In today’s news, there was continuing fallout from the release of excerpts from Bob Woodward’s new book, and from Wednesday’s anonymous article in the New York Times Op-Ed pages. However, there may be less substance here than meets the eye.

Meanwhile, in financial news, we have mixed information about jobless claims, private payrolls, and factory orders. Overall though, the general messaging remains the same: we have a lot of recent tidbits of information pointing toward a possible peak in the economic cycle, and a higher likelihood of recession going into 2019.

Politico: Dems dig in on Kavanaugh’s ties to Trump-connected law firm

CNBC: Private payrolls add 163K in Aug vs 190K est: ADP and Moody’s Analytics

CNBC: US jobless claims fall to near 49-year low

CNBC: Service sector boomed in August, while factory orders fell more than expected in July

CNBC: US productivity grew at strong 2.9% rate in the second quarter

CNBC: Goldman Sachs CFO says bank is working on bitcoin derivative for clients

USA Today: 6 signs we’re closer to the next recession than you think

1. The unemployment rate will struggle to push lower
2. The yield curve is flattening
3. Inflation has begun picking up
4. Home sales are beginning to decline in key markets
5. Credit card debt and late payments are on the rise
6. The economic cycle suggests a contraction

Guardian: The madness is pouring out of the White House now, for all to see by Richard Wolffe