Trump’s unhinged, unpredictable global trade war is causing chaos and confusion. In just one week, the President announced tariffs on the entire world, then paused some, upped others, and announced exemptions for certain goods. This capriciousness has sparked fears that another economic recession may be looming. In this episode, Stacey is joined by Dean Baker, economist and cofounder of the Center for Economic Policy and Research to break down how tariffs affect the broader economy. Then, she hears from Beth Benike, founder of Busy Baby, and Richard R. Oswald, Vice President of the Missouri Farmers Union, about how these tariffs and the environment of uncertainty are already impacting their livelihoods.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Learn & Do More:

Be curious: Visit your local library, get a library card if you don’t have one, and check out a book from the banned books list. Fight back with curiosity. Want to do more? Check out Book Riot or PEN America’s guides on how to help fight book bans.
Solve Problems: call your representatives and senators, no matter their party. But don’t stop there. Local elected officials have power too—sometimes more than we realize. Visit USA.gov/elected-officials to find your federal, state, and local reps. Let them know how you feel about the rise in book bans, tariffs, and how these issues are affecting your community.
Do Good: If you have the means, support small businesses in your area—and encourage friends and family to do the same. Shop local, spend local. We're good with the clips.

Breaking America's Economy: Unpacking Trump's Tariff War