Democrats like myself have exhaustively criticized Donald Trump’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill.  But coming from Democrats like me, folks say: “So what?  You’re just another Democrat who opposes Trump.  Big deal!”  

My guest  today is an economist with impeccable conservative credentials — Jessica Reidl. 

She is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, specializing in budget, tax, and economic policy. She previously served as chief economist for Senator Rob Portman (R‑OH) from 2011 to 2017, and worked as Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth. She spent a decade as the lead research fellow on federal budget and spending policy at the Heritage Foundation, served as director of budget and spending policy for Marco Rubio’s 2016 campaign and was the architect of Mitt Romney’s 10-year deficit-reduction plan during the 2012 campaign. 

In sum, Riedl is a heavyweight, and one we can and should listen to -- especially now.