Molly Ball

It's pretty remarkable. I mean, especially coming from Trump, right, who is usually someone who is sort of full of optimistic bluster, for lack of a better word, who is very good at messaging the idea that everything's going great. I think, you know, the president and the people around him feel that he was elected on a platform of change and he was elected as a disruptive figure.

And so he has a sort of unique opportunity. And also because he is just such a dominant messenger, he has this unique ability to convince people that, yes, you're going to have to suffer a little bit, but it's for the greater good. And once we get through this period of dislocation, everyone's going to be better off and the in a way that is better for the country long term.

And so he has a sort of unique opportunity. And also because he is just such a dominant messenger, he has this unique ability to convince people that, yes, you're going to have to suffer a little bit, but it's for the greater good. And once we get through this period of dislocation, everyone's going to be better off and the in a way that is better for the country long term.

And so he has a sort of unique opportunity. And also because he is just such a dominant messenger, he has this unique ability to convince people that, yes, you're going to have to suffer a little bit, but it's for the greater good. And once we get through this period of dislocation, everyone's going to be better off and the in a way that is better for the country long term.

I think there's a lot of jitters about whether that's actually true, but it is a pretty unusual thing to be seeing in politics, a president who's basically admitting, like, yes, I am causing you to have some unpleasantness in your day-to-day life, and I'm doing that on purpose because I'm trying to achieve something bigger.

I think there's a lot of jitters about whether that's actually true, but it is a pretty unusual thing to be seeing in politics, a president who's basically admitting, like, yes, I am causing you to have some unpleasantness in your day-to-day life, and I'm doing that on purpose because I'm trying to achieve something bigger.

I think there's a lot of jitters about whether that's actually true, but it is a pretty unusual thing to be seeing in politics, a president who's basically admitting, like, yes, I am causing you to have some unpleasantness in your day-to-day life, and I'm doing that on purpose because I'm trying to achieve something bigger.

Well, I'd love to hear what Nick thinks about this as well. You know, the Business Roundtable, which is a group of top executives, was in D.C. this week and Trump spoke to them. And I also spoke to many of the executives and people around them who were in town for this meeting today. And in the public session, the on-camera part that Trump spoke at, it was very friendly.

Well, I'd love to hear what Nick thinks about this as well. You know, the Business Roundtable, which is a group of top executives, was in D.C. this week and Trump spoke to them. And I also spoke to many of the executives and people around them who were in town for this meeting today. And in the public session, the on-camera part that Trump spoke at, it was very friendly.

Well, I'd love to hear what Nick thinks about this as well. You know, the Business Roundtable, which is a group of top executives, was in D.C. this week and Trump spoke to them. And I also spoke to many of the executives and people around them who were in town for this meeting today. And in the public session, the on-camera part that Trump spoke at, it was very friendly.

There was no criticism, really. But privately, that was not what you heard. Privately, I was struck by the level of pessimism. A lot of these CEOs and people in the business community are feeling very concerned and alarmed by where this is headed. The thing that really alarms a lot of people in the business community is they always thought that Trump would be responsive to the market going down.

There was no criticism, really. But privately, that was not what you heard. Privately, I was struck by the level of pessimism. A lot of these CEOs and people in the business community are feeling very concerned and alarmed by where this is headed. The thing that really alarms a lot of people in the business community is they always thought that Trump would be responsive to the market going down.

There was no criticism, really. But privately, that was not what you heard. Privately, I was struck by the level of pessimism. A lot of these CEOs and people in the business community are feeling very concerned and alarmed by where this is headed. The thing that really alarms a lot of people in the business community is they always thought that Trump would be responsive to the market going down.

They always thought that that was a really important metric to him. And if something he did started to make the stock market slip, he would change course. And the fact that he's looking at the stock market slipping and saying, we're going to brazen through it, that has really set a lot of people on edge. But Nick, what do you think?

They always thought that that was a really important metric to him. And if something he did started to make the stock market slip, he would change course. And the fact that he's looking at the stock market slipping and saying, we're going to brazen through it, that has really set a lot of people on edge. But Nick, what do you think?

They always thought that that was a really important metric to him. And if something he did started to make the stock market slip, he would change course. And the fact that he's looking at the stock market slipping and saying, we're going to brazen through it, that has really set a lot of people on edge. But Nick, what do you think?

Just like I will never tell you who's going to win an election.

Just like I will never tell you who's going to win an election.

Just like I will never tell you who's going to win an election.

Thanks, Nick.