Judging Freedom Prof. Jeffrey Sachs : Trump and Tariffs/Trump and War.
Nov 11, 2025
Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, an esteemed economist and public policy expert, shares his insights on several pressing issues. He critiques the constitutional validity of presidential tariffs, arguing they should be a Congressional power. Sachs discusses U.S. military expansion and its ties to the military-industrial complex, alongside the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. He raises concerns about U.S. strategies in Gaza and the implications for Palestinian statehood. He also reflects on missed opportunities for U.S.–Russia relations and the challenges posed by neoconservative influences.
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Tariffs Are Congress’s Constitutional Power
- Tariffs are constitutionally Congress's power, not the president's to unilaterally set by decree.
- Jeffrey Sachs warns Trump's emergency tariff actions constitute an unconstitutional grab of power that threatens the republic.
Tariff Rationales Are Whimsical And Contradictory
- The administration's justifications for tariffs are inconsistent and politically opportunistic.
- Sachs criticizes DOJ for arguing tariffs aren't about money while the president cites revenue, ads, drugs and foreign cases as motives.
Global Bases Reflect A Long-Term War Machine
- The U.S. maintains global bases as part of a long-term military-industrial complex strategy.
- Sachs says this worldwide basing policy is bankrupting the country and fuels endless wars like Syria and Ukraine.