Senate Confirms Biden's Chief Economist After Manchin Drama.
Jared Bernstein has been confirmed as the White House's chief economist by the Senate Democrats in a 50-49 vote, despite opposition from Sen. Joe Manchin and Republicans. Bernstein, a long-time confidant of President Joe Biden, will chair the Council of Economic Advisers at a pivotal moment for the economy. Republicans have criticized Bernstein for his role in advancing Biden-backed spending bills that pumped fiscal stimulus into the economy as inflation took root. Bernstein's background as a labor market specialist focused on income inequality shaped White House policies designed to bring manufacturing onshore.