Cutting Through Washington’s Red Tape w/ Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin | Let People Prosper Show Ep. 142

​What happens when truth in policy-making meets the dysfunction of Washington, D.C.?

In this episode of the Let People Prosper Show, Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum and former CBO director, shares deep insights into decades of economic policy, spanning crises like 9/11 to today’s battles over regulations, tariffs, and “entitlement” spending.
We explore why regulatory costs are a hidden tax, how Congress has surrendered too much power over tariffs, and why entitlement reform is unavoidable. This timely and honest conversation is for anyone who wants to understand what’s really driving economic dysfunction in Washington and how to fix it.

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(0:00) – Intro to Holtz-Eakin’s journey from CBO to AAF
(6:41) – Inside the White House during 9/11
(16:02) – Why federal agencies are stuck in the past
(20:44) – Congress gave up tariff power. It must take it back.
(25:16) – What trade deficits really mean
(30:50) – Why regulation is a hidden tax on growth
(39:22) – We must tackle entitlements to fix the budget