Trump mulls a Spirit Airlines bailout. Is this capitalism?
4/28/202621 min
President Trump has suggested the United States “buy” the struggling Spirit Airlines. We discuss other ways Trump has blurred the lines between government and business and whether Republicans have turned from their traditional stance on free-market capitalism.
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, financial correspondent Maria Aspan, and White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben.
This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.
Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsTom Bowman0:00
Every day, NPR reports stories that keep you informed without fear or favor. That's the promise of a free press in a democracy. It's in the First Amendment. I'm Tom Bowman, and I cover the Pentagon for NPR. Stand up for independent news coverage today by donating early for Public Media Giving Days, coming up on May 1st and 2nd. Give now at donate.npr.org.
Miles Parks· Host0:23
[upbeat music] Hey there, it's the NPR Politics Podcast. I'm Miles Parks, I cover voting.
Danielle Kurtzleben· Co-host0:32
And I'm Danielle Kurtzleben, I cover the White House.
Miles Parks· Host0:34
And NPR's financial correspondent, Maria Aspen, is here with us as well. Hi, Maria.
Maria Aspan· Guest0:39
Hey there.
Miles Parks· Host0:39
So today on the show, is President Trump treating the federal government like a business? Let's start here. Last Thursday, President Trump floated the idea of buying the struggling Spirit Airlines.
Donald Trump· Soundbite0:51
I think we just buy it. Uh, we'd be getting it virtually debt-free. They have some good aircraft, they have good assets, and when the price of the oil goes down, we'll sell it for a profit. I'd love to be able to save those jobs. I'd love to be able to save an airline. I, you know, we, I like having a lot of airlines so it's competitive.
Miles Parks· Host1:12
Maria, I feel like there are some listeners who are like, "How did I miss this completely the last few days?" But, uh, get us up to speed here. What is going on with Spirit Airlines, and kinda what is Trump talking about here?
Maria Aspan· Guest1:24
Budget airlines in general have been kinda struggling for years, but Spirit