1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,920 Hey everyone and welcome back for another deep dive. 2 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:02,760 Fun to- 3 00:00:02,760 --> 00:00:07,520 Today we are taking a look at the political and economic landscape as of March 2025. 4 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:13,320 So wild time folks with Trump back in the White House and causing, well, quite a stir, 5 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:14,320 shall we say. 6 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:16,520 We've got some recent articles and research here. 7 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:18,280 And let me tell you, it's a lot. 8 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:23,520 His actions, you know, they're making waves everywhere from like global trade deals to, 9 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:25,440 seriously, our own wallets. 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:26,440 Yeah, you're not kidding. 11 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:30,920 I mean, it's his second term and Trump's still keeping everybody on their toes. 12 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:35,520 Every single day it seems like there's a new headline, some crazy policy, some unexpected 13 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,720 decision, trade wars, cryptocurrency, you name it. 14 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:39,720 So, so true. 15 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:40,720 Let's jump right in. 16 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:41,720 Let's talk about Trumponomics. 17 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,840 We've got a whole bunch of articles here about this tariff war he's got going on, this 18 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:46,960 back and forth thing with Canada and Mexico. 19 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,160 And honestly, it's been a total roller coaster. 20 00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:52,400 It's really something, how these tariffs have been playing out. 21 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:54,600 Like the first round, it only lasted one day. 22 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:56,520 Trump just reversed course like that. 23 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:01,120 And then round two, that went on for, was it, two days before he changed his mind again. 24 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,000 It's like, what's going to happen with round three? 25 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:04,440 Anyone's guess at this point? 26 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:06,000 I know, right? 27 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,560 And here's another layer of crazy right now. 28 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:13,560 About half of the goods from Mexico and 40% from Canada are exempt. 29 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,280 But it's just temporary. 30 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:19,400 It's like everyone's holding their breath, businesses, markets, everyone's just in this 31 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,560 constant state of what's next. 32 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:22,560 Absolutely. 33 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:24,080 And that's the big question, isn't it? 34 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:25,600 What is driving all of this? 35 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:26,800 What is Trump's end game? 36 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,240 I mean, the research we've got here, it offers a few different theories. 37 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:31,400 Okay, lay it on us. 38 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:32,400 What are we talking about here? 39 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,800 Well, keep in mind, these are just theories. 40 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:36,360 Not necessarily facts. 41 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,400 But one theory is that this is all just political theater. 42 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:43,160 Trump trying to look tough to project strength and control on the world stage. 43 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:44,320 Okay, that makes some sense. 44 00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:45,320 What else? 45 00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:48,360 Another theory is magical thinking. 46 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:51,480 Trump believes tariffs will just magically fix everything. 47 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,560 No real plan, just tariffs. 48 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:54,560 Interesting. 49 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:55,560 Any other theories? 50 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:57,240 There are a couple of more concerning ones. 51 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:03,080 Some folks are suggesting that maybe cognitive decline is playing a role in his decision-making. 52 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:04,080 Oh, wow. 53 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:05,560 Okay, that's kind of a heavy thought. 54 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,600 Yeah, and then there's the unspeakable goals theory. 55 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:13,340 This one suggests that Trump might have some hidden motives, maybe involving classified 56 00:02:13,340 --> 00:02:16,040 information or strategies he can't talk about publicly. 57 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:17,680 Wow, so many possibilities. 58 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,560 Okay, but let's bring it down to earth. 59 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,760 What does all of this mean for everyday folks like us? 60 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,920 Well, for one thing, it makes the US look bad, you know? 61 00:02:26,920 --> 00:02:28,880 Unpredictable, unreliable. 62 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,720 That weakens our position globally and can hurt relationships with our allies. 63 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:34,640 And we're seeing some pushback too, right? 64 00:02:34,640 --> 00:02:35,640 Especially from Canada. 65 00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:40,560 I read about Canadian stores pulling US products, and British Columbia might even start charging 66 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:43,240 tolls on trucks going to Alaska. 67 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,440 And Canadians are canceling vacations to the US. 68 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:51,680 And get this, Ontario might keep tariffs on electricity, you know, the stuff they send 69 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,080 to the US, no matter what Trump does next. 70 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:55,480 Yeah, it's getting serious. 71 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,400 And it's not just Canada. 72 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:01,000 Republicans here at home are starting to speak out against Trump's approach too. 73 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:02,000 Really? 74 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:03,000 Like who? 75 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,800 Well, Senator John Tenet was on Fox Business expressing concerns about the tariffs, although 76 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,400 he did say falsely that tariffs don't cause inflation. 77 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:15,320 And Senator Rand Paul spoke to CNN about Kentucky businesses being hurt, like the bourbon industry, 78 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,520 prices going up, sales going down. 79 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:19,360 And then there's Senator Tom Tillis. 80 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:23,720 He actually suggested that Trump should maybe try a strategic retreat sometimes when he's 81 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:24,720 losing. 82 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:25,720 Wow. 83 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:27,080 That's pretty strong criticism coming from his own party. 84 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:28,080 It is. 85 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:32,920 It shows that this discomfort with Trump's trade tactics is growing. 86 00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:35,440 And everyone's waiting to see what he'll do next. 87 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:36,880 April 2nd, right? 88 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:38,640 That's the deadline everyone's talking about. 89 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,040 Who knows what he'll do? 90 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:41,680 That is the big question, isn't it? 91 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:43,760 It feels like anything could happen. 92 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:45,680 More uncertainty, more disruption. 93 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,040 Okay, let's switch gears for a sec. 94 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,280 Can we talk about this Bitcoin thing? 95 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:55,720 Trump's executive order to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve, and this whole summit he's 96 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,160 got planned, I gotta be honest, I'm totally lost on this one. 97 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:00,920 Yeah, I think a lot of people are. 98 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:06,080 It's been met with confusion and disapproval from pretty much everyone, voters, economists, 99 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:07,440 even people in the crypto world. 100 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,040 Well, I can see why voters are confused. 101 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:11,760 Most people don't really understand cryptocurrency. 102 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:16,720 And it kind of feels like Trump's maybe trying to line his own pockets, especially given 103 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,120 his history with crypto. 104 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:20,120 You're right. 105 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:21,200 And the economists are scratching their heads too. 106 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:25,120 They're asking why would the government hold something as risky as Bitcoin? 107 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:29,080 There was a quote in one of the articles from Stephen Siketty, an economist at Brandeis 108 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:30,080 University. 109 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:31,080 He called the whole thing absurd. 110 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,880 And it's funny, even the crypto folks aren't happy about this. 111 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:35,880 Right. 112 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,720 They're like, hey, governments stay out of our decentralized system. 113 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:43,440 Plus, when you dig into it, the policy itself is actually pretty weak. 114 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,520 So another one of those Trump announcements that sounds big, but it isn't really. 115 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:48,520 Pretty much. 116 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,640 What's interesting though is how some people are taking advantage of all this. 117 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:58,800 There was a story about this one guy who made like $7 million just by buying and selling 118 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,400 Bitcoin around the time of Trump's announcement. 119 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,920 So some people win big and everyone else has just left scratching their heads. 120 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:06,920 Exactly. 121 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:08,840 That's a wild world out there. 122 00:05:08,840 --> 00:05:09,840 Okay. 123 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:12,280 Let's move on to something else that's been making headlines. 124 00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:16,200 The State of the Union address and what happened with Representative Al Green. 125 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:17,200 Oh yeah. 126 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:18,200 That was something else. 127 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,960 I mean, Trump's speech had its usual share of controversial stuff. 128 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,760 Attacks, lies, you know, the drill. 129 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:26,640 But the big story was Rep Green. 130 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:27,640 Right. 131 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:29,360 He got kicked out of the House gallery during the speech. 132 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,560 The Republican said he was being disruptive. 133 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,080 And then they censured him. 134 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker Mike Johnson just pushed it right through. 135 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:40,520 It really shows you how much the political landscape has changed, you know, like decorum. 136 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:41,520 What is that? 137 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:42,520 Rep Green. 138 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:43,520 He wasn't bothered at all by the center. 139 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:47,920 He actually saying we shall overcome with some of his colleagues during the whole public 140 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:48,920 shaming thing. 141 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:49,920 Wow. 142 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:50,920 So he just completely turned it around. 143 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:51,920 Totally. 144 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:52,920 And here's the thing. 145 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:53,920 It wasn't just Republicans who disapproved. 146 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:54,920 Wait, really? 147 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:55,920 Yep. 148 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,280 Ten Democrats actually voted to center him. 149 00:05:58,280 --> 00:06:03,200 And the Democratic leadership had to reprimand some other members for, you know, getting 150 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,360 a little carried away during the speech. 151 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:06,360 Ten Democrats. 152 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:07,520 Who were they? 153 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:08,520 Let me see. 154 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:09,520 I've got the names here somewhere. 155 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:10,520 Okay. 156 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:16,960 It was Ami Bara, Ed Case, Jim Costa, Laura Gillan, Marie Gluzonkamp Perez, Jim Himes, 157 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:21,840 Chrissy Hulahan, Marcy Keptor, Jared Moskovitz, and Tom Swazi. 158 00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:22,840 Wow. 159 00:06:22,840 --> 00:06:26,280 So even within the Democratic Party, there's disagreement on how to handle Trump. 160 00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:27,440 Definitely makes things interesting. 161 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:31,600 How do you stay unified as a party when you're dealing with an administration that seems to 162 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:32,600 thrive on chaos? 163 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,480 It's a tough question. 164 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaking of tough, let's talk about the Inflation Reduction Act. 165 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:42,000 I've been reading about how the Trump administration is going after it, especially that greenhouse 166 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:43,840 gas reduction fund. 167 00:06:43,840 --> 00:06:46,240 This is where things get really concerning. 168 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,720 That fund, basically it's a green bank, right? 169 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:49,720 Yeah. 170 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:53,720 It was set up to encourage public-private partnerships, you know, to invest in clean 171 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:55,080 energy and things like that. 172 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:56,080 And you know what? 173 00:06:56,080 --> 00:07:01,760 It's actually been really successful, creating jobs, reducing greenhouse gases, even in Republican 174 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:02,760 districts. 175 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:03,760 No, that was the problem. 176 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:08,480 Well, the acting U.S. attorney for D.C., Ed Martin, is trying to seize the money that's 177 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,560 already been given out through this fund. 178 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:14,480 He's saying there's an investigation, but there's no real evidence of any wrongdoing. 179 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:15,480 Sounds fishy. 180 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:16,480 Yeah. 181 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:17,480 And the sources don't hold back. 182 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:22,600 One of them called Martin so sleazy, he makes Nixon's plumbers look like saints. 183 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:26,080 And get this, we're talking about $20 billion. 184 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:27,440 That's how much they're trying to seize. 185 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:33,280 The biggest seizure like this before was like $4 billion in stolen Bitcoin back in 2022. 186 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:34,280 That's insane. 187 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:35,280 It is. 188 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:36,520 And there's been a ton of pushback. 189 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:41,080 Denise Chung, she was head of the criminal division, she refused to freeze the funds 190 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:42,920 and ended up quitting. 191 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,600 Prosecutors in Miami wouldn't even start a grand jury investigation? 192 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:49,040 And a judge denied the seizure warrant. 193 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:50,280 So they're really fighting this. 194 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:51,280 Oh yeah. 195 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:52,520 But here's the crazy part. 196 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:57,400 City bank, where the money's being held, they put an administrative freeze on the funds. 197 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:58,400 Like what? 198 00:07:58,400 --> 00:07:59,680 Can they even do that? 199 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:03,360 It's kind of a legal gray area, but they did. 200 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,160 So now all that money is just stuck. 201 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,960 And it could really hurt the organizations that were counting on it, like bankruptcy 202 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:10,960 level hurt. 203 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,040 This whole thing is just wild. 204 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:17,040 It makes you wonder if they're just trying to use the legal system to score political 205 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:18,120 points. 206 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:19,800 It does raise some serious questions. 207 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:25,360 And it shows just how far the Trump administration might go to dismantle anything Obama did, 208 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,200 even if it means bending the rules. 209 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:28,760 That's kind of depressing, honestly. 210 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:30,400 Can we talk about something a little less heavy? 211 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:31,400 Sure. 212 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:32,400 Let's lighten things up a bit. 213 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:33,400 Okay. 214 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:37,400 I was reading about 538, the website, the one with all the data and analysis. 215 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:38,400 They're shutting down. 216 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:39,400 Yeah, I saw that. 217 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:41,640 It's a shame, but maybe not surprising. 218 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:45,760 Their business model was kind of tough, trying to do in-depth analysis and publish daily. 219 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:50,080 And I think they struggled to fit in with Disney ABC, the company that owned them. 220 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:51,080 Right. 221 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:53,520 I remember when they were all about sports and they shifted to politics and then all 222 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:58,680 the big names left like Nate Silver, Harry Anton, Walt Hickey, Mono Chalabi. 223 00:08:58,680 --> 00:08:59,680 Yeah. 224 00:08:59,680 --> 00:09:01,080 Definitely a loss for the media world. 225 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:04,760 Their polling aggregation, that was really valuable, especially during elections. 226 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:05,760 Agreed. 227 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:06,760 Okay. 228 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:09,000 Last story for this part of the deep dive. 229 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,800 Have you heard about this AI experiment the LA Times was doing? 230 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:12,800 Oh, yeah. 231 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,760 The one where the AI was supposed to offer different perspectives on opinion pieces. 232 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:17,760 Right. 233 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:18,760 Well, it didn't go so well. 234 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:25,120 Apparently, the AI wrote a commentary on a piece about the KKK, the Ku Klux Klan and 235 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:26,560 their history in Anaheim. 236 00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:30,520 And get this, the AI actually downplayed the Klan's impact. 237 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:31,520 No way, seriously. 238 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:32,520 Yeah. 239 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:33,520 I know. 240 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:37,600 It said something like, while the KKK undoubtedly had a presence in Anaheim, its influence was 241 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:38,840 limited. 242 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,760 And then it said that most residents rejected its message of hate. 243 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:43,880 Wow, that's pretty tone deaf. 244 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:48,680 It just goes to show you, AI can be powerful, but it's not a replacement for actual 245 00:09:48,680 --> 00:09:52,480 human intelligence and judgment, especially with sensitive topics. 246 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:53,480 Totally. 247 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:57,520 AI still has a lot to learn when it comes to nuance and context, especially with complex 248 00:09:57,520 --> 00:09:58,520 social issues. 249 00:09:58,520 --> 00:09:59,520 Yeah, big time. 250 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:03,240 It reminds me of this time when I was trying to use my AI assistant to order a pizza and 251 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,400 it ended up booking me a flight to PISA instead. 252 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:07,400 Oh. 253 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:08,680 Yeah, it was a whole mess. 254 00:10:08,680 --> 00:10:13,080 But it just goes to show you, even the most advanced AI can still totally miss the mark. 255 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:14,080 For sure. 256 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:16,120 Like they say, garbage in, garbage out. 257 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:20,400 When the LA Times ended up pulling the AI commentary after just one day. 258 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:21,400 Makes sense. 259 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:25,400 It's a good reminder that we need to be careful about how we use AI, especially in sensitive 260 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:26,400 areas. 261 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,480 Okay, that wraps up part one of our deep dive. 262 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:31,640 It's been a lot, hasn't it? 263 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:37,040 Trade wars, rep agreeing, the Inflation Reduction Act 538 shutting down, AI gone wrong. 264 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,000 A lot to unpack, for sure. 265 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:43,800 But don't go anywhere, folks, because in part two we'll be talking about how some governors 266 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:48,440 are trying to help people affected by Elon Musk and Dogecoin of all things. 267 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:52,560 And we'll delve deeper into the challenges facing the Trump administration in its second 268 00:10:52,560 --> 00:10:54,200 term. 269 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:55,400 Welcome back, everyone. 270 00:10:55,400 --> 00:11:01,280 So last time we were in the thick of it, talking about all the fallout from Trump's, well, 271 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:05,280 let's call them unpredictable actions and all the uncertainties creating. 272 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:07,800 But for now, let's shift gears a little bit, shall we? 273 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:08,800 Sounds good. 274 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:13,240 Let's talk about these governors who are stepping up to deal with, well, this rather unusual 275 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:18,720 problem, helping people who've been, let's say, impacted by Elon Musk and Dogecoin. 276 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:22,040 Yeah, the whole DOGE thing is pretty wild. 277 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:27,800 For those who might not be totally up to speed, DOGE is a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, but 278 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:29,360 it kind of started as a joke. 279 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:33,840 And then Elon Musk, Mr. Tesla in SpaceX, he starts tweeting about it, hyping it up. 280 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,800 And boom, chaos in the markets. 281 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:38,840 Some people made a killing, of course. 282 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,560 But plenty of others, they lost big time. 283 00:11:41,560 --> 00:11:46,280 And it turns out that includes some government employees who, well, maybe they took Musk 284 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:49,680 a little too seriously and invested in Doge. 285 00:11:49,680 --> 00:11:51,560 And that's where these governors come in. 286 00:11:51,560 --> 00:11:54,480 Cathy Hutchul from New York, she's a Democrat. 287 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,560 And Glenn Yonkin from Virginia, a Republican. 288 00:11:57,560 --> 00:12:01,880 They're both doing things to help those who are dealing with all this uncertainty and, 289 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,160 you know, potential job losses, all thanks to Musk's tweets. 290 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:08,080 It's pretty interesting to see this bipartisan effort. 291 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:10,560 I mean, they both have their eyes on bigger things, right? 292 00:12:10,560 --> 00:12:14,160 But they both seem to realize that this is a real issue that needs to be addressed no 293 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,040 matter what part of you belong to. 294 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:17,040 For sure. 295 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:21,200 So Governor Hutchul, she's got this program called You're Hired, and it's aimed at getting 296 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:25,520 7,000 displaced workers into public sector jobs in New York. 297 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:30,560 They're even running these ads with the Statue of Liberty and the tagline, DOGE said you're 298 00:12:30,560 --> 00:12:31,560 fired. 299 00:12:31,560 --> 00:12:32,560 We say you're hired. 300 00:12:32,560 --> 00:12:33,560 New York wants you. 301 00:12:33,560 --> 00:12:34,560 catchy. 302 00:12:34,560 --> 00:12:35,560 Right. 303 00:12:35,560 --> 00:12:36,560 And then you've got Governor Yonkin. 304 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:40,320 He's coming at it from a more, I guess, Republican angle. 305 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,280 He's not pushing state government jobs as much. 306 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:48,040 He's more focused on connecting those former federal employees with private sector jobs 307 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:49,280 in Virginia. 308 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:53,960 Job fairs, skills training, a whole website that Virginia has jobs program. 309 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:55,880 Very on brand for each of them. 310 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,280 It is really good to see them both taking action and trying to help people get through 311 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:00,280 this whole mess. 312 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,360 A little bit of good news in the midst of all the craziness. 313 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaking of craziness, let's maybe zoom out a bit and look at the bigger picture here. 314 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:11,640 What are the Trump administration's big policy priorities and what kind of challenges are 315 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:12,960 they facing? 316 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:15,680 Because as you can probably guess, they've got a lot on their plate. 317 00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:17,400 Oh yeah, where do we even begin? 318 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,320 Well, immigration is a huge one. 319 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:23,800 They're using a mix of executive actions and legislation, but there's a really high risk 320 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:29,280 of legal challenges, especially when it comes to enforcement policies and birthright citizenship. 321 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,320 Yeah, that's not surprising. 322 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:33,560 Immigration has always been a hot button issue with Trump. 323 00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:35,360 What about the economic side of things? 324 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:36,360 Right. 325 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:41,240 If you think immigration harder, it can have unintended consequences for businesses, especially 326 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:45,520 those that rely on immigrant labor, and then there's the impact on the overall economy. 327 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:47,140 Okay, makes sense. 328 00:13:47,140 --> 00:13:48,320 Let's move on to trade then. 329 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:52,480 We already talked about those tariffs with Canada and Mexico, that whole roller coaster 330 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:55,640 ride, but what's the big picture approach here? 331 00:13:55,640 --> 00:14:01,160 It seems like they're relying a lot on executive actions, things like tariffs, renegotiating 332 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:02,840 trade deals. 333 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:07,760 But as we saw, that can easily backfire, you get retaliation from other countries, more 334 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:09,640 uncertainty in the markets. 335 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:13,800 And the sources we looked at, they suggest that this might just be the tip of the iceberg. 336 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:17,880 Like there might be more tariffs coming, maybe targeting the European Union by April 337 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:18,880 2025. 338 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:19,880 Oh, that'll be interesting. 339 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:21,640 Okay, let's switch to energy. 340 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:22,640 What's happening on that front? 341 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:27,240 Well, the focus seems to be on executive orders that promote things like pipelines and drilling, 342 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:31,560 which unsurprisingly is causing some pushback from environmental groups. 343 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:34,200 Yeah, that was bound to happen. 344 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:38,760 So far, they've avoided any major legal challenges, but that could change pretty quickly. 345 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:40,280 What about regulations? 346 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:41,280 What's the strategy there? 347 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:45,880 Basically, they're trying to streamline things, make the government run smoother, get rid 348 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:49,600 of regulations they don't like, mostly through executive action. 349 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:53,320 But as you might expect, they're running into legal challenges left and right. 350 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:58,000 There are over two dozen cases pending right now about these regulatory rollbacks, everything 351 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,720 from funding cuts to firing federal employees. 352 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,160 It's like every time they make a move, somebody's there to challenge it. 353 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:05,920 Okay, what about taxes and spending? 354 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:08,280 Now, that's where things get really interesting. 355 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:12,960 Because the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the big tax cut from 2017, part of it is set to expire 356 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:14,720 at the end of 2025. 357 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:15,720 So what happens then? 358 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:19,480 Well, if they extend it, individual tax rates stay lower. 359 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,800 But if it expires, rates go up. 360 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:26,720 And then there's the whole debate about the estate, tax and deductions for business income. 361 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:28,360 That's going to be a huge fight in Congress. 362 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:29,360 Oh yeah, definitely. 363 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,160 And with the Republicans only having a slim majority in the House, it's not going to 364 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,720 be easy to get anything passed without some serious wheeling and dealing. 365 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:37,720 Exactly. 366 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,120 You've got the budget hawks, they want to slash spending. 367 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,720 And then you've got the moderates, they're worried about what voters will think, especially 368 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,360 with the 2026 midterms coming up. 369 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:47,360 And what about the Democrats? 370 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:49,040 What are they doing in all of this? 371 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:53,000 Well, they're kind of stuck on the sidelines, legislatively speaking. 372 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:59,400 But they're definitely hoping to take advantage of any Republican missteps, use it against 373 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:01,240 them in the next election. 374 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,120 Especially if the Republicans try to cut social programs, right? 375 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:05,800 That never goes over well with voters. 376 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:07,600 You said it. 377 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:13,200 Okay, let's not forget about the big elephants in the room, Social Security and Medicare. 378 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,840 Social Security is supposed to run out of money within the next 10 years. 379 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:20,440 But it doesn't look like any big changes are coming anytime soon. 380 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:22,640 It's that classic political dilemma. 381 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:26,200 Everybody wants to be the bad guy, especially when you're messing with programs that so 382 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:27,720 many people depend on. 383 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:28,720 And then there's Medicaid. 384 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:32,840 They're talking about adding work requirements, but that's facing a lot of pushback too. 385 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:37,120 It sounds like every major policy area is a minefield. 386 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,480 So what else should we be keeping an eye on? 387 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,800 What are some of the other big issues that are bubbling up? 388 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:44,880 Well, cryptocurrency regulation is a big one. 389 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,000 We talked about that Bitcoin reserve. 390 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:51,320 But it looks like the administration wants to go beyond just enforcement and actually 391 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:53,920 create some real policies for the crypto market. 392 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:58,280 So maybe some more clarity, some stability in the long run. 393 00:16:58,280 --> 00:16:59,280 That's the hope. 394 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:00,600 And then there's industrial policy. 395 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:02,440 Oh yeah, what's going on with that? 396 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:06,800 The administration is really focused on boosting manufacturing here in the US. 397 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:11,720 But there are questions about whether some of their policies like the CAAPS Act, the 398 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:16,040 one that was supposed to bring semiconductor production back to the US, whether those are 399 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:17,760 actually going to work in the long run. 400 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,120 It's a complicated issue for sure. 401 00:17:20,120 --> 00:17:22,000 All implications and all that. 402 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:27,800 Okay, so stepping back, what does all this mean for everyday people who are just trying 403 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:30,200 to understand what's going on in the world? 404 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,360 Well, it's clear from all the research that we're in a really uncertain time. 405 00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:38,840 Trump is unpredictable and his actions have consequences that ripple out in all directions. 406 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:43,880 Republicans and Democrats, they're both facing huge challenges and the stakes are high for 407 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:45,320 everyone. 408 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:46,720 So many questions, right? 409 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:48,480 What's Trump going to do next with trade? 410 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:53,840 When the Democrats turn things around, what about these huge long-term problems like social 411 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,960 security running out of money and AI changing everything? 412 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:01,040 It's a lot to think about and these are questions we all need to be talking about figuring out 413 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:02,040 together. 414 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:05,320 This deep dive has been quite a ride, hasn't it? 415 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:09,480 We've covered a lot of ground, learned some fascinating things. 416 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:14,480 Hopefully our listeners are feeling more informed, more ready to navigate these crazy times. 417 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:15,480 I hope so. 418 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:19,960 It's so important to stay informed, be critical of the information you're getting and talk 419 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:20,960 about these things. 420 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,400 Have real conversations about the future we want. 421 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:24,400 Couldn't agree more. 422 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,600 Thanks for joining us for this deep dive. 423 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,600 Hope you found it useful, maybe even a little bit thought-provoking. 424 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:30,600 Absolutely. 425 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:32,600 Until next time, stay curious. 426 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:37,280 And we're back for the final part of our deep dive. 427 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:39,360 It's been a whirlwind, hasn't it? 428 00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:43,360 Trump, trade wars, the Democrats, so much going on. 429 00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:44,360 Yeah, absolutely. 430 00:18:44,360 --> 00:18:45,920 There's lots to think about. 431 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,320 So let's dig a little deeper into some of those consequences from all that trade volatility 432 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:50,960 we were talking about earlier. 433 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,120 Remember those tariffs on Canada and Mexico? 434 00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:56,880 Even though they didn't last long, they did trigger some retaliation from Canada. 435 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:57,880 Oh, right. 436 00:18:57,880 --> 00:18:58,880 Yeah. 437 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:00,960 Didn't some Canadians start boycotting US products? 438 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:01,960 Yeah. 439 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:07,160 And British Columbia might actually impose a permanent toll on tracks traveling to Alaska. 440 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:11,200 And there's even talk of Ontario keeping tariffs on electricity, the stuff they send 441 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:12,200 to the US. 442 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,080 And they might just do that regardless of what Trump does. 443 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:15,080 Wow. 444 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,680 So even though the tariffs are gone, the bad feelings linger. 445 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:18,680 Exactly. 446 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:23,480 And it really highlights how these trade disputes, they can escalate so quickly and have real 447 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:26,360 world consequences even if they're short-lived. 448 00:19:26,360 --> 00:19:27,840 And it's not just about the money, right? 449 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:28,840 Yeah. 450 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,600 It seems like there's this sense of, I don't know, hurt feelings, maybe even resentment, 451 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,560 especially from Canada, which has always been such a close ally. 452 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:36,560 You're right. 453 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:37,720 It's about relationships too. 454 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:42,960 These actions really show how much damage can be done to trust and diplomacy, even if 455 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,680 the actual policies don't last very long. 456 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:48,200 It's a reminder that those relationships, they're important. 457 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:49,920 They matter in the long run. 458 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:50,920 For sure. 459 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:51,920 Okay. 460 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,080 Let's switch gears now and talk about the Democrats. 461 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:57,760 What are their chances looking like for the 2026 elections? 462 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:01,320 Because let's face it, they're facing an uphill battle. 463 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:02,320 They are. 464 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,880 They lost their majority in both the House and the Senate in 2024. 465 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:06,800 So yeah, it's not going to be easy. 466 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:10,280 And the research we looked at, it points out that there just aren't that many competitive 467 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:14,080 House districts up for grabs anymore, so they're going to need a really solid strategy if they 468 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:15,480 want to win back control. 469 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:16,760 So what's the plan? 470 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:17,760 What are they thinking? 471 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:22,040 Well, one thing they could try is focusing on Republican vulnerabilities, hitting them 472 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:25,280 hard on issues like taxes and spending. 473 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:29,160 Especially if the Republicans decide to make big cuts to social programs. 474 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:33,400 That could really backfire with moderate voters and give the Democrats an opening. 475 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:36,800 It could, but even then, it's still a tough road ahead. 476 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:42,240 They need a message that's clear, compelling, and something that really resonates with voters. 477 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:43,240 And not just their base. 478 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:44,440 They've got to reach beyond that. 479 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:45,440 Right. 480 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:47,200 They need to win over some of those undecided voters. 481 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:48,200 Exactly. 482 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:52,600 And on top of that, they've got to deal with the divisions within their own party. 483 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:54,480 Remember what happened with Rep Green? 484 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:59,280 It's clear that there's no single unified approach to dealing with Trump and his tactics. 485 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:00,280 Yeah. 486 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:01,280 That was pretty messy. 487 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:02,520 So how do they find that balance? 488 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:04,000 That's the big question, isn't it? 489 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:10,240 How do you present a united front while still allowing for different viewpoints and approaches? 490 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:11,400 It's a tough one, for sure. 491 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:14,600 And then there's the whole social media factor. 492 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:18,720 Politics is just so polarized these days, and social media just amps it all up. 493 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:19,720 Oh, absolutely. 494 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:20,720 Yeah. 495 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:22,600 It's like trying to have a rational conversation and a hurricane. 496 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,760 It's so hard to break through all the noise and really connect with people on the issues 497 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:26,760 that matter. 498 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:31,320 So as we wrap up this deep dive, what are some of the big things our listeners should take 499 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:32,720 away from all of this? 500 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,960 Well, the sources we looked at, they paint a pretty clear picture. 501 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:39,600 We're living in a time of huge uncertainty and volatility. 502 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,720 Politically, economically, you name it. 503 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:48,520 Trump's actions are unpredictable, and the consequences, they reach far and wide. 504 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:52,160 And both Republicans and the Democrats are facing serious challenges. 505 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:54,040 The stakes are high for everyone. 506 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:55,040 Yeah. 507 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:56,920 And there are still so many unanswered questions. 508 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,120 Like what's Trump going to do next with trade? 509 00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:01,040 Will the Democrats be able to bounce back? 510 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:06,200 What about these huge long-term problems like social security and AI? 511 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:10,320 Those are the things we all need to be thinking about, talking about, trying to figure out 512 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:11,320 together. 513 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:13,280 Well, this deep dive has been quite a journey. 514 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:14,280 That's for sure. 515 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:17,760 We've explored a ton of issues, uncovered some really interesting insights. 516 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:21,960 Hopefully our listeners are walking away feeling more informed, more prepared to navigate 517 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:24,400 these, shall we say, interesting times. 518 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:26,240 I hope so too. 519 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:30,160 Now more than ever, it's so important to stay informed, to be critical of the information 520 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:33,680 you're getting, and to have those tough conversations about the future we want. 521 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:35,240 Couldn't agree more. 522 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:37,600 Thanks for joining us for this deep dive. 523 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,800 We hope you found it informative and maybe even a little inspiring. 524 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:41,800 Absolutely. 525 00:22:41,800 --> 00:23:02,440 And until next time, stay curious everyone!