Economist Justin Wolfers swallows fly live on CNN during Fed discussion
An unexpected insect interrupted an on-air interview, but the guest powered through with the segment.
Conversation activity · last 41 hours peak 1/hr
Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 3 items across 3 sources · 55m ago. Quotes are verbatim.
Economist Justin Wolfers was discussing Federal Reserve policy on CNN when a fly entered his mouth. Rather than interrupt the segment, Wolfers swallowed the fly and continued answering questions about the economy. The incident became a talking point on social media, with Wolfers later joking about the experience on Bluesky.
- Justin Wolfers swallowed a fly that entered his mouth during a live CNN interview without pausing his discussion of Federal Reserve policy.
- Wolfers later posted a humorous account on Bluesky, contrasting his decision to continue with how others might have handled the situation.
- The incident gained media attention across multiple outlets, becoming a minor viral moment.
How it unfolded
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Report International outlets pick up the story
The Straits Times reported on the incident, describing it as a noteworthy moment in an otherwise serious discussion about economic policy.
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Report News coverage spreads across outlets
The Independent published a story about the on-air incident, framing it as an unusual moment Wolfers navigated during his interview.
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Reaction Wolfers posts humorous account on Bluesky
Wolfers shared a detailed account of the incident on Bluesky, explaining his decision to continue the interview and adding a darkly humorous postscript about the fate of the fly.
“I figure folks deserve some clarity about the economy. (Postscript: The fly is dead. And I'm no longer a vegetarian.)”
Justin Wolfers · Bluesky ↗ -
Event Fly incident during CNN interview
A fly entered economist Justin Wolfers' mouth while he was speaking on CNN. Wolfers swallowed the fly rather than interrupt his discussion and continued answering questions about the Federal Reserve.
“A fly just zipped into my mouth while gabbing on CNN. Next question was about the Fed, so I did what Kevin Warsh won't—I swallowed hard and kept talking.”
Justin Wolfers · Bluesky ↗
What people are saying verbatim
“A fly just zipped into my mouth while gabbing on CNN. Next question was about the Fed, so I did what Kevin Warsh won't—I swallowed hard and kept talking.”
Justin Wolfers, Economist · Bluesky ↗ · Aug 8, 5:40 PM
“I figure folks deserve some clarity about the economy.”
Justin Wolfers, Economist · Bluesky ↗ · Aug 8, 5:40 PM
“The fly is dead. And I'm no longer a vegetarian.”
Justin Wolfers, Economist · Bluesky ↗ · Aug 8, 5:40 PM
“A fly crashed Justin Wolfers' CNN interview; he swallowed the evidence then kept discussing the Fed.”
Straits Times, News publication · Straits Times World · Aug 9
Voices from the web unedited
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A fly just zipped into my mouth while gabbing on CNN. Next question was about the Fed, so I did what Kevin Warsh won't—I swallowed hard and kept talking. I figure folks deserve some clarity about the economy. (Postscript: The fly is dead. And I'm no longer a vegetarian.)
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‘I just swallowed a fly’: CNN guest suffers on-air disaster but chokes his way through interview https://www. independent.co.uk/news/world/a mericas/cnn-guest-swallows-fly-interview-b3029995.html?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into News @ news-Independent