Stephen Dubner

You mentioned that Trump outspent Biden two to one. Now, in Trump two, I'm curious where you think that's heading.

You mentioned that Trump outspent Biden two to one. Now, in Trump two, I'm curious where you think that's heading.

So whether it's the second Trump administration, whether it's the administration that follows that one, which if you listen to Trump himself, he might like it to be a third Trump administration. But whoever comes after him. If you look down the road for 8, 12, 16, 20 years, do you see that this is how the republic ends?

So whether it's the second Trump administration, whether it's the administration that follows that one, which if you listen to Trump himself, he might like it to be a third Trump administration. But whoever comes after him. If you look down the road for 8, 12, 16, 20 years, do you see that this is how the republic ends?

So whether it's the second Trump administration, whether it's the administration that follows that one, which if you listen to Trump himself, he might like it to be a third Trump administration. But whoever comes after him. If you look down the road for 8, 12, 16, 20 years, do you see that this is how the republic ends?

The problem you're describing now, which is that politicians make promises that are bad for the country but good for them to get elected, and they believe that if they made promises that were good for the country, they simply wouldn't get elected. It feels as though a very clever game theorist could help adjust that equilibrium. I've heard you talk about politicians as being weather vanes.

The problem you're describing now, which is that politicians make promises that are bad for the country but good for them to get elected, and they believe that if they made promises that were good for the country, they simply wouldn't get elected. It feels as though a very clever game theorist could help adjust that equilibrium. I've heard you talk about politicians as being weather vanes.

The problem you're describing now, which is that politicians make promises that are bad for the country but good for them to get elected, and they believe that if they made promises that were good for the country, they simply wouldn't get elected. It feels as though a very clever game theorist could help adjust that equilibrium. I've heard you talk about politicians as being weather vanes.

They just reflect what's blowing out there. They don't actually set the agenda. Can you see a way, whether it's through game theory or something perhaps more practical, that would reset the notion of what it means to be a sane and fiscally responsible elected official?

They just reflect what's blowing out there. They don't actually set the agenda. Can you see a way, whether it's through game theory or something perhaps more practical, that would reset the notion of what it means to be a sane and fiscally responsible elected official?

They just reflect what's blowing out there. They don't actually set the agenda. Can you see a way, whether it's through game theory or something perhaps more practical, that would reset the notion of what it means to be a sane and fiscally responsible elected official?

There are two arguments you make to address the problem that stick out as particularly interesting to me. And I would think they'd stick out to most listeners as particularly vexing. One of them is the need for entitlement reform, especially Social Security, but also Medicare and Medicaid. And the second is the need to raise taxes on the middle class.

There are two arguments you make to address the problem that stick out as particularly interesting to me. And I would think they'd stick out to most listeners as particularly vexing. One of them is the need for entitlement reform, especially Social Security, but also Medicare and Medicaid. And the second is the need to raise taxes on the middle class.

There are two arguments you make to address the problem that stick out as particularly interesting to me. And I would think they'd stick out to most listeners as particularly vexing. One of them is the need for entitlement reform, especially Social Security, but also Medicare and Medicaid. And the second is the need to raise taxes on the middle class.

So let's do those one at a time, starting with entitlement reform. What solutions do you propose there?

So let's do those one at a time, starting with entitlement reform. What solutions do you propose there?

So let's do those one at a time, starting with entitlement reform. What solutions do you propose there?

Okay, even I can tell that's a lot of money. But let me just back up for a minute. Why doesn't tax withholding cover that?

Okay, even I can tell that's a lot of money. But let me just back up for a minute. Why doesn't tax withholding cover that?

Okay, even I can tell that's a lot of money. But let me just back up for a minute. Why doesn't tax withholding cover that?