Stephen Dubner

Thank you.

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In Washington, D.C., there is a set of people who move into town when their party comes to power and who eventually leave once their party is voted out. These are the high profile residents of D.C., the ones who make headlines. But for every one of these people, there are thousands more that you rarely hear about or hear from. This is the other Washington, D.C.

In Washington, D.C., there is a set of people who move into town when their party comes to power and who eventually leave once their party is voted out. These are the high profile residents of D.C., the ones who make headlines. But for every one of these people, there are thousands more that you rarely hear about or hear from. This is the other Washington, D.C.

In Washington, D.C., there is a set of people who move into town when their party comes to power and who eventually leave once their party is voted out. These are the high profile residents of D.C., the ones who make headlines. But for every one of these people, there are thousands more that you rarely hear about or hear from. This is the other Washington, D.C.

These people work behind the scenes on all sorts of important matters like U.S. tax policy or the runaway national debt. Our guest today is a specialist in both those matters.

These people work behind the scenes on all sorts of important matters like U.S. tax policy or the runaway national debt. Our guest today is a specialist in both those matters.

These people work behind the scenes on all sorts of important matters like U.S. tax policy or the runaway national debt. Our guest today is a specialist in both those matters.

So do you see yourself as someone who's sounding the alarm?

So do you see yourself as someone who's sounding the alarm?

So do you see yourself as someone who's sounding the alarm?

This friendless soul is Jessica Riedel.

This friendless soul is Jessica Riedel.

This friendless soul is Jessica Riedel.

Despite her claim to failure, Riedel is consistently named by Washingtonian Magazine as one of the most influential economic policy professionals in D.C. She has testified before Congress. She routinely briefs lawmakers in both political parties. And she has two messages. Number one, the federal debt crisis is even worse than you think, and few politicians have the courage to do anything about it.

Despite her claim to failure, Riedel is consistently named by Washingtonian Magazine as one of the most influential economic policy professionals in D.C. She has testified before Congress. She routinely briefs lawmakers in both political parties. And she has two messages. Number one, the federal debt crisis is even worse than you think, and few politicians have the courage to do anything about it.

Despite her claim to failure, Riedel is consistently named by Washingtonian Magazine as one of the most influential economic policy professionals in D.C. She has testified before Congress. She routinely briefs lawmakers in both political parties. And she has two messages. Number one, the federal debt crisis is even worse than you think, and few politicians have the courage to do anything about it.

And number two, just about everything you know about U.S. tax policy is wrong. Today on Freakonomics Radio, federal debt and tax myths. Could we possibly be having any more fun? That starts now.