The Madness of Trump’s Tariffs (w/ John Ganz) [TEASER]
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Apr 15, 2025
President Trump's latest tariff strategy has sparked a whirlwind of economic uncertainty. Described as 'Liberation Day,' his plans unleash chaos rather than freedom, leading to tumult in the stock market. A deep dive reveals psychological underpinnings, linking tariffs to notions of masculinity and traditional labor perspectives. The conversation stretches into bizarre fantasies surrounding tariffs and explores the fierce competition with China. It's a fascinating mix of economics, psychology, and a hint of political theater!
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Tariffs and Masculinity
Pundits on Fox News have linked Trump's tariffs to masculinity.
Greg Gutfeld questioned if tariffs could boost testosterone, while Jesse Waters linked screen time to femininity.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Gender Fantasy and Tariffs
A viral video of women dancing in an office sparked discussion in the "manosphere."
Some men framed tariffs as a choice between happy working women and strong men in factories.
insights INSIGHT
Distorted View of Labor
Some men believe tariffs will force women out of jobs and into marriage with factory workers.
This reflects a flawed understanding of production relations and a fetishization of earlier capitalism.
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This book is a mix of memoir and business advice, detailing Trump's professional and personal worldview. It outlines his approach to deal-making, including his eleven key elements for success, such as 'Think Big,' 'Maximize Your Options,' and 'Have Fun.' The book offers insights into Trump's business strategies, his interactions with various figures, and his approach to negotiating deals. It also provides a glimpse into his personal life and how he runs his organization[1][3][5].
Speaking in the Rose Garden on April 2, or as he called it, "Liberation Day," President Trump unveiled his plans to impose a new minimum tariff on nearly every country in the world, along with country-specific "reciprocal" tariffs for those nations Trump deemed to be engaging in unfair trade practices. He called it "one of the most important days in American history" and claimed it was "our declaration of economic independence." But rather than liberation, Trump's tariffs have unleashed chaos in the stock market and thrown the role of the United States in the world economy into doubt, not least because of the administration's ever shifting justifications for their actions and the constantly changing details of the tariffs themselves. To make sense of the ongoing fallout, we yet again turn to our friend John Ganz — who just finished reading and reviewing Trump's first three books for The Nation — to understand the deeper motivations (if they can be found) behind Trump's trade war. It's a good conversation, ranging from the bond markets to the bizarre psycho-sexual fantasies about tariffs on the right to "mimetic" competition with China, and beyond!
Know Your Enemy 