Ron Elving

Now, Trump says tariffs will be our external revenue service, collecting money from other countries instead of taxing Americans like the internal revenue service we all know. And that must sound pretty good to a lot of folks judging by the election results. Of course, as we just heard from Scott Horsley, economists see tariffs quite differently.

Now, Trump says tariffs will be our external revenue service, collecting money from other countries instead of taxing Americans like the internal revenue service we all know. And that must sound pretty good to a lot of folks judging by the election results. Of course, as we just heard from Scott Horsley, economists see tariffs quite differently.

They tend to see an outmoded and counterproductive blunderbuss of a weapon that often winds up wounding the user as much as the target. The classic example being the tariffs the U.S. imposed in the early 1930s. Historians tell us those tariffs actually deepened and lengthened the Great Depression.

They tend to see an outmoded and counterproductive blunderbuss of a weapon that often winds up wounding the user as much as the target. The classic example being the tariffs the U.S. imposed in the early 1930s. Historians tell us those tariffs actually deepened and lengthened the Great Depression.

They tend to see an outmoded and counterproductive blunderbuss of a weapon that often winds up wounding the user as much as the target. The classic example being the tariffs the U.S. imposed in the early 1930s. Historians tell us those tariffs actually deepened and lengthened the Great Depression.

You'd have to say it was mixed and rather limited, really. Those tariffs served their purpose in the short run in targeted areas. But they did not measurably improve Trump's standing for reelection in 2020 or, for that matter, when he came back in 2024. The tariffs were not the salient issue either time. There were just too many other issues.

You'd have to say it was mixed and rather limited, really. Those tariffs served their purpose in the short run in targeted areas. But they did not measurably improve Trump's standing for reelection in 2020 or, for that matter, when he came back in 2024. The tariffs were not the salient issue either time. There were just too many other issues.

You'd have to say it was mixed and rather limited, really. Those tariffs served their purpose in the short run in targeted areas. But they did not measurably improve Trump's standing for reelection in 2020 or, for that matter, when he came back in 2024. The tariffs were not the salient issue either time. There were just too many other issues.

And the blame for the inflation of the past few years had long since gone elsewhere.

And the blame for the inflation of the past few years had long since gone elsewhere.

And the blame for the inflation of the past few years had long since gone elsewhere.

To me, the chief executive moment of the week was Trump's news conference Thursday morning about the midair collision over Ronald Reagan National Airport. Diverting attention from that tragedy to make a tech on diversity hiring. When we still don't know who or what was responsible for that crash, Trump said he was using common sense and that's a phrase he's been using a lot lately.

To me, the chief executive moment of the week was Trump's news conference Thursday morning about the midair collision over Ronald Reagan National Airport. Diverting attention from that tragedy to make a tech on diversity hiring. When we still don't know who or what was responsible for that crash, Trump said he was using common sense and that's a phrase he's been using a lot lately.

To me, the chief executive moment of the week was Trump's news conference Thursday morning about the midair collision over Ronald Reagan National Airport. Diverting attention from that tragedy to make a tech on diversity hiring. When we still don't know who or what was responsible for that crash, Trump said he was using common sense and that's a phrase he's been using a lot lately.

I think people are beginning to get a sense of what that common sense means to him. As for the executive orders, it's quite a competition. I'd have to go with the now rescinded order to freeze federal spending. That order said all grants had to be frisked for Marxism or race and gender diversity or approval of certain sexual orientation. That language was striking as well as confusing.

I think people are beginning to get a sense of what that common sense means to him. As for the executive orders, it's quite a competition. I'd have to go with the now rescinded order to freeze federal spending. That order said all grants had to be frisked for Marxism or race and gender diversity or approval of certain sexual orientation. That language was striking as well as confusing.

I think people are beginning to get a sense of what that common sense means to him. As for the executive orders, it's quite a competition. I'd have to go with the now rescinded order to freeze federal spending. That order said all grants had to be frisked for Marxism or race and gender diversity or approval of certain sexual orientation. That language was striking as well as confusing.

Federal judges stepped in. The freeze is off for now. But the underlying orders, the judgments from the Trump administration remain in effect. Of course, the courts had already paused an earlier order against birthright citizenship. But perhaps the most notable evidence, of the overall attitude of these orders is the preemptory nature of it.

Federal judges stepped in. The freeze is off for now. But the underlying orders, the judgments from the Trump administration remain in effect. Of course, the courts had already paused an earlier order against birthright citizenship. But perhaps the most notable evidence, of the overall attitude of these orders is the preemptory nature of it.

Federal judges stepped in. The freeze is off for now. But the underlying orders, the judgments from the Trump administration remain in effect. Of course, the courts had already paused an earlier order against birthright citizenship. But perhaps the most notable evidence, of the overall attitude of these orders is the preemptory nature of it.