Politics & Policy

Trump Tariffs: The Madman Theory Applied to Economics (and what we should do about it)

Trump Tariffs: The Madman Theory Applied to Economics (and what we should do about it)

ByPaul Jay

Trump’s coalition is unraveling. What was once sold as a unified right-wing project is now fracturing into open conflict between legacy arms manufacturers, Silicon Valley militarists, Wall Street financiers, and ideological operatives like Bannon and Leonard Leo. As Trump’s chaotic tariffs wreck global supply chains, even key backers like Charles Koch and Peter Thiel are hedging their bets. Meanwhile, Corporate Democrats offer no real alternative—caught between donor loyalty and popular discontent. But beneath the elite infighting, there is a growing hunger for a real alternative—one rooted in democracy, solidarity, and working-class power. This episode exposes the fault lines of U.S. power—and why their shared refusal to confront climate catastrophe or nuclear danger puts us all at risk.

Trump Tariffs: The Madman Theory Applied to Economics (and what we should do about it)
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Trump Tariffs: The Madman Theory Applied to Economics (and what we should do about it)

ByPaul Jay

In part one, Paul Jay exposes how Trump’s tariff policy, far from protecting American workers, is a calculated strategy to fund militarization, crush labor, and entrench corporate-nationalist rule. Behind the chaos lies a coherent project—driven by Trump’s allies—to weaponize climate denial, exploit regressive taxes, and funnel billions into AI-driven warfare and fossil fuel expansion. The so-called “Golden Dome” is revealed as a trillion-dollar boondoggle enriching tech oligarchs under the guise of missile defense. This is not economic protectionism—it’s the financial architecture of authoritarianism.

Part Four – Cracks in the Trump Coalition: Civil War Among the Elites
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Part Four – Cracks in the Trump Coalition: Civil War Among the Elites

ByPaul Jay

Trump’s coalition is unraveling. What was once sold as a unified right-wing project is now fracturing into open conflict between legacy arms manufacturers, Silicon Valley militarists, Wall Street financiers, and ideological operatives like Bannon and Leonard Leo. As Trump’s chaotic tariffs wreck global supply chains, even key backers like Charles Koch and Peter Thiel are hedging their bets. Meanwhile, Corporate Democrats offer no real alternative—caught between donor loyalty and popular discontent. But beneath the elite infighting, there is a growing hunger for a real alternative—one rooted in democracy, solidarity, and working-class power. This episode exposes the fault lines of U.S. power—and why their shared refusal to confront climate catastrophe or nuclear danger puts us all at risk.

Part Three – The Global Axis of the Far Right
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Part Three – The Global Axis of the Far Right

ByPaul Jay

Trump’s tariff war isn’t about protecting jobs — it’s part of a global strategy to empower a far-right alliance with Putin, Orbán, and nationalist movements across Europe. This episode exposes how economic sabotage and weaponized antisemitism fuel authoritarianism — and how workers and students are fighting back.

Part Two – Boast About Jobs, Suppress Worker Power
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Part Two – Boast About Jobs, Suppress Worker Power

ByPaul Jay

Trump sells his tariff agenda as a jobs boom for American workers — but it’s a smokescreen for a global attack on labor. At home, new factories are routed to anti-union states, while Trump’s appointees quietly dismantle the NLRB to block worker organizing. Abroad, tariffs target export economies like China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, fueling layoffs and driving down wages to benefit U.S. corporate margins. It’s a calculated campaign to suppress labor power worldwide. But the chaos it’s unleashed — from domestic legal battles to global economic disruption — suggests the plan may be backfiring. Even some of Trump’s allies are starting to question whether the madness is strategic… or just madness.

Trump Tariffs: The Madman Theory Applied to Economics (and what we should do about it)
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Trump Tariffs: The Madman Theory Applied to Economics (and what we should do about it)

ByPaul Jay

In part one, Paul Jay exposes how Trump’s tariff policy, far from protecting American workers, is a calculated strategy to fund militarization, crush labor, and entrench corporate-nationalist rule. Behind the chaos lies a coherent project—driven by Trump’s allies—to weaponize climate denial, exploit regressive taxes, and funnel billions into AI-driven warfare and fossil fuel expansion. The so-called “Golden Dome” is revealed as a trillion-dollar boondoggle enriching tech oligarchs under the guise of missile defense. This is not economic protectionism—it’s the financial architecture of authoritarianism.

How to Stop a Nuclear War — with film director Paul Jay

How to Stop a Nuclear War — with film director Paul Jay

ByPaul Jay

On April 12, Paul Jay attended the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, where he discussed his upcoming documentary How to Stop a Nuclear War, based on the book The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner by Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. The film, narrated by Emma Thompson, reveals how U.S. nuclear policy was built on secrecy, deception, and the willingness to risk global annihilation—and explores what can be done today to reduce the danger. Jay examines the fabricated threats and Cold War lies that justified the arms race and how these narratives continue to shape policy and public perception today. Jay will also discuss NATO and U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome.”

The Decline of American Journalism – Robert McChesney
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The Decline of American Journalism – Robert McChesney

ByPaul Jay

In remembrance of Robert W. McChesney, the esteemed media scholar and activist who passed away on March 25, 2025, we are republishing an interview that delves into his profound insights on media, democracy, and society. McChesney, co-founder of the media reform organization Free Press and author of influential works such as “Rich Media, Poor Democracy,” dedicated his life to challenging corporate control of the media and advocating for a more democratic communication system. Through this conversation, readers can revisit McChesney’s enduring contributions and the critical perspectives he shared throughout his career.

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