Economist Robert Reich has taken aim at Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's new reality TV show, pointing out that it's funded by companies his department oversees—while ordinary Americans are getting hammered at the pump.
In a post on X on Monday, Reich criticized the Trump administration's handling of the Iran conflict. "While millions of Americans struggle to afford soaring gas prices due to Trump's war on Iran, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is focused on releasing a road trip reality tv show," he said.
Then he dropped the real zinger: the show's sponsors include companies like Boeing Co. (BA), Toyota Motor Corp (TM), and Shell PLC (SHEL)—all of which "his department regulates." The show's official website lists those three plus Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), United Airlines Holdings Inc. (UAL), and others as sponsors.
Reich's point is pretty straightforward: when a regulator is making a TV show backed by the very companies he's supposed to police, it raises some uncomfortable questions about whose interests are being served.
Rep. Jerry Nadler Joins the Chorus
Duffy isn't just catching heat from economists. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) also piled on, saying, "No wonder the Department of Transportation is a mess"—because Duffy is "busy chasing his reality TV star dreams" instead of serving American travelers. Nadler called on Duffy to "pause" his "Hollywood dreams" and "do the job taxpayers are paying for." He specifically urged Duffy to stop blocking congestion pricing and infrastructure projects in New York, and to focus on "protecting travelers who are sick of aviation incidents, surging fuel costs, and greedy corporations running wild."
The Great American Road Trip Controversy
The show, titled "The Great American Road Trip," has been a lightning rod since its announcement. California Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) called Duffy a "total disgrace" for filming it while Americans struggle with rising fuel costs. But Duffy has defended the project, saying it was produced without any taxpayer dollars and shot over seven months on weekends and Spring Break with his family.
Still, the optics are tough. With oil prices crossing $106 a barrel and gas prices squeezing household budgets, a cabinet secretary starring in a road trip show sponsored by the very industries he regulates doesn't exactly scream "priorities straight."
