Episode 20: From the Farm to the Factory — Who’s Paying for Trump’s Trade War?

Episode Summary:
In Episode 20 of Surviving Trump, host Bella Goode digs into the real-world consequences of Donald Trump’s sweeping April 2025 tariffs. From wheat fields in Kansas to factory floors in Ohio, the economic pain is spreading. You’ll hear why top economists are calling the policy “economic malpractice,” and how working families, small businesses, and farmers are footing the bill. With inflation rising, profits vanishing, and rural communities on the brink, this episode breaks down who’s being hit hardest—and why. We also examine the political fallout, including what Congress is doing and how MAGA voters are responding as economic costs mount.

In This Episode:

• Plus, we’ll hear from leading economists who say this isn’t economic genius — it’s economic malpractice
• Why prices are surging, markets are rattling, and economists warn of stagflation
• How the tariffs are slamming American workers and small businesses, from pool contractors to car dealerships
• Why farmers face a full-blown crisis after losing export markets and USAID food purchases
• Industry-by-industry breakdown of who’s hurting most, and what it means for the broader economy
• What Republicans and Democrats are saying—and why MAGA voters are starting to feel the squeeze

Next Episode:
Episode 21: Global Fallout
We follow the ripple effects across borders. How are China, Europe, and America’s trading partners responding? What new alliances are forming? And is the U.S. losing its grip on global economic leadership?

Transcript

 00:04

Hey, everyone. Bella Goode here, and welcome back to Surviving Trump. This is episode 20: From the Farm to the Factory-Who's Paying for Trump's Trade War. Last week in Episode 19, we covered Donald Trump's April 2025, tariffs, explaining what the tariffs actually are, how they function as tools of economic coercion, and how Trump's sweeping new trade policy amounts to a political loyalty test disguised as economic strategy. We broke down the mechanics, the motivations and the immediate market reaction, including the stock plunge, rising prices and the growing panic in corporate boardrooms and farm towns alike. 

Today, in Episode 20, we go deeper into the damage. We'll hear from leading economists who say that this isn't economic genius, it's economic malpractice. We'll walk through the real world impact in different industry sectors, from a farmer in Kansas to a consumer electronics store on the East Coast, we'll look at the inflation spike already hitting household budgets, the political blowback in Washington, and how MAGA voters are responding to the fallout. Some are doubling down, and others are starting to sweat. 

First, let's hear from the economists While Donald Trump presents his sweeping tariff plan as patriotic Revival of American economic strength, the vast majority of economists see it very differently. From Nobel laureates to former treasury secretaries, critics across the ideological spectrum argue that Trump's plan is based on a flawed understanding of how tariffs work, a misreading of economic history and a dangerous underestimation of the damage these policies can cause to both the US and global economies. 

Leading economists have raised alarms over both the structure and the timing of the tariffs. Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman called the plan "disconnected from reality," comparing it to a more chaotic version of the infamous Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, the 1930s law, widely blamed for deepening the Great Depression, that was covered in the episode 19. Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers labeled it "financially destructive," warning of a potential $30 trillion hit to global markets, roughly $300,000 per American family of four. 

University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers described it as economically illiterate, while Jeffrey Sachs predicted it would fail to fix trade imbalances and instead provoke costly retaliation from other nations. Many experts agree on one point, these tariffs are a blunt and inflationary tool being deployed without a clear or coherent strategy. Economist David Dayton likened the approach to an "economic mobsterism," arguing that tariffs are being used, not as policy, but as leverage, a way to pressure foreign governments and companies into doing Trump's bidding. In the near term, economists expect several immediate impacts. 

First, a spike in consumer prices. Tariffs function like a tax on imports, and importers typically pass those costs on to consumers. Prices are rising on everything from groceries and clothing to cars and electronics. The Yale budget Lab, which is a research initiative based at Yale University that focuses on analyzing US fiscal policy anyway, the Yale lab estimates that American households may pay up to $3,800 per year for working class families that are hardest hit. There will also be inflationary pressure, with the Federal Reserve already struggling to keep its inflation under control, the new tariffs could push inflation back up above 4% by the end of 2025. Economists warn that the trade barriers could add as much as 1.4 percentage points to core inflation, the rate that excludes food and energy prices to show the underlying trends and also market turmoil and recession fears after Trump's April 2 announcement, the financial markets tumbled in just two days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 2600 points. 

The S&P 500 dropped nearly 5% and the NASDAQ entered bear market territory, a decline of 20% from its recent peak. JP Morgan now estimates a 60% chance of global recession this year. The short term intact also includes slowing economic growth US GDP forecasts are falling. Before the tariffs, economists expected modest growth of about 1.5% in 2025. Now some models predict zero growth or even contraction as consumer spending slows and businesses cut back on investment. So those are the short term risks. What about in the long term? While immediate effects are painful, economists are equally concerned about the long term damage. There's stagflation risk. 

Many experts warn that the US could enter a period of stagflation, an economic condition marked by slow growth and persistent inflation, last seen in the 1970s it's one of the hardest scenarios to recover from. Economists expect job losses in key sectors. Some domestic manufacturing jobs might return, but the overall impact could still be negative. Retaliatory- retaliatory tariffs from China, Canada and the European Union are already targeting American agriculture and manufacturing. The Peter Institute, which is another non profit think tank based in Washington, DC, it focuses on international economic policy. Anyway, the Peterson Institute estimates more than 300,000 jobs could be lost due to higher costs and shrinking export markets long term, also, the collapse of global supply chains. Industries like electronics, automotive and pharmaceuticals rely on complex international supply chains. 

Tariffs increase costs, they delay production, and they create inefficiencies. Many companies may move production away from the US, not towards it. Long term, also reduced investment and innovation. With higher costs and more uncertainty, businesses are likely to hold back on expansion. This could mean fewer new factories, fewer technologies and fewer high quality jobs. Economists also believe in the long term fiscal- there's no fiscal silver bullet. Trump claims the tariffs will generate $6 trillion in revenue over a decade, but the experts say any gains will be swamped by broader losses from slower economic growth to lower tax revenue. Rather than strengthening America's fiscal position, it's likely to weaken it. So who's going to be most affected by these tariffs? The burden of these tariffs won't be shared equally. 

Certain groups, both economically and demographically, will suffer more than others. The low and middle income families, they are likely to suffer more. Tariffs are a regressive form of taxation, meaning they hit poor households harder, and that's because lower income families spend a larger share of their income on imported goods like food, clothing and household supplies. One estimate suggests that households earning under $45,000 could see a 2.3% drop in disposable income. Also affected are export dependent regions, farmers and ranchers and manufacturers, especially in rural areas that are heavily supporting Trump, they're already seeing retaliation. 

China has imposed 34% tariffs on all US goods and restricted exports of rare earth elements essential to American tech and defense industries, the auto and tech sectors, they will be affected. Automakers rely on globally sourced parts companies like Ford and GM, they now face higher costs and longer production timelines. Electronic companies, fashion brands, major retailers like Target and Walmart are also bracing for price hikes and supply disruptions. And then there's small and medium sized businesses. These firms often do not have the resources to absorb rising costs or to be able to restructure supply chains. Many could shut down if caught between expensive imports and reduced consumer demand. Even wealthier households may feel the impact, especially through falling stock and real estate values, but for working Americans, the effects will be immediate, unavoidable and potentially long lasting. 

Trump presents Tarrifs as a cure all, but to economists, they look more like a self inflicted wound built on disinformation and nostalgia and threatening to destabilize the economy at home and abroad. Trump's tariffs have real world consequences. There are lots of examples of impact. Tariffs might seem like an abstract policy tool, percentages tacked on to imports, but on the ground, they hit like a sledgehammer. Whether you're a farmer in Kansas or a car dealer in California, the April 2025 tariffs are triggering a ripple effect that's reshaping bottom lines and business models across the country. Here are a couple of examples, a couple of stark illustrations of what it might look like. examples of businesses before and after tariffs. Take a Midwest pool installation company, for example. 

The business depends on a mix of imported and domestic supplies, pumps, liners, decorative tiles from Mexico and China, cement and pipes from the US. Distributors before tariffs the company had, this is again an illustration. The company had a solid operating margin, turning a $60,000 annual profit on roughly $200,000 in revenue. But after the 25% import tariffs kick in, the material costs surge by more than $12,000 and insurance premiums rose too due to inflationary pressures and market volatility. Despite keeping their labor costs flat, the business saw its profit shrink to just $45,000, that was from 60,000 to 45. Worse, some customers balked at the price increase, forcing the owner to eat part of the cost just to keep jobs coming in for small contractors with seasonal demand and tight margins, that squeeze could mean the difference between staying afloat and shutting down for good. 

So that's just one example, that's a pool installation company. Now consider a consumer electronics retailer on the East Coast. This business sells smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles and TVs, nearly all of which are manufactured or assembled in China or Mexico. Before the tariffs, the retailer was doing quite well. It sold about 3000 units a year at an average of $800 per product, bringing in about $2.4 million in annual revenue and clearing about $400,000 in profit. After the tariffs, the cost of inventory ballooned by $500,000. To cover the difference, prices were raised from $800 to $1,000 per unit on average, but sales dropped to 2400 units as price conscious consumers held back the result. Revenue stayed flat, but net profit dropped by $50,000 customers complained, competition from Mega retailers like Amazon intensified, and the business had to reconsider cutting staff just to keep its doors open. 

Again, another example of the trade impact. Here's another example, and that's a car dealership on the West Coast, one that sells a blend of imported and domestic vehicles, like the Toyota Prius, the Honda CRV, Ford F150s, before the tariffs, the dealership sold 300 cars annually at an average of $40,000 each with $5 million in inventory and 1.5 million in operating costs, it netted a Healthy $5.5 million profit. Once the 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and parts hit, the cost of inventory soared to 6.25 million. The average price jumped to 48,000 pricing out some buyers. Sales volume dropped to 250 units. Even though gross revenues stayed pretty steady, profits dropped by nearly 25% down to $4.15 million dollars. 

Management scrambled to shift more inventory to domestically assembled models, but even those contained foreign parts now subject to tariffs. In response, some customers simply turned to the used car market, pushing up prices and reducing availability across the board, another example, and yet, no group feels the combined weight of Trump's trade war and his elimination of US aid like America's farmers, they're taking a double hit, rising costs from import tariffs and disappearing markets due to the end of us, food aid programs, fertilizers, many of which are sourced in Canada, now cost 25% more. Tractor and equipment parts from China are harder to source and more expensive. At the same time, retaliatory tariffs from China, Canada and Egypt have choked off key export markets for wheat, corn and soybeans. 

Even worse, the elimination of US AID has removed one of the most stable and critical buyers of US agricultural surplus. That loss alone estimated that $2 billion annually has flooded the domestic market with excess grain further driving down prices. So for a wheat farmer in Kansas, this is catastrophic. Imagine someone who used to earn $65,000 on a 50% domestic and 50% export sales with prices falling from $5 to $4 per bushel and fertilizer costs rising by 10s of 1000s of dollars. That same farmer now faces a projected loss of $5,000 so he's gone from making 65,000 to losing 5000. There is no cushion left, no aid contracts, no export demand and no relief in sight. It's not just about one farm going under. It's about the grain elevator that closes the local bank that tightens lending, and the rural school that loses property tax revenue. 

We've seen this story before in the 1980s only now it's not a market crash driving the devastation, it's policy. In every case, whether it's a contractor, a retailer, a dealership or a farmer, the result is the same, higher costs, lower profits, fewer options. And unlike a normal recession, this isn't a cycle you can just wait out. These businesses are being sacrificed on the altar of an ideology used it's for pawns in a political loyalty test that leaves no margin for survival. Those are tough words, but they're also the truth. Let's take a look at some industry sectors. Trump's april 2025 tariffs have sent shock waves through the US economy, striking some industries harder than others. 

The most vulnerable are those deeply tied to global trade, either because they import raw materials or because they rely on foreign markets to sell their goods. While some sectors are only feeling ripple effects, there are other sectors, just like agriculture, being very hard hit. For example, you have fabricated metal manufactures, companies that produce industrial parts, tools and machinery, who are reeling from steep tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, many source materials from Canada, Mexico and China with tariff rates topping 30% in some cases, import costs have soared. These increases are passed down in the line to construction firms, equipment makers and consumers, triggering a chain reaction of price hikes and project delays across the industrial economy. The auto industry is also in deep trouble. 

The US car manufacturing depends on a cross border network of suppliers tariffs on vehicles and parts, especially from Japan, Germany, Canada and Mexico, are driving up costs, delaying production and dampening consumer demand. Dealers are scrambling to adjust their inventory and supplier contracts, while profit margins shrink under pressure. Then there's apparel, textiles and leather goods. They're being squeezed by 10 to 15% tariffs on low cost imports from Asia, especially China and Vietnam, with little domestic production capacity, companies are forced to either raise prices or eat the cost. Consumers are already seeing price hikes on items like jeans and shoes and smaller retailers are struggling to stay afloat. 

The electrical equipment and manufacturing sector is suffering as well. Many manufactures in clean energy and infrastructure depend on imported parts, like motors, circuit boards, lithium ion batteries from China and Southeast Asia. Tariffs on these imports are raising costs and delaying production. Furniture makers are facing a similar squeeze. Many rely on Chinese imports for wood, foam, textiles and metal parts with tariffs hitting both raw materials and finished goods. These companies are taking hits across the board, especially damaging for an industry with thin profit margins and long lead times, some sectors are moderately affected. 

Construction materials like cement and lumber are mostly domestic, but builders still need steel and aluminum for structural components. Raising prices for beams rebar and fasteners could slow down infrastructure projects and drive up housing costs. Consumer electronics are also vulnerable, while finished products like smartphones might escape tariffs. Key components such as semiconductors and batteries often don't, especially when imported from China. And there's a couple of sectors that are largely insulated, at least for now, oil and gas production is mostly domestic and minimally affected. Chemical and Pharmaceutical companies are also relatively shielded. 

Many imports are sourced within the US or exempted from tarrifs due to national security and medical concerns. With longer production timelines and less price sensitivity, these industries have more room to adapt. In short, Trump's tariffs are landing hardest on the sectors that make grow or assemble things, especially those woven into the global supply chains from farmers to factory owners, the impact is real and immediate. These aren't abstract trade disputes. They're direct shocks to the real economy already showing up in layoffs, canceled contracts and vanishing profit margins. And as we'll explore next, these industry level crises are starting to ripple into broader trends, fueling inflation, shaking investor confidence and threatening economic stability nationwide. 

And what about economic impact, like the impact on inflation and the stock market longer term? Trump's 2025 tariffs have moved from campaign rhetoric to economic crisis. What began as a promise to revive American manufacturing has spiraled into a global trade war, pushing inflation higher, straining supply chains and prompting a very harsh verdict from Wall Street. Inflation is surging again, both the consumer price index, which is CPI, which tracks average changes in the prices of goods and services, and the personal consumption expenditures, which is called PCE index running above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Just FYI, PCE is a key measure of inflation used by the Federal Reserve. It tracks the average increase in prices that people in the US pay for goods and services over time, things like food, housing, healthcare and transportation. It's similar to the consumer price index, which is the CPI, but PCE is considered more comprehensive, because it adjusts for changes in consumer behavior and because it includes a broader range with expenditures. 

With that being said, with sweeping tariffs now Hitting imported cars, electronics, fertilizer and industrial inputs, economists are estimating that these measures will add 2.3% to overall consumer prices. That means that the average American household could pay about $3,800 more per year. These impacts are expected to show up may 2025 inflation data with the sharpest increases in food, energy, vehicles and electronics. But this isn't just about higher prices. The economists are warning of stagflation, which we have talked about in both this episode and the last episode, a toxic mix of high inflation and stagnant growth. In this scenario, wages fall behind prices, investment slows and consumer purchasing power declines. It's a policy makers nightmare. Raising interest rates to fight inflation could trigger a recession, while inaction could allow inflation to spiral. So that sounds like a little bit it sounds a little confusing, so let me just explain this in layman's language. 

To fight inflation, the Federal Reserve typically raises interest rates that makes borrowing more expensive on everything from credit cards to car loans to business investments. As a result, people and companies spend less, which cools down the demand and helps bring prices down. But here's the catch, if the Feds raise rates too much or too quickly, it can choke off economic activity entirely. Businesses may stop hiring or even start laying people off. Consumers may pull back sharply. That drop in demand can tip the economy into a recession, a period of shrinking economic output, rising unemployment and financial strain. On the other hand, on the flip side, if the Fed doesn't act or waits too long, inflation can spiral out of control. 

Prices rise faster than wages, household budgets get squeezed, and the economic instability worsens, and that's what economists call entrenched inflation, and it's even harder to fix once it takes hold. So the Fed is stuck. They're stuck in a balancing act, act too aggressively and risk a recession, act too slowly and risk a runaway inflation. So getting back to the economic impact of tariffs, some have argued that businesses or farm suppliers might absorb extra costs, but in sectors like agriculture, electronics and autos, where profit margins are already thin, those costs are being passed on to the consumers, and rebuilding supply chains takes time, money and labor, none of which appear overnight. Wall Street isn't waiting to see what happens, it's already reacting. 

On April 4, after China retaliated with its own tariffs. US, stocks plunged in a historic two day sell off. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2231 points, or 5.5% entering correction territory, defined as a 10% fall from recent highs. It was the Dow's worst back to back loss since March 2020, at the start of the COVID 19 pandemic in. The S&P 500 fell nearly 6% losing 5.0 6 trillion in market value in just two days. The broader market is now officially in correction. But the most alarming signal came from the NASDAQ composite. The tech heavy index entered a bear market, a drop of over 20% from recent highs, and for the first time since 2022 the tech heavy index entered a bear market, a drop of over 20% from recent highs. For the first time since 2022 tech firms already exposed to supply chains disruptions and tariffs on components, were hit especially hard. 

Stocks across consumer hardware, cloud services and artificial intelligence collapsed. Investor psychology has shifted. JP Morgan now places the odds of US and global recession at 60% higher still if more countries follow China's lead and retaliate, these countermeasures don't just hurt US exports. They signal a breakdown in diplomacy, reducing the chances of pulling back from the brink. In short, the economic fallout is no longer theoretical. It's reflected in rising prices, shaken markets, and crumbling consumer confidence. What began as a populist effort to protect American jobs may end up costing those very jobs, slashing retirement savings and forcing the Federal Reserve into a lose-lose choice: tame inflation or stop a collapse. The world is watching and American households already burdened by debt, rising costs and economic uncertainty, are bracing for the full force of a trade war that's only just begun. 

Another question you might be wondering is, so what are the scenarios looking forward? What are the potential outcomes of this trade- potential trade war? Well, with Trump's tariffs now in effect and retaliation underway. The central question is, where does it lead? While the exact outcome is uncertain, economists and trade experts broadly agree on a range of possible futures, from disastrous to merely disruptive and at best, a partial revival of domestic industry. So here are three potential scenarios. Number one, let's take a look at the worst case scenario, a full blown global trade war. In the most severe outcome, Trump's tariffs spark sweeping retaliation from major trading partners, China, Canada and the European Union, Mexico and others, each imposes steep tariffs on US exports, plunging the economy into crisis. 

US GDP, the gross domestic product, or the total value of goods and services produced, shrinks by nearly 1.5% a $438 billion loss. Globally, the damage is even worse, eight with 500 billion wiped from global GDP, triggering recessions across developed and emerging economies. American manufacturers are hit from both sides, rising input costs, especially for steel, aluminum and electronics, and collapsing access to international markets, layoffs spike, small businesses shut down, farmers already struggling with the loss of US aid purchases and higher costs are devastated by retaliatory tariffs on soy, wheat and corn. Consumer prices soar, hitting household budgets hard. What started as a trade tactic turns into a full scale economic crisis, both at home and abroad. So that's number one. That's the worst case. 

So hopefully we don't have to worry about that. And then there's the second case, the middle ground scenario. In this case, there's an economic drag without escalation. In a more moderate scenario, trade partners respond cautiously rather than escalating. They just begin quietly, shifting their sources, buying a little less from the US and more from other countries. The US avoids a collapse, but GDP still declines by point 5% or $149 billion, global GDP dips modestly as countries adjust supply chains. Import heavy industries like retail, electronics and textiles still face rising costs, but they stay afloat. Prices climb for everyday items like furniture, packaged goods, coffee. But inflation stays manageable. Consumers feel the pressure, but it doesn't feel like a full blown crisis. Farmers still suffer, not from direct retaliation, but because foreign buyers pivot to Brazil or Australia or Ukraine, and USAID wants a major buyer. Higher remains dismantled, the result a long, grinding slowdown that weakens investment and undermines household security. So that's kind of the middle ground. 

It's better, not great, but it's better than the first one. And then finally, the third, the best case scenario, a domestic manufacturing boost in the most optimistic vision, Trump's tariffs achieve their stated goal, reviving US manufacturing importing becomes costly enough that companies start restarting their operations, opening plants and hiring American workers, sectors like steel and industrial manufacturing, they see modest gains, and GDP grows slightly in those areas. But even in this scenario, the benefits are limited. Industries dependent on global supply chains, electronics, automotive, clean energy still suffer from higher costs and delays. Inflation, while eventually stabilizing, remains a near term burden, and for farmers, the outlook, it really doesn't improve much. Exports markets remain restricted. 

USAID is still gone, and government price supports are politically out of reach. This is a partial win. Some industrial workers benefit, but millions, especially in rural trade or in trade exposed communities continue to lose. Most likely, the reality will fall somewhere between these outcomes or cycle through them over time. What's already clear is that these tariffs come with real costs. Whether they tip the economy into recession or simply rearrange a few sectors, they are redrawing the economic landscape in real time. The only remaining questions are how deep the damage goes, and how long it will last, and who ends up paying the price. Another area that I found interesting was the reaction, the reaction by Republicans and Democrats to Trump's tariffs. 

So as the fallout from Trump's April announcement, Washington is sounding off with growing divisions on both sides of the aisle, Republicans present a united front in public, but behind the scenes, concern is mounting over the economic impact executive overreach and political risks in key swing states. Democrats, meanwhile, see a clear opening to challenge the policy, to reassert congressional authority and position themselves as defenders of economic stability. Publicly, many Republicans are standing by Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the tariffs a long overdue correction, and Senator Rick Scott insisted the markets will bounce back. "What matters is putting American workers first."MAGA aligned lawmakers like Representative Jim banks declared "the era of globalism is over." But you know, behind the scenes, cracks are forming. 

Senator John Thune has warned of serious damage to agriculture and manufacturing in his state, which I think is North Dakota. It's either North Dakota or South Dakota, so it's no wonder that he's going to be worried about our agriculture. Senator Chuck Grassley introduced the bipartisan trade Review Act of 2025 stating Congress needs to reclaim its constitutional role, the bill would require congressional approval for sweeping presidential tariffs, especially those imposed under emergency powers. A bipartisan vote to curb Trump's towers authority on Canadian imports signals growing unease, even within the GOP. Privately, anxiety is rising. Senator Ron Johnson reportedly called Trump's strategy a reckless economic gamble, while other Republicans warn that rising prices and collapsing export markets are already hitting their states hard, especially in the farming regions hurt by the end of the USA food purchases. One senior staffer summed it up, "were caught between Trump's demands and our constituents pain." That's for sure. Democrats have seized the moment. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the tariffs economically destructive and constitutionally dubious.  House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries went further. Trump's trade war is a war on the American consumer with inflation, the rise in prices over time already eating into household budgets, Democrats are rallying behind Grassley's Bill and calling for congressional hearings on price spikes, market instability and foreign retaliation. They also are proposing targeted relief for farmers and small manufacturers and low income families. While Democrats are not fully united on long term tariff policy, there's broad consensus that Trump's unilateral, politically motivated approach demands a check and a response. So what are the MAGA voters saying? 

Among MAGA voters, Trump's most loyal base, the reaction to the tariffs has been mostly supportive. Many view the move as long overdue, a bold strike to protect American jobs, punish foreign cheaters and restore national independence in online forums, local town halls and conservative media supporters repeat the core message, we finally have a president who is willing to fight for us. They echo Trump's framing of the tariffs as patriotic and necessary, even as prices rise for some economic pain is seen as a price worth paying to stand up to China and rebuild US manufacturing. A farmer in Iowa told Fox News, "yeah, it hurts, but Trump's the only one who's ever had our back." 

Still, there's growing unease. Working class voters, who often bear the brunt of inflation, are starting to feel squeezed. Groceries, gas and basic goods are more expensive, and concerns are rising about job losses and export heavy regions retaliatory tariffs from China and Canada are especially wearing for rural communities that rely on global buyers. On social media, even some Trump supporters are asking, When does the winning start? MAGA voters aren't abandoning Trump, but they are feeling the strain, and that tension between unwavering loyalty and growing economic hardship could shape the 2025 political landscape as much as the tariffs themselves. So the picture is becoming clearer. Trump's tariff Blitz is not just a domestic economic experiment, it's the opening act of a global trade crisis. 

American industries are taking the first hit, but the ripple effects are only just beginning, as we've seen, these policies are inflaming partisan divides, rattling markets and pushing working families closer to the edge. 

Next week in Episode 21 we'll follow the fallout across borders, from European countermeasures to China's long game and from currency shocks to new alliances forming without the US at the table. We'll explore how the world is responding to America's economic aggression and what it means for us, power, diplomacy and global stability. The era of America first has gone global, and the world is striking back. Before you go, I have two things to ask. Jump in the full script and links are online. Now it's your turn challenge. What you've heard share what hit home. This isn't passive listening. It's political survival. So talk to me. Love the show. Hate it. Think I'm missing the real story. Think I'm out to lunch. I want to hear it all. Don't scroll by. Help shape where this goes next. 

And some humor to leave you with. You know I'm loving the penguin jokes coming out of The Heard and McDonald islands. "The penguins have been ripping us off for years," Donald Trump explains. It was noted that this 10% tariff would make the penguins the first non human in history to enter a trade war with the US. And in a recent meeting with President Trump and Vice President, Vance, Prime Minister, Baron McPenguin of The Heard and McDonald islands was immediately put on the defensive. "But guys, we don't even trade with your country." "Shut the hell up, Penguin. Did you even say thank you? We're tired of you taking advantage of hard working American patriots, and who the hell shows up to the Oval Office wearing a tuxedo? How disrespectful can you get?" Until next time, stay engaged, stay informed, and, most importantly, stay in the fight. This is Bella Goode signing off.