7 chapters across the catalog
U.S. Debt Ceiling, Standard & Poor's Credit Rating Downgrade
The United States credit rating was downgraded by Standard & Poor's following the raising of the debt ceiling. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner previously dismissed the risk of losing the AAA rating, calling it unassailable. Former economic advisor Christina Romer is criticized for her academic background and recent media appearances regarding the stimulus.
Christina Romer, Obama Economic Recession Messaging
Former economic advisor Christina Romer described a "holy shit moment" regarding the 2008 financial collapse during a meeting with President Obama in Chicago. Despite these early warnings from his economic team, Obama later claimed in interviews that the magnitude of the recession was unknown to most economists at the time.
Austan Goolsbee, the new chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, is mocked for his appearance on the Ed Schultz show. The hosts compare Goolsbee's voice to football coach John Gruden and criticize his lack of real-world business experience, labeling him another "academic" twerp tasked with fixing the economy.
Austin Goolsbee Appointment and Economic Advisory Council
President Obama announced Austin Goolsbee as the replacement for Christina Romer on the Council of Economic Advisers. The hosts highlight Goolsbee's background as a member of Yale's Skull and Bones society and his championship in extemporaneous speaking. They criticize the administration for appointing academic economists with limited real-world business experience.
White House Resignations, Christina Romer and Peter Orszag
The hosts discuss the departures of key Obama administration figures, including economic advisor Christina Romer and budget director Peter Orszag. They criticize Romer for her failed unemployment projections and Orszag for his ties to the Council on Foreign Relations. The segment highlights the lack of private-sector experience among the administration's top officials.
Christina Romer Economic Report, Academic Background Critique
Christina Romer, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, is criticized for her academic background and condescending delivery during an economic briefing. The hosts argue that her lack of private-sector experience makes her unqualified to advise the President on the economy. They play clips of her speech regarding job losses and GDP, likening her tone to a kindergarten teacher.
Recovery.gov Mapping, Job Estimation Methods and Del Monte
The $18 million redesign of recovery.gov is criticized for using "speculative" methods to estimate jobs created or saved by the stimulus package. The hosts trace the data back to a January report by Christina Romer and Jared Bernstein, arguing the figures are essentially "made up." They also note that the Del Monte Corporation received $9 million in stimulus grants.
