Abby Phillips
👤 PersonPodcast Appearances
Charlie, thank you so much for having me.
Charlie, thank you so much for having me.
Well, you know, I mean, it's interesting. It's funny that, you know, you're saying, what is the situation today? Because, of course, we know that it appears that it feels like it's constantly changing. But the truth is, is, you know, President Trump has had plans in place from day one. And he's trying right now to categorize things in different buckets, frankly.
Well, you know, I mean, it's interesting. It's funny that, you know, you're saying, what is the situation today? Because, of course, we know that it appears that it feels like it's constantly changing. But the truth is, is, you know, President Trump has had plans in place from day one. And he's trying right now to categorize things in different buckets, frankly.
I mean, to make it as simple as possible. He started this, you know, this exercise out by focusing on the fentanyl coming into the country, killing 100,000 Americans a year. And so he went to the countries that he was looking to help, and he put a 20% tariff on them for failing to really stop the problem. And that was initially the first reason. And then it's also a revenue generator.
I mean, to make it as simple as possible. He started this, you know, this exercise out by focusing on the fentanyl coming into the country, killing 100,000 Americans a year. And so he went to the countries that he was looking to help, and he put a 20% tariff on them for failing to really stop the problem. And that was initially the first reason. And then it's also a revenue generator.
He's also raising money. into U.S. coffers. So there's that. He's talking about $2 billion a day. Of course, that's terrific, knowing our debt and deficits. Then he's talking about bringing manufacturing to America, and that's another reason that he's looking at tariffs.
He's also raising money. into U.S. coffers. So there's that. He's talking about $2 billion a day. Of course, that's terrific, knowing our debt and deficits. Then he's talking about bringing manufacturing to America, and that's another reason that he's looking at tariffs.
So today, we've got tariffs on fentanyl, which is under the international emergency economic powers that the president is using, which, of course, allows the president... to regulate foreign and business activity internationally and place those tariffs on partners or wherever. And then he's got the tariffs having to do with aluminum and steel.
So today, we've got tariffs on fentanyl, which is under the international emergency economic powers that the president is using, which, of course, allows the president... to regulate foreign and business activity internationally and place those tariffs on partners or wherever. And then he's got the tariffs having to do with aluminum and steel.
And he's talking about tariffs there being a national security issue. So you know what, Charlie? I think this whole thing is not just an economic issue, but it is a national security issue. And that's what I wish corporate America would understand. I wish most people would understand.
And he's talking about tariffs there being a national security issue. So you know what, Charlie? I think this whole thing is not just an economic issue, but it is a national security issue. And that's what I wish corporate America would understand. I wish most people would understand.
These people that are trading stocks and selling their portfolio and putting pressure on the markets, it's really not a good idea. And when I say not a good idea, it's not a good idea for them. Because you have to hold... The stock market is the best place long-term for wealth creation. So if you really want to make money over the long-term, decide where you want to invest.
These people that are trading stocks and selling their portfolio and putting pressure on the markets, it's really not a good idea. And when I say not a good idea, it's not a good idea for them. Because you have to hold... The stock market is the best place long-term for wealth creation. So if you really want to make money over the long-term, decide where you want to invest.
We can get to that later. That's another conversation. Stay there. And you don't trade in and out of it. OK, so you stay there long term. If you didn't sell anything, you're fine. OK, so you saw lots of volatility on Wall Street in the last couple of weeks. But again, this is a national security issue. And I really don't care how much it cuts into people's profits right now. It's not the priority.
We can get to that later. That's another conversation. Stay there. And you don't trade in and out of it. OK, so you stay there long term. If you didn't sell anything, you're fine. OK, so you saw lots of volatility on Wall Street in the last couple of weeks. But again, this is a national security issue. And I really don't care how much it cuts into people's profits right now. It's not the priority.
The priority is that communist China is undermining America at every turn. whether it be, you know, okay, you could start with COVID. Why don't we start there? Okay, COVID, we all know where it came from. And we knew that actually very early on. Secondly, there was a COVID cover-up. They cornered the market on things, you know, like masks and gloves and this and that.
The priority is that communist China is undermining America at every turn. whether it be, you know, okay, you could start with COVID. Why don't we start there? Okay, COVID, we all know where it came from. And we knew that actually very early on. Secondly, there was a COVID cover-up. They cornered the market on things, you know, like masks and gloves and this and that.
And I remember reporting that at the time because I had my hospital sources call me and say, Maria, ships were on their way to America with all this stuff that we need. They were told, turn around, go back to China. So they totally cornered the market on PPE and the products that we needed. And then they
And I remember reporting that at the time because I had my hospital sources call me and say, Maria, ships were on their way to America with all this stuff that we need. They were told, turn around, go back to China. So they totally cornered the market on PPE and the products that we needed. And then they
They basically stopped flights coming in, but allowed people to go out of China, out of Wuhan, right to Italy, where they had their Belt and Road Initiative. All those people were working in Italy, and then it spread globally. So there's a COVID cover-up. There's also, obviously, massive, massive surveillance. They're surveilling us at every turn.
They basically stopped flights coming in, but allowed people to go out of China, out of Wuhan, right to Italy, where they had their Belt and Road Initiative. All those people were working in Italy, and then it spread globally. So there's a COVID cover-up. There's also, obviously, massive, massive surveillance. They're surveilling us at every turn.
Not to mention the spy balloon that travels the country. Thanks, Joe Biden, for the whole week of having The surveillance balloons send information back to the Chinese Communist Party in real time. But you also have spies galore coming in all the time. They have exploited the student visa process. They have exploited and capitalized on anything they can.
Not to mention the spy balloon that travels the country. Thanks, Joe Biden, for the whole week of having The surveillance balloons send information back to the Chinese Communist Party in real time. But you also have spies galore coming in all the time. They have exploited the student visa process. They have exploited and capitalized on anything they can.
And it's because the Communist Party of China wants to overtake the United States as the number one superpower. President Trump is aware of this. So he needs to protect the country. And one of the most important ways and direct ways to do that is to ensure that America is independent of its own production.
And it's because the Communist Party of China wants to overtake the United States as the number one superpower. President Trump is aware of this. So he needs to protect the country. And one of the most important ways and direct ways to do that is to ensure that America is independent of its own production.
There is no way in hell anybody would believe that we are completely reliant on communist China for our prescription drugs. It's outrageous. We can't have any longer. We need to change that immediately. Advanced semiconductor chips, same thing. We are reliant on Taiwan. We all know that China wants to reunite with Taiwan.
There is no way in hell anybody would believe that we are completely reliant on communist China for our prescription drugs. It's outrageous. We can't have any longer. We need to change that immediately. Advanced semiconductor chips, same thing. We are reliant on Taiwan. We all know that China wants to reunite with Taiwan.
So in three seconds, China will be able to shut the lights off and on in the world if they go in and get all of those 90% of advanced semiconductor chips. These are serious issues. So President Trump is making it so expensive and so hard for companies not to want to produce in America, not to want to manufacture in America, that they're all going to immediately start talking like patriots.
So in three seconds, China will be able to shut the lights off and on in the world if they go in and get all of those 90% of advanced semiconductor chips. These are serious issues. So President Trump is making it so expensive and so hard for companies not to want to produce in America, not to want to manufacture in America, that they're all going to immediately start talking like patriots.
And that's what should happen.
And that's what should happen.
They're getting it slowly. Remember, companies are going to do whatever is lawful, and they may very well push it to the edge because it's quote-unquote lawful. Now, what happened was, you know, when Clinton and, well, when Nixon first went to China and then Clinton, you know, supported China into the World Trade Organization, It was a pivotal moment for America.
They're getting it slowly. Remember, companies are going to do whatever is lawful, and they may very well push it to the edge because it's quote-unquote lawful. Now, what happened was, you know, when Clinton and, well, when Nixon first went to China and then Clinton, you know, supported China into the World Trade Organization, It was a pivotal moment for America.
And what happened then was the Americans felt, well, maybe we open up the world to trade with China. Maybe they'll recognize how great democracy and capitalism is, and they'll sort of come to the middle. That's not what happened. What happened when they went more nationalistic, and you've got Xi Jinping right now modeling himself after Mao Zedong. So they went completely the other way.
And what happened then was the Americans felt, well, maybe we open up the world to trade with China. Maybe they'll recognize how great democracy and capitalism is, and they'll sort of come to the middle. That's not what happened. What happened when they went more nationalistic, and you've got Xi Jinping right now modeling himself after Mao Zedong. So they went completely the other way.
So yes, people recognize that it went the other way. It wasn't just corporations making the mistake. It was, you know, the world at large. And so now they've gone too far. And, you know, companies I think are talking about it and they do know privately. One CEO of a financial services company said to me, well, I told my people, make sure you're always ready to leave the keys and walk out the door.
So yes, people recognize that it went the other way. It wasn't just corporations making the mistake. It was, you know, the world at large. And so now they've gone too far. And, you know, companies I think are talking about it and they do know privately. One CEO of a financial services company said to me, well, I told my people, make sure you're always ready to leave the keys and walk out the door.
Don't leave too much behind. Make sure you're always ready to, I'm out of here, and get out when you need to. But China has been very smart and very aggressive with its Belt and Road strategy, taking it all over the world and aggressively utilizing shipping lanes across the world to producing products for the world at very cheap prices and taking over
Don't leave too much behind. Make sure you're always ready to, I'm out of here, and get out when you need to. But China has been very smart and very aggressive with its Belt and Road strategy, taking it all over the world and aggressively utilizing shipping lanes across the world to producing products for the world at very cheap prices and taking over
you know, complete huge infrastructure projects with various countries across the world, knowing that they'll never be able to pay the debt. And then ultimately the Chinese saying, well, then we're going to just acquire this, acquire this port, take over that. And so, you know, the good news is that President Trump understands all of this.
you know, complete huge infrastructure projects with various countries across the world, knowing that they'll never be able to pay the debt. And then ultimately the Chinese saying, well, then we're going to just acquire this, acquire this port, take over that. And so, you know, the good news is that President Trump understands all of this.
And the fact that he came in swinging with, you know, the Panama Canal, the Greenland idea just shows you how and brilliant he is about this issue. You know, on the one hand, he's saying, oh, Xi Jinping's my friend, blah, blah, blah. On the other hand, he's putting 145% tariffs on the nation. So, look, it's not going to be easy.
And the fact that he came in swinging with, you know, the Panama Canal, the Greenland idea just shows you how and brilliant he is about this issue. You know, on the one hand, he's saying, oh, Xi Jinping's my friend, blah, blah, blah. On the other hand, he's putting 145% tariffs on the nation. So, look, it's not going to be easy.
The president said we're going to see disruption, and I agree with that, because these things should have happened a long time ago. We should not, like I said, we should not be reliant on these supply chains. What companies are also saying, however, in addition to saying it privately, that yes, we need to decouple, we need to
The president said we're going to see disruption, and I agree with that, because these things should have happened a long time ago. We should not, like I said, we should not be reliant on these supply chains. What companies are also saying, however, in addition to saying it privately, that yes, we need to decouple, we need to
bring more manufacturing outside of China and depend less on China, they're also very unnerved by a lack of clarity. And that's really the issue. And when I spoke with President Trump a month ago, I asked him this, and I pushed him on it. That's not clarity. Where's the clarity? We need clarity because these companies are public companies. Their CEOs need to communicate to shareholders.
bring more manufacturing outside of China and depend less on China, they're also very unnerved by a lack of clarity. And that's really the issue. And when I spoke with President Trump a month ago, I asked him this, and I pushed him on it. That's not clarity. Where's the clarity? We need clarity because these companies are public companies. Their CEOs need to communicate to shareholders.
They need to communicate to their business partners about how much money they're going to put into IT and how much money they're going to do R&D and make capital projections. And they can't because they don't know how much it's going to cost them on tariffs. So the lack of clarity is what is undermining the confidence in this.
They need to communicate to their business partners about how much money they're going to put into IT and how much money they're going to do R&D and make capital projections. And they can't because they don't know how much it's going to cost them on tariffs. So the lack of clarity is what is undermining the confidence in this.
But I think slowly but surely, people are recognizing that this is not just an economic issue. This is a national security issue, and everybody needs to get on board.
But I think slowly but surely, people are recognizing that this is not just an economic issue. This is a national security issue, and everybody needs to get on board.
No, I don't think so. Look, I see a lot of good things in the economy. I do think that the big, beautiful bill takes on much more importance than ever before. Congress needs to get to work. The GOP needs to get in line and ensure that they get those tax cuts extended because the markets and the economy need some good news. I don't think a recession is a definite outcome at all. I see growth.
No, I don't think so. Look, I see a lot of good things in the economy. I do think that the big, beautiful bill takes on much more importance than ever before. Congress needs to get to work. The GOP needs to get in line and ensure that they get those tax cuts extended because the markets and the economy need some good news. I don't think a recession is a definite outcome at all. I see growth.
I don't want to hear this talk about raising taxes on the rich. That's exactly who you should not raise taxes on because that encapsulates business And businesses are the job creators. So I think they need to stick to their principles, extend the tax cuts, ensure that people have confidence in that, confidence in Trump's deregulatory plans. That's also very important.
I don't want to hear this talk about raising taxes on the rich. That's exactly who you should not raise taxes on because that encapsulates business And businesses are the job creators. So I think they need to stick to their principles, extend the tax cuts, ensure that people have confidence in that, confidence in Trump's deregulatory plans. That's also very important.
Confidence in the energy plan. And I think they'll get over tariffs soon enough. And yeah, OK, maybe it takes a hit to earnings next couple of quarters, but they'll get over it.
Confidence in the energy plan. And I think they'll get over tariffs soon enough. And yeah, OK, maybe it takes a hit to earnings next couple of quarters, but they'll get over it.
Thank you, Carl. You too. Bye-bye.
Thank you, Carl. You too. Bye-bye.
It's like, have they met college students? Do they realize that when you're 18, what you think at 18 might change between 18 and 21?
It's like, have they met college students? Do they realize that when you're 18, what you think at 18 might change between 18 and 21?
I think that is exactly.
I think that is exactly.
Yes, good morning. I want to say anonymous, but I do work for the federal government.
Yes, good morning. I want to say anonymous, but I do work for the federal government.
Yes, in Florida, Miami, Florida.
Yes, in Florida, Miami, Florida.
Oh, Department of Human Services.
Oh, Department of Human Services.
Yes, I got the email and I honestly feel like this is a great opportunity to outline what you as an employee bring to the federal government. And if it's really good what you outline, they can give you an opportunity. to get a promotion or something. Like, God forbid they ask you what you've done. Any other job, they'll ask you at the end of the week, at the end of the month.
Yes, I got the email and I honestly feel like this is a great opportunity to outline what you as an employee bring to the federal government. And if it's really good what you outline, they can give you an opportunity. to get a promotion or something. Like, God forbid they ask you what you've done. Any other job, they'll ask you at the end of the week, at the end of the month.
Because I used to do bookkeeping. Okay, so what do we do, you know, at the end of the month? What are the clients that we have to... you know, geared towards too. So at the end of the day, God forbid anybody make any, and it's just democratic thing. It's like, I don't want to get the parties into it, but they don't want to go to work. They want to work from home. People are not working from home.
Because I used to do bookkeeping. Okay, so what do we do, you know, at the end of the month? What are the clients that we have to... you know, geared towards too. So at the end of the day, God forbid anybody make any, and it's just democratic thing. It's like, I don't want to get the parties into it, but they don't want to go to work. They want to work from home. People are not working from home.
You know, this is what you signed up for. If you don't like it, resign.
You know, this is what you signed up for. If you don't like it, resign.
The president is in charge of the military. That is how it works.
The president is in charge of the military. That is how it works.
Yes, good morning. I want to say anonymous, but I do work for the federal government.
Yes, in Florida, Miami, Florida.
Oh, Department of Human Services.
Yes, I got the email and I honestly feel like this is a great opportunity to outline what you as an employee bring to the federal government. And if it's really good what you outline, they can give you an opportunity. to get a promotion or something. Like, God forbid they ask you what you've done. Any other job, they'll ask you at the end of the week, at the end of the month.
Because I used to do bookkeeping. Okay, so what do we do, you know, at the end of the month? What are the clients that we have to... you know, geared towards too. So at the end of the day, God forbid anybody make any, and it's just democratic thing. It's like, I don't want to get the parties into it, but they don't want to go to work. They want to work from home. People are not working from home.
You know, this is what you signed up for. If you don't like it, resign.
The president is in charge of the military. That is how it works.