Trump Witness Crumbles Under Cross-Exam at Hearings

Summary

Summary of "Trump Witness Crumbles Under Cross-Exam at Hearings" – The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode Overview In this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas delve into the heated testimony of Jameson Greer, Donald Trump’s top trade representative. Released on April 10, 2025, the episode dissects Greer’s two-day testimony before the United States Senate and House of Representatives, highlighting the intense cross-examinations by Democratic senators and the ensuing chaos within the Trump administration’s trade policies.

Jameson Greer’s Testimony: An Unraveling Defense of Tariffs Jameson Greer appeared before Capitol Hill over two days to defend Donald Trump’s tariff strategies. On the first day, before the Senate, Greer attempted to justify the administration’s tariffs by citing the $1.2 trillion trade deficit inherited from President Biden. However, his arguments quickly faced fierce opposition from Democratic senators questioning the rationale and effectiveness of these measures.

Day One: Senate Hearings

Senator Mark Warner Challenges Tariffs on Australia Senator Mark Warner initiated the questioning by targeting the tariffs imposed on Australia, a key U.S. ally. Warner questioned the logic behind taxing a nation with which the U.S. already maintains a trade surplus and a free trade agreement.

• Senator Mark Warner (03:26): "We're addressing the $1.2 trillion deficit, the largest in human history that President Biden left us with. We should be running up the score in Australia."

Greer’s response focused on alleged trade imbalances, but the host critiques his stance as overly simplistic and detrimental to national security.

Senator Maggie Hassan Probes the Impact on Inflation Senator Maggie Hassan pressed Greer on the potential consequences of tariffs on inflation, questioning whether the administration would reconsider tariffs if they led to significant economic downturns.

• Senator Maggie Hassan (04:49): "Sales tax is increasing prices for families. It's also causing huge losses in Americans' retirement savings. Ambassador Greer, would the administration reverse course if the President's tariffs led to 10% inflation?"

• Jameson Greer (05:06): "Senator, the president is fixed in his purpose. This trade deficit and the offshoring and loss of manufacturing jobs is something that's persisted for too long and it's dangerous."

Despite Hassan’s pressing hypotheticals, Greer maintained unwavering support for the tariff policies, leading to further contention in the hearing.

Senator Cortez Masto Questions the Impact on International Tourism Senator Cortez Masto shifted the focus to the broader economic impacts, specifically on international tourism, a vital sector for many states.

• Senator Cortez Masto (07:44): "What are you doing about the impact of international tourism and now these blanket tariffs having a negative impact? What are you doing to address that?"

Greer’s vague responses highlighted a lack of comprehensive strategy, which Senator Masto criticized for neglecting essential economic sectors.

Senator Elizabeth Warren Confronts Job Losses and Economic Stability Senator Elizabeth Warren took a firmer stance, questioning Greer on the administration’s stance if tariffs led to massive job losses.

• Senator Elizabeth Warren (09:32): "The United States has run trade deficits for 48 straight years... Do you think that this growth in American wealth as a result, associated with deficits is something that constitutes a national emergency?"

• Jameson Greer (11:19): "The giant and massive persistent trade deficit that Biden left us with is an emergency. It's not like the small deficits from the '60s and we had auto workers here making production. We've offshored all this stuff, Mr. Daga, and we are really in an emergency situation."

Warren highlighted the long-term economic growth juxtaposed against persistent trade deficits, challenging Greer’s assertion of an immediate national emergency.

Day Two: House Hearings and the Shift in Tariff Policy

Congressmember Tom Suozzi Demands a Comprehensive Plan On the second day, House hearings saw Congressmember Tom Suozzi express concern over the sudden policy reversal, emphasizing the need for a coherent plan to rebuild the American middle class.

• Congressmember Tom Suozzi (15:33): "We're still way down. We need a plan to accomplish the objectives that I know that you genuinely believe in, which is to try and recreate the middle class here in the United States of America."

Congressmember Stephen Horsford Exposes Policy Inconsistencies Stephen Horsford further scrutinized Greer’s position, revealing the administration’s split stance on tariffs and the lack of strategic foresight.

• Congressmember Stephen Horsford (17:03): "When were you made aware of that?"

• Jameson Greer (17:32): "I understand it's 90 days. I haven't spoken to the president since I've been in the hearing with you."

Horsford highlighted the disjointed communication within the administration, questioning Greer’s awareness and involvement in pivotal policy changes.

Senator Elizabeth Warren Continues to Hold Greer Accountable Warren persisted in her critique, dissecting the administration’s justifications for tariffs by presenting stark data on fentanyl seizures and immigration statistics.

• Senator Elizabeth Warren (18:54): "President Trump said, Mr. Greer, that he had no choice in terms of Canada... Unfortunately, that's a lie. The truth is that the U.S. customs and Border Protection reported just 43 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the Canadian border last year, representing just 2/10 of 1% of the total."

Greer attempted to defend the administration’s stance by referring to presidential directives, but Warren countered by emphasizing the negligible impact of the cited issues.

Host's Analysis: The Chaos of the Trump Regime’s Trade Policies Throughout the episode, the hosts criticize the Trump administration's inconsistent and haphazard approach to trade policies. They highlight how sudden decisions, such as the pause on tariffs announced via social media, undermine the credibility and stability of U.S. trade strategies. The hosts also shed light on the procedural maneuvers by MAGA Republicans to prevent Congressional oversight, effectively sidelining legislative authority over tariffs.

• Host Commentary: "Jameson Greer is like, oh, well, I'm reading the post, and I think that this is actually really smart because there's no depths to the excuses and depravity that they won't justify when it comes to Donald Trump."

Impact of MAGA Republicans on Tariff Legislation The podcast further explores how MAGA Republicans in both the Senate and House have structurally impeded any legislative attempts to reassess or repeal tariffs. By preemptively surrendering Congressional powers through budget language, they ensure that tariffs remain untouched, regardless of their economic repercussions.

• Host Explanation: "MAGA Republicans wrote into the budget language that prevents any day from being counted towards resolving tariff issues, effectively removing the possibility of Congressional intervention."

Conclusion: A Tumultuous Path Forward for U.S. Trade Policy The episode concludes with the hosts emphasizing the need for coherent and strategic trade policies that consider economic stability and international relationships. They criticize the Trump administration for prioritizing political maneuvering over practical economic solutions, leaving the U.S. trade environment in disarray.

Notable Quotes:

• Senator Maggie Hassan (04:49): "Would the administration reverse course if the President's tariffs led to 10% inflation?"
• Senator Elizabeth Warren (09:32): "Do you think that this growth in American wealth as a result, associated with deficits is something that constitutes a national emergency?"
• Congressmember Tom Suozzi (15:33): "We need a plan to accomplish the objectives that I know that you genuinely believe in, which is to try and recreate the middle class here in the United States of America."
• Senator Elizabeth Warren (18:54): "Why does the President have to lie all of the time in order to make his point?"

Final Thoughts The MeidasTouch Podcast provides a critical and in-depth analysis of the tumultuous hearings involving Jameson Greer. By highlighting the conflicting testimonies and the overarching chaos within the Trump administration’s trade policies, the podcast offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing U.S. economic strategies and the broader implications for democracy and international relations.

Transcript

[Host]

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[Host]

It did not go well for Donald Trump's top trade representative, Jameson Greer, who testified on Capitol Hill for two days under oath the first day before the United States Senate. The second day before the House of Representatives, he spent a day and a half justifying and making every excuse in the book for Donald Trump's tariffs against the world. The cockamamie formula using deficits to calculate reciprocal tariffs, which weren't actually reciprocal tariffs, testifying under no circumstance ever, and I mean ever, will there be a pause on any of these tariffs. We're all in. If there's 10% inflation, no pause. If millions of jobs get lost, no pause. And then on day two of his testimony before the House of Representatives, you literally see him getting a text message or a Google alert on his phone, and he has this oh, crap moment where he finds out that Donald Trump reversed course on every country other than China. And then Donald Trump essentially paused all of the tariffs against the world, precisely what Jameson Greer testified would never happen. And also because Jameson Greer's the top trade representative, this would be like the decision that he makes or should be involved in. And he was finding out that Donald Trump basically made a tweet or a social media post, and on that basis, the entire tariff policy shifted. In a moment, an entire realignment of United States trade policy took place. And Jameson Greer, the trade representative, was finding out in the hearing, this is the chaos of the Trump regime. So then naturally, on day two, the Democrats pounced and they were asking Trade Representative Greer, you didn't know about that. You just spent two days testifying this would never happen. And now that's happening. Explain that to us. And Jameson Greer is like, oh, well, I'm reading the post, and I think that this is actually really smart because there's no depths to the excuses and depravity that they won't justify when it comes to Donald Trump. So let's talk about what went down. So first you have Democratic Senator Mark Warner. This is day one when Greer's before the Senate and Senator Mark Warner just goes off on Jameson Greer saying why the hell are you, why the hell are you tariffing Australia, our ally, when there's a surplus that we have in trade with Australia. That makes no sense under your cockamamie Greek formula. Play this clip. There is a trade. We already have a free trade agreement. We have a trade surplus. So getting the least bad. Why did they get whacked in the first place?

[Jameson Greer]

We're addressing the $1.2 trillion deficit, the largest in human history that President Biden left us with. We should be running up the score in Australia.

[Host]

The question on Australia, they banned surplus with Australia. We have a free trade agreement. Why? They are incredibly important national security partner. Why were they whacked with a tariff?

[Jameson Greer]

Senator, despite the agreement, they ban our beef, they ban our pork. They're getting ready to impose measures on our.

[Host]

With your Greek letter formula. The fact that we have a trade.

[Jameson Greer]

Surplus, we have a global tariff on every. We're trying to address the $1.2 trillion, I think that Biden left us with.

[Host]

I think that answer. Sir, you're a much smarter person than that answer. The idea that we are going to whack friend and foe alike, and particularly friends with this level is both. I think insulting the Australians undermines our national security and frankly makes us not a good partner going forward. The lack of trust from friends and allies based upon this ridiculous policy that goes into full effect at midnight tonight is extraordinary. Next you have Democratic Senator Maggie Hessen and she says to Jameson Greer, what if inflation was 10%, would you still keep these tariffs on? Here, play this clip.

[Senator Maggie Hassan]

Sales tax is increasing prices for families. It's also causing huge losses in Americans retirement savings. Ambassador Greer, would the administration reverse course if the President's tariffs led to 10% inflation?

[Jameson Greer]

Senator, the president is fixed in his purpose. This, this trade deficit and the offshoring and loss of manufacturing jobs is something that's persisted for too long and it's dangerous.

[Senator Maggie Hassan]

I understand your justification for the policy, even though there are some very contradictory justifications coming out of the administration. But my question is what's the inflation rate where you guys would reverse course? 10% inflation that I just asked you about. That is higher inflation than we saw at the peak of the COVID economic crisis. But you aren't going to say here today that you would reverse course even if you created inflation as high as we had at the peak of the COVID economic crisis.

[Jameson Greer]

I think the most serious inflation we saw was on. Was during the Biden administration when we did tariffs in the first term inflation went down. I just don't. It's not going to be a one to one inflation about how much money you're putting into the supply.

[Senator Maggie Hassan]

Let's just be really clear that the Trump administration is here today to say that even if inflation hits Americans pocketbooks at 10% because of these tariffs, then the Trump administration is still going to go charging ahead. So Ambassador, would the administration reverse course if the president's tariffs caused a 50% stock market crash which would hurt Americans retirement savings even more than they've been hurt in the last 10 days or so?

[Jameson Greer]

Senator, the fundamentals of the economy are so Strong. We had 228,000 jobs last month. We have 9,000 additional manufacturing jobs from.

[Senator Maggie Hassan]

So again, your answer is even if the stock market crashes 50%, which is how much the stock market crashed in the Great Recession, you're not going to say here today that you would reverse course even if you crashed the stock market and harmed retirement savings as drastically as happened during the Great Recession in 2007.

[Jameson Greer]

Senator, your hypotheticals are not consistent with the history we have seen with the use of tax.

[Senator Maggie Hassan]

My hypotheticals are based on the fact that a lot of Americans are looking at their 401ks today and wondering how much of a lifestyle change they are going to have to have or whether they're going to be able to retire when they plan to because of the recklessness and haphazard nature of the Trump administration's imposition of tariffs. Nothing was thought out about this. This has been a haphazard, incompetent effort and it's showing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[Host]

Next up you have Democratic Senator Cortez Mastro and he or she talks about what are you doing to impact the negative impact on international tourism right now? What are you doing to deal with that? Here, play this clip.

[Senator Cortez Masto]

What are you doing about the impact of international tourism and now these blanket tariff having a negative impact? What are you doing to address that?

[Jameson Greer]

The whole sentence, Senator said that we need to get away from government spending as funding our economy and financialization and we need to move to real goods and services, including the tourism you're talking about.

[Senator Cortez Masto]

So what are you doing to impact the negative impact of tourism right now?

[Jameson Greer]

Well, one thing I'll say is we can't have the status quo, right? I keep hearing that we should have. Essentially what I'm hearing is we should have the status quo. We should keep the $1.2 trillion trade deficit that Biden left us with.

[Senator Cortez Masto]

I'm asking you.

[Jameson Greer]

I don't think that's adequate.

[Senator Cortez Masto]

What are you doing in this administration to address now the impact that you're having with these blanket tariffs, not targeted tariffs, blanket tariffs on international tourism. That is a big impact to our economy. What are you doing to address that?

[Jameson Greer]

Well, Senator, as we're talking to all of these countries, we are talking about services. We are talking about making sure that, you know, we can export services to other countries. A lot of those that we export are, you know, well, they only have.

[Senator Cortez Masto]

So much time and apparently you're not. So here's what I would like, because you haven't thought about this and the administration hasn't really thought about it because I haven't heard anybody talking about tourism. So why don't you come talk to me in my office and let's talk about and put a plan together because these blanket tariffs are having an impact on tourism in my state and across the country. So instead of just defending it, why don't you just come sit down with some of us and try to address the concerns that we are seeing and feeling in our states that this administration has not taken into account.

[Jameson Greer]

I'm happy to come speak with you. Thank you, Senator.

[Host]

Next up, you have Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren saying, okay, so what you're saying is that if 700,000, a million Americans lose their jobs, you're going to keep these tariffs, you're going to support them. Play this clip.

[Senator Cortez Masto]

Ambassador greer, we lost 700,000 jobs each month in the last recession. If 700,000Americans lose their jobs, will the Trump administration suspend these tariffs?

[Jameson Greer]

Senator, I think the economists who are making these projections, who often are in favor of fully unfettered free trade, are the same ones who said in the first Trump term, that's Mr. Greer, let.

[Senator Cortez Masto]

Me just stop you there. I'm not asking about projections. I'm asking if the numbers show that 700,000 people have lost their jobs because of these new tariffs that Trump has slapped on, will the administration reverse course.

[Senator Maggie Hassan]

And lift those tariffs?

[Jameson Greer]

Senator, that's not going to happen. We've lost 5 million manufacturing jobs over the years, which is the number I'm most worried about. And we have to get those jobs.

[Senator Cortez Masto]

So I take that as no.

[Host]

Next up, you have Democratic Congressmember Lloyd Doggett. And here he really kind of just drives home this point to Jamison Greer about the way our economy functioned for 50 years and why America was benefiting under the trade policy as it always existed. Play this clip.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

The United States has run trade deficits for 48 straight years, during which time the US economy has grown by 255% in real terms that these decades of trade deficits have corresponded with increases in American wealth and household incomes that far exceed the progress in Canada, China and the European Union. Do you think that this growth in American wealth as a result, associated with deficits is something that constitutes a national emergency?

[Jameson Greer]

The giant and massive persistent trade deficit that Biden left us with is an emergency. It's not like the small deficits from the 60s and we had auto workers here making production. We've offshored all this stuff, Mr. Daga, and we are really in an emergency situation.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

My time we seem to have done much better than in the Gilded Age, which the president prefers. I would just say that on the eve of his inauguration, the president promised to bring prices drastically down. And there's nothing that you've said in your answers or non answers to me today that will give Americans any assurance to believe anything other than that their prices will continue, continue to soar and their savings will continue to shrink. The president's lies continue to cause the American cost, the American people dearly. I yield back.

[Host]

Going back to Democratic Senator Cortez. Mastro, watch this.

[Senator Cortez Masto]

Be intellectually honest. Now. Let me just ask this because this is also true and I so appreciate my Senator Lankford asking this time matters. How long did it take negotiate that agreement, the USMCA that you were part of?

[Jameson Greer]

We did it at breakneck speed. We did in about two years.

[Senator Cortez Masto]

Two years. And now you're telling us you have nearly 50 countries coming to you, approaching you to enter in a negotiation and you think that you can do that overnight? India, you're pretty superhuman here if that's the case. So let's be realistic. That's all we're asking. Common sense.

[Host]

Then you have Democratic Senator Cantwell here. She is a Washington state senator. Play this clip.

[Senator Maggie Hassan]

Questions for members. But you can see all my colleagues. We are thoughtful people with specific issues about our constituencies. I just met with raspberry growers. They're concerned. They want to know if they're going to get some seat on a council so they can have their issues heard. I'm for trade. I represent trade. I represent a trade economy. I represent the success of what innovation and trade gets you. But you're coming here this morning with this not only tanking of the market and 401s, now you're coming here telling me that tariff is the tool. And I'm telling you innovation is the tool. You're telling us in your testimony you want a tariff on semiconductors. I'm saying that the last administration and this organization here passed the CHIPS and science act so we could reshore terror so we could reshore semiconductors here in the United States. So you're not going to win the innovation economy by tariffing semiconductors and reshoring that. I don't know what you think.

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[Host]

Next up on day two, you have Democratic Congress member Tom Suozzi right here. Here's what he's got to say. Play this clip.

[Congressmember Tom Suozzi]

Feel like you're in a very bad position here. This whole idea that this president made this switcheroo on you while you were in the middle of testifying here today, I feel, I actually feel bad for you. But I really feel bad for the American people that are seeing these things. There's no plan. I mean, that's my big concern. I know there's goals. I want to see manufacturing brought back to America, or at least I want to see jobs that pay more money so we can rebuild our middle class in America. I'm. I'm for that. I'm for holding China accountable and holding our adversaries accountable. I'm for tariffs in select specific places. But right now, there's no. All we know is prices are going up, we're pissing off our allies, and the stock market went down dramatically. It's gone up dramatically today. The market manipulation question by Mr. Horsford is a very real concern that we're gonna have to dig into a little bit. Who's benefiting from these wild fluctuations? Down, wild fluctuation up. We're still way down. We need a plan to accomplish the objectives that I know that you genuinely believe in, which is to try and recreate the middle class here in the United States of America. That, on my side of the aisle, we all believe in, that we have to recreate the middle class in America.

[Host]

And he's so right. Just flipping the policy. Did you even know Jameson Greer, anything about this? And Democratic Congress member Stephen Horsford brings the point home as well. Let's play this clip. Mr. Trade Representative, are you aware that the tariffs have been paused?

[Jameson Greer]

I am, yes.

[Host]

When, When. When were you made aware of that?

[Jameson Greer]

I understood the decision was made a few minutes ago. Sitting here under discussion.

[Host]

Sitting here under discussion. So did you know that the. That this was under discussion? And why did you not include that as part of your opening remarks?

[Jameson Greer]

So, typically, what I don't do is divulge the contents of my discussions.

[Host]

What are the details of the past?

[Jameson Greer]

Well, my understanding is that because so many countries have decided not to retaliate, we're going to have about 90 days.

[Host]

No, excuse me. China increased their tariffs on the United States. Trump blinked.

[Jameson Greer]

What's the blink, sir?

[Host]

What do you know about this pause? What are the details of it?

[Jameson Greer]

Well, the details, as I understand it, is that China continues to retaliate. Other countries didn't retaliate. The president two or three days ago said we wanted to negotiate with those countries that asked for. That asked for meetings. That's what we're doing.

[Host]

What are the details? How long is the pause? How many days? How many weeks?

[Jameson Greer]

I understand it's 90 days. I haven't spoken to the president since I've.

[Host]

So the Trade representative hasn't spoken to the President of the United States about a global reordering of trade.

[Jameson Greer]

Yes, I have. I just been in the hearing with you.

[Host]

But yet he announced it on a tweet. Wtf? Who's in charge? Going back to day one, here's Senator Bernie Sanders also pointing out to Jameson Greer, like, you guys lie about everything. You're saying that Canada is causing the fentanyl issues in the United States. Like why? Why you have to, assuming you even want to do these tariffs. Why does everything, every freaking word, gotta be a lie? Senator Bernie Sanders with the win right here. Play this clip.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

President Trump said, Mr. Greer, that he had no choice in terms of Canada, and I live 50 miles away from the Canadian border. He had no choice but to bypass Congress and to impose an emergency 25% tariff on Canada to stop, quote, the massive, end quote, amount of fentanyl and, quote, the millions and millions of undocumented immigrants coming from the northern border. Unfortunately, that's a lie. The truth is that the U.S. customs and Border Protection reported just 43 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the Canadian border last year, representing just 2/10 of 1% of the total. Further, he said among he talked about millions and millions of undocumented immigrants coming from Canada. In fact, last year there were 24,000 people, not millions and millions. First question, really, we can argue about tariffs, but why does the President have to lie all of the time in order to make his point?

[Jameson Greer]

So, Senator, I would just refute that when the President is talking about the nature of the emergency we have. Can you talk a little bit closer.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

To the mic, please?

[Jameson Greer]

Certainly, Senator. I would just say I think you need to look at what the President issued in terms of the order for the legal basis for what we're doing. Right? I mean, the president very rightly hit on this issue of fentanyl migration coming from northern southern borders. And it's a real emergency.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

All drugs are a real emergency. Two tenths of 1%. You can then argue drugs, illegal drugs come from every country in the world. If you declare that as an emergency, you're giving the President of the United States unbelievable power.

[Host]

And let me give some credit here to Republican Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina, although he knows he's going to be heading into a difficult Senate race. So he's doing this for a reason. Let's be very clear. And so here is North Carolina Republican TILLIS Questioning the U.S. trade Representative, Jameson Greer on Trump's strategy. This was, of course, before Trump changed course. Within 24 hours. Play this clip.

[Senator Thom Tillis]

I'm not a trade expert and I'm not going to question it at this point. I do have a question about at the end of the day, the other thing in management consulting we, we like to focus on is this concept of one throat to choke. In other words, when you're finally taking a look at a strategy, someone has to own it. And you can't say that it's the president or the vice president. So my first question to you in this scenario, the decision maker who decided the alla prima approach, who has obviously had to have spent time anticipating what we saw in the markets and some of the pushback. I'm assuming this all got gamed out because. Because it's a novel approach. It needed to be thought out. Whose throat do I get to choke if this proves to be wrong?

[Jameson Greer]

Well, Senator, you can certainly always talk to me, but I.

[Senator Thom Tillis]

Are you at the tip of the spear?

[Jameson Greer]

Well, I'm at the tip of the spear for certain.

[Senator Thom Tillis]

Did you propose the alla prima approach?

[Jameson Greer]

So first of all, I would push back, Senator, just a little bit on this. We've, for now we've excluded pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, take a different kind of approach.

[Senator Thom Tillis]

And we've excluded USMC section 232 and 301. We know particularly section 232 is still on aluminum. Section 301 is Chinese imports where there's no other provider. I overheard you say that maybe I thought I heard you say in response to another question that for the near term there won't be any exclusions. Is that true of China where they have said the US Is unilaterally bullying and completely groundless and they're going to fight to the end? Are the 232 and 301 tariffs exclusions on the shelves until we get to a reasonable agreement with China? I'm just trying to answer a question that I have several people in North Carolina asking.

[Jameson Greer]

So the President again is the final decision maker on all of these things and he has directed that there not be exclusions.

[Senator Thom Tillis]

There will not be any exclusions on steel, aluminum or any products that are only manufactured in China for the foreseeable future until China determines what the end is because they said they're going to fight to the end. Again, I'm just trying to communicate questions that I've asked. So there will be no exclusions. I won't waste your time asking for them. That's the main reason I wanted to ask the question. So again, I'm just trying to get my head around the logic of an alla prima approach. And I'm waiting to be. I'm waiting to see it be successful. But it just seems like we've decided to begin a trade war on all fronts, and that's okay. If the person who thought this through has an answer for why you go after partners that we have a very long, storied relationship with.

[Host]

I've been seeing memes like this all day. MAGA economics, you see that the economy without tariffs doing much better. The economy with tariffs much lower. But then all the MAGA people are like, see, tariffs work. So wait, our tariffs either the greatest thing. But then you say that the fact that tariffs are withdrawn, that's the greatest thing. I mean, didn't y'all say that tariffs are gonna make everybody super rich and be great? Y'all remove the tariffs there. There's no consistency with this at all. Um, you take a look right here. As Dave Whammon posts, Trump gets no concessions. Art of the deal. I destroyed the goal, the global markets, and all I got was this lousy T shirt. It should be noted, too, that while all of this is going on, aided and abetted by the Republicans in the Senate, but the MAGA Republicans in the House of Representatives, all but three House Republicans voted for the Trump tariffs. The procedural measure, as Aaron Frischner writes, which preemptively surrenders congressional power to stop Trump tariffs passed with all Democrats voting no. Every Democrat voted no for this. You see the vote count here? These MAGA Republican senators supporting it. So here's how they procedurally engineered and rigged this thing so that there can never even be a vote on, on tariffs and Congress actually claiming its power. So here's Congress taking away its own power. This is what the MAGA Republicans wrote into the budget. You ready? Each day during the period from April 9, 2025 through September 30, 2025 shall not constitute a calendar day for purposes of Section 202 of the National Emergencies act with respect to a joint resolution terminating a national emergency declared by the president on April 2, 2025. So what that language means is that there's going to be. They're not going to even allow a day to be counted for the issue to be brought up, because they're saying the day doesn't even exist where they can even talk about tariffs. If you want to talk about kissing the ring, think about what the MAGA Republicans did just there. By the way, how embarrassing for Jameson Greer. What went down there. We'll keep, keep you posted. Every step of the way. I just wanted to give you the full context of that hearing. Hit subscribe let's get to 5 million subscribers. New Midas Merch Drop Check out the latest Pro Democracy sticker packs, T shirts, hats, sweatshirts, and more, all at store midastouch. Com.