‘I Just Swallowed a Fly on Live Television’: CNN Guest Gets Choked Up When Bug Zips Into His Mouth

Economist Justin Wolfers got all chocked up during an interview with CNN’s Omar Jimenez on Saturday after he swallowed a fly on live television.

Wolfers was talking about Friday’s poor jobs numbers when the fly made its move.

“The good news is the U.S. labor market, roughly speaking, has been The Little Engine That Could. It’s not earning an A+ in anyone’s book, but it does seem remarkably resilient so far. But, all resilient until the day that we’re not,” Wolfers said, before his eyes got wide and he coughed. As Jimenez continued talking, Wolfers continued choking and coughing.

Wolfers attempted to compose himself as Jimenez said, “You know, I just wonder, like, as we look ahead, everyone is looking — maybe not everyone — but, folks like yourself are looking at the Fed and trying to figure out, okay, we have these economic indicators, maybe the job market is a little softer, but how do you think the Fed is going to read this, considering they didn’t hike interest rates at the last meeting?”

“Mate, I just swallowed a fly on live television!” Wolfers exclaimed as Jimenez laughed.

“I was trying to keep talking while you were coughing, so you could figure it out. It’s all good!” Jimenez said.

The University of Michigan professor then pretended like he was eating a fly on purpose, saying, “Aussies love eating flies!”

“It might actually be a metaphor, because the biggest thing going on at the Fed is Kevin Warsh feels like I do right now,” Wolfers quipped while pausing again to cough.

“Kevin Warsh doesn’t like talking about what’s going on, and it makes both of us a little harder to understand and a little harder to interpret,” Wolfers continued. So, you can think of Kevin as having swallowed the fly as well. I might swallow a horse; that will get the fly as well.”

Wolfers posted to X after the interview, “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.”

Wolfers added, “(Postscript: The fly is dead. And I’m no longer a vegetarian.)”

Watch the clip above via CNN.

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