Tariffs and Ukraine's different tune (03-04-2025--Hour2)

[00:00:04] What's going on? Thank you so much for listening to this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon to 3 on WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, my daily show prep with all the links, become a patron, go to thepeekkalendershow.com. Make sure you hit the subscribe button, get every episode for free, write to your smartphone or tablet. And again, thank you so much for your support.

[00:00:29] All righty, so who's ready for some tariff talk? Tariffs. Are you worried about the tariffs? Are you worried about this thing that's happening as of today and now the markets are not responding well? Is this a problem? Is this going to be a problem? Sounds it seems like it's going to be a problem. Okay.

[00:00:52] So you've got Donald Trump that he had, you know, threatened these tariffs against Mexico, Canada, and China. The tariff on China is an additional tariff that Trump had put on like four years ago, left on by Joe Biden after he ran a campaign savaging Trump for the tariff in the first place.

[00:01:19] But now that tariff has been increased. Okay, those tariffs have been increased. And so now you've got these three countries that are responding. And one of the data points I saw was that this is essentially going to mean roughly $1,000 per person.

[00:01:40] Well, everybody is basically almost $1,000 poorer because of it just overnight because of the increase in the prices of all of the things that now are going to have more tariffs on them. So higher taxes, basically, it's going to be higher taxes, basically, it's going to I mean, there's not going to be a line item like you're not going to be able to check out and see, oh, okay, here's the local tax and the state tax or whatever.

[00:02:06] It's just going to be basically built into the cost of the product that you are buying, because that's how tariffs basically work, right? They slap the tariff on it. And then that price increase just lives inside the price as it proceeds from, you know, from the container ship through to the retail establishment or the online establishment, if that's where you're getting it from.

[00:02:29] So China has now responded with its own tariffs against our products. This is what a trade war looks like, in case people aren't aware. This is what a trade war is how they start. Tariffs get slapped on each other. And people's wealth is is is reduced. People's purchasing power is reduced.

[00:02:54] I have said I am not a fan of tariffs. I think there should be, you know, an equalization. I feel like, you know, free trade is that free trade doesn't mean you slap tariffs on our stuff so we can't sell into your country. But then you get to buy all of our stuff, you know, at at cost like that's not free trade. All right. Fair trade is free trade. That's fair is fair.

[00:03:23] So if we're selling stuff into Canada and you want to tax, you know, certain things going into Canada, that's fine. Like I feel like there should just be a universal like a flat tax, if you will, a flat tariff. Now, there is an argument. The founding fathers talked about this. They called them infant industries.

[00:03:44] So if you are trying to get an industry up and running in your country and you want to protect it from outside competition, you know, let's say you want to, you know, have a you're making widgets. And it just so happens that the Canadians are are really, really good at making widgets and they dominate the market in Charlotte and in America for widgets. And you're trying to now compete with that.

[00:04:14] And the government believes that having a widget industry might be important. And so they would protect your infant industry with tariffs against the Canadian widgets. Right. So I understand that argument. I think you would have to take it on a case by case basis. But herein lies.

[00:04:32] The problem is that these case by case analyses for different products and services and sectors and industries has created all sorts of different numbers, depending on what it is that you're selling. And what Trump has argued is that this trade imbalance, that if we are, you know, we're running a trade deficit, that that's unfair. I don't think it is automatically unfair. It just means that we are buying more stuff than we are selling to another country.

[00:05:00] Now, maybe that's partly due to tariffs. That might be the case. I don't know if it's if that accounts for all of it, but I think Trump looks at a trade imbalance or a trade deficit as evidence of some unfair practice. And I don't know that to be true. I really don't. I don't. And honestly, like, I don't think that's true.

[00:05:25] Now, Trump has argued with like I saw he was at some was it like the Wall Street Journal editorial page editor or something like that. And he was at some conference that the Wall Street Journal did. I want to say it was before the election. And they were talking about tariffs. And, you know, Trump made the comment that, oh, you've been wrong about tariffs for 30 years or something. So this is obviously something that Trump, you know, has thought about for a long, long time.

[00:05:52] And this is his philosophy when it comes to these tariffs. Now, a lot of people, myself included, believe that Trump was using the tariffs in order to extract concessions, better deals or or, you know, help in, you know, combating illegal immigration, combating the the fentanyl coming across the border.

[00:06:17] And so in that regard, then tariffs or the threat of tariffs can be used effectively. The problem is that if they don't do what you want and you've threatened to do the tariffs and then you have to put them in place, lest you be seen as not following through on your threats. Now you've started the trade war and it's easier to start these things than it is to end them.

[00:06:44] Usually now, maybe, you know, maybe that that will be different this time. I don't know. I cannot tell the future. Nobody can. So right now you've got, you know, the market reacting because they're all trying to predict what's going to happen. You know, it's all speculative. And so these predictions are now driving the anti-Trump media and their narratives.

[00:07:11] And, you know, the Democrats are, you know, making these arguments that, you know, Trump is has started a trade war and now we're all going to be poor. And he's this is going to be the biggest tax increase because the number I saw was something like 300 to 350 billion dollars in essentially tax increases. For these imported products.

[00:07:38] Right. Stuff that that we are normally buying and will now be more expensive. And so it's essentially a 300 to 350 billion dollar additional tax. And when it comes, you know, and here's the problem. I think that that Trump and the people who support what he's doing. Here's the problem that I think they're going to have is their their defense of the tariffs seem to be.

[00:08:05] Well, just don't buy out of season fruit and vegetables. And I'm not sure that's a winning argument, you know, politically speaking, I don't think that's going to convince people who are like, you know, I'm used to buying, you know, seven different kinds of fruits and vegetables. And now I can only access to once a year or twice a year.

[00:08:30] Now, that's like that's what that's the argument that's getting made is, you know, this is a tax on everybody. Largest tax increase overnight in in I think history, maybe. But and then the the response is basically suck it up, buttercup. And I'm not sure that's a winning argument. Now, the other side of this. See, this is the problem with economics is that this is why Reagan said he wanted a one armed economist, because they always talk about on the one hand and then on the other hand.

[00:08:57] So the other part of this is that when the cost of the imports becomes too great, it will then inspire production and manufacturing domestically to serve that demand. In other words, supply will be created in order to fulfill the demands of the local population.

[00:09:22] And this is particularly, I think, important when it comes to things that are national security related. Right. Like me personally, I don't think it's a great idea to not be able to manufacture steel, because if we are reliant on countries, particularly those that don't like us very much to to send us all of those materials, if we ever need to ramp up for a war footing. Thank you, Zelensky. Oh, but we have a development on that front, too.

[00:09:52] Like if we need to ramp up production for certain mission critical materials, we are unable to do so domestically. And I feel like that's a problem. Right. Right. So this is like this is why this whole issue, it's not a simple issue. And anybody that's telling you, whether it's the president or his detractors, if they're telling you that like, oh, it's easy. We just do this. And then, you know, this easy thing happens. It's not that easy. It is not.

[00:10:20] There is a lot of nuance and gray area here that, well, for my entire adult life, I recall the left always telling me that that's how I should view things and that the right was being, you know, too black and white on this stuff. But now it seems like everybody is into the false choices of, you know, just black and white. He's either a Putin lover or he gives Ukraine, you know, troops like. No, there's there are way more, way more options available. OK, so talking tariffs.

[00:10:50] What do you think? Are you worried about this? Here's a great idea. How about making an escape to a really special and secluded getaway in Western North Carolina, just a quick drive up the mountain and cabins of Asheville is your connection. Whether you're celebrating an anniversary, a honeymoon, maybe you want to plan a memorable proposal or get family and friends together for a big old reunion. Cabins of Asheville has the ideal spot for you where you can reconnect with your loved ones and the things that truly matter.

[00:11:17] Nestled within the breathtaking 14,000 acres of the Pisgah National Forest, their cabins offer a serene escape in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Centrally located between Asheville and the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, it's the perfect balance of seclusion and proximity to all the local attractions. With hot tubs, fireplaces, air conditioning, smart TVs, Wi-Fi, grills, outdoor tables and your own private covered porch.

[00:11:43] Choose from 13 cabins, six cottages, two villas and a great lodge with 11 king sized bedrooms. Cabins of Asheville has the ideal spot for you for any occasion. And they have pet friendly accommodations. Call or text 828-367-7068. Or check out all there is to offer at cabinsofashville.com and make memories that'll last a lifetime. Let's go over and talk to Sean. Hello, Sean. Welcome to the show. Hey, how you doing, brother?

[00:12:13] I think I ain't talked to you since New Year, so I'm gonna wish you a happy New Year. I'm a good guy. All right, well, Happy New Year to you, too. Hope it's going well for you so far. If I get up every day, I'm breathing, everything is where I'm, brother. Don't let anything stress me out. But let's talk about dumb-dumb. So 2016, he got in office, said he had a bad deal. Bill Clinton did a bad deal. He gonna come in here and change it around. So he make a good deal. Now he said it's a bad deal. So I think that's on him.

[00:12:42] I mean, he's a great, as all his voters say, he's a great deal maker. I guess the deal that he did in 2020 wasn't great. So now he just started another deal. So, I mean... You're talking about the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement, the USMCA. That was like July of 2020. I don't think... So first off, he has never said that the deal... No, he has never said that that deal was a bad deal, because he did it. So he's not going to say that was a bad deal. Right. Right.

[00:13:12] So what they have talked about is the slapping of the tariffs on Canada and Mexico. He has tied to border enforcement and the fentanyl trade. Oh, the fentanyl trade. So we couldn't fit in on it. But the deal he did in 2020 was great. But now we're going to do another tariff tax on it because of the fentanyl trade. Is that... Well, look, you can believe this. You can believe what he's saying or not.

[00:13:41] I would guess that you don't believe it. But he has not... They haven't been connecting anything that was negotiated under the USMCA with this latest round of tariffs. Because they did... I mean, they did all sorts of stuff under the USMCA. They basically, you know, revised NAFTA. Which, look, for whatever you think about the USMCA, NAFTA was done, like you said, under Bill Clinton. That was, you know, 30 years ago.

[00:14:10] And so, like, all of those deals should be reexamined, I feel like. Right? I mean, that just makes sense because industries get stronger and all that. So I have no problem with going back and reviewing a foreign trade deal to see if it still makes sense and maybe it needs to be adjusted. And when they were done with the USMCA, most... All of the sides were happy with it. It seemed like everybody was on board. And that was fine. But now this has been...

[00:14:37] He has made the argument that our borders are not secure. And therefore, they need to be helping us better than they are. And so he's using the tariffs in order to try to get them to do more. Now, whether that's the truth or not, I don't know. But that's what they've been saying. Well, this is my point. This guy is small.

[00:15:05] If he doesn't get his way, like it happened Friday, he didn't get his way. So he throws that off. Then he throws something else at American people. He's throwing so much at American people. And the thing is, people don't realize it. And, you know, I feel for both sides, for everybody. What he's doing with the government, killing all the jobs for the government, is if you listen to some of them people, they help veterans. They help when veterans call in, they listen to them veterans call in to help them out

[00:15:33] so they won't commit suicide or anything. He's cutting a lot of stuff that really helps people who really need the help. So all these voters like, yeah, cut the government, cut the government. When people start committing serious issues about why they didn't have any kind of help, then you blame them. So, Sean, let me ask you. Do you think that any of the government should be cut based on what these doge guys are finding?

[00:16:01] Well, what I've seen, I mean, everybody has their point of view. But what I've seen is people who come to work every day, they get evaluated. Some of them just got on and got evaluated. All of them have been good. Of course, at any job there's going to be bad. There's going to be some bad people there. So you, of course. Okay, so that's what I was asking. So, like, you understand, like, that there is a benefit to going into the federal government and seeing, just like we talked about with the trade deal, right,

[00:16:27] making revisions because maybe somebody doesn't need to be in this position any longer. Maybe some of this money was being sent overseas to scam artists, and that should be something we identify, right? So we're okay with the concept. So your beef is with the way it's being carried out in a way that is, like, firing some people that are doing work that you think is valuable. Is that it?

[00:16:55] But they're valuable, and their job is great. I mean, you know, why you find a guy up in, and I'll give you a promise, I mean, he's fine with anybody who does not agree with him. Anybody who does not agree with your king, and with your king, if you do not agree with him, he's going to fire you. That's not how to run the country. Okay, so you're going to have to give me some specific example of that. I mean, okay, specific example of the guy in New York,

[00:17:25] the head guy in the federal government, the FBI up in New York. Hey, we want you to resign. I mean, you know, what you want a guy to resign for if he had no, if there's no issue. Oh, no, no, no. Okay, so hang on right there. There were issues. There were issues. Okay, the issues that didn't agree with the king. No, no, no. No, no. Like, the thing that got him in the most trouble that forced them to, you know,

[00:17:52] ask for his resignation was when they said turn over all of the Epstein information, and he apparently did not. And the guy has made all sorts of... I'll have to read up some more on that. Yeah, well, now they've got it. So now they say, now they have gotten all of the thousands of pages that were withheld from the Attorney General Pam Bondi when she initially asked for it. So, like, that's the...

[00:18:22] And he had made all sorts of political statements and stuff. But here's the other thing, and Sean, I've got to let you go because I'm way late for the news. But the other thing is that that post is you work at the pleasure of the president. And so he can do that. He's the chief administrator in the executive branch for which you work. So he can do that if he doesn't like the job you're doing. All right, if you're listening to this show, you know I try to keep up with all sorts of current events. And I know you do too. And you've probably heard me say, get your news from multiple sources. Why?

[00:18:51] Well, because it's how you detect media bias, which is why I've been so impressed with Ground News. It's an app, and it's a website, and it combines news from around the world in one place, so you can compare coverage and verify information. You can check it out at check.ground.news.peat. I put the link in the podcast description, too. I started using Ground News a few months ago and more recently chose to work with them as an affiliate

[00:19:18] because it lets me see clearly how stories get covered and by whom. The Blind Spot feature shows you which stories get ignored by the left and the right. See for yourself. Check.ground.news.peat. Subscribe through that link, and you'll get 15% off any subscription. I use the Vantage plan to get unlimited access to every feature. Your subscription then not only helps my podcast, but it also supports Ground News as they make the media landscape more transparent.

[00:19:47] Back to the phone lines I will go, and here is Mike. Welcome to the show. Hello, Mike. Hello again and again. I am sorry I was not able to hold on yesterday when we talked. You were saying I'm a whole through the news, and as soon as you said that, then one of the appointments came through the door. I heard them coming through the door, so I wasn't able to do that. I tried to call back and say, I'm sorry. No, that's all right. No, I understand.

[00:20:13] From what I understand, people have lives outside of listening to this show. I have made my peace with that, so it's totally fine. They're not nearly as worthy, though. We struggle as best we can when we're away from the radio. We do our best. And there's always a podcast. There's always a podcast. That's true. Thepeapod.com. I listened to the podcast last night to see what I missed, and you came back on. We somehow got on. We were talking about the Walensky meeting and the meeting prior to the meeting,

[00:20:42] but somehow we got on to the Russian hoax, and my saying that it's anything but a hoax, you were saying, oh, no, it is a hoax. And we kind of got sidetracked from that, and we can talk some more about that. But you also wanted to talk about tariffs. And there's also a new statement from Zelensky today, which is also timely. And I will let you choose, sir. Oh, I get to pick what the caller wants to talk about. Oh, this is interesting. Or hang up with me. Either one.

[00:21:08] Yeah, well, so you mentioned Zelensky's, and I mentioned also that there was an update on that story as well. I have the statement. I do, too. Yeah. Yeah, it's pretty lengthy. Let me just, I'll go to the last two paragraphs. He says, Our meeting in Washington at the White House on Friday did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.

[00:21:38] Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time and in any convenient format. We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively. So, and just as a side note, I will say, I started, there was a program last week where I started off by saying,

[00:22:02] in Trump, in the Trump era, I have found it best to give it a minute. Like, because the immediate reaction from people who hate Donald Trump and from people who love Donald Trump is to immediately rush to their corners and start making the arguments that one would expect.

[00:22:23] And if you just wait a minute or two, now obviously not like 60 seconds, but if we just give it a minute, we will see what the truth actually is and whether the play works. And it's, so what is, do you think that this play worked with Zelensky?

[00:22:43] Well, I mean, he, he's, he's wanting to keep the volley, you can make a sports analogy, I guess, the tennis volley going, he's going to hit it back over the net and see what happens. And to further that analogy, the old phrase is, the ball is now in the president's court, President Trump, and we'll see how the response comes back.

[00:23:05] I think that will say a lot about which side he is on, or I should say now which side we are on, because I, you know, it certainly seems that American foreign policy and America standing in the world has been turned on its head in the last six weeks, and especially the last, you know, several days. And we're now on the side of Russia.

[00:23:33] No, that's, no, it's not by all accounts. No, see, this is what I, but this is what I mean. You are viewing this through a particular lens, right? And so to you, it looks like Trump is Putin, Trump's in the pocket of Putin or whatever. And I'm looking at this from a negotiation standpoint, that whatever my feelings about Donald Trump are set aside,

[00:23:57] is this going to get the two parties to the table to negotiate some sort of a peace deal to stop the war? And in yesterday or Friday, when the meeting happened, it wasn't clear to me whether that would occur for a variety of reasons, right? Because I don't know, like, like I would advise Trump should take this win. He should say, yes, we are willing to do it and we'll sign it. Just go. And by the way, Zelensky doesn't need to. He can just sign the thing.

[00:24:26] He doesn't have to come here again. He doesn't have to do anything. Just sign the deal. And then Trump needs to be magnanimous and he needs to just accept it that he won it. And he has done that, by the way, right? He welcomes people back in after they've crossed him. Look at Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, right? So he heard somebody say he has the thinnest skin in politics and the thickest skin in politics at the same time. So he'll welcome people back in.

[00:24:54] So if Zelensky signs the deal, then I think that's a good thing. I think that would be progress. Right. And so the question that I have for you then would be, are you willing to entertain the notion that maybe your read on this was incorrect? And maybe your read that his behavior is proof that he's in Putin's pocket or whatever, that that was incorrect.

[00:25:22] I am willing to say I'm incorrect any old time and look at new information. But on this. Right. But on this. I'm not making it out there now. My question, though, my question. No, no, no, no, no. Hang on, hang on. Are you are you willing to even entertain the idea that your your analysis that that Trump is in with Putin, that that was incorrect? Correct. And that the deal that was on the table was specifically for the minerals and Zelensky could have signed it. And this never should have happened.

[00:25:51] But now it's like, OK, well, then when then there's no deal. Right. So it that the blow up of at the meeting was not proof of what you thought it was proof of. That's a great question. And the way I have to answer that question is to make my ask myself a question, which is what pressure. I'm not sure. The president putting on Vladimir Putin, because I've seen zero. That's not responsive. What else do you want, Vladimir? I'm happy. That's not responsive.

[00:26:20] You're just you're just making up stuff, Mike. You're just making up stuff. Can you tell me any pressure that he put on? But, Mike, you are filling in gaps with some sort of preconceived idea of a conversation that you that happens to just line up with what you already prior believe. So that's that it's not responsive. Are you willing to entertain the idea that that you're incorrect about this association?

[00:26:46] It doesn't seem like you are because you're willing to fill the gaps in of your knowledge. I'm certainly willing to entertain that notion. Yes. More discussion. Right. But then you said. But now you're wondering if he's having these conversations that you have no proof of with Vladimir Putin asking him, what should I do? And licking his boots like that. But there's no evidence of that. Just discussion. Just action. You got to go to a break. I don't want to hold us over. I'll stay over if you want. Or not. I mean, all right. I'll put you on hold, Mike. All right.

[00:27:16] I will put you on hold. I just asked the question. Are you are you open to the idea that you're incorrect, that your analysis was based on a prior bias? That's all. You know, stories are powerful. They help us make sense of things to understand experiences. Stories connect us to the people of our past while transcending generations. They help us process the meaning of life. And our stories are told through images and videos. Preserve your stories with creative video.

[00:27:44] Started in 1997 in Mint Hill, North Carolina.

[00:28:15] It was the first company to provide this valuable service. Told through images. That's what your photos and videos are. They are your life. Told through the eyes of everyone around you and all who came before you. And they will tell others to come who you are. Visit creativevideo.com. All right. So before the break, we were talking with Mike. And I'll give you another. I'll give you another shot at the question that I asked, Mike. And maybe after you had, you know, four minutes, five minutes to think about it.

[00:28:43] Is it possible that you were wrong about whether or not Donald Trump is taking orders from Putin on this whole Ukraine deal, considering what the president of Ukraine just came out and said? I will answer it like I did the first time, which is absolutely I could be wrong. And I'm willing to entertain that based on the evidence that I'm seeing.

[00:29:07] Part of the evidence I'm seeing, and this is what I was trying to explain, is, okay, yes, he has gotten Zelensky to come and, you know, hit the ball back, stay in the game, hit the ball across the net, put it now in President Trump's court. So we got that accomplished.

[00:29:36] But my question in terms of, so whether I'm wrong in terms of what Donald Trump's endgame is, you look at other evidence, too. And I asked myself the question, and this is what I said before the break, which is, what evidence is there that he's putting on Putin?

[00:29:55] I can't see any, but what I can see is a lot of things that Putin loves in terms of trying to weaken the support for Ukraine. He's now announcing stopping any additional funding for any defense of Ukraine, at least for right now. He's already turned. He's already, he's doing exactly what Putin wants in terms of splitting up NATO and putting what used to be our allies.

[00:30:25] We're now on the other side. We're now... We're not on the other side. No, that's not true. But the... Well, tell that to the Europeans. They sure think that... No, we're not on the other side. The Europeans say they're going to, quote, step up now and lead, which is what Donald Trump has been telling them for eight years. Right? He has been saying that you guys need to spend more for defense of Europe. Right? And we're not going to keep putting in more money and more troops than you guys are. And we're trying to end the war.

[00:30:53] And the Europeans, they're actually funding both sides through their purchase of all of the oil from Russia. So, like, it seems like their incentives are aligned to keeping the war going. And so what Trump's moves have done is to force Ukraine's hand. Now, you said you're willing to entertain a different opinion based on the evidence you are seeing.

[00:31:20] But you haven't seen any evidence of Trump saying, I'm going to do what Putin wants. You're inferring that because the Kremlin is saying, oh, well, yeah, good on Trump for, you know, sticking it to the Ukrainians. But is there... Keep this... Think this through. Is it possible?

[00:31:43] Is it possible that it might yield better results for a negotiation to get the stronger power, which is the Russians, to get them to come to the table if you are not seen as an adversarial biased mediator? Right? Wouldn't it be a better... Isn't that a better tactic to try to get two people that hate each other to sit down and mediate?

[00:32:09] If one of the parties thinks that you're on the other guy's team, they're not going to be interested in having you be the guy that mediates the disagreement, right? Correct, yeah. Right. So is it possible that the reason he is refraining from saying all of the bad things about Russia is because he needs Russia to engage as well? We know the Ukrainians will engage. They want the war to end, theoretically. I will take them at their word for that.

[00:32:38] So he knows that we can do a deal with them on the minerals. That keeps American economic interests in Ukraine, and it doesn't give them NATO membership. So if that's what has been the holdup, and Russia thinks now that Trump is a more even-handed, impartial mediator, then they come to the table. Doesn't that make sense from a strategy standpoint? I actually see what you're saying. That could be a possibility.

[00:33:07] I think it's a better possibility, Pete, based on what I'm seeing and what has happened in the history here, that what Russia is aiming for is peace on their terms. All right? Yeah, well, that—yeah, Mike, and I got to go. I agree. They want peace on their terms. There's no doubt about that. That's why you have to have a negotiation, and maybe it doesn't work. Like, that's the thing. Maybe it doesn't work at all.

[00:33:35] I am way late for news, though. I appreciate the call. Thanks for making it. All right, that'll do it for this episode. Thank you so much for listening. I could not do the show without your support and the support of the businesses that advertise on the podcast. So if you'd like, please support them, too, and tell them you heard it here. You can also become a patron at my Patreon page or go to thepcalendershow.com. Again, thank you so much for listening, and don't break anything while I'm gone.