Stephen Dubner

Let's talk a little bit more about you. How and when did you become interested in tax policy and budget policy? I've read about some US News and World Report challenge to readers to balance the budget that got you enthusiastic. Is that true?

Let's talk a little bit more about you. How and when did you become interested in tax policy and budget policy? I've read about some US News and World Report challenge to readers to balance the budget that got you enthusiastic. Is that true?

Consider all of us scared. Let's go back for a minute. I'd like to hear about your experience staffing and advising political candidates and elected officials.

Consider all of us scared. Let's go back for a minute. I'd like to hear about your experience staffing and advising political candidates and elected officials.

Consider all of us scared. Let's go back for a minute. I'd like to hear about your experience staffing and advising political candidates and elected officials.

OK, so you were known for most of your life as Brian Riedel. In fact, that's your byline on this piece in City Journal. But now you're Jessica Riedel. Can you just give me the TLDR on that?

OK, so you were known for most of your life as Brian Riedel. In fact, that's your byline on this piece in City Journal. But now you're Jessica Riedel. Can you just give me the TLDR on that?

OK, so you were known for most of your life as Brian Riedel. In fact, that's your byline on this piece in City Journal. But now you're Jessica Riedel. Can you just give me the TLDR on that?

I'm really happy for you. That's great news to hear, Jessica. I do wonder whether working in policy and politics, which is not the most serene environment, let's be honest, there's a lot of fighting, there's a lot of dug in heels and entrenched positions. I'm wondering if that political journey in any way prepared you for this personal transition?

I'm really happy for you. That's great news to hear, Jessica. I do wonder whether working in policy and politics, which is not the most serene environment, let's be honest, there's a lot of fighting, there's a lot of dug in heels and entrenched positions. I'm wondering if that political journey in any way prepared you for this personal transition?

I'm really happy for you. That's great news to hear, Jessica. I do wonder whether working in policy and politics, which is not the most serene environment, let's be honest, there's a lot of fighting, there's a lot of dug in heels and entrenched positions. I'm wondering if that political journey in any way prepared you for this personal transition?

When you say that people would become angered by your cold economic truths, give me an example.

When you say that people would become angered by your cold economic truths, give me an example.

When you say that people would become angered by your cold economic truths, give me an example.

What kind of policies were you proposing or critiquing that inflamed the White House?

What kind of policies were you proposing or critiquing that inflamed the White House?

What kind of policies were you proposing or critiquing that inflamed the White House?

We checked in with Karl Rove to see if he had indeed reached out to the head of the Heritage Foundation to shut Riedel up. Here's what Rove told us. Not true. I'm actually a fan of Riedel's work, and we had better things to do than try dictating the think tank CEO's who to hire.

We checked in with Karl Rove to see if he had indeed reached out to the head of the Heritage Foundation to shut Riedel up. Here's what Rove told us. Not true. I'm actually a fan of Riedel's work, and we had better things to do than try dictating the think tank CEO's who to hire.

We checked in with Karl Rove to see if he had indeed reached out to the head of the Heritage Foundation to shut Riedel up. Here's what Rove told us. Not true. I'm actually a fan of Riedel's work, and we had better things to do than try dictating the think tank CEO's who to hire.