EPISODE · Apr 1, 2025 · 38 MIN
Did Ferris Bueller Predict the Trade War?
from The David McWilliams Podcast
What do tariffs, the Laffer Curve, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off have in common? More than you’d think. This week, we dive into the world of trade policy, culture wars, and deflated middle-aged fatherhood, all from the basement. From Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" of tariffs to secret WhatsApp groups planning military strikes, this episode examines how America’s trade war is about identity, masculinity, and a long-festering grudge against Europe. With a history lesson on Smoot-Hawley, Reaganomics, and the ghost of Arthur Laffer, we ask: if America is only barely exposed to global trade, why the war on Europe? And is this all just economic policy reimagined as culture war th Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
What do tariffs, the Laffer Curve, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off have in common? More than you’d think. This week, we dive into the world of trade policy, culture wars, and deflated middle-aged fatherhood, all from the basement. From Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" of tariffs to secret WhatsApp groups planning military strikes, this episode examines how America’s trade war is about identity, masculinity, and a long-festering grudge against Europe. With a history lesson on Smoot-Hawley, Reaganomics, and the ghost of Arthur Laffer, we ask: if America is only barely exposed to global trade, why the war on Europe? And is this all just economic policy reimagined as culture war th Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Did Ferris Bueller Predict the Trade War?
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