We treat economists as authorities on genetics and epidemiology but we aren't that interested in what they have to say about economics

From Media Matters:

Of the 1,258 guest appearances during segments that discussed the issue in the month leading up to the debt deal, only 52 -- or 4.1 percent -- were made by economists.

View a larger chart here.

The definition of "economist" used in this study is broad -- it includes any guest with an advanced degree in economics or who has served as an economics professor at the college or university level. It also includes guests who have worked as government economists (such as Ben Stein, who formerly "worked as an economist at The Department of Commerce").

When you have to count Ben Stein to get to 4.1%, you know there's a problem