America’s Economic Suicide Pact? Tariffs, CBDCs & the Silence from Congress

What do tariffs, Communist China, and central bank digital currencies have in common? They’re all part of the rapidly unfolding war over America’s economic soul. This isn’t just about tariffs or trade, it’s about whether the U.S. survives as a free-market nation or slides into centralized financial control.The trio dives headfirst into the growing backlash against the Biden administration’s scattered tariff policies, which are now triggering widespread price hikes, supply chain breakdowns, and small business panic, especially in the farming and construction industries. Tharp, with direct ties to a global tractor manufacturer, reveals just how deeply these tariffs are impacting real-world operations, from parts delays to soaring costs. Meanwhile, Walker breaks down how Trump’s strategy, though well-intended, is being miscommunicated and politically sabotaged by opponents, and even some allies.But the episode doesn't stop there. The conversation takes a sharp turn as Briggs exposes the quiet but devastating removal of anti-CBDC language from the latest National Defense Authorization Act. Why did establishment Republicans side with Elizabeth Warren to strip protections against programmable currency from the bill? What does this say about Washington's willingness to hand financial control to unelected bureaucrats? And what does it mean when stablecoins, neither stable nor coins, are being pushed as the future of money?From suicidal farmers losing everything after China retaliated on soybeans, to skyrocketing construction costs driven by tariff volatility, to AI-driven social media psy-ops pushing civil division in America, this is the podcast episode that connects all the dots, from the store shelf to the Federal Reserve to Beijing. Briggs and his guests make one thing clear: tariffs without a long-term plan are destructive, and a programmable digital dollar may be the single greatest threat to American liberty since the founding.In this hard-hitting episode of On The Record, Christian Briggs sits down with political strategist Christopher Walker and marketing insider Jeremy Tharp to pull the curtain back on one of the most chaotic and consequential economic shifts of our time. If you care about your paycheck, your privacy, or your future, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.