'It's a fraud': CNN host bluntly calls out conservative CEO proposing a 'DOGE dividend'

Normally mild-mannered CNN host Michael Smeroconish shut down an investment firm CEO on Saturday morning who has been pitching what he calls a "DOGE dividend" where government savings would be refunded to taxpayers.

Simply put, the CNN host dismissed the proposal as an attempted fraudulent scheme being used to sway the public to support for Donald Trump-appointed Elon Musk's highly controversial gutting of the U.S. government.

During an appearance on Smerconish's Saturday show, Azoria CEO James Fishback attempted to explain his proposal, which he claims would result in taxpayers getting a rebate of $5,000 per household if Musk hits his goal of $2 trillion in savings.

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As he told the CNN host, "President Trump brought up on Air Force One is that these DOGE dividends will incentivize Americans to report waste, fraud and abuse in their own community. Why? Because the more that DOGE saves, the bigger their DOGE dividend check will be. Remember in economics, show me the incentive and I'll show you the outcome we're giving every American."

Smercoinish wasn't buying it, once equating the plan to a Ponzi scheme, before starting to wrap up the segment with, "There's so much fallacy in what you just offered, please."

"I have a very simple premise here: we're $36 trillion in debt –– it's a fraud," he told his guest. "As much as I want to see us cut waste, fraud and abuse, it is an absolute fraud to say to the American people because of what Musk is doing, we have five grand to give each of you."

"The only way we have five grand is if we're borrowing it, because we're that far in debt," he continued before offering, "I'm trying to meet you halfway, which is simply to say, what a good thing that finally we're going to look at waste, fraud and abuse, albeit it shouldn't be in this haphazard fashion. But let's at least be honest with the American people that whatever we quote unquote 'save,' we already owe."

You can watch below or at the link.

- YouTube youtu.be