logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
51m 44s

S2 Ep1019: David Frum: It's Too Late to ...

THE BULWARK
About this episode
Trump has effectively imposed a trade embargo on China, which means that after the inventory runs out, American retail will soon dry up. Since Europeans are already bypassing U.S. military contractors to beef up their defense spending —El Salvador is our only ally now— Trump is likely to do something desperate, like firing the Fed chair or seizing Greenland. American presidents decades from now will still be cleaning up what Trump did to this country in 2025. David Frum breaks down the insanity and stupidity of the vision behind the tariffs regime as well as the deep feelings of betrayal in Canada. If globalism means peace, prosperity, and commerce, then let's be globalists.

 David Frum joins guest host Jonathan V. Last for the weekend pod.
show notes

Up next
Yesterday
Bill Kristol: March to Dictatorship
Trump and his people have used the summer months to up the despot game—sending armed troops into the streets, taking over the police in D.C., and promising to export the same tactics to even more blue cities. And the attempted deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda shows t ... Show More
51m 23s
Aug 22
Tommy Vietor: Trump's Security State
The fears of jack-booted thugs and the military in the streets that filled the fever dreams of numerous people on the right since the 90s have come to pass. Not to mention that these are boom times for private prisons, deportation camps, and huge data centers driving up electrici ... Show More
1h 11m
Aug 21
Garry Kasparov and Jerusalem Demsas: Democracy Can't Defend Itself
While Trump keeps working hard on his own monetization and glorification—and delivers a Watergate practically every hour—the pro-democracy coalition must stay focused on winning next year's midterm elections. Trump is at the point of no return, Congress is becoming the only insti ... Show More
1h 12m
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
Trump’s Tariffs Force a New Era in Global Trade
Yesterday, in the Rose Garden, President Trump sent out a clear message: the era of globalization is over. Trump announced sweeping tariffs on trillions of dollars of imports. The new duties immediately shook Wall Street and sent stocks plummeting. WSJ’s White House economic poli ... Show More
23m 37s
Feb 2025
Trump’s Tariff Whiplash
The White House announced wide-ranging tariffs against the U.S.'s biggest trading partners: Mexico, Canada and China. At the last minute, both Canada and Mexico negotiated a pause. WSJ’s Gavin Bade unpacks the significance of the tariffs and the latest updates.  Further Reading: ... Show More
20m 50s
Feb 2025
Trump says US will ‘take over’ and ‘own’ the Gaza Strip
The US president Donald Trump during the news conference with Israel leader Benjamin Netanyahu says the US will 'take over' and 'own' the Gaza Strip.The US China tariffs are still on, even if Donald Trump pressed pause on the ones on Mexico and Canada.A call had been expected bet ... Show More
49m 26s
Jan 2025
Trump’s Tariff Wars
At a White House press briefing on Tuesday, the Trump administration maintained that it would impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada on Feb. 1. This comes after announcing a 10 percent duty on China earlier in the week. Trade and capital expert Brad Setser i ... Show More
49m 19s
Mar 2025
Trump 2.0: The Uncertainty Economy
The Federal Reserve has been focused on cooling inflation and achieving a so-called soft landing. President Trump’s trade policies have sent markets reeling and fears of a recession are on the rise. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos joins Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball to discuss Trump’s economic ... Show More
25m 25s
Feb 2025
Instant Reaction: Trump Tariffs Hit Mexico, Canada and China
US President Donald Trump ramped up his tariff threats to the European Union while saying he would speak with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, as stock markets sank following a hectic weekend that saw prospects for a trade war turn into reality. In remarks to reporters on Sunday ... Show More
10m 56s
Apr 2025
The Art of the Trade War
Scott and Jessica break down the chaos surrounding Trump’s economic and immigration agendas. First, they dive into Trump’s trade war U-turn: after rattling global markets, he’s hit pause on his “reciprocal” tariff strategy—everywhere but China. They unpack what this 90-day freeze ... Show More
1h 13m
Feb 2025
Trump’s Short-Lived Trade War
Trump’s at it again—chaos, confusion, and a whole lot of head-scratching. This week, Scott and Jessica dig into the latest mess: a gutted federal government, Trump blaming DEI for a deadly plane crash, and new attacks on schools, trans kids, and immigrants. Plus, just as inflatio ... Show More
1h 16m
Mar 2025
Trump: Economy In ‘Transition', Mark Carney Wins & Germany's Identity Crisis
Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: (1) President Donald Trump said the US economy faces “a period of transition,” deflecting concerns about the risks of a slowdown as his early focus on tariffs and federal job cuts causes mar ... Show More
16m 41s