Guest host Chris Krok filled in for Dan Proft and welcomed economist Stephen Moore, who offered an enthusiastic defense of what he called one of the most significant conservative wins in decades. Moore, a former Trump adviser and co-author of The Trump Economic Miracle, pointed to recent tax and spending legislation—referred to informally by supporters as the “Big Beautiful Bill”—as a landmark moment for fiscal conservatives.
At the top of Moore’s list was the permanent extension of the Trump-era tax cuts, which he said prevented a “$4 trillion bomb” from detonating on the economy in January. He noted that middle-income Americans, especially those earning between $50,000 and $100,000, would benefit from an average 17% reduction in taxes.
But the bill didn’t stop at tax policy. Moore highlighted several other conservative priorities embedded in the legislation, including a federal expansion of school choice, broader access to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), elimination of electric vehicle mandates, and pro-business tax write-offs for domestic investment. Moore argued that these provisions would help enhance U.S. competitiveness and give more autonomy to individuals and families.
One of the more controversial parts of the bill was the inclusion of work requirements for Medicaid and food stamp recipients. Moore stood firm, noting that such reforms were similar to those enacted during the Clinton administration, which, according to research from the left-leaning Brookings Institution, led to higher employment and improved long-term outcomes for recipients.
The economist also addressed pushback from Illinois Democrats like Rep. Sean Casten, who warned that the new requirements could lead to hunger, shorter life expectancy, and hospital closures. Moore dismissed those claims as political theater, joking that such criticisms would be more at home in satire publications like The Babylon Bee.
Moore cited government audits estimating that up to $150 billion had been lost to fraud in Medicaid, saying the new rules were a necessary correction to a broken system. He criticized states like California and Illinois for what he called shell games—using federal Medicaid dollars to indirectly support undocumented immigrants by shifting state funds.
Turning to immigration more broadly, Moore reiterated his support for legal immigration but opposed extending benefits to undocumented individuals. He floated a controversial “pay-to-stay” proposal that would allow law-abiding undocumented workers to remain in the U.S. if they pay a fine, forgo citizenship, and have employer support. Krok countered that such a plan might act as a magnet for further illegal immigration, and the two agreed that any reforms should prioritize legal pathways and stronger enforcement.
On trade, Moore, typically skeptical of tariffs, offered a tempered endorsement of Trump’s tariff policy. He argued that targeted tariffs could fund government without income tax hikes and that projected revenues from tariffs were being ignored in budget projections, making deficit concerns overblown. He said the goal was to cut taxes on American-made goods and raise them on foreign products, a strategy he said aligned with incentivizing domestic production.
Moore concluded with a swipe at President Biden’s inflation record, blaming Democrats for the rising cost of living and saying the 2024 electoral results reflected widespread voter frustration. He pointed out that $100,000 in 2020 now has the purchasing power of $125,000 due to inflation under the Biden administration.