Show Notes
Catherine and JVL take on Canada’s accelerating break with the United States, Trump’s self-inflicted inflation problem, and the dangerous game unfolding between the White House and the Federal Reserve. Plus, DOGE somehow managed to spend $9.5 billion paying federal workers not to work, while government data that could expose tax cheating is quietly disappearing.
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Why is Elon Musk pouring hundreds of millions into Republican campaigns, and what is he afraid will happen if Democrats regain power? Kara Swisher joins Catherine Rampell to explain Musk’s increasingly desperate alliance with Trump, how Silicon Valley billionaires are buying political influence, and why Big Tech’s loyalty to MAGA may have an expiration date. Plus, Swisher dishes on JD Vance, her surprising new partnership with Hillary Clinton, and why she’s walking away from CNN. Read Catherine Rampell's "Receipts" Newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/receipts
Even Republicans are starting to notice Trump’s staggering corruption. Catherine Rampell and JVL take on the latest scandals engulfing Trump’s inner circle, new polling showing his own voters recognize the grift, and the economic damage being inflicted on ordinary Americans while Trump’s friends cash in.
Catherine Rampell is joined by Andrew Egger to discuss Elon Musk’s $276 million effort to rescue Republicans in the midterms, Trump’s DOJ targeting news organizations, and his latest deal with Vladimir Putin. Then, former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland shares what she learned negotiating with Trump, why appeasing him doesn’t work, and what America’s billionaires should learn from the rise of Russia’s oligarchs. Read Catherine Rampell's "Receipts" newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/receipts Buy "Unreliable Boyfriend": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4HKTLQB
Catherine Rampell and JVL break down Trump’s escalating war on the Federal Reserve, including his latest attempt to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook and the growing threat to the central bank’s independence. They discuss how Trump’s tariffs and war with Iran are fueling inflation, driving up prices for everything from tomatoes to Texas brisket, and potentially hurting Republicans in key Senate races. Plus, JD Vance struggles to define socialism, the administration’s crackdown on H-1B workers raises questions about anti-immigrant politics, and why both parties may be moving toward a more government-controlled economy. Read and watch more from Catherine: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/receipts
Catherine Rampell and Sam Stein discuss Scott Bessent’s strange interview, from his “I am the house” bravado and boasts about Melania’s friends to his temper and possible political ambitions. They also react to Trump’s latest pitch for $5,000 checks and his remarkable claim that he knows more about basically everything than anyone. Then Jasper Hill Farm’s Mateo Kehler joins to explains how Trump’s trade war with Canada wiped out his cheese company’s fastest-growing export market and why policies sold as a lifeline for American dairy farmers are instead driving up costs and squeezing businesses.