President Donald Trump’s tariffs are meant to return America to a throwback economy — and culture. An economist who advises the White House makes the case for why looking to the past is the best plan for the future.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Amanda Lewellyn, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Noel King.

Further reading: The powerful force behind Trump's tariffs. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast

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President Trump during his “Make America Wealthy Again” trade announcement event last week. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

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