On Chicago’s Morning Answer, economist Stephen Moore joined Dan Proft to unpack the federal shutdown, Democrats’ spending demands, and the real state of the economy. He also weighed in on the collapse of EJ Antoni’s BLS nomination and Trump’s new prescription-drug initiative.
Schumer’s shutdown, on purpose.
Moore argued Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer engineered the closure with a set of “unserious” conditions: no income checks for Medicaid eligibility, federal benefits for those here illegally, taxpayer funding for gender transition procedures, and roughly $1.2–$1.5 trillion in new spending tacked onto a short-term funding bill. With a $2 trillion deficit already on the books, Moore said Trump “won’t budge an inch,” predicting Democrats will have to fold—especially after three Senate Democrats crossed over to back a clean continuing resolution.
Shutdown mechanics—and an opening to shrink government.
Past shutdowns furloughed large chunks of the bureaucracy (e.g., the EPA’s workforce is mostly “non-essential,” VA far less so), with back pay awarded retroactively. This time may be different. Moore said OMB’s Russ Vought has mapped a path for permanent reductions if agencies sit idle—an extension of the first-term cull that trimmed roughly 250,000 federal positions. Between furloughs and a reported wave of voluntary exits among federal workers, Moore called the moment a real test of “draining the swamp.”
Is the economy wobbling? Moore says no.
Responding to Mark Skousen’s caution flag—citing tepid gross output and weak business-to-business spending—Moore agreed production, not consumption, drives growth but countered that business investment is surging (capex, R&D, factory buildouts). He expects that to power 2025 momentum, rejecting the idea that the economy is sliding toward recession based on those aggregate measures alone.
EJ Antoni’s nomination flame-out.
Moore blasted the pile-on that sank the prospective Bureau of Labor Statistics chief, calling it political payback for Trump firing the prior BLS head over consistently overstated job counts. He said the episode exposed D.C.’s professional jealousy and a system where “if you want a friend, buy a dog.” Antoni, he added, will continue policy work outside government.
TrumpRx and drug prices: careful with the cure.
On Trump’s announced direct-to-consumer drug site with Pfizer participating, Moore warned against creeping corporatism and price controls. Yes, Americans often pay more for brand-name drugs because other countries free-ride on U.S. R&D—but U.S. patients also enjoy faster access and significantly cheaper generics. If Washington wants lower prices, he said, start by fixing the FDA’s slow-walk on approvals and expanding “Right to Try,” rather than entangling government and pharma. He also noted who’s thrived under Obamacare: big insurers posting record profits.