A congressional standoff over Affordable Care Act premium subsidies has triggered another government shutdown. John W. Diamond explains how we got here, why shutdowns aren’t effective policy tools, and what these recurring episodes reveal about budgetary and policymaking dysfunction in Washington.
Then, he turns to the Trump administration’s proposal to overhaul the H-1B visa lottery system by favoring higher-wage positions. John examines whether this could better align the temporary, nonimmigrant visa program with its statutory mission: filling high-skilled labor shortages in specialty occupations.
This conversation was recorded on Oct. 1, 2025.
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“The Two-Handed Economist” delivers timely analysis of economic news from John Diamond, director of the Baker Institute Center for Tax and Budget Policy. Each week, John dives deep into the latest policy developments — mostly at the federal level, but with insights now and again into Texas and Houston finance as well.
Why a two-handed economist, you might ask? President Harry Truman famously asked for a one-handed economist, tired of hearing, “On the one hand, this,” and “On the other hand, that.” John embraces the complexity that a one-handed economist might shy away from, explaining how it all adds up for consumers, businesses, and policymakers.
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