Podcast Summary: What A Day – Episode: "Trump is Tariff-ied"

Release Date: April 30, 2025
Host: Jane Coaston (performed by Erin Ryan)
Guest: Stephanie Ruhl, MSNBC Host and Senior Business Analyst for NBC News

1. Introduction and Overview

In the April 30th episode of What A Day, host Erin Ryan delves into the multifaceted impacts of former President Donald Trump's economic policies, particularly focusing on tariffs, and their reverberations both domestically within the United States and internationally, notably influencing Canada’s federal elections. The episode also touches upon significant shifts within the U.S. Department of Justice and campus climates at major universities like Harvard.

2. Trump's Economic Policies and Their Domestic Impact

Election Victory and Initial Trust in Trump's Economic Policies

The episode opens with a recap of Donald Trump’s unexpected victory in the 2024 election, primarily attributed to voter trust in his economic management. However, as Trump's second term progresses, enthusiasm wanes:

• Polling Trends: "Now that we're a few months into Trump's second term, voters are across the board less than enthusiastic on the job Trump has done. We're seeing this in the polling. Trump is underwater overall, but also across several polls. A majority of Americans are giving the president a thumbs down on his signature issue." ([00:02])

• Consumer Confidence: Consumer confidence has plummeted to pandemic-era lows, placing businesses in precarious positions.

The Tariff Controversy with Amazon

A significant segment discusses Amazon's rumored initiative to display tariffs on their products, challenging Trump's narrative that consumers wouldn't bear these costs:

• Trump’s Reaction: "Donald Trump was very nice. He was terrific. He solved the problem very quickly." ([02:11])

• Stephanie Ruhl’s Analysis: Ruhl argues that the situation exposed the administration's misleading claims about tariffs:

  "From the beginning, President Trump, Peter Navarro, et cetera, have said to us over and over, the United States doesn't incur the cost of the tariffs. U.S. businesses don't. U.S. consumers don't. Well, obviously they just proved that to be incorrect." ([04:26])

• Impact on Businesses and Consumers: Ruhl highlights that both small and large businesses are already suffering, foreseeing increased costs and empty shelves in the near future. She emphasizes that tariffs are leading the U.S. towards a potential recession:

  "We're seeing consumer sentiment change that people are bracing themselves. But businesses big and small are suffering." ([05:53])

Trump’s Approval Ratings and Economic Policies

Trump’s approval ratings have taken a significant hit, with only 39% approval as per a Washington Post ABC News Ipsos poll:

• Host’s Commentary: Ryan points out the irony of Trump celebrating economic successes despite declining approval:

  "Not to beat a dead horse, but this is the man whose polling is at historically low favorability numbers for this early into a presidency." ([18:55])

3. International Impact: Canada’s Federal Election Victory

Liberal Party’s Unexpected Win Influenced by Trump’s Policies

Canada's Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, secured a victory in the federal elections, a turnaround significantly influenced by Trump's aggressive economic stances against Canada:

• Prime Minister Carney’s Victory Speech: Carney declared:

  "Canada. Free Canada forever. Vive la Canada. Thank you very much." ([19:31])

• Trump’s Intervention: Trump's threats to make Canada the "51st state" and the imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods alienated Canadian voters, leading to the Conservative Party's decline:

  "America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. Never. But these are not idle threats..." – Pierre Polievre, Conservative Leader ([20:31])

• Conservative Leader’s Defeat: Pierre Polievre lost his parliamentary seat after 20 years, signaling a significant shift in Canadian politics.

4. Shifts within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division

Mass Exodus of Civil Rights Lawyers

The episode covers the departure of over 100 lawyers from the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division under the Trump administration’s redefined priorities:

• Harmeet Dhillon’s Statements: The new Civil Rights Director, Harmeet Dhillon, commented on the resignations:

  "We don't want people in the federal government who feel like it's their pet project to go persecute... That's not the job here." ([22:08])

• Redefining Priorities: The division, originally tasked with combating discrimination, is now focusing on prosecuting "anti-Christian bias," "transgender athletes," and "woke ideology," diverging sharply from its foundational mission.

• Impact on Civil Rights Enforcement: The significant reduction in staff hampers the division’s ability to address genuine discrimination issues, undermining decades of progress in civil rights enforcement.

5. Campus Climate at Harvard University

Reports of Bias and Discrimination Post-Conflicts

Harvard University faces internal challenges as reports reveal widespread feelings of unwelcomeness among Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and pro-Palestinian students:

• Harvard President Alan Garber’s Statement:

  "The reports reveal a charged period. At Harvard, Jewish, Israeli and Zionist students said they felt unwelcome on campus." ([22:26])

• Institutional Response: Harvard is reviewing recommendations on admissions, curriculum, and training programs to address these issues.

• Legal Challenges: Concurrently, Harvard is suing the Trump administration for freezing over $2 billion in federal grants, alleging interference in the university’s private affairs.

6. Conclusion

The episode of What A Day meticulously examines the cascading effects of Donald Trump’s economic policies, particularly tariffs, highlighting their detrimental impact on both the U.S. economy and international relations, especially with Canada. Stephanie Ruhl provides insightful analysis on the erosion of consumer confidence and business stability due to these policies. Additionally, structural changes within the DOJ and the strained campus environments at institutions like Harvard underscore the broader societal implications of Trump's administration. The episode underscores the complex interplay between political maneuvers and their tangible effects on everyday life and international dynamics.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephanie Ruhl ([04:26]):

  "The administration is not being intellectually honest with themselves, the American people and the world about how tariffs work."

• Pierre Polievre ([20:31]):

  "America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. Never. But these are not idle threats."

• Harmeet Dhillon ([22:08]):

  "We don't want people in the federal government who feel like it's their pet project to go persecute... That's not the job here."

Disclaimer: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions and analyses presented in the episode.