9: Appeasing Trump Will NEVER Work! (w/ Chrystia Freeland & Andrew Egger)

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 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.

Catherine Rampell and JVL break down the weak jobs report, the impact of immigration and tariffs on the labor market, and the economic challenges facing Trump’s manufacturing agenda. They also discuss Trump’s ideas for dealing with the national debt, including his suggestion that inflation could help pay it off, and what his attacks on the Federal Reserve could mean for America’s borrowing costs. Plus, they examine why Republican counties are losing population, the country’s declining fertility rate, the economic consequences of an aging population, and Trump’s reported reliance on Grok to kidnap Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro.