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Ryan Seacrest
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Clay Travis
Way to get caught up on a lot of news. It's called the seven from the Washington Post. It's a newsletter and podcast. Whether you're reading or hit play, you get seven stories you need to know and you can consume it all in just a few minutes. The 7 is out every weekday morning by 7:00am Eastern. I'm Hannah Jewell. I'm one of the writers and I host the show. Find the podcast wherever you're listening. The newsletter link is waiting for you in the show Notes.
Buck Sexton
Second hour of Clay and Buck kicks off now. There's a op ed in the Wall Street Journal. A win win exit strategy for Trump on Tariffs written by Art Laffer and Stephen Moore. Dr. Art Laffer joins us now. Renowned economist. Guy came up with that whole Laffer curve thing. Brilliant man. He is with us. Thanks for being here, Art. Appreciate you.
Art Laffer
My pleasure. My pleasure. It's really fun being with you guys, by the way. Love it.
Buck Sexton
So you're an upbeat, you're a brilliant guy and an upbeat guy and we need that today given what we're, what we're seeing, what we're seeing out there. You're not a catastrophist, you're not a doom and gloom guy. Let's just start with this. When people are telling you I am concerned about what's happening right now in the markets, what do you say to them? What's your overall feeling? I want to get into the win win strategy from your piece. But first off, an opportunity to tell everybody, don't panic.
Art Laffer
Well, I'm panicking when they tell me that. I screaming and hollering, I'm down the floor crying. I said it's the end of the world, it's the end. No, no, I, you know, Donald Trump is an extraordinarily competent president. In my view. He was the single best first term president. Now I'm just talking about economics now, just economics. The single best first term president in US History. If you look at the Tax Cuts and Jobs act, it was wonderful. If you look at Operation Warp Speed, unbelievable energy independency, rollback of the Chevron decision, you know, all of these things there. I mean it was just unbelievable what he did in his first term and he is in his second term now. And you know, he's competent, he's got all the skills, he's very knowledgeable in the subject. And I believe, now this is me, I believe that he is using the threats of tariffs and the actual imposition of tariffs to get these other countries to come and negotiate free trade deals with us. They are far more protectionist than we are. We are as a country, US probably the lowest tariff, the lowest protectionist country, a major country in the world. There may be something like Sark or Jersey or Guernsey or something like Monaco or something like that. But of the big countries, we by far the least protectionist. And how do you get these other countries that come to the table and negotiate getting rid of their tariffs and you know, you've got to threaten them with access to the US Market. And so that's what he's doing. I believe now you're going to talk to Trump and you got to talk to him because he knows far better what he's doing than I do. And I'm no source of special knowledge, but knowing him and knowing all the trade stuff I do, I cannot believe that he would do anything that would really hurt America in the long run by having a trade war.
Ryan Seacrest
Okay, so let's dive into this. Dr. Laffer, Art Laffer, we appreciate you coming on. Every time we come on talk economics with you, the audience loves it because you're way smarter about this stuff than we are. Big picture here, it seems to me, and I read your Wall Street Journal editorial, it's Posted linked@clayandbuck.com, encourage people to go check that out. It seems to me that Trump is talking about two different things in many ways as it pertains to a trade war. Well, one, and I think Buck and I are in agreement with you. To the extent that we can eliminate as many tariffs as possible on free trading countries, that's a great thing because it allows even competition, it allows even movement of goods with less cost. But China is cheating on the global stage. And to a large extent, aren't there kind of two different goals? Because if we eliminated all tariffs with China, wouldn't that in some way reward them even more for their cheating? Do you see this as, you know, let's say the European Union, Australia, Great Britain, China, I mean, sorry, Japan, South Korea, those are kind of fair trade partners in general. And then you've got China. That's in an entirely different universe. Are we really talking about two different policy perspectives? How would you analyze that when it comes to trade relationships?
Art Laffer
I would say that the two of you are wrong. China is right in the same category with all the others. Cheating. I don't know what the heck cheating means. If they gave us all their products free of charge, so we got high quality products at low cost, would you hate them then and want to bomb them? I mean, when you look at it from a customer standpoint, when you go to a store, do you Sell them, please. Sell me above retail. I want you to charge me the most you possibly can for this product. No, no, we'd like to give it to you. No, I mean China is potentially our best trading partner in the world long term. And I really think that we need to get China into, into the free trade group. And if you really think about it for a moment, do you like your customers and your clients and your clientele? Of course you do. You know the one way of guaranteeing hostilities will occur is not trading with the country. When you're trading with one, you're a customer, they're a customer. And it leads to friendships, it leads to great prosperity and it leads to eliminating war art.
Buck Sexton
Can you tell us why do all these, so many of these other countries have and have had long standing tariffs and why does China have so many and such aggressive tariffs?
Art Laffer
Well, let me tell you why is because these little countries, I say little Germany, these types of just teeny tiny little countries do you know, they talk to our trade officials and so you know, we've got to put this on for political reason, blah blah, blah, blah blah. And the US says go ahead please, it's okay, do it. You know, it doesn't really affect us very much. And over the years this has built up to being a really travesty. They now have way more protection, every single one of them. It's not just one one off with one tariff, it's accumulated. And now they have all these. For example, I mean can you imagine there are 250% tariffs in Canada against Wisconsin dairy products. What? I mean how did that come about? I'm sure it came about with some deal with some president and some prime minister of Canada. You know, we've got to do this. I'll lose the election if I don't do it. And they get this, they get this one off exemption and all of this has built up and now Trump is trying to get rid of it and quite correctly. So I mean we need to get rid of their tariffs, their quotas, their non tariff barriers. They're hurting us and they're hurting them.
Buck Sexton
But so why can't China figure out that its tariffs are hurting it?
Art Laffer
I think it will. I mean if you remember, I mean I was the first American to go to China in 1970. In October of 1970 I went with George Shultz and John Ehrlich when we did the pre Kissinger trap and then they had 100% tariffs. They had no trade with the outside world. They were called the Hermit kingdom. And you know, they opened up their trade. They saw how the trade, by lowering their trade barriers, by entering into trade, it created the greatest economic growth miracle in modern history. The Chinese growth from 1970 to, let's say five years ago was just a phenomenal period for China. More people were removed from poverty than in the entire history of humanity, 190,000 years. So it's really. I think China will understand this and I think China will in due course enter into a free trade agreement with the US as well. And it will be wonderful when that happens.
Ryan Seacrest
Okay, so, so let's go into this China relationship in particular because you say you see it as, as similar to the EU and the other countries that I laid out. What is an ideal relationship from your perspective look like with China when it comes to trade? Because it is going to be the case that if we had, for instance, zero tariffs at all, China's going to be exporting, I think 400 billion is the number that I saw. Something like that. The trade imbalance is seismic. We're going to be buying more Chinese goods than China is going to be buying American goods. Is that trade imbalance in any way an issue from your perspective? And how would you rectify it? What is. In other words, let's pretend that you aren't laugher. We're given a magic wand and you got to solve it. What would your answer be?
Art Laffer
Now, would you mind tell me how much it bothers you for foreigners wanting to invest in the US because they think we're the greatest country in the world? Let's imagine we cut taxes, cut regulations, had stable prices, you know, no regulation, all the correct policies. Everyone would want to invest in the United States. How do foreigners generate a dollar cash flow to buy U. S located assets? There are only two ways they can do that. They've got to sell more goods to us and they've got to buy less goods from us. That's the only way they can generate that dollar cash flow to invest in the United States of America. And that's the most wonderful thing. We built our country from 1640 until 1870 on trade deficits. We imported all of this capital from Europe, primarily Britain and Holland, and used it with our labor and with our raw materials. And we became the preeminent economic force on planet earth because of capital investments, which is a US Trade deficit. Trade deficits are great. I mean, let me ask you, which would you rather have capital line up on our borders trying to get into our country or trying to get out of our country? You know, if we bring a factory back from Mexico into the United States and bring all those machines and all that production equipment by coming across the Mexican US Border. That's a Mexican export and a Mexican trade surplus. It's a US Import and a US Trade deficit. It's also a US Capital surplus and a Mexican capital deficit. Trade deficits are how we bring our capital back to the US And I think we should have trade deficits. And China thinks that we're the best country in the world and they want to invest all their capital in the U.S. god bless them.
Buck Sexton
Okay, so I need some help here squaring the circle for a second. So if treatment trade deficits are good and all tariffs are bad and self defeating. What? What? And so trade imbalance is a good thing. We want trade imbalance. Do you like what Trump is doing or are you trying to tell him to not do any of this?
Art Laffer
No, no, I like. I'm the biggest fan. I'm his biggest fan. I think he's negotiating and I think he's negotiating to get them to reduce their tariffs against us, which are far larger than our tariffs and trade barriers are against them. And I think he brings them to the table. What is it, 60, 70 countries are coming to negotiate. What are they coming to negotiate? We will cut our tariffs dramatically. Please just allow us access to your market. And I think that's just the wonderful thing for Trump to do. And I think he's going to be very successful at it. It scares the living hell out of me, by the way. I'm a wuss. I'm not a negotiator. I'm not a guy like Trump. Trump knows how to negotiate and he loves doing it and he's really successful at it. But my belief is that Trump deep down is a free trader all the way. And I think he just really wants to get them to come here and lower tariffs on their products by a lot. And he did this in the first term, by the way. The Japanese trade deal was great for lowering tariffs. The USMCA was wonderful for lowering tariffs and barriers. The South Korean deal he did, the one he did with Brazil, the one he did with Colombia, all resulted in better trade relationships with these countries. And that's what I think he's trying to do. Now he can tell you otherwise, and he may well be not doing this, but I really have full trust in him that he's doing the right thing. And I feel very comfortable.
Ryan Seacrest
Let me ask you this. A lot of people listening in the Midwest. J.D. vance obviously wrote his book Hillbilly elegy. Which bestseller? I'm sure you read it. Buck and I have read it. What? What is the answer for people who feel like the jobs have been hollowed out in the industrial Midwest? For people listening to us in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, that got used to having those jobs that were going to pay so well to produce American goods? Is that an issue?
Art Laffer
I want you to tell the audience where the two of you are located.
Ryan Seacrest
I'm in Nashville, Tennessee.
Art Laffer
Okay, I'm in Nashville too. Now why am I in Nashville? We are the lowest tax state in the nation. And earning income is a lot more fun with lower taxes, lower regulations. We have no death tax, we have no gift tax. We have no unearned cap tax. We have no income tax. We have one of the lowest property tax in the nation. We have the best spending, we have the best public services. We don't have a manufacturing problem in Tennessee. All these auto companies are coming in here in floods. The problem with manufacturing is Detroit, it's Michigan, it's Ohio, it's Pennsylvania, it's Wisconsin, it's Illinois. These places are pits. They're anti production, anti prosperity places and they're driving all the business out. It's not China. It's the governments of these states that have made it absolutely intolerable. Can you imagine opening up a factory in Detroit, Michigan today, where property taxes are in some places up to 50%, 15% on that for the state income tax, the death tax, the union. It's a horrible place. Our problem is with the states that have the manufacturing and they are repelling that manufacturing en masse. And that's the problem. It's not the competition from abroad. And if you don't believe me, just look at Tennessee and how we're doing in Texas and Florida. All of us are doing well, except for those horribly run states.
Buck Sexton
All right. Dr. Art Laffer, appreciate your perspective today, sir. Thank you very much.
Art Laffer
Hey, it's my pleasure. And anytime, by the way, it's fun being with you guys and I love watching you all the time. You guys are spectacular and I'm really proud you're in Tennessee.
Ryan Seacrest
Thank you. I need to. We need to get dinner sometime.
Art Laffer
I would. Anytime you want. Just give me a call and it's done. And I'll even pay for it if. As long as it's at McDonald's.
Buck Sexton
All right.
Ryan Seacrest
I appreciate it, Dr. Laver.
Buck Sexton
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Clay Travis
Clay and Buck there's an efficient way to get caught up on a lot of news. It's called the seven from the Washington Post, which it's a newsletter and podcast. Whether you're reading or hit play, you get seven stories you need to know and you can consume it all in just a few minutes. The 7 is out every weekday morning by 7:00am Eastern. I'm Hannah Jewell, I'm one of the writers and I host the show. Find the seven podcast wherever you're listening. The newsletter link is waiting for you.
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Ryan Seacrest
Welcome back in Clay Travis Buck Sexton Show Art Lapper. Interesting perspective. We'll get into that during the course of the program. Brilliant economist and what his advice is. I think he's basically speaking to Trump through the Wall Street Journal article and also through the interview he just did with us. But Buck is also about to have a baby which should help the economy in some way because you're bringing another child into the American citizenship.
Buck Sexton
I'm increasing gdp.
Ryan Seacrest
You just need to have two more and then you will have increase the population relative to your own life and and then but you asked I think what was I like on delivery day? This is delivery day in theory for Buck or it'll be early tomorrow morning sometime into into Thursday. I Laura, my wife who probably remembers things way better, was listening and she sent in a talk back. We've had three boys. I've been there for all of their birth, 17, 14 and 10. She probably remembers things a little bit better. I don't even know what she said. She sent this to producer Ali. Here is my wife talking about birthday.
Laura Travis
Congratulations, Buck and Carrie. Clay and I are so excited for you. Get ready for every decision you make for the rest of your life to be 100 times more complicated than it already is. But I think Clay's advice of just don't cause any problems during L and D in the labor and delivery room is probably the best advice. You need to just be there for moral support and otherwise stay out of the way and don't do anything unless Kerry asks you to. I do remember Clay complaining about the WI fi. I think he also complained about the television channels and he couldn't find the game he wanted to watch on anywhere. I think we ended up watching some not important golf tournament like American Express tournament or something that didn't matter. And besides that, Clay was otherwise pretty well behaved without drawing too much attention to himself. So that really is the best advice is just be there for your life and don't cause any distractions.
Ryan Seacrest
I forgot the television situation was just indefensible. How do you not have the sporting event channels in the delivery suites? The WI fi didn't work very well. I couldn't find the game that I wanted to watch.
Buck Sexton
Most Clay Travis thing I've ever heard. By the way, wife's about to give birth. He's like, I can't watch the. I can't watch the SEC football game right now.
Ryan Seacrest
This is to her credit. Time it well, because our first son was born in between NFC AFC Championship week and the Super Bowl. So if I remember correctly, I think he was born on a Sunday in between those two. But yeah, there was, there was a sporting event that I was trying to get on and I was like, I mean, come on, just have a normal cable set up and a normal WI fi. I don't know what are they thinking, but that's great. Laura's advice.
Buck Sexton
Thank you, Laura.
Ryan Seacrest
I believe we got Julie Kelly coming up now, Buck. We do.
Buck Sexton
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Ryan Seacrest
Clay Trump has announced a 90 day pause on all countries for the tariffs other than China. He has increased the tariff on China to 125%. This is kind of the advice that you and I were giving if he wanted to focus on China, which is the real culprit here. How is the stock market responding? Buck? I hope you guys bought the dip. The Dow now is up 2,400 points. Buck, that is six and a half percent that it is surging. The NASDAQ up nearly 9%. This has all happened in the last couple of minutes. The S P500 is up 7%, nearly 400 points. So much of the sell off associated with the tariff battle has now vanished just about overnight. We tried to tell you, we said buy the dips sometimes. Don't even look at stock prices. Don't panic. Unfortunately, I know a lot of people sold at the bottom and now they're going to be buying back in as the stock market is surging. But I hope you held on. But that is the absolute latest right now. Lots of fluctuation. But again, just to kind of put it in context, The S&P 500 is now basically trading the same place that it was in August and it could easily be basically where it was in September. So anyway, stocks go up and down. Trump negotiating. Now what we said I think is accurate, which is this is now just China versus the United States and to a large extent the other countries are now aligned in favor of free trade. And now we'll see what happens with China. All right, Buck, we have got Julie Kelly queued up to talk about many things but wanted to give that update to everybody out there.
Buck Sexton
Yes, Julie Kelly, you all know her from her declassified sub stack which you should go subscribe to and her great book and her great work. Julie, thanks for being with us.
Julie Kelly
Thank you. And Buck, congratulations to you and Carrie. You're going to have an exciting evening and probably day tomorrow.
Buck Sexton
Thank you. I don't know, I don't know if you heard our friend Jesse's Jesse Kelly said it's going to be a tough 24 hours for me physically. I need to hydrate, I need to make sure I get a lot of rest and everyone's freaking out about this, but it's pretty funny. I am here for Carrie for anything that she needs and we are, we could not be more excited about it. So thank you very much, Julie and All right, all right. Now I got to get you on what is going on here. A few things that come to mind and involve Julie Kelly and her work. Judge Boasberg, this guy after the Supreme Court comes in and says hold on a second, you can't just venue shop. He had a hearing scheduled. And where is this guy now? He, it feels like he's become the, the Adam Schiff of resistance judges. Which is not a compliment.
Julie Kelly
You know, Clay and Buck, it's amazing to see the same judges who for four years insisted a mostly non violent protest at a government building on a Wednesday afternoon represented an attempt to overthrow democracy, overturn the results of the 2020 election. Keep in mind that Jeb Bosberg routinely in J6 cases, called January 6th an insurrection. That's what he called it, even for people who were in his courtroom on low level misdemeanors like parading in the Capitol. But yet here he is actually trying to overturn the results of the 2024 election, sabotage Donald Trump's agenda and by extension the 72 million or so Americans who voted for him. The Supreme Court is not stopping him. So even though they just vacated his two temporary restraining orders banning deportation flights of these illegal Venezuelans covered under the President's Alien Enemies act proclamation from March 15, even though the Supreme Court vacated those temporary restraining orders, said that Washington was the improper venue, that these illegals should seek habeas petitions where they are in custody, which is Texas. That's not stopping him. You are exactly right, Buck. So yesterday he had a hearing scheduled in his courtroom on a preliminary injunction. This is the next natural step after a temporary restraining order. This is what the ACLU who is representing these illegal Venezuelans want. And this would put a longer ban on these flights. Even after the Supreme Court ruling. Jeb Bosberg said an April 16 deadline for the ACLU to come back to him, explain why they're going to continue to pursue this preliminary injunction and why they believe that Washington, D.C. jeb Bosberg's courtroom is still the appropriate place to seek that relief, even though the Supreme Court said very clearly it doesn't belong in Washington, D.C. furthermore, we could talk a little bit about this, too. He is going forward with his contempt investigation against the Trump administration and officials who he believes defied a separate court order, a verbal order to return Plains on March 15th. And we are expecting that opinion from Judd Bossberg, really, any hour, any day, but sometime this week.
Ryan Seacrest
Are you even stunned, Julie? Because I got to admit, I am. And this is me. You know, being a lawyer, I knew that Trump Resistance 2.0 would eventually emerge somewhere. I, crazy me, thought it might come from the Democrat Party or maybe the legacy media. It feels like, by and large the Democrat Party is so impotent that they can't even put counter arguments out. Uh, meanwhile, legacy media is collapsing as we speak. I mean, the business models are, are shriveling up and dying. Now we just got all these federal district court judges behaving, frankly, in an unprecedented manner, getting slapped down. We had trio of them slapped down by the Supreme Court. But I, I gotta admit, I didn't foresee them being as aggressive as they have been. I knew they would be aligned in many ways against Trump, but I didn't think we would see it historically without precedent, attack coming from the federal district court level against Trump and his administration. Did you?
Julie Kelly
I mean, Clay, I sort of agree with you. I did. Not as bad as these judges in Washington, D.C. are. And of course, I've been covering them for years, both the district and appellate court, and seeing how viciously and vengefully and remorselessly they treated January six defendants and the president and his associates as well, I really did not expect this level of defiance, this level of sabotage, that is the word that what these judges are doing uniformly in Washington D.C. so I guess I would agree with you. I'm a little surprised at the extent to which they are going, which of course they did for years against Donald Trump in the same D.C. courthouse, whether it was special special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation and special counsel Jack Smith, all these proceedings were handled in this D.C. federal courthouse. But to see them line up like little lemmings, especially behind Jeb Bosberg, who's the chief judge, and deny all of these lawsuits, side with the plaintiffs in all of these lawsuits, who really have no vested interest in what the Trump policies are but going to any extent that they possibly can these judges to side with people who are trying to take down the president's agenda and again, emphasize the will of the American people who put Donald Trump in the White House, do exactly the disruption that he is doing. So. Yeah. And of course, defying the Supreme Court is a whole other level which we see Jeb Bossberg doing. But these Democrat judges, as you know, just like Democrat rank and file voters, do not consider the Supreme Court legitimate. They are not at all. Excuse me, I have a little cold. They are not at all chagrin by being smacked down by the highest court.
Buck Sexton
We're speaking of Julie Kelly declassified as a substack. And Julie, we need to get her some Crockett coffee or some tea with honey in it. Perhaps even better. Julie, sorry that you got. You got a call. Appreciate you, you know, pushing through and, and telling everybody across the country what they need to know about Judge. By the way, I've learned how to pronounce his name. Bosberg, I guess. B O, A S. I was just reading it off the. Or, you know, I'd been reading it. I hadn't really heard it. I want to bring your attention to something else to the. I'm sure you saw this. The acting IRS commissioner is resigning from the IRS because the Trump administration has said you need to share data from your government, data about essentially illegals that the IRS has information on for enforcement purposes. I think a lot of people are seeing, Julie, that for the entity that can lock you up because you don't give enough of your money as an American to them, and they get to determine after the fact what that amount is to then say, hold on a second, what do you mean you're going to use our information for federal immigration law purposes? Just goes to show that there is this whole mentality even within the government that illegal aliens are a special protected class.
Julie Kelly
That's exactly right. It's pretty stunning to see. And this is the acting director who I think she took over in February, and all of these deep staters, everyone in the administrative state who will go out of their way to protect they, they believe that these government agencies belong to them. They don't believe that these government agencies belong to the people or certainly should be supervised by the president and his team. So that's why you see this defiance not just by the judges, but of course, the heads of these departments and agencies. But of course we are entitled to this information. I love how transparency and accountability was such a big cause during Trump's first presidency that went away during the second. And now all of a sudden, we can't have transparency and accountability as he's trying to clean up and reform all of these corrupt agencies. So I really commend the Trump administration for their focus especially on legal immigration, because as you guys know, that was one of the top issues that propelled him into office, and they are not backing down at all. But we as American, as American citizens, taxpayers are entitled to know, you know, and we saw this, too, with the, with the voting rolls and illegals who are on Social Security. This is a huge scandal with real time implications on our country, on our national security, on our economy, and certainly on our elections. So good riddance to the acting IRS director. I'm sure there's a lot of other qualified people who understand the cause who will replace that individual. And we'll just keep pushing forward until a judge steps in and stops all of it, which I'm sure is only a matter of time.
Ryan Seacrest
Julie, we appreciate you. Keep the fight going and we will talk to you again. Have a good weekend. Enjoy the Masters.
Julie Kelly
Oh, I definitely will. Thanks, guys.
Ryan Seacrest
That's Julie Kelly, American Patriots. She's been fantastic with us. You know, spring's here and so is the iconic Masters tournament. They have the par three challenge today, which is super cool. I know we're on in Augusta. We got a monster audience there. I bet it's chaotic down in Augusta right now as we get ready for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, action that for many people heralds the return of spring. And summer is on the horizon, and so is Major League Baseball and the NBA playoffs and the NHL playoffs. Whatever sport you love. And you guys know I love sports, prize picks is there for you. You get 50 bucks. Look, you go right now to prizepix.com code clay. You get $50 instantly when you play $5. Whatever your sport is, whether you're looking forward to watching the Masters this weekend, maybe you want to watch Luca returning down to Dallas. Maybe you're still recovering from an incredible Final Four. Maybe you're a big baseball fan like I am watching the Braves in Phillies last night. Hey, maybe you're a big hockey fan. Whatever your sport is, Prizepix has got a game for you. Prizepix.com Code Clay, you just pick more or less for any athlete in any sport, and you can turn your knowledge of sports into an ability to make yourself a little bit of money and also have some fun in the process. You can play in California, you can play in Texas, you can play in Florida. You can play in Georgia. Over 10 million players right now. Pricepix.com Code Clay check it out. Pricepix.com Code clay news and politics, but.
Art Laffer
Also a little comic relief.
Ryan Seacrest
Clay, Travis and Buck Sexton. Find them on the free iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.
Hannah Jewell
You know how we're always talking about what's next? Well, I found it. It's called Formula E. Forget everything you think you know about racing. This isn't just cars going fast. It's like a supercomputer on wheels. The tech is insane. And the drivers, they're like chess grandmasters at 200 miles per hour. You've got to see it. Trust me, you'll be hooked. Follow Formula E live on Roku Next Race, Miami, April 12th We've all done it.
Clay Travis
You see a headline but don't have time to read the whole story. Or there's so much news you're not sure what is worth your time. I'm Colby Ekowitz, co host of Post Reports, the weekday afternoon podcast from the Washington Post. Post Reports brings you what's relevant and revealing. Breaking stories, politics, wellness, culture. Each episode goes beyond a headline for the context you need. Find Post Reports now wherever you're listening.
Colby Ekowitz
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Ryan Seacrest
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Buck Sexton
President based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the world's markets. Trump put this out on Truth Social. I am hereby raising the tariff charge to China by the United States to 125% effective immediately. @ some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the USA and other countries is no longer sustainable or acceptable. Conversely, and based on the fact that more than 75 countries have called representatives of the United States, including Departments of Commerce, treasury, ustr to negotiate deals, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, I have authorized a 90 day pause and substantially lowered reciprocal tariff during this period of 10% also effective immediately. Thank you for your attention on this matter. So everybody comes to the negotiation table, 90 days to figure out the future China in the, in the targets, in, you know, in the sight still, because they won't play ball at all. They think they're just going to do things their way. Clay, I think this is a very, very interesting development. Obviously the market is reacting right now very positively to this. Let's get. We have a lot of stuff going. Vip Jason wrote this in Clay, is art for real meaning art laugher or was he playing devil's advocate? I'm now more confused than ever. Clay, do you want to give your take on this? Because I think some of you picked up on what clearly he doesn't agree with everything Trump is doing, but he loves Trump and thinks he's going to get to a better side of this. Right. Like how do you think, you know, our art was squaring the circle a little bit on that one.
Ryan Seacrest
Look, we need to talk about this in the third hour because I do think that what we told you is what has now emerged. We said this is really all about China and that ultimately now you have seen Trump has squarely put his target on China. I think what's happened here. And we'll dive into this in the third hour again, stock market soaring. 90 day pause on all tariffs because other countries are trying to negotiate, but China is remaining intransigent. I think what's happening here is Trump's team decided if we go right out and we directly strike China and take their tariffs to 125%, then it's going to look outrageous by putting the tariffs on everybody and then backing it off. Trump now has isolated China because China has uniquely responded to American tariffs by raising tariffs on American products. And so now we've got what really is the central struggle. It's United States against China, global trade war. And now Trump has managed to put every other country on the United States side and he's isolating China as a unique bad actor. In other words, I think he has trapped China in a tough spot relative to the rest of the world. And we'll talk about that break down what Art Laffer was saying and more when we come back.
Clay Travis
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Clay Travis
You see a headline but don't have time to read the whole story. Or there's so much news you're not sure what is worth your time. I'm Colby Ekowitz, co host of Post Reports, the weekday afternoon podcast from the Washington Post. Post Reports brings you what's relevant and revealing breaking stories, politics, wellness, culture. Each episode goes beyond a headline for the context you need. Find Post Reports now wherever you're listening.
Colby Ekowitz
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The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Episode: Weekly Review With Clay and Buck H2 - President Trump's Tariff Pause
Release Date: April 12, 2025
In this episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton delve into President Donald Trump's recent announcement regarding tariffs, specifically focusing on the strategic pause of tariffs on all countries except China, where tariffs have been increased to 125%. The discussion is enriched by insights from renowned economist Dr. Art Laffer and an in-depth analysis with guest Julie Kelly, shedding light on the economic and political ramifications of these decisions.
Timestamp: 02:59 - 16:32
The second hour kicks off with Buck Sexton introducing Dr. Art Laffer, a distinguished economist known for the Laffer Curve, to discuss his Wall Street Journal op-ed titled "A win win exit strategy for Trump on Tariffs." Dr. Laffer praises President Trump’s economic policies, emphasizing the efficacy of his tariff strategies.
Key Points:
Trump's Competency: Dr. Laffer lauds Trump as "an extraordinarily competent president," highlighting achievements like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and Operation Warp Speed.
“Donald Trump is an extraordinarily competent president. In my view, he was the single best first term president in US History.”
[03:26] - Art Laffer
Tariff Strategy: Laffer argues that Trump's tariffs on China aim to compel the nation to negotiate fairer trade deals, positioning the U.S. as the least protectionist major economy.
“I believe that he is using the threats of tariffs and the actual imposition of tariffs to get these other countries to come and negotiate free trade deals with us.”
[04:02] - Art Laffer
Trade Deficits: Contrary to conventional wisdom, Laffer asserts that trade deficits are beneficial, serving as a conduit for foreign capital investments that bolster the U.S. economy.
“Trade deficits are great. ... Trade deficits are how we bring our capital back to the US.”
[11:03] - Art Laffer
China's Role: Laffer dismisses the notion of categorizing China separately from other trade partners, promoting the idea that engagement through trade fosters prosperity and reduces the likelihood of conflict.
“China is potentially our best trading partner in the world long term.”
[07:05] - Art Laffer
Analysis:
Dr. Laffer presents a positive outlook on Trump’s tariff adjustments, suggesting that isolating China while easing tariffs on other nations positions the U.S. favorably in global trade negotiations. He emphasizes that lower tariffs can lead to increased foreign investments and economic growth, challenging traditional views on trade deficits.
Timestamp: 25:14 - 46:47
Following the discussion with Dr. Laffer, Clay and Buck shift focus to the immediate economic impact of Trump's tariff announcements. President Trump declared a 90-day pause on all tariffs except for those targeting China, where tariffs have surged to 125%.
Key Points:
Stock Market Surge: The announcement triggered a significant rally in the stock market, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average soaring 2,400 points (6.5%), the NASDAQ increasing by nearly 9%, and the S&P 500 up by 7%.
“The Dow now is up 2,400 points. Buck, that is six and a half percent that it is surging. The NASDAQ up nearly 9%. This has all happened in the last couple of minutes.”
[25:14] - Ryan Seacrest
Strategic Isolation of China: Clay interprets the strategy as Trump isolating China by dramatically increasing its tariffs while reducing or pausing them for other nations, thereby encouraging China to engage more earnestly in trade negotiations.
“I think Trump's team decided if we go right out and we directly strike China and take their tariffs to 125%, then it's going to look outrageous by putting the tariffs on everybody and then backing it off.”
[45:15] - Ryan Seacrest
Economic Stability: The hosts emphasize that despite market fluctuations, Trump's actions are aimed at long-term economic benefits, reassuring listeners not to panic over short-term volatility.
“Don't panic. Unfortunately, I know a lot of people sold at the bottom and now they're going to be buying back in as the stock market is surging.”
[05:44] - Art Laffer
Analysis:
The tariff adjustments have been met with immediate positive reactions from the stock market, suggesting investor confidence in Trump's economic policies. Clay and Buck highlight how this maneuver strategically places pressure on China while maintaining favorable trade terms with other nations, potentially leading to more balanced and fair trade agreements.
Timestamp: 14:59 - 16:32
Clay and Buck address concerns regarding the decline of manufacturing jobs in the Midwest, citing Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Illinois as struggling states.
Key Points:
State-Level Policies: Dr. Laffer criticizes these Midwestern states for their high taxes and regulations, which he claims are driving businesses away.
“Our problem is with the states that have the manufacturing and they are repelling that manufacturing en masse. And that's the problem. It's not the competition from abroad.”
[15:02] - Art Laffer
Success Elsewhere: Contrasting the Midwest issues, states like Tennessee, Texas, and Florida are thriving by maintaining low taxes and favorable business environments.
“We don't have a manufacturing problem in Tennessee. All these auto companies are coming in here in floods.”
[15:04] - Art Laffer
Analysis:
The discussion underscores the significance of state-level fiscal policies in attracting or repelling manufacturing businesses. High taxes and stringent regulations in certain Midwestern states are portrayed as primary reasons for the decline in manufacturing jobs, rather than international competition.
Timestamp: 27:20 - 37:05
The show welcomes Julie Kelly, known for her work with Declassified Substack and her book on judicial overreach against President Trump. Kelly provides a critical examination of how federal judges in Washington D.C. are undermining Trump's administration.
Key Points:
Judge Jeb Bosberg's Actions: Kelly highlights Judge Bosberg's aggressive stance against Trump, including efforts to overturn the 2024 election results and enforce deportation flights of illegal Venezuelans, despite Supreme Court rulings.
“Judge Boasberg this guy after the Supreme Court comes in and says hold on a second, you can't just venue shop... trying to overturn the results of the 2024 election.”
[28:32] - Julie Kelly
Supreme Court Defiance: Despite the Supreme Court vacating temporary restraining orders, Judge Bosberg continues his attempts to impose stricter measures, reflecting a broader judiciary push against Trump's policies.
“The Supreme Court is not stopping him... he is actually trying to overturn the results of the 2024 election...”
[28:32] - Julie Kelly
IRS Resignation: Kelly points out the recent resignation of the acting IRS commissioner, attributing it to internal resistance against sharing data for enforcement purposes under Trump’s directives.
“The acting IRS director is resigning from the IRS because the Trump administration has said you need to share data... just goes to show that there is this whole mentality even within the government that illegal aliens are a special protected class.”
[35:06] - Julie Kelly
Analysis:
Julie Kelly provides a compelling narrative on the judiciary's role in challenging and attempting to dismantle Trump's initiatives. The discussion reveals a deep-seated tension between the Trump administration and certain judicial figures, exemplifying a broader struggle over executive authority and legal interpretations.
Timestamp: 38:38 - 49:04
Beyond tariffs and judicial matters, the hosts touch upon various other topics:
Cybersecurity Threats: Introduction of LifeLock’s services to protect against identity theft, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding personal data.
“Your life is turned upside down. Cyber thieves open bogus accounts in your name and rack up huge bills.”
[16:52] - Buck Sexton
Birthing Updates: Buck Sexton shares personal news about his impending fatherhood, accompanied by wife Laura's humorous advice on labor and delivery.
“Congratulations, Buck and Carrie. ... Your best advice is just be there for your life and don't cause any distractions.”
[22:01] - Laura Travis
International Conflict: Ryan Seacrest highlights ongoing missile attacks against Israel, urging listeners to support humanitarian aid efforts.
“Israel is still under attack... Parents now taking their kids to school, falling to the ground to lay on top of their small children to protect them...”
[41:34] - Ryan Seacrest
Analysis:
These segments provide a well-rounded episode by addressing personal anecdotes, cybersecurity, and international humanitarian issues, demonstrating the show's commitment to covering a broad spectrum of topics relevant to their audience.
This episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show offers a multifaceted exploration of President Trump's tariff policies, their economic implications, and the judiciary's counteractions against his administration. Through expert analysis from Dr. Art Laffer and incisive commentary from guest Julie Kelly, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding U.S. trade strategies and political dynamics. Additionally, the show interweaves personal updates and coverage of pressing global issues, maintaining an engaging and informative dialogue throughout.
Notable Quotes:
Art Laffer on Trump's Competency:
“Donald Trump is an extraordinarily competent president. In my view, he was the single best first term president in US History.”
[03:26]
Art Laffer on Trade Deficits:
“Trade deficits are great. ... Trade deficits are how we bring our capital back to the US.”
[11:03]
Julie Kelly on Judicial Overreach:
“Judge Boasberg this guy after the Supreme Court comes in and says hold on a second, you can't just venue shop... trying to overturn the results of the 2024 election.”
[28:32]
Ryan Seacrest on Market Reaction:
“The Dow now is up 2,400 points. Buck, that is six and a half percent that it is surging. The NASDAQ up nearly 9%. This has all happened in the last couple of minutes.”
[25:14]
This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of the episode, ensuring that listeners—whether frequent followers or newcomers—can grasp the critical discussions and insights shared by Clay Travis, Buck Sexton, and their guests.