Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen went on CNN for an interview earlier this month. After facing some softball questions about inflation, Yellen was asked about her recent visit to China… and she told a story about accidentally eating a hallucinogenic species of mushroom.
“I went with this large group of people, and the person who arranged the dinner did the order. And there was a delicious mushroom dish,” Yellen said. “I was not aware that these mushrooms had hallucinogenic properties. I learned that later.”
CNN’s Erin Burnett looked amused. Burnett asked, “Later, like, when you were sleeping and having visions?”
“I read that if the mushrooms are cooked properly, which I’m sure they were, at this very good restaurant, that they have no impact,” Yellen responded. “But all of us enjoyed the mushrooms, the restaurant, and none of us felt any ill effects from having eaten them.”
Burnett credit Yellen with starting a sensation. “Well, now they’re selling out,” Burnett said.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen traveled to China last month to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, second in command to President Xi Jinping.
Both leaders expressed hopes for better communication as Yellen appealed to Beijing not to let frustration over U.S. curbs on technology exports disrupt economic cooperation. Meanwhile, Both governments used positive terms to describe Yellen’s visit to China’s capital, which was aimed at improving strained relations, and stressed the importance of U.S.-China economic ties.
Yellen and Li announced no new plans for more high-level meetings to revive contacts that disputes over technology, security and other irritants have disrupted. Yet, Yellen is the latest of several senior U.S. officials traveling to Beijing to encourage Chinese leaders to revive interactions between the governments of the world’s two largest economies.
Take a look —
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen explains eating a dish that contained “magic mushrooms” on her recent trip to China:
“There was a delicious mushroom dish. I was not aware that these mushrooms had hallucinogenic properties. I learned that later.” pic.twitter.com/WFRe92hHT8
— The Recount (@therecount) August 15, 2023
On CNN, Yellen also faced questions about Biden’s handling of the economy… and she told Americans not to believe their lying eyes.
“75 percent of Americans believe the economy is in poor condition, and maybe that’s because, again, even though inflation rates have come down, they are still paying more,” Burnett said. “What do you say, Secretary Yellen, to the clear majority of Americans who simply do not believe that the administration is helping them?”
“Over 70 percent of Americans say that they’re very comfortable with their financial situation,” Yellen said. “So, they seem to perceive the economy as a whole as doing less well than they are personally.”
Only 36% of U.S. adults approve of Biden’s handling of the economy, slightly lower than the 42% who approve of his overall performance, according to an August poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Take a look —
As Americans pay more under Biden, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen claims "most Americans feel good about their own economic situation" pic.twitter.com/cNySdZFgzs
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 15, 2023
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article.