Peter St Onge Podcast Ep 141 Weekly Roundup: Government Shuts Down
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Oct 6, 2025 This week's discussion dives deep into the federal government shutdown and its ramifications. The mechanics of a shutdown are explained, highlighting which essential services could remain operational. Meanwhile, the podcast reveals China's economy is faltering amidst the ongoing trade war, with clever strategies like tariff evasion. As GDP growth impressively rises to 3.8%, the conversation turns to inflation concerns and potential policy reforms to ease financial pressures. It's a dynamic exploration of politics, economics, and their impact on everyday lives.
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Shutdown's Immediate Fiscal Impact
- A federal shutdown could instantly furlough hundreds of thousands of federal workers and defund millions of grant-funded NGOs.
- Peter St Onge argues a targeted shutdown could balance the budget and cut roughly a third of federal operations.
Washington Monument Strategy Explained
- The bureaucracy intentionally makes shutdowns painful using the "Washington Monument Strategy" to target popular services.
- Peter St Onge notes Trump can declare what stays open, flipping that strategy if he chooses.
Keep Essentials, Cut The Rest
- Use executive discretion to keep voter-favored services like parks and school lunches while furloughing less popular agencies.
- Keep essential functions funded with tax revenue and cut the rest to force fiscal balance.