Progressive Thinking

Trump’s latest tariff tantrum proves once again that he’s steering America’s economy like a blindfolded man on a unicycle—on a tightrope—during an earthquake. And yes, he still insists he’s got it all under control.

LAKE GENEVA, WI - Let’s talk about the man who just assured America, “I know what the hell I’m doing”... right before proving the exact opposite. Donald J. Trump, the self-proclaimed mastermind of global economics, just pulled off one of the most breathtaking U-turns in trade policy history—and managed to look completely unhinged while doing it.

Here’s the rundown: On April 2, Trump rolled out his “Liberation Day” tariff plan, because of course he did—it sounds like something out of a bad dystopian sci-fi movie. Sweeping tariffs slapped on nearly every foreign good imaginable. The stock market responded by doing what it does when chaos is injected into the economy—it tanked. World leaders raised their eyebrows, economists screamed into the void, and even members of Trump’s own party started inching away from the flaming dumpster fire.

Still, there was Trump at a Republican dinner just days later, pounding his chest like a cartoon gorilla. “I know what the hell I’m doing,” he bellowed, while painting a fantasy picture of chip factories popping up like mushrooms in the rain. Maybe in his head, sure.

And then? Reality bit back.

On April 9, Europe slapped a 25% tariff on U.S. goods—everything from steel to ice cream. China cranked its own tariffs to a jaw-dropping 84%. What did Trump do? He blinked. Hard. Like a deer in headlights. He threw the whole tariff plan into a 90-day pause—for everyone except China, who he then decided to punish with an even more absurd 125% tax. Because if you’re already playing economic Russian roulette, why not spin the barrel again?

But wait—there’s more. When Americans worried about their crashing 401(k)s, Trump told them to stop being “Panicans.” Yes, Panicans. Apparently, that’s his new insult for people with functioning neurons. Weak! Stupid! Panican! It’s not clear whether he was naming a new political party or just inventing a word to distract from his epic failure.

Meanwhile, his sidekick J.D. Vance thought it’d be a great idea to call the Chinese people “peasants.” Because if there’s one thing you want during an international economic meltdown, it’s racist condescension from your second-in-command.

Let’s be blunt: Trump has no idea what the hell he’s doing. He’s playing global economic Jenga with greasy hands, and every block he pulls makes the whole tower wobble. His policies are chaotic, reactionary, and driven more by ego than any semblance of strategy. He talks big, blunders bigger, and then blames everyone else when his ideas implode like a wet paper bag in a hurricane.

And yet, somehow, we’re still supposed to believe he’s got this under control?

Sure. And I’m the Queen of Denmark.

Donald Trump didn’t just spread a few conspiracy theories — he made them his brand. From birtherism to election lies to QAnon insanity, he dragged America into the gutter for his own ego. He isn’t a hero. He’s Enemy Number One — the greatest threat to truth, democracy, and basic human decency this country has ever seen.

LAKE GENEVA, WI - If there’s one thing Donald Trump has perfected, it’s poisoning America with a steady diet of conspiracy theories and outright lies. He doesn’t just flirt with them — he worships them, uses them, and feeds them to his followers like rotten meat. He knows exactly what he’s doing: inflaming hate, weaponizing ignorance, and ripping the country apart for his own personal gain. And the worst part? His cult still treats him like a savior — when he should be recognized for exactly what he is: America’s Enemy Number One.

It started long before he even ran for president. Trump was the loudest, most shameless promoter of the racist birther lie — falsely claiming Barack Obama wasn’t born in the United States. He clung to that garbage because he knew it would stroke the ugliest resentments in this country. He wasn’t fighting for truth — he was exploiting hatred for personal fame. He built his entire political career on a rotten, racist foundation.

When he lost the 2020 election, Trump didn’t act like a man. He acted like a sniveling coward, screaming “fraud” without a shred of evidence. He unleashed a flood of lawsuits that got laughed out of court, even by judges he handpicked. But he didn’t care about facts — he cared about holding onto power. He whipped his base into a frenzy of rage, leading to a deadly insurrection on January 6 — all because he couldn’t stand to lose.

He wasn’t trying to “save America.” He was trying to burn it down if he couldn’t own it.

Then there’s the absolute lunacy of QAnon — the conspiracy fantasy that Trump was some secret warrior fighting a ring of Satan-worshipping pedophiles. Instead of denouncing this garbage, Trump nodded and winked at it. He basked in their worship because that’s all he ever cared about: loyalty to him, not loyalty to truth, not loyalty to democracy, not loyalty to anything but his own bloated ego.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, while Americans died by the thousands, Trump lied, downplayed, mocked, and spread junk science. He pushed bogus cures like hydroxychloroquine, suggested people inject bleach, and turned lifesaving precautions into political punchlines. He sabotaged the national response because he couldn’t stand the pandemic making him look bad. Every lie cost lives. Every reckless word made America weaker. And Trump? He didn’t lose a wink of sleep over it.

He’s also the king of Deep State paranoia, turning every government agency, every scientific expert, every institution built to serve the people into “enemies” simply because they wouldn’t lie for him. Trump didn’t want advice. He wanted yes-men. He didn’t want the truth. He wanted adoration.

And if you think he’s slowed down since then, think again. Trump is still pushing conspiracy garbage even now.

In 2025, he used a U.S. government website, Covid.gov, to promote the COVID-19 lab leak theory, turning what should be a source of scientific information into a billboard for his pandemic lies. In the run-up to the 2024 election, he also backed a Heritage Foundation report pushing the insane theory that Joe Biden would refuse to leave office if he lost — another baseless lie designed to stir fear, anger, and more division. He planted the seeds of chaos long before a single ballot was cast, once again proving he would rather tear the country apart than risk losing fair and square. And even now, in 2025, the wreckage of those lies still hangs over America.

He’s embraced the QAnon cult even tighter, openly considering Kash Patel — a known QAnon sympathizer — for FBI director. That’s right: Trump isn’t just winking at extremists anymore. He’s ready to hand them real power.

He even reopened the door to JFK assassination conspiracy theories, declassifying thousands of documents just to throw another bone to the conspiracy-obsessed crowd, knowing full well it would stir even more mistrust and division.

Let’s be brutally clear: Climate change? Called it a hoax. Systemic racism? Pretended it didn’t exist. Economic injustice? Doubled down on it to line his pockets.

Trump doesn’t care about this country. He never did. He cares about himself — period.

Donald Trump is not the hero his cult imagines. He is not a “fighter” for the people. He is not a champion for freedom or truth.

He is a con artist, a divider, a destroyer — and he deserves to be remembered for what he truly is: America’s Enemy Number One.

A man so dangerous, so corrosive, that no amount of time or spin can erase the damage he’s done. He didn’t just betray his office. He betrayed truth itself. He betrayed the American people. He betrayed the very idea that facts, reason, and honesty should matter.

And anyone still propping him up, still swallowing his lies, is helping him tear this country even further apart.

From Senator Murkowski’s candid admission of internal fear to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s aggressive stance on social services, the GOP’s actions reveal a party more committed to power than to the people it serves.

LAKE GENEVA, WI - The Republican Party isn’t just broken. It’s dangerous. And if you had any lingering doubts, this past week ripped the mask off once and for all.

While Americans mourned yet another tragedy, struggled with skyrocketing costs, and watched chaos unfold at our borders, what did Republicans do? They pandered to fear. They protected corruption. They actively made life worse for the people they claim to serve.

Let’s break it down:

Afraid of Their Own Shadow

Even Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski admitted it: the GOP is paralyzed by fear. Not fear of the people they were elected to represent — fear of Donald Trump. Fear of mean tweets. Fear of losing their cushy jobs. Instead of standing for the Constitution, instead of protecting democracy, they cower at the feet of a man who demands loyalty oaths like a two-bit dictator. Their fear is so profound that they allow injustice to flourish simply to protect their own political skins. Cowards. Every last one of them.

Gutting Social Services Under the Banner of “Efficiency”

Marjorie Taylor Greene, the face of today’s Republican Party, hosted a town hall this week where she pushed for the expansion of government offices designed to slash “waste” — and by “waste,” she meant things like Social Security and Medicaid. You know, the programs millions of Americans rely on to survive. When constituents protested, police were called. Arrests were made. Greene didn’t back down — she doubled down, sneering at the very people who would suffer most from her proposals. The cruelty isn’t accidental. It’s the point.

Lawlessness on Full Display

The Trump administration showed exactly how much respect they have for the law — none. Despite a Supreme Court order, they continued deporting immigrants under the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act. They are literally ignoring the highest court in the land because they believe rules are for other people, not for them. What do Republicans in Congress have to say about this blatant lawlessness? Nothing. Silence. Complicity. They don’t care about the rule of law. They care about using the law as a weapon against the powerless.

The Most Out-of-Touch Priorities Possible

While real Americans bled in the streets and struggled to pay their bills, Donald Trump — the leader of the Republican Party — decided his big rallying cry this week would be… ending daylight saving time. Kids are dying. Families are starving. Veterans are sleeping in the streets. And Trump is mad about changing the clocks. You cannot make this shit up.

Militarizing the Border While America Falls Apart

And just to round out the week, House Republicans unveiled plans to dump even more taxpayer dollars into border militarization and mass deportations — an obsession so extreme that it consumes every ounce of their focus while the rest of the country crumbles. No solutions for inflation. No real plans for healthcare. No answers on gun violence. Just cruelty. Just fear. Just punishment.

Trump's cabinet meetings have become a nauseating, overly rehearsed spectacle of flattery and ego-stroking. We need leaders, not loyalists.

LAKE GENEVA, WI - I watched the cabinet meeting hoping for leadership. What I got looked more like a loyalty pledge than a government function. If I wanted to see a staged round of applause for a dictator, I’d turn on North Korean state TV. But this was our government—and it made me sick.

I honestly don’t know what I was expecting when I turned on the cabinet meeting this week. Maybe some straight talk about what’s really going on in this country. A little leadership, a little honesty, a little concern for the people who are out here struggling every day to keep their heads above water.

What I got instead? A nauseating, overly rehearsed spectacle of flattery and ego-stroking.

It wasn’t a meeting. It was a mutual admiration society in full swing. And Trump? He was soaking it in like a man getting a standing ovation for doing absolutely nothing.

Every cabinet member, one after the other, stood up and offered praise so scripted it felt like I was watching a school play. Not one person spoke off the cuff. Not one addressed the hard truths we’re facing. Every word was carefully chosen, clearly rehearsed, and aimed straight at the President’s overinflated ego.

It was like watching a bad episode of The Apprentice crossed with North Korean state media. The only thing missing was a military parade and some choreographed clapping.

And while they were busy patting each other on the back and showering Trump with compliments about his “vision” and “wisdom,” the rest of us?
We’re out here living in a mess.

- Groceries cost more than some people’s paychecks.
- Seniors are skipping medication because they can’t afford it.
- Families are watching their retirement accounts vanish.
- And basic public services are being gutted while billionaires hoard even more.

But sure, let’s all applaud the President for “unifying leadership” while the country crumbles.

The worst part? It was obvious they thought this performance would convince us everything is fine. That we wouldn’t notice the cracks showing. That we’d fall for the act.

I hate to break it to them, but some of us are paying very close attention.

We see the pandering.
We hear the lies.
And we feel the consequences every single day.

This wasn’t a cabinet meeting. It was a performance for an audience of one. And the rest of us were just supposed to smile and nod along like fools.

Well, I’m not smiling.
And I sure as hell am not nodding.

This kind of behavior isn’t normal. It’s not democratic. It’s not governing.
It’s authoritarian cosplay, and it should terrify every single one of us.

We need leaders, not loyalists.
We need truth, not theatrics.
We need accountability, not applause.

And no amount of staged praise is going to change that.

Governing Like a Chef Who Doesn’t Know How to Cook

LAKE GENEVA, WI - Imagine a chef who doesn’t bother with recipes, measurements, or even basic kitchen safety. He just hurls spaghetti at the wall and watches to see what sticks. That’s Donald Trump’s idea of running the American economy—impulsive, chaotic, and absolutely disastrous for the people stuck eating whatever mess he makes.

Trump’s latest experiment? A sweeping wave of tariffs slapped on everything in sight. In true “spaghetti chef” fashion, he didn’t bother explaining the plan, the goal, or the possible consequences. He just threw it out there—10% on all imports, 34% on Chinese goods, 20% on the EU—and waited to see what stuck. The result? The stock market recoiled in horror. The Dow plunged over 1,300 points, the S&P dropped more than 3%, and investors panicked like someone just pulled the fire alarm in the kitchen.

This isn’t strategy. It’s not leadership. It’s reckless trial-and-error policymaking that punishes the very people Trump claims to protect. Every time he starts swinging tariffs around like a frying pan in a food fight, everyday Americans are the ones getting burned.

Let’s talk about China for a second. Americans rely on Chinese imports for everything from smartphones to sneakers to parts that keep American factories running. Slapping massive tariffs on those goods doesn’t punish China—it jacks up prices for U.S. consumers and businesses. It strangles supply chains. It sparks inflation. It costs jobs. It’s the economic equivalent of burning dinner and blaming the stove.

And while the stock market has stabilized slightly in the past few days, it’s not because things are getting better—it’s because the absolute worst-case scenarios have temporarily been taken off the burner. Investors aren’t breathing easy—they’re holding their breath, praying Trump doesn’t barge into the kitchen again with a can of gasoline.

Experts are sounding the alarm. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers is warning that these tariffs could push us into a recession, with 2 million jobs lost and a $5,000 hit to the average household. Vanguard just cut its economic outlook. Consumer confidence is rattled. Business investment is stalling. But Trump, ever the chef without a clue, just keeps tossing more spaghetti at the wall and calling it bold leadership.

This is not how you run a country. Governing isn’t a guessing game, and economic policy isn’t supposed to be a reality show where you improvise every episode. It takes planning, consistency, and responsibility—three things Trump has shown zero interest in. His erratic, shoot-from-the-hip style might make for dramatic headlines, but it leaves Americans footing the bill while he stirs the pot.

The sad truth is, we’re all stuck in this kitchen while Trump plays chef, tossing out half-baked ideas with no recipe, no direction, and no care for the mess he’s making. And if we let him keep running things like this, it won’t just be our dinner ruined—it’ll be the whole damn house up in flames.

Summary

Donald Trump is back in the economic kitchen—hurling tariffs like spaghetti at the wall and calling it leadership. But this kind of reckless trial-and-error policymaking isn’t bold, it’s destructive. With markets tanking, prices rising, and recession fears growing, Americans are left cleaning up the mess from a chef who clearly doesn’t follow recipes—or care about the consequences.