The Neophytes Talk Tariffs

The Neophytes Talk TariffsIn this inaugural episode of The Neophytes, longtime friend Thomas Mabey and I talk tariffs: what Trump is trying to do, why he's trying to do it, and whether all of this is likely to work. Thomas and I aren't experts—that's kind of the whole point. We recorded the conversation on April 5, 2025; if we recorded it again today, it would be different, and not just because it would be awfully hard to repeat everything we said word for word. We have more information now (whenever “now” happens to be”) than we did then—the story has continued to develop, and we’ve kept reading.The message we’re trying to convey is that it’s okay not to know; it’s okay to keep learning; and it’s okay to change your mind. The fact that you believed something before doesn’t mean that, when presented with new information, or upon reconsideration, you’re still locked into that prior view. It’s okay, in other words, to never close the inquiry.For more content and to subscribe to the Never Close the Inquiry newsletter, please visit neverclosetheinquiry.substack.com and follow on instagram @neverclosetheinquiry Please like, rate, comment, and subscribe! Get full access to Never Close the Inquiry at neverclosetheinquiry.substack.com/subscribe