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.

A Panel Discussion

In a recent discussion, Childs joined a panel that included:

• Felix Salmon
• Elizabeth Spiers
• 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 Statistical Crisis

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
• The reliability of data

Tesla's Incentive Package

Lastly, they covered the massive incentive package Tesla gave to Elon Musk. This deal sparked a debate about:

• Executive compensation
• Its impact on company performance
• Public perception

Podcast Details

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
• Ad-free listening across all Slate podcasts

You can subscribe directly from the Slate Money show page on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify

Or visit slate.com/moneyplus to get access wherever you listen.

The podcast was produced by:

• Jessamine Molli
• Cheyna Roth