Lever Time UAW’s Shawn Fain On Trump’s Tariff-pocalypse
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Apr 9, 2025 
Shawn Fain, the President of the United Auto Workers, advocates for blue-collar rights and critiques harmful trade policies. He discusses the detrimental effects of Trump’s tariffs versus their intended benefits for manufacturing workers. Fain reflects on how decades of free trade have alienated Democrats from the labor movement, urging a re-evaluation of trade policies. He underscores the vital role of American manufacturing in national security and argues for maintaining union independence in political advocacy amid shifting labor dynamics.
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NAFTA's Impact on Kokomo
- NAFTA devastated the U.S. manufacturing base, causing job losses and political shifts.
- Kokomo, Indiana, where Shawn Fain grew up, lost thousands of GM jobs after NAFTA.
Strategic Tariffs vs. Wall Street Fear
- Tariffs can boost manufacturing jobs if used strategically, not as a blanket measure.
- Wall Street's "tariff fear" is driven by their profit motives, not consumer well-being.
Auto Price Gouging
- Auto prices rose 35-40% over four years, driven by corporate greed, not necessity.
- A Ram truck's price increased by $20,000 in three years, demonstrating price gouging.