What A Day - Episode Summary: "Trump Launches Tariff-Palooza"
Host: Jane Coston
Release Date: April 3, 2025
Produced by: Crooked Media

Introduction

In the April 3, 2025 episode of What A Day, host Jane Coston delves into President Donald Trump's ambitious tariff strategy, aptly dubbed "Tariff-Palooza." The episode examines the breadth and peculiarities of the new tariff scheme, its impact on international relations, the U.S. economy, and domestic workers. Additionally, the show touches on significant political developments in Wisconsin, Amazon's unexpected move concerning TikTok, and international tensions involving Israel and Gaza.

Trump’s "Tariff-Palooza"

Announcing the Tariff Scheme
President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping executive order aimed at imposing reciprocal tariffs worldwide. This substantial move includes:

• Global Implementation: A 10% tariff applied universally to all countries deemed to have treated the U.S. unfairly.
• Targeted Increases: Specific sectors face heightened tariffs, such as China's imports, which will now incur a total of 34% tariffs combining current and new rates.

Questionable Tariff Targets
Coston highlights the questionable nature of some tariff targets:

• Uninhabited Territories: "At least one of the entities we're tariffing, The Heard and McDonald Islands, doesn't have any people. Zero." (01:18)
• Non-Trade Actors: Tariffs are being placed on a U.S. military base and countries like Lesotho and a French territory off Newfoundland, raising eyebrows about the administration's strategy.

Notable Quotes:

• Trump emphasizes the old-fashioned nature of tariffs: “An old fashioned term that we use, groceries. I used it on the campaign...” (00:03).

Economic Impact and Market Reaction

Stock Market Response
Following the announcement, the U.S. stock market experienced significant downturns:

• Market Drops: Broader market indices fell as investors reacted nervously to the uncertainty introduced by the new tariff policies.

Trump's Economic Priorities
Coston emphasizes that Trump's focus remains on workers rather than market stability:

• “Trump 2.0 doesn't care about the stock market or your 401k or your dad's retirement fund. He cares about the workers.” (02:57)

Impact on Federal Workers and Unions

Massive Layoffs and Job Cuts
Since President Trump's inauguration, over 120,000 federal employees have been dismissed, with numbers expected to rise:

• Affected Agencies: From the National Institutes of Health to the National Park Service, no federal agency is spared.

Executive Order on Union Rights
Trump signed an executive order targeting the collective bargaining rights of federal employee unions, particularly the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE):

• Targeted Departments: Defense, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, State Department, among others.

Notable Quotes:

• Treasury Secretary Scott Besant's advice doesn't appease Host Jane Coston: “...Treasury Secretary Scott Besant isn't making me feel better with this advice given on FOX News to other countries.” (01:18).

In-Depth Interview: Everett Kelly, President of AFGE

Union Response to Administration Policies
Everett Kelly discusses the chaos and fear among federal workers facing layoffs and the push to eliminate union protections:

• “It just left everybody in a state of shock and confusion.” (04:59)
• AFGE's Strategy: Filing lawsuits and rallying public opinion to counteract the administration's moves.

Consequences of Job Cuts
Kelly addresses the broader implications of the administration's cuts:

• “It's going to affect the services that we provide to the American public.” (06:08)
• Examples include reduced services at the VA and compromised food safety inspections.

Union’s Historical Role and Current Challenges
AFGE’s legacy in protecting federal workers is contrasted with Trump's administration tactics:

• “We are a labor union that want to make sure that employees are treated with fairness and dignity...” (08:17)
• Current efforts to dismantle union protections are seen as retaliatory measures.

Notable Quotes:

• Kelly condemns the administration's actions: “That was a very devastating attack because he put about a million federal workers in a position where they don't have a union to speak up for them...” (07:22)
• Discussing public mobilization: “People are rising up. You're seeing rallies across the country.” (09:17)

Political Developments: Wisconsin Supreme Court Election

Liberal Victory in a Swing State
Wisconsin witnessed a significant judicial election where liberal Judge Susan Crawford defeated conservative Brad Schimmel by a 10-point margin, defying substantial financial backing from Trump and Elon Musk.

• Implications: This victory serves as a litmus test for Democratic resilience against executive and private sector pressures.

Notable Quotes:

• Crawford on her win: “Wisconsinites fended off an unprecedented attack on our democracy.” (15:31)

National and International News Briefs

New York City Mayor’s Legal Battle
Mayor Eric Adams successfully had corruption charges dismissed by a federal judge, undermining Trump’s efforts to challenge Democratic figures:

• Judge’s Ruling: Refuted the administration's claims of bias and procedural misconduct.

Israeli Actions in Gaza
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced territorial seizures in the Gaza Strip to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages, escalating regional tensions.

Amazon’s TikTok Bid
In a surprising move, Amazon has reportedly made a last-minute attempt to acquire TikTok amidst ongoing national security debates and regulatory deadlines.

Notable Quotes:

• Netanyahu on Gaza strategy: “We are now dividing the strip and increasing the pressure step by step so that they will give us our hostages.”

Additional Segments

Hysteria Podcast Teaser
Jane Coston promotes the "Hysteria" segment featuring discussions on Planned Parenthood’s legal battles and broader healthcare implications.

Advertisements and Promotions
The episode includes sponsorship messages from Fast Growing Trees and Dr. Horton, though these are acknowledged as non-content segments and are summarized briefly.

Conclusion

In "Trump Launches Tariff-Palooza," What A Day provides a comprehensive analysis of President Trump's extensive tariff policies and their convoluted implementation. The episode underscores the administrative focus on workers juxtaposed with the destabilizing effects on federal employees and international relations. Through an insightful interview with Everett Kelly, the show highlights the struggles of federal unions against unprecedented executive actions. Additionally, significant political victories and international tensions are explored, painting a detailed picture of the current socio-political landscape.

Notable Final Quote:

• Trump on judicial dismissals: “Let me be clear. As I said all along, this case should have never been brought and I did nothing wrong.” (17:50)

Timestamp References:

• Timestamps are indicated in square brackets (MM:SS) next to the corresponding quotes and sections to provide context and attribution.

This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, offering a thorough overview for listeners and those who may have missed the broadcast.