5 April 2025
The logic behind Trump’s tariffs
Karthik Sankaran and Connor Echols discuss how the administration's new levies could reshape the global economy.
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In this video:
- The pro-tariff argument: national security, jobs, and leverage
- The four factions shaping US trade policy
- Karthik’s core critique of Trump’s tariff policy
- How tariffs could block development pathways for poor countries
- Is Trump blaming foreign countries for America’s own policy mistakes?
- A brutal week for Vietnam
Lessons from the Signal snafu
Kelley Vlahos and Connor Echols break down what leaked messages tell us about the intra-MAGA battle over Trump’s foreign policy.
Tesla, Tufts, and More Trump Chaos
Robert Wright and psychologist Paul Bloom discuss Trump’s Tesla-friendly tariff strategy, his Israel-friendly crackdown on free speech, Canada’s close election, and more.
CIA vs JFK
JFK researcher Jefferson Morley and Robert Wright discuss the implications of newly released documents that bear on the Kennedy assassination.
Will Trump get locked into war in Yemen?
Justin Logan of the Cato Institute and Connor Echols discuss the renewed campaign of airstrikes against the Houthis.
Trump 2.0: Making “autarkic imperialism” great again?
Jeet Heer of The Nation and Robert Wright discuss the ideological roots of Trumpism, from William McKinley through Pat Buchanan and beyond.
Canada, Tesla, and Other Trump-Musk Troubles
Robert Wright and psychologist Paul Bloom discuss Trump vs. Canada updates, Elon’s Tesla problem, Trump’s free speech crackdown, how elite universities are reacting—or failing to—and more.
Trump’s Disruptive Foreign Policy
Robert Wright and American Prestige podcast hosts Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner look for upsides of Trump’s foreign policy—and also find downsides for Gaza, Ukraine, and America.
Mutually Assured AI Malfunction
Robert Wright and Dan Hendrycks, co-author of the new paper “Superintelligence Strategy,” discuss the risks of a race toward superpowerful AI—including how it could fuel US-China conflict.
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Reid Hoffman’s p(bloom)
Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder and author of the new book Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future, offers an optimistic view of the coming AI earthquake.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Varieties of Authoritarianism
Almut Rochowanski of the Quincy Institute and Robert Wright discuss how Trump’s second term compares to authoritarian and oligarchic regimes abroad—and how Americans should respond.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Does God Exist?
New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, author of the new book Believe, lays out his case for an affirmative answer to Robert Wright.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Another DeepSeek Moment?
Connor Echols and Robert Wright break down the Manus AI mania and also discuss the Columbia free speech case, Trump’s Russia-Ukraine strategy, and more.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
50 Days of Trump 2.0
Eric Levitz of Vox and Robert Wright discuss Elon’s ups and downs (and his darkly weird grandfather); tariff chaos; worthwhile Canadian backlash; free speech threats; oligarchic milestones; and more.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Trump vs. Zelensky: The Morning After
