Skip to content
TrackPodcasts
artsAug 31, 202645:47

How the government wastes our time

Fresh Air

About this episode

Fresh Air is made possible by:


Atlantic journalist Annie Lowrey explores the administrative burdens people face applying for government benefits like unemployment and food assistance. It's not just about wasted time: "When the government treats us like this, we don't trust it," she says. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about her book, The Time Tax: How the Government Wastes Our Time—and How to Fix It.


Ken Tucker reviews a new album by the trio The Womack Sisters, nieces of R&B great Bobby Womack.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter 
Follow us on Instagram 
Subscribe to our YouTube channel 
Check out the Fresh Air Archives

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Interactive timestamps

Jump to segment

Get every episode summarized

Each time Fresh Air publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.

Email me new episodes

Free for 3 shows. No card needed.

Hosts & guests

Transcript ready

521 searchable segments. Every word is indexed and playable.

How the government wastes our time

Fresh Air

0:00
45:47

More episodes

More from Fresh Air

View all episodes →