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What Next | Daily News and Analysis

The Upside Of Tariffs

Apr 7, 2025
Jonathan Last, the Editor of The Bulwark and a voice in conservative political commentary, dives deep into the complexities of Trump's tariffs. He discusses the flawed logic behind trade imbalances and how tariffs could lead to economic turmoil for political gain. The conversation turns to the upcoming 2024 elections, analyzing voter sentiment and the disconnect between consumer perception and economic reality. Last encourages listeners to reflect on the political motivations behind tariffs and their implications for democracy.
32:30

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The Trump administration's tariff policies are projected to burden American households significantly, potentially costing over $2,000 each by 2025.
  • The political climate surrounding these tariffs reveals a fear among business leaders to criticize the administration, reminiscent of crony capitalism and authoritarian dynamics.

Deep dives

The Impact of Tariffs on the Economy

The recent tariff policies announced by the Trump administration are projected to have significant repercussions for American households, with estimates indicating a potential cost of over $2,000 per household by 2025. This strategy has raised concerns about the economic implications and the justification of declaring a national emergency to impose these tariffs. Critics argue that Trump's simplistic view of trade imbalances overlooks the complexities of international trade, where some countries may not import U.S. goods due to their economic focus on different sectors. The reckless implementation of tariffs has sparked fears of economic instability, highlighted further by the immediate negative reaction in the stock market.

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