Financial markets responded negatively to the jobs data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by about 900 points. Additionally, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both decreased by around 1.6%.

Future Implications

According to a Forbes article, further challenges may lie ahead for the labor market. The healthcare sector, which has been one of the few consistently growing job markets, is at risk. Proposed budget cuts from President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” could reduce Medicaid spending by roughly $1 trillion over the next decade.

This impending reduction may lead hospitals and health systems to freeze hiring or even downsize their workforce.