The Rest Is Politics: US 132. The Mistakes That Led to Trump
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Nov 25, 2025 Discover how post-WWII trade systems initially fostered prosperity but later unraveled, fueling the rise of populism and Trump. The impact of 1990s globalization on working-class communities shines a light on economic disparities. Hear about Nixon's pivotal decisions and the fallout from the 2008 crash. The hosts explore elite blind spots, the future of job security with AI, and potential policy solutions to rebuild trust and address the needs of American workers.
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Bretton Woods Built Stable Middle Classes
- The post‑WWII Bretton Woods system tied stable currencies to strong unions and broad prosperity across Western working classes.
- It aimed to prevent war by binding economies together and raising living standards to counter communism.
1971 Shift Unraveled The Old Compact
- Nixon's 1971 end of the gold standard and floating dollar broke Bretton Woods and unleashed inflation and instability.
- Rising costs prompted early outsourcing and planted the seeds of later populist discontent.
How Nixon's China Opening Enabled Exports
- Nixon's opening to China linked its currency to the dollar, which later helped China become an export powerhouse under Deng Xiaoping.
- That currency linkage amplified the effects of US inflation and aided China's manufacturing ascent.
