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• Selling America

  Amid this week’s tariff turmoil, U.S. stocks tumbled, U.S. Treasurys sold off, and the U.S. dollar weakened. Kai explains what this triple sell-off could mean for the future of the American economy. And, is the era of cheap stuff in America over? Donald Trump administration officials are arguing it’s a good thing. We’ll get into it. Plus, we’ll weigh in on penguin memes and using public phones during a round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about today:"Treasury Secretary Bessent says the American dream is not about 'access to cheap goods'" from CNBC"Cheap Consumer Goods Are the American Dream, Actually" from Bloomberg"The Trump administration says cheap goods aren’t part of the American dream. They’re wrong." from Vox"The bond market is acting weird. It spooked Trump" from CNN Business"After Trump’s Tariffs, Stocks Plunged but Penguin Memes Ticked Up" from The New York Times"More students opt for certificates as undergraduate degree earners decline" from Marketplace"A Frenzy at Trader Joe’s: ‘Everyone’s Here for the Tote Bags’" from The New York Times"The Masters offers public phones as alternatives to cellphones. Here's what attendees think" from Fast CompanyGot a question for our hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

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• Your hot takes on this week's tariff insanity

  Today, it’s all YOU! We’re diving into the mailbag to play your voicemails, read your comments, and answer your questions after a wild week of tariff insanity. We’ll hear from YOU on how you’ve been riding the economic uncertainty. Plus, is Trump’s tariff pause, really a pause? And a listener shares what it’s been like teaching elementary students about tariffs. Here’s everything we talked about today:“US-China Trade War Tariffs: An Up-to-Date Chart” from the Peterson Institute for International Economics“The Fiscal and Economic Effects of the Revised April 9 Tariffs” from The Budget Lab at YaleMillion Bazillion by MarketplaceJoin us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

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• Another day, another tariff switch-up

  The world woke up to a very different economy today. Then, President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on some of his tariffs. The news was announced as the official in charge of U.S. trade policy was testifying on Capitol Hill. We’ll break down the trade official’s tense exchange with lawmakers and the real consequences of this week’s market madness. Plus, we’ll laugh so we don’t cry about the economy.Here’s everything we talked about today:"U.S. Trade Rep. Testifies on Pres. Trump's Trade & Tariff Agenda" from CSPAN"Live updates: Trump orders 90-day pause on new tariffs except for China" from CNN Bluesky post from Jeva Lange How are you coping with the tariff whiplash? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

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• Move over taco Tuesday! Tariff Tuesday is here

  You may be wondering whether the prices of your go-to products, from avocados to smartphones, will be raised by tariffs in the coming weeks. We hear you! On the show today, Martha Gimbel, executive director of the Budget Lab at Yale, gives us a broad view of the tariff landscape, how the prices of certain consumer goods could change, and how Trump’s trade agenda could impact the American economy in the long run. Plus, why a trade deficit isn’t necessarily a bad thing.Then, we’ll smile about the joy of listening to kids learn to talk. And, Carrie Lane, author of “More Than Pretty Boxes: How the Rise of Professional Organizing Shows Us the Way We Work Isn’t Working,” answers the Make Me Smart question.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Tariffs on China set to rise to at least 104% on Wednesday, White House says" from CNN Business"Stock Market Today: Dow, S&P 500 Swing Wildly; Trump Threatens More China Tariffs" from The Wall Street Journal"What is the status of the Trump administration's tariffs?" from Marketplace"Where We Stand: The Fiscal, Economic, and Distributional Effects of All U.S. Tariffs Enacted in 2025 Through April 2" from The Budget Lab at Yale"Trump Tariff Tracker" from the Atlantic CouncilGot a question or comment for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

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• Is the tide turning against Trump’s tariffs?

  Global markets are reeling after President Trump’s latest tariff announcement last week, prompting business executives like JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon to speak out against Trump’s trade agenda. This comes just a few months after Dimon previously said to “get over” Trump’s tariff threats. Kai has thoughts. Plus, we’ll get into how long it could take for global trade to rebalance and what some conservative think tanks are saying about all the tariff upheaval.Here’s everything we talked about today:“JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Warns Tariffs Will Raise Prices, Slow Growth” from The Wall Street Journal “Jamie Dimon says Trump's tariff policy is positive for national security so people should 'get over it'“ from CNBC“New tariffs could spell major trouble for global economy” from the Competitive Enterprise Institute “Trump’s Tariffs Are an Economic Emergency for Americans” from the American Enterprise Institute “Brace for Impact, America. Trump’s Tariffs Will Soon Hit Your Bank Accounts” from the Cato Institute Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

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