Why the National Debt Should Worry Us All

The national debt is a hot topic, and for good reason. It's growing, and that's a problem we can't ignore. Mary Childs, a journalist from Planet Money, recently shared her thoughts on why we should be concerned about this issue. In a recent discussion, Childs joined a panel that included Felix Salmon, Elizabeth Spiers, and Emily Peck. They talked about why the usual arguments against worrying about the national debt don't hold up anymore. It's not just about numbers on a page; it's about the real impact on our economy and future. The conversation didn't stop there. They also dove into a statistical crisis that got worse when the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics was fired after a jobs report that didn't sit well with the then-president, Donald Trump. This event raised questions about the independence of government agencies and the reliability of data. Lastly, they covered the massive incentive package Tesla gave to Elon Musk. This deal sparked a debate about executive compensation and its impact on company performance and public perception. The discussion was part of a podcast episode. For those interested in more, there's a Slate Plus episode titled "The Case for Public Radio. " Slate Plus members get access to bonus episodes and ad-free listening across all Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Slate Money show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or visit slate. com/moneyplus to get access wherever you listen. The podcast was produced by Jessamine Molli and Cheyna Roth.