CNN’s Michael Smerconish engaged in a passionate argument with an investor regarding a proposition for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to allocate 20 percent of its discoveries back to American citizens.

James Fishback, the CEO of the investment firm Azoria, made an appearance on Smerconish’s show to elaborate on the viability of his suggestion for a ‘DOGE dividend,’ a program akin to a stimulus check that he had put forth on X.

Fishback suggested that out of the anticipated $2 trillion in findings from DOGE’s efforts to uncover corrupt expenditures, 20 percent, approximately $400 billion, should be distributed among the nation’s roughly 79 million households, translating to about $5,000 per household.

However, Smerconish thought the idea was crazy, as the US is $36 trillion in debt and even if DOGE found found the $2 trillion, it would hardly put a dent in the owed amount. 

‘This is where the rubber meets the road,’ Smerconish said. ‘That’s $106,121 for every single person in America.

‘So if Elon Musk is successful in saving us money from waste, fraud and abuse – and by the way, James, I hope that he is. I don’t like the approach, but I like the fact that something’s being done.

‘There is no money in the till! We owe $36 trillion. We owe $106,000 each. So whatever the savings ought to be, it’s not like President Trump is doing us a favor by giving us 20 percent.’ 

Fishback said the dividend would ‘incentivize every American to call out waste, fraud and abuse, to lower the budget, to narrow the deficit, and to bring down the debt.’ 

CNN ‘s Michael Smerconish got into a heated debate with an investor who proposed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) give back 20 percent of its findings to US citizens – despite the country being in deep debt

Fishback proposed that the government take 20 percent of the $2 trillion DOGE is hoping to find in corrupt spending – approximately $400 billion – and disperse it to the roughly 79million households in the country, which would equate to roughly $5,000-per-household

He also called out the US for sending Ukraine hundreds of billions of dollars to aid in the Russia conflict. However, he cited the incorrect, inflated $350 billion number President Trump claimed the US sent in a Truth Social post. 

The US has only appropriated $174 billion of direct aid to Ukraine, according to the Congressional Research Service’s January report, which was published a week before Trump’s inauguration. 

‘Where was this emergency? Over the debt when we sent $350 billion to Ukraine to be wasted,’ Fishback asked. ‘Where was this emergency, Michael, on CNN, when you guys were advocating $7,000 to migrants in Chicago?

‘Hardworking Americans deserve a $5,000 check with President Trump’s name on it.’ 

‘This is a Ponzi scheme,’ Smerconish shot back as the discussion became tense. ‘We don’t have the money. Is what I’m trying to tell you. It’s a Ponzi–.’ 

‘So, we didn’t have the money for Ukraine, right?’ Fishback responded. 

The two spoke over each other before Smerconish pulled rank, reminding him: ‘Theoretically, it’s my program,’ and threatening to cut Fishback’s microphone in order to get a full sentence in. 

‘I never do this, I don’t want to be that guy. Do I have to silence your microphone?’ he asked. 

However, Smerconish thought the idea crazy, as the US is $36 trillion in debt. But Fishback said: ‘Hardworking Americans deserve a $5,000 check with President Trump’s name on it’

Fishback allowed him to make his point, where Smerconish reiterated that the proposal was 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 said. ‘Let’s at least be honest with the American people that whatever we quote unquote save, we already owe.’

Fishback replied by saying the only ‘fraud’ happening in America was the US sending money abroad, and with its past handling of the migrant crisis. 

After that, Smerconish ‘called time’ and ended the interview. 

This isn’t the first terse exchange happening between CNN journalist and Trump-adjacent experts and guest. 

CNN Health Reporter Jacqueline Howard pushed back against a Donald Trump-signed order and recent statement from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claiming there are only two sexes.

She said it excludes those who are born intersex and transgender citizens. 

‘So there’s concern here that we could lose data in this space – we could lose research in this space. And some doctors and patients could face the real-world consequences of that.

Fishback said the dividend would ‘incentivize every American to call out waste, fraud and abuse, to lower the budget, to narrow the deficit, and to bring down the debt’ 

‘And that’s why we are seeing a lot of criticism here, when it comes to responding to these new definitions,’ she said. 

CNN anchor Pamela Brown had a heated exchange with an aide for newly appointed health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. over his priorities during this administration.

Calley Means, who is serving as an adviser to RFK Jr., interjected as Brown asked her other guest, infectious disease specialist Dr. Paul Offit, about the uptick in measles cases.

‘Pamela, with respect, why aren’t you asking me about the fact that 50 per cent of teens have obesity,’ he said.

Brown instantly hit back with a withering takedown, arguing that she has questions for both of them and intended to cover a wide range of topics relating to healthcare.

She noted that she’s been ‘at the forefront of covering a lot of these issues.’

‘Please don’t make that claim that I’m not asking the right questions… I do want to talk about obesity. Don’t… claim that I’m not asking about important things because I’ve covered that on this show.

‘I have other questions for you, but we’re talking about this,’ Brown said.