Bulwark Takes Trump's Tariff Math Is Bonkers, & What's His Greenland Endgame?
Apr 3, 2025
The hosts dive into the chaos of Trump's tariffs, revealing a lack of coherent strategy and the troubling math behind trade deficits. They critique his governance style and its implications for both the economy and the GOP's evolving morals. The discussion also touches on how tariffs can consolidate power and examines Trump's controversial interest in Greenland, pondering whether it's a genuine ambition or a diversionary tactic. They raise concerns about the potential fallout for NATO and the absurdity of Trump's threats against allies.
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Tariff Math
- Trump's new tariffs are based on trade deficits, not reciprocity.
- Countries with larger trade deficits with the U.S. face higher tariffs.
Illiteracy vs. Malice
- Will Saletan believes Trump's tariff policy stems from economic illiteracy, not malice.
- He argues that Trump doesn't understand economics and is breaking the system.
Tariff Endgame
- JVL suggests two possibilities for Trump's tariff endgame.
- One is that economic calamity aids authoritarianism; the other involves controlling businesses through exemptions.