Red States Freak Out as Trump Royally Screws Them

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Red States Freak Out as Trump Royally Screws Them"

Release Date: March 8, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Episode Overview: In this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, the Meiselas brothers delve into the escalating tensions between former President Donald Trump's policies and MAGA Republican leaders in red states. They explore how Trump's unilateral decisions, particularly his imposition of tariffs, are adversely affecting not only blue states but also red states that traditionally support Republican agendas. The discussion highlights the economic repercussions, political discord, and the broader implications for American democracy.

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1. Introduction to Trump's Impact on Red States

The episode kicks off with an Unknown Political Commentator setting the stage for the discussion:

[00:02] "To realize the future America needs. We understand what's needed from us to face each threat head on. We've earned our place in the fight for our nation's future. We are Marines. We were made for this."

This sentiment introduces the patriotic undertone of the conversation, emphasizing resilience and readiness to tackle national challenges.

2. MAGA Republicans Voice Concerns

The brothers present perspectives from key MAGA Republican figures who express unease over Trump's policies:

• Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky shares his industry's grievances:

  [01:20] "Almost every industry in Kentucky's come to me and said it will hurt our industry and push up prices of homes, cars."

  He emphasizes the negative impact of tariffs on local businesses and economic growth.

• Senator Thom Tillis underscores the need for strategic responses:

  [01:34] "When we start losing, you back off. You know, there's such a thing as strategic retreat."

  Tillis advocates for flexibility in policy-making to mitigate adverse effects.

3. Economic Repercussions of Tariffs

The podcast delves into specific sectors affected by Trump's tariffs:

• Kentucky Bourbon Industry:

  The Kentucky Distillers Association (KDA) highlights severe impacts:

  [03:47] "Kentucky bourbon is a great American success story... Retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey will have far-reaching consequences across Kentucky."

  The KDA details job losses, economic strain on related industries, and the unique position of bourbon as America's native spirit. They criticize retaliatory measures by Canada, including boycotts and removal of American products from shelves.

  Jack Daniels CEO Lawson Whiting echoes these concerns:

  [09:50] "Canada's move is a disproportionate response to levies imposed by the Trump administration."

  The podcast criticizes the KDA for not directly naming Trump as the culprit, instead attributing problems to vague leadership entities.

• Impact on the Stock Market:

  The episode examines the broader financial landscape:

  [08:30] "The recession trade is back on Wall Street... Trade tension and signs of slowing growth have driven major indexes lower in recent weeks."

  Keith Lerner, co-chief investment officer at Truist Advisory Services, comments:

  [08:45] "I think a lot of people were just assuming the tariffs were just a bluff, and now there's more uncertainty around that."

  The discussion highlights investor anxiety and the potential for a recession reminiscent of the Great Depression, as warned by the International Chamber of Commerce.

4. The CHIPS Act Controversy

Trump's stance on the CHIPS and Science Act becomes a focal point:

• Trump's Opposition:

  [12:04] "Donald Trump talks about you need to get rid of the CHIPS Act."

  The podcast critiques Trump's proposal to eliminate the act, which was designed to bolster the semiconductor industry in the U.S.

• Senator Rand Paul's Statement:

  [12:19] "Very amazing. You should get rid of the CHIP act and whatever's left over..."

  Paul advocates for repurposing the funds to reduce national debt, underscoring a departure from bipartisan support for the act.

• Defense of the CHIPS Act:

  Former President Biden is quoted defending the legislation:

  [13:31] "Ignited a manufacturing boom, clean energy boom, a semiconductor boom nationwide... 15 million new jobs created in three and a half years."

  He underscores the act's success in enhancing American manufacturing and exporting capabilities, contrasting it with Trump's criticisms.

• Impact of Repealing the Act:

  [13:58] "Jobs... Note Senator Paul's emphasis on the potential job loss and economic downturn if the CHIPS Act is dismantled."

  The podcast elaborates on the bipartisan support the act has garnered and warns of significant negative outcomes should it be repealed.

5. Political Ramifications and Public Sentiment

The Meiselas brothers analyze the political fallout from Trump's policies:

• Public Backlash:

  [14:01] "But folks, my predecessor and his MAGA Republican friends have a very different view... Bless me, Father."

  The conversation reflects a growing rift within the Republican Party, as traditional MAGA supporters clash with establishment figures over policy directions.

• Investor and Public Confidence:

  With economic instability and trade tensions, public trust in leadership decisions wanes, potentially influencing voter behavior and party dynamics.

6. Conclusion and Call to Action

Wrapping up the episode, the hosts reinforce the importance of accountability and transparent leadership:

[14:24] "It's not some amorphous hypothetical leadership entity. It's Donald Trump. Jack Daniels makers are also saying that the fact that the Canadians are boycotting American products... Millions of Americans support what Canada is doing, including me right now, because we are disgusted by what the Trump regime is doing."

The episode closes by urging listeners to recognize the tangible impacts of political decisions and to advocate for responsible governance to safeguard American economic interests and democratic values.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Senator Rand Paul (00:41 – 02:04):

  "[01:20] "Almost every industry in Kentucky's come to me and said it will hurt our industry and push up prices of homes, cars."

  "[02:04] "I think President Trump on economics and otherwise is doing very well... If the tariffs do start to cause inflation, I think the President will back away from them."

• Senator Thom Tillis (01:34 – 03:43):

  "[01:34] "When we start losing, you back off... we've got to be smart and we don't have all the leverage."

• Unknown Political Commentator (03:47 – 14:54):

  "[08:30] "The recession trade is back on Wall Street... Trade tension and signs of slowing growth have driven major indexes lower in recent weeks."

  "[09:50] "Canada's move is a disproportionate response to levies imposed by the Trump administration."

  "[12:04] "Donald Trump talks about you need to get rid of the CHIPS Act."

  "[14:24] "It's not some amorphous hypothetical leadership entity. It's Donald Trump."

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Key Takeaways

• Economic Strain: Trump's tariff policies are negatively impacting both red and blue states, leading to job losses and economic instability.

• Political Discord: Even within the Republican Party, there's significant opposition to Trump's approaches, highlighting internal divisions.

• CHIPS Act Controversy: The proposed repeal of the CHIPS Act by Trump faces strong opposition due to its success in boosting American manufacturing and job creation.

• Market Uncertainty: Increased tariffs and trade tensions are causing volatility in the stock market, raising fears of a potential recession.

• Public Accountability: The episode emphasizes the need for transparent and accountable leadership to navigate economic challenges and maintain public trust.

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Note: This summary excludes all advertisement segments and non-content related sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions and analyses presented in the episode.

Transcript

[Unknown Political Commentator]

To realize the future America needs. We understand what's needed from us to face each threat head on. We've earned our place in the fight for our nation's future. We are Marines. We were made for this.

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[Unknown Political Commentator]

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[Unknown Political Commentator]

Terms@Mint mobile.com Maga Republican leaders in red states are starting to get more vocal about how Donald Trump's policies are hurting their states. Yep. Trump's policies are not only hurting blue states, they're also hurting red states where former President Biden's policies contributing a lot to the economies of these red states. And we're hearing from some MAGA Republican leaders who you might find somewhat unexpected. For example, MAGA Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, MAGA Republican Senator Tillis. Let's hear what they have to say. Let's play it.

[Senator Rand Paul]

Almost every industry in Kentucky's come to me and said it will hurt our industry and push up prices of homes, cars. And so I want to continue to argue against tariffs. Should he back off of it if it goes, if it starts to hurt.

[Senator Thom Tillis]

When we start losing, you back off. You know, there's such a thing as strategic retreat. At the end of the day, I think we have more leverage than any other nation. But we got to be smart and we don't have all the leverage.

[Unknown Political Commentator]

Next up, I want to show you MAGA Republican Senator Kennedy of Louisiana saying, look, Trump promised to bring down prices. And what he's doing with these tariffs, it seems to be causing inflation. Here, play this clip.

[Senator Rand Paul]

How do you, how do you read a Senator Kennedy? You happy with it? Does it need improvement? And where.

[Senator Thom Tillis]

I think President Trump on economics and otherwise is doing very well. But, but you remember the old saying, the danger of rising high is that the air gets thin. I'm worried about the tariffs.

[Senator Rand Paul]

Yeah.

[Senator Thom Tillis]

I'm not saying that tariffs are going to cause inflation. President Trump did them in his first term and they didn't. I'm saying that we just don't know. We're in very obscure territory. We're in uncharted waters. I think if the tariffs do start to cause inflation, I think the President will back away from them. And I'm not saying that I don't trust President Trump, but, but, you know, there's, there's another saying, you know, trust in God, but tie up your camel. You know, I mean, I mean, if, if this, if this stuff, if this starts causing inflation, we're going to have to recalibrate. Because I'm telling you, I'm not saying the border isn't important in Ukraine and the Middle east and, and culture wars and, and the Academy Awards and super, super bow. But the single most important thing, the things that moms and dads worry about when they lie down, sleep at camp, at night, in camp. And the thing they expect the President to fix is high prices. And we can do it, but we've got to start. We have started, but we've got to go full speed ahead beginning now.

[Senator Rand Paul]

Yes, sir. Senator Kennedy, if you asked me, you're on message. I appreciate you coming back.

[Unknown Political Commentator]

I want to share this with you. This is from the Kentucky Distillers association. And here they're talking about how Kentucky bourbon is getting hit hard. You know, Canada is not only, or not only put on retaliatory reciprocal tariffs. Canada also has a boycott of all things American. If you look at some of the provinces, they've been removing all of the American booze from their shelves as well. And also Canadians in general are not buying American. Here, here's from the, here's what the Kentucky Distillers Association's president put out. Kentucky bourbon is a great American success story. Distilling is a $9 billion signature industry in the Commonwealth, responsible for more than 23,000 jobs and $2.2 billion in salaries and benefits. Unfortunately, the return of retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey will have a far reaching consequences across Kentucky. Home to 95% of the world, bourbon that means hardworking Americans. Corn farmers, truckers, distillery workers, barrel makers, bartenders, servers, and the communities and businesses built around Kentucky bourbon will suffer. As a distinctive product of the United States, bourbon cannot be made anywhere else in the world. It truly is America's only native spirit. Bourbon jobs are American jobs and we grow bourbon jobs by opening markets across the globe. Retaliatory measures against bourbon harm these markets and jeopardize growth for years to come, including unjust and disproportionate removal of American spirits from retail shelves and prohibition on new purchases of alcohol from American companies. Kentucky bourbon brings people together. And we hope it can be a uniting force in this situation. In the meantime, the Kentucky Distillers association will continue to remind leaders of the far reaching impact of our signature spirit and our concern for the loss of American jobs. It should be noted that the kda, the Kentucky Distillers association, gave a lot of money to the Republican Party. You can see it right there. And by the way, they are still too cowardly to call out Donald Trump by name. It's not hypothetical leaders who are doing it to you. It's Donald Trump's chaos, Donald Trump's grievances and grudges and his decision to unilaterally start attacking our allies that is doing this to you. So why don't you step up and actually call out who's doing this to you? Because it's not some amorphous hypothetical leadership entity. It's Donald Trump. Jack Daniels makers are also saying that the fact that the Canadians are boycotting American products and American booze and taking American booze off the shelf, in many ways, that's even worse than Canada's reciprocal tariff. The CEO Lawson Whiting calls Canada's move a disproportionate, disproportionate response to levies imposed by the Trump administration. Seriously, Jack Daniels, you're whining about Canada responding to the fact that Donald Trump essentially declared war on their country? Canada didn't decide to impose tariffs. Donald Trump and his regime decided to impose those tariffs. Canada didn't start talking about annexation. Donald Trump talks about making Canada the 51st state, calling their prime minister a governor, consistently threatening Canada over and over again. That's why Canada responded the way it did. And you're lucky. Canada is not responding even stronger than it is, quite frankly. And millions of Americans support what Canada is doing, including me right now, because we are disgusted by what the Trump regime is doing. By the way, take a look at some of these Wall street bankers who were very supportive of Donald Trump. We're now seeing headlines like this. The recession trade is back on Wall Street. Bank stocks and the Russell 2000 have slumped on growth concerns, while Treasuries and gold have rallied. Wall street is having another growth scare. Investors entered 2025 optimistic that an already strong US economy can get an extra boost from an administration pushing market friendly tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks. Instead, trade tension and signs of slowing growth have driven major indexes lower in recent weeks. It goes on to say the declines accelerated this week as Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports. They continued Thursday even after the White House paused tariffs on a large portion of those imports until April 2, with investors still uneasy about the broad direction of US trade policy. You think since February, losses in the markets have been particularly acute in sectors that investors view as sensitive to a slowdown, such as banks and smaller companies. The tech heavy Nasdaq composite has fallen around 10% from its recent peak. Oil prices have slipped. Havens including gold and US Treasuries, meanwhile, have rallied. Quote, I think a lot of people were just assuming the tariffs were just a bluff, and now there's more uncertainty around that, said Keith Lerner, co chief investment officer at Truist Advisory Services. The moves show investors struggling to gauge if the conditions underpinning two straight years of near 25% stock gains have deteriorated significantly. Let me answer the question. The answer is yes. And by the way, the International Chamber of Commerce, a right leaning think tank, usually tariff war risks sinking the world into new Great Depression. The icc, the Chamber of Commerce warns the world economy could face a crash similar to the Great depression of the 1930s. You think maybe if they're doing the exact same things, that's what's causing it. But look folks, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, he's got a plan and his plan is just to say that Donald Trump is doing it hard. He's hitting them hard. You got to love how hard he does it. Here, play this clip and and Donald Trump is going to stand up for American families and he's going to do it hard and he's going to do it strong. And that's why we love him as our President.

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[Unknown Political Commentator]

Well, all of that's taking place. Donald Trump gave that whatever you want, a speech at the joints before a joint session of Congress. And here Donald Trump talks about you need to get rid of the CHIPS act. Maga. Mike, get rid of that CHIPS Act. Here, play this clip.

[Senator Rand Paul]

Very amazing. You should get rid of the CHIP act and whatever's left over, Mr. Speaker, you should use it to reduce debt or any other reason you want to.

[Unknown Political Commentator]

Okay, get rid of the Chips act, the act that invested over $50 billion in America, bringing the semiconductor industry back to America. In red states and blue states, you're going to cause the loss of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of jobs made possible by the Chips Act. As former President Biden had previously written, the Chips and Science act invests $52 billion to supercharge our efforts to make semiconductors here in America. Our actions have attracted hundreds of billions of dollars in private sector investments across the country. It is a game changer. Going to show you this clip right now and I think you're going to get a little emotional when I show it to you. Here was a speech by former President Biden when he was saying how strong our economy was, talking about his accomplishments and warning what Trump and MAGA was going to do with the CHIPS Act. Play this clip.

[Senator Rand Paul]

Ignited a manufacturing boom, clean energy boom, a semiconductor boom nationwide. And it's clear we have the strongest economy in the world. And That's a fact. 15 million new jobs created in three and a half years. Unemployment hasn't been this low for this long. For 50 years. Wages are rising. Instead of importing foreign products. We're exporting and exporting American jobs. We're exporting American products and creating American.

[Unknown Political Commentator]

Jobs.

[Senator Rand Paul]

Here in America where they belong. But folks, my predecessor and his MAGA Republican friends have a very different view. They oppose the CHIPS and Science act that's powering this growth today. In fact, your Congressman Brandon Williams called it corporate welfare. Bless me, Father.

[Unknown Political Commentator]

Well, there you have it, folks. I told you you were going to get a little emotional when I showed you that. Thanks for watching. Hit subscribe let's get to 5 million subscribers together. Thank you. Can't get enough Midas? Check out the Midas plus substack for ad Free articles, reports, podcasts, daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski and more. Sign up for free [e-mail].

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