Molly Ball

Another executive order that struck me was Trump obviously was elected in large part because voters were grumpy about inflation and he promises to bring down prices. So he issued an executive order basically directing the federal government to bring down prices. And so this is the kind of thing that's so broad and so amorphous that like, sure, we'd all like to bring down prices.

Another executive order that struck me was Trump obviously was elected in large part because voters were grumpy about inflation and he promises to bring down prices. So he issued an executive order basically directing the federal government to bring down prices. And so this is the kind of thing that's so broad and so amorphous that like, sure, we'd all like to bring down prices.

But there's no actual mechanism in it for how these government departments could actually seek to do that. And so it does look like something that's more symbolic in practice. But at least you can point to it and say, see, I ordered them to bring down prices.

But there's no actual mechanism in it for how these government departments could actually seek to do that. And so it does look like something that's more symbolic in practice. But at least you can point to it and say, see, I ordered them to bring down prices.

But there's no actual mechanism in it for how these government departments could actually seek to do that. And so it does look like something that's more symbolic in practice. But at least you can point to it and say, see, I ordered them to bring down prices.

I was also struck by the things that he didn't issue executive orders about.

I was also struck by the things that he didn't issue executive orders about.

I was also struck by the things that he didn't issue executive orders about.

Chiefly tariffs. There's an executive order that sort of directs the government to study the possibility of imposing tariffs. But he repeatedly promised that he was going to impose sweeping across-the-board tariffs on allies and enemies alike on day one. And as he was sitting there signing these orders on day one, He talked about, well, maybe we'll do it on February 1st.

Chiefly tariffs. There's an executive order that sort of directs the government to study the possibility of imposing tariffs. But he repeatedly promised that he was going to impose sweeping across-the-board tariffs on allies and enemies alike on day one. And as he was sitting there signing these orders on day one, He talked about, well, maybe we'll do it on February 1st.

Chiefly tariffs. There's an executive order that sort of directs the government to study the possibility of imposing tariffs. But he repeatedly promised that he was going to impose sweeping across-the-board tariffs on allies and enemies alike on day one. And as he was sitting there signing these orders on day one, He talked about, well, maybe we'll do it on February 1st.

And now he's, you know, threatening Putin with tariffs if the Ukraine war doesn't end. Do you have a sense of why that is?

And now he's, you know, threatening Putin with tariffs if the Ukraine war doesn't end. Do you have a sense of why that is?

And now he's, you know, threatening Putin with tariffs if the Ukraine war doesn't end. Do you have a sense of why that is?

There's a lot of controversy both within the administration and in the broader community, particularly the business and financial community, about tariffs. Economists almost unanimously believe that these tariffs would disrupt the economy and cause inflation to skyrocket, prices to go up.

There's a lot of controversy both within the administration and in the broader community, particularly the business and financial community, about tariffs. Economists almost unanimously believe that these tariffs would disrupt the economy and cause inflation to skyrocket, prices to go up.

There's a lot of controversy both within the administration and in the broader community, particularly the business and financial community, about tariffs. Economists almost unanimously believe that these tariffs would disrupt the economy and cause inflation to skyrocket, prices to go up.

Well, that's what economists believe. Trump doesn't believe that. Trump has a different economic theory. It's rather exotic, but he believes it.

Well, that's what economists believe. Trump doesn't believe that. Trump has a different economic theory. It's rather exotic, but he believes it.

Well, that's what economists believe. Trump doesn't believe that. Trump has a different economic theory. It's rather exotic, but he believes it.