Matt Iglesias

These people, they've got to listen to their own advisors. They've got to think about what's what. But, you know, we all—you don't want to be a sucker in every negotiation. Like, at a certain point, somebody has to be willing to say, Mr. Trump, it appears to me from your behavior— that you in fact know that these tariffs are a bad idea and are doing a ploy.

These people, they've got to listen to their own advisors. They've got to think about what's what. But, you know, we all—you don't want to be a sucker in every negotiation. Like, at a certain point, somebody has to be willing to say, Mr. Trump, it appears to me from your behavior— that you in fact know that these tariffs are a bad idea and are doing a ploy.

And I can like read to you the passage from The Art of the Deal where you talk about how you like to bullshit a lot in negotiations and make dumb threats. And like, if you do this, it will be bad for my country. It'll be bad for your country. The exchange rates will also adjust. It's going to be political blowback on you though, not me, because people know this is your stunt.

And I can like read to you the passage from The Art of the Deal where you talk about how you like to bullshit a lot in negotiations and make dumb threats. And like, if you do this, it will be bad for my country. It'll be bad for your country. The exchange rates will also adjust. It's going to be political blowback on you though, not me, because people know this is your stunt.

And like, you know, leave us alone. It's risky. But the fact that they weren't in the day one, right? I mean, it does call into question that like maybe these business guys were correct.

And like, you know, leave us alone. It's risky. But the fact that they weren't in the day one, right? I mean, it does call into question that like maybe these business guys were correct.

But Besant has talked about tariffs as a negotiating tactic. And Stephen Mirren wrote an article. I think he just like did it for his hedge fund or something. And it's like what the article, quote unquote, says is that like the liberals are wrong and tariffs are really good. But then the analysis is that tariffs actually won't raise prices because exchange rates will adjust. Right.

But Besant has talked about tariffs as a negotiating tactic. And Stephen Mirren wrote an article. I think he just like did it for his hedge fund or something. And it's like what the article, quote unquote, says is that like the liberals are wrong and tariffs are really good. But then the analysis is that tariffs actually won't raise prices because exchange rates will adjust. Right.

And that means that you want to make the tariffs phase in slowly so that financial markets have time to adjust to the tariffs. And it all just seems like a way to say that you're for tariffs while actually acknowledging that they're bad. One view, I guess, is that Trump was like tricked by these guys. I don't know.

And that means that you want to make the tariffs phase in slowly so that financial markets have time to adjust to the tariffs. And it all just seems like a way to say that you're for tariffs while actually acknowledging that they're bad. One view, I guess, is that Trump was like tricked by these guys. I don't know.

I kind of feel like I've been looking at all the like obsequious flattery that different CEOs have been throwing Trump's way. And I'm like... Do I really think that Donald Trump is such a like naive patsy, as everybody is saying? And it's like everyone knows the way to Trump's heart is with like completely disingenuous flattery. Or does he just enjoy this, right?

I kind of feel like I've been looking at all the like obsequious flattery that different CEOs have been throwing Trump's way. And I'm like... Do I really think that Donald Trump is such a like naive patsy, as everybody is saying? And it's like everyone knows the way to Trump's heart is with like completely disingenuous flattery. Or does he just enjoy this, right?

Like as a thing, he thinks it's funny that he can make the monkeys dance by putting it out there. That like if you say nice things about Trump, he'll like you.

Like as a thing, he thinks it's funny that he can make the monkeys dance by putting it out there. That like if you say nice things about Trump, he'll like you.

Musk said they don't actually have the money. And then Altman came back and was like, you know, I hope that in your new role, you mostly make decisions that are good for America.

Musk said they don't actually have the money. And then Altman came back and was like, you know, I hope that in your new role, you mostly make decisions that are good for America.

Well, and Musk retweeted a December 2021 Altman tweet where Altman had been praising Reid Hoffman for how much he spent on defeating Trump and saying that liberals don't know how much they should appreciate Reid Hoffman.

Well, and Musk retweeted a December 2021 Altman tweet where Altman had been praising Reid Hoffman for how much he spent on defeating Trump and saying that liberals don't know how much they should appreciate Reid Hoffman.

But that's what I read is happening here. So we need a Michael Bennett, Sam Altman beer summit where they can talk about their letter sending. No, I mean, that all makes sense. I think it's like... A year ago, I was really, maybe even six months, I was really on like, no, like Trump is a tariff fanatic. Like that's why he keeps talking about this.

But that's what I read is happening here. So we need a Michael Bennett, Sam Altman beer summit where they can talk about their letter sending. No, I mean, that all makes sense. I think it's like... A year ago, I was really, maybe even six months, I was really on like, no, like Trump is a tariff fanatic. Like that's why he keeps talking about this.