Biden and the tale of the $16 McDonald's meal
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 4 December 2023
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
An irregular $16 McDonald’s order, a viral TikTok, and a growing conundrum for President Biden’s economic platform.
The internet has been awash with social media rants lately about the high cost of fast-food. One video in particular keeps making the rounds, nearly a year on. Jeff Stein, The Post’s White House economics reporter – and self-proclaimed fast-food connoisseur – joins “Post Reports” to break down what these reactions do and don’t tell us about the actual state of the economy, and what it may foreshadow for President Biden’s 2024 reelection bid.
Read more:
Biden turns up the pressure on corporate ‘price gouging’ as 2024 nears.
Inflation eased in October in the latest sign of cooling economy.
The viral $16 McDonald’s meal that may explain voter anger at Biden.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Yeah, my name is Jeff Stein. I'm at my go to Taco Bell in Washington, D.C. |
| 0:13.2 | Ah, they're promoing the new grilled cheese nacho fries. |
| 0:19.0 | Don't they look good? |
| 0:20.3 | 449. |
| 0:21.3 | I think that's like a pretty good deal. I like that. I'm hungry. Are you hungry? You eating with me? |
| 0:26.2 | I think I am. This is the post White House economics reporter Jeff Stein, |
| 0:30.8 | with Post Reports producer Alana Gordon. They are on what Jeff calls |
| 0:34.8 | one of the most convenient reporting trips he's ever made to his favorite spot |
| 0:40.5 | for lunch. To me there there's only like one, |
| 0:44.0 | like object to the correct answer, |
| 0:46.0 | which is the Crunch Trap Supreme. |
| 0:48.0 | I've heard this about you. |
| 0:49.0 | Yeah. |
| 0:50.0 | Add some guac. |
| 0:52.0 | What else we got here? What else we got here? |
| 0:53.0 | 2.49 for chips and nacho cheese, |
| 0:55.0 | 2.49 for black bean sides. |
| 0:58.0 | And look, sauce packets is still $0.00. |
| 1:01.0 | There's a reason they're here on this fast food journey. |
| 1:05.0 | Cheese Kceded here for 559? |
| 1:07.0 | Right? Like I could make a cheese case at home. |
| 1:11.0 | See, I mean, if this is one sign that President Biden is in trouble for the re-election, |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Washington Post, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Washington Post and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.

