logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
12m 56s

Swamp Notes: How protectionism got trend...

Financial Times
About this episode

Democrats and Republicans have taken a protectionist turn on trade policy over the past few years. They say it’s to protect national security, but that argument doesn’t always hold up. Just look at this week’s announcement from vice-president Kamala Harris that she doesn’t support the purchase of US Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel. The FT’s economics editor, Sam Fleming, and Washington bureau chief, James Politi, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain why both parties are leaning into “Made in America”.


Mentioned in this podcast:

How national security has transformed economic policy

Joe Biden set to block Nippon Steel’s takeover of US Steel

Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter here

Register for our live subscriber webinar now at ft.com/uswebinar


Swamp Notes is produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, Lauren Fedor and Marc Filippino. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
The scramble for a Ukraine peace deal
<p>US pressure on Ukraine and its allies to agree a peace deal with Russia ignites fresh concern in Europe, and the US has officially designated Venezuela’s “Cartel of the Suns” a terror group. Plus, Europe looks to increase investment rules to stand up to China, and a look at wh ... Show More
12m 27s
Nov 21
The Big Tech stock rollercoaster
<p>Tech stocks have been on a rollercoaster since Nvidia reported earnings, the US added 119,000 jobs in September but unemployment reached its highest level in four years, and the US has formally handed Ukraine a sweeping peace plan drawn up with Moscow. Plus, we’ll go over all ... Show More
12m 22s
Nov 20
The bidding war for Warner Brothers Discovery begins
<p>Nvidia grew sales of its chips even faster than Wall Street anticipated in its latest quarter, and UK inflation fell to 3.6 per cent in October. Plus, Paramount is trying to buy Warner Brothers Discovery and China’s opaque economic data is coming under scrutiny.&nbsp;</p><br>< ... Show More
12m 36s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 19
A rare bipartisan move to rein in Donald Trump on Venezuela
Following repeated U.S attacks on boats off the coast of Venezuela, Senator Tim Kaine has partnered with fellow Democrat Senator Adam Schiff and Republican Senator Rand Paul to force a vote to prevent war on Venezuela without approval from Congress. Senator Kaine speaks to NPR ab ... Show More
8m 25s
Oct 24
Roundup: A Trade War With Canada, Inflation Ticks Up, And The Shutdown Persists
This week in Washington, President Trump halted trade talks with Canada, announced a private donation to help pay the military and authorized new sanctions on Russian oil. We discuss these developments, as well as how Trump uses his carefully cultivated image.This episode: politi ... Show More
23m 59s
Aug 25
How Asia is coping with Trump’s tariffs. With Mari Pangestu
President Donald Trump thinks that Asia's goods exports are automatically America's loss and as part of his ‘reciprocal’ tariff policy, he has imposed some of the highest import taxes on goods from south-east Asia. So what does this mean for the region? And are Trump's policies p ... Show More
28m 36s
Oct 13
What’s up with the US economy? With Austan Goolsbee
Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a voter on the Fed’s interest rate-setting committee, speaks to the FT’s economics commentator Chris Giles about the outlook for the US economy amid a boom in AI investment, sluggish hiring, President Donald Tr ... Show More
24m 57s
Sep 19
The ugly truth about Trump’s ‘beautiful tariffs’. With Martha Gimbel
Customs duties on imported goods used to be a crucial part of US government funding – in fact, the customs service was among the first federal agencies set up after the constitution. Now, Trump is hoping that – among other things – tariffs could transform the US budget. But do th ... Show More
32m 34s
Apr 2025
Do Trump Voters Like His Tariffs? We Went to Michigan to Find Out.
<p>President Trump’s tariffs have terrified stock markets, business owners and anyone with a 401(k). Does that mean that his approach to trade is becoming a major political liability?</p><p>Astead W. Herndon, a national politics reporter, asked voters in Michigan what they though ... Show More
30m 1s
Oct 2
The Republican Playbook: Democrat Edition with Tim Miller and David Faris
As the government shutdown takes effect, Jon is joined by Roosevelt University Professor and contributing writer at The Nation David Faris, and "The Bulwark Podcast" host Tim Miller to examine Democratic strategy. Together, they explore what Democrats are hoping to achieve throug ... Show More
1h 12m
Sep 16
Trump Promises Free Speech Crackdown
<p>In response to the murder of Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump vows retribution against his political opponents, JD Vance asks Americans to snitch on anyone criticizing Kirk's politics, and Stephen Miller pledges to "disrupt, dismantle, and destroy" left-wing organizations. Jon, Love ... Show More
1h 20m
Sep 9
Trump's Epstein Doodle Grosser than Expected
<p>House Democrats get ahold of the infamous birthday letter Trump sent to Jeffrey Epstein and release it to the public. Turns out it's more disturbing than we imagined. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy react to the doodle and talk through the week's latest, including the administration re ... Show More
1h 49m