The Al Franken Podcast 218: Catherine Rampell on Trump’s Tariffs and DOGE
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Apr 6, 2025 
Catherine Rampell, an opinion columnist for The Washington Post and co-host of MSNBC’s The Weekend, shares her insights on Trump's sweeping tariff plans and their potential repercussions for American families. She highlights the chaos surrounding Elon Musk's government efficiency efforts, critiquing the risks of privatization and ineffective management within key federal agencies. Rampell warns that history may repeat itself, leading to economic stagnation, as tariffs could trigger harmful trade wars and exacerbate existing government inefficiencies.
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Trump's First-Term Tariffs
- Trump imposed tariffs in his first term, but they didn't increase US employment.
- He's now imposing global tariffs, targeting inputs for US manufacturers like auto parts.
Tariff Collection
- Tariffs might be collected every time a product crosses the border, increasing costs for manufacturers.
- This is based on past administrations' practices, but it could change.
Retaliatory Tariffs
- Affected countries will retaliate against US industries with targeted tariffs.
- They'll likely target politically sensitive products like agricultural goods and motorcycles.