Episode 61: Bullshit & Buffoonery: Trump, Tariffs & Torture Camps. Brian, Chris and Andy discussed President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff plan (no-plan-at-all), his nonsensical rhetoric about foreign nations "looting, pillaging, raping, and plundering” America and how it doesn’t match the reality of Americans’ high living standards and quality of life. They also spoke on inaccuracies about American manufacturing and tariffs, criticizing the idea that tariffs will bring back manufacturing jobs or improve national security as they explained the CLPVA’s position for free trade. The team then addressed the on the ongoing detention of individuals in El Salvador and the President’s White House comments on putting Americans in El Salvadorian torture camps. The conversation also covered freedom of speech – even when it's lousy speech, the upcoming Virginia gubernatorial election, concerns about democracy, and more. Relevant links to today’s episode:

Trump, tariffs and trade

• “Liberation Day” - Trump's trade war goes global - Transcript
• Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits
• President Trump’s Bold Trade Action Draws Praise
• Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates to Reflect Trading Partner Retaliation and Alignment
• Trump exempts phones, computers, other electronics from reciprocal tariffs
• Trump's electronics tariff exemption is temporary, Commerce Secretary says
• China urges US to 'completely cancel' tariffs
• No retreat on tariffs, Trump promised. Hours later, he blinked
• Chris Cillizza: The 29 wackiest lines from Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" speech 🤪
• George Will (opinion) This is 10-thumbed, fumbling, overconfident governmental progressivism. Trump the trumpeter sounded “Charge!” on tariffs. Then came “Oh, never mind.”
• Virginia
• Virginia lawmakers take opposing stances on tariffs
• Warner Slams Trump Tariffs that are Set to Make Life More Expensive for Virginians
• Audio of Winsome Sears on tariffs, posted to X, via American Bridge 21st Century, @American_Bridge, American Brigade website
• Virginia business leaders assess potential tariff impacts: 'Still quite a bit of uncertainty'
• Dominion Energy proposes 15% average bill increase

Crime and deportations (the “homegrowns” are next…)

• Trump administration says it mistakenly deported Salvadoran migrant
• Supreme Court Sides With Wrongly Deported Migrant
• Supreme Court Of The United States; No. 24a949: Kristi Noem, Secretary, Department Of Homeland Security, Et Al. U. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, Et Al
• Maryland judge again asks government to return man wrongly deported to El Salvador
• Trump admin tells judge man wrongly deported to El Salvador is alive, still detained
• A Ruling Against Mahmoud Khalil Highlights Marco Rubio's Vast Power To Deport People for Their Opinions
• Mistakenly deported man's attorneys demand his return using Trump's own words
• Trump & Bukele Plot US Citizen Detention In Salvadoran Torture Camps, While Defying Supreme Court Via Gibberish Responses To Reporters
• Trump’s retribution sends a chilling message to dissenters
• The Lawless Evil Of Denying Due Process

Other items in the news:

• A Free Speech Fight in Maine
• Virginia’s bellwether governor race is set
• How does Gen Z really feel about democracy?
• Social Security Administration ‘will be using X to communicate’ moving forward

We’re all over Bluesky!

• CLPVA on Bluesky: @clpvirginia.org
• Liberal Party USA on Bluesky: @liberalpartyusa.bsky.social
• Brian on Bluesky: @biodoss.bsky.social
• Chris on Bluesky: @frashure.bsky.social
• Andy on Bluesky: @andyjabbour.bsky.social

More:

• Classical Liberal Party of Virginia Open markets. Open minds. Free people. https://clpvirginia.org
• Liberal Party USA: ⁠https://www.liberalpartyusa.org⁠
• Facebook: Classical Liberal Party of Virginia
• Instagram: classicalliberalpartyva
• X, formerly Twitter: @clpvirginia
• Chris Frashure: The Open Mode
• Andy’s Substack: America’s Awesome