The Bulwark Podcast Catherine Rampell: Who Are the Socialists Now?
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Oct 31, 2025 
Catherine Rampell, economics journalist and newly appointed economics editor at The Bulwark, dives deep into the current state of the economy. She discusses how tariffs impact businesses, particularly in rural communities, and links tight immigration policies to labor shortages and rising food prices. Rampell critiques the government's equity stake in companies as a form of 'socializing' the economy, while also exploring the implications of AI on job markets and investment. Plus, she shares insights on the evolving political landscape in NYC.
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Chugging Economy, Fragile Foundations
- The U.S. economy is chugging but fragile due to policy uncertainty. Tariffs and immigration changes are raising costs and disrupting supply and labor chains.
Tariff Chaos Sank A Business Owner
- A CEO of a $100–$200M import business spent the year solely trying to reduce his tariff bill. He went from expecting $1M to facing $15M and nearly $115M if he mistimed orders.
Let Firms Focus On Product, Not Arbitrage
- Avoid designing policy that forces firms to divert attention into regulatory arbitrage. Let businesses focus on product and investment instead of tariff avoidance.
