Megan McArdle, Ben Dreyfuss and I discuss the president's address, his apparently-now-actually-for-real North American tariffs, and why the Commerce Secretary wants the Premier of Ontario to shut it.
1. Megan McArdle gets at something very solid here. There is the potential for endless rounds of this. If the first non-concession concession had been enough to end this, fine, but we can't have this nonsense every month, especially if starts requiring costly concessions. If we have to reorient our economy to trade with Asia and Europe, we just have to take the hit and do it.
2. Negotiations would be much easier if we knew what he wanted other than "submit to annexation".
3. Trump is presently pursuing a conciliatory policy towards Iran, a country that literally tried to murder him, and a harsh policy toward us. I am less convinced than Lutnick that Ford's threats are upsetting odds of a negotiated outcome. Maybe this is how you have to deal with him. This is especially true if Trump really thinks annexation is a possibility. Maybe if he understands that there's no large population of trucker dissidents who want to be liberated by America, that even the likes of Ford, Poilievre and Bernier are spewing anger at him, he'll give up on trying to make us crack.
Also he's right about our Communist liquor distribution. Here in Montreal there's orthodox Jewish wine smuggling rings because the kosher selection in the government stores is too limited.
One of the things I like most about Ben is that he just tells us how he sees it! He’s a straight shooter. Love him or hate him (in this house—the house Abraham Lincoln once famously used as a metaphor for the United States—Ben Dreyfuss is only loved)
I worry about this parallel. I think before the invasion, Russians felt that Ukraine was barely even a real country, so why would they bother fighting to retain independence? A lot of Americans have basically the same attitude toward Canada, so it makes sense that he might think we'd prefer annexation to an economic crisis.
Only through the first part. I’d be interested in you guys discussing 1) how the lack of seriousness in DOGE will have an impact long term in reducing waste. A friend who is right of me says I should just be happy as if DOGE craps the bed democrats will rule in 2 years. But DOGE will most likely fail as they are not cutting with any principles. So it will be easy in the future to point to these failures as to why we can’t cut costs. 2) Trump, musk, Vance, Johnson giggling at Transgender mice. Do they not know what Transgenic mice are, in which case they probably shouldn’t be cutting or they do but thought it was worth cut research into genetic diseases to punch down and make a joke?
Megan, protesting is definitely effective. Civil disobedience generates attention. Does it bother people at times, absolutely, yes.
And I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s enjoyable to do these things, “I got a couple hours, let’s go protest!” It’s done for a purpose. And there are groups out there doing it right. It’s an important part to helping with change.
Another good conversation--thank you Josh, Megan, and Ben!
I have to disagree with Josh about the Democratic protesters at Republican representatives town halls: I think this is generally a bad thing, not a good one. I'm not saying that a Dem shouldn't show up to be heard at a GOP event (or vice-versa). But the effect of swamping these events like this makes it much, much easier to dismiss the feedback, and now, by deciding not to do events, it makes it harder for these people to hear from their "own" voters who might disagree, too.
Professionally, I work in crisis management and communications. Campaign-style protests can be a godsend if you are facing a crisis because it can (often, though not always) make it easy to dismiss large groups of antagonists. So it seems like bad strategy to me, and another place where the progressive activist groups keep making strategic mistakes.
Oh, and from the last episode ... yes, Cuomo gets my vote. I'm with Megan and Mike, at least the swamp creature knows how to navigate the swamp!
Thoughts from Canada:
1. Megan McArdle gets at something very solid here. There is the potential for endless rounds of this. If the first non-concession concession had been enough to end this, fine, but we can't have this nonsense every month, especially if starts requiring costly concessions. If we have to reorient our economy to trade with Asia and Europe, we just have to take the hit and do it.
2. Negotiations would be much easier if we knew what he wanted other than "submit to annexation".
3. Trump is presently pursuing a conciliatory policy towards Iran, a country that literally tried to murder him, and a harsh policy toward us. I am less convinced than Lutnick that Ford's threats are upsetting odds of a negotiated outcome. Maybe this is how you have to deal with him. This is especially true if Trump really thinks annexation is a possibility. Maybe if he understands that there's no large population of trucker dissidents who want to be liberated by America, that even the likes of Ford, Poilievre and Bernier are spewing anger at him, he'll give up on trying to make us crack.
I think that this Ben fellow also made some good points about Canada
Well, the way he pronounced "province" was funny.
Also he's right about our Communist liquor distribution. Here in Montreal there's orthodox Jewish wine smuggling rings because the kosher selection in the government stores is too limited.
Reminds me how Putin deluded himself into thinking Ukrainians would welcome him with open arms
As a sane American, I am so embarrassed for our country and sorry for the abuse he is inflicting on Canada.
One of the things I like most about Ben is that he just tells us how he sees it! He’s a straight shooter. Love him or hate him (in this house—the house Abraham Lincoln once famously used as a metaphor for the United States—Ben Dreyfuss is only loved)
I worry about this parallel. I think before the invasion, Russians felt that Ukraine was barely even a real country, so why would they bother fighting to retain independence? A lot of Americans have basically the same attitude toward Canada, so it makes sense that he might think we'd prefer annexation to an economic crisis.
Only through the first part. I’d be interested in you guys discussing 1) how the lack of seriousness in DOGE will have an impact long term in reducing waste. A friend who is right of me says I should just be happy as if DOGE craps the bed democrats will rule in 2 years. But DOGE will most likely fail as they are not cutting with any principles. So it will be easy in the future to point to these failures as to why we can’t cut costs. 2) Trump, musk, Vance, Johnson giggling at Transgender mice. Do they not know what Transgenic mice are, in which case they probably shouldn’t be cutting or they do but thought it was worth cut research into genetic diseases to punch down and make a joke?
Megan, protesting is definitely effective. Civil disobedience generates attention. Does it bother people at times, absolutely, yes.
And I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s enjoyable to do these things, “I got a couple hours, let’s go protest!” It’s done for a purpose. And there are groups out there doing it right. It’s an important part to helping with change.
Another good conversation--thank you Josh, Megan, and Ben!
I have to disagree with Josh about the Democratic protesters at Republican representatives town halls: I think this is generally a bad thing, not a good one. I'm not saying that a Dem shouldn't show up to be heard at a GOP event (or vice-versa). But the effect of swamping these events like this makes it much, much easier to dismiss the feedback, and now, by deciding not to do events, it makes it harder for these people to hear from their "own" voters who might disagree, too.
Professionally, I work in crisis management and communications. Campaign-style protests can be a godsend if you are facing a crisis because it can (often, though not always) make it easy to dismiss large groups of antagonists. So it seems like bad strategy to me, and another place where the progressive activist groups keep making strategic mistakes.
Oh, and from the last episode ... yes, Cuomo gets my vote. I'm with Megan and Mike, at least the swamp creature knows how to navigate the swamp!