Trump's Tariffs and Global Democracy at Risk

Morag McAllister

So, Trump's trade policies—it's just chaos, isn’t it? I mean, he announces sweeping tariffs one day, then backs off the next. No one can plan around that. Businesses operate on stability, not whiplash. And without that stability? Everything crumbles—trade deals, pricing strategies, you name it.

Eric Marquette

It creates this incredible atmosphere of uncertainty, not just for corporations but for everyday people. Michael Tomasky really hit the nail on the head there—tariffs are just taxes by another name. At the end of the day, it’s American families paying more for goods, right?

Morag McAllister

Exactly! And worse, it makes us, you know, look foolish on the global stage. He says he’ll shut down the Education Department—doesn’t. Says he'll hire then fires and rehires people. How can anyone take American policy seriously if it’s changing on a whim?

Eric Marquette

And it’s not ‘just’ about looking foolish. Those everyday costs you referenced—they add up, especially for lower-income families. Tariffs on imports mean higher prices at the register. A lot of households are already stretched thin, and something like, I don’t know, a 20% price bump on staples—it can hurt.

Morag McAllister

Mm-hmm. And I’ll say this—Trump’s unpredictability? It’s policymaking as theater. When I was at Harvard, there was this debate on trade policies, and someone compared tariffs to, uh, let’s see—Scotland’s Darien scheme. A disaster from the get-go. We’re talkin’ centuries ago, right? But the lesson’s the same—you don’t gamble wildly with your economy.

Eric Marquette

Right, right. And Trump seems to double down on these erratic moves, hoping something sticks. But what’s interesting is how his rhetoric has shifted. During the campaign, tariffs looked like these bold, central promises. Now, they're flimsy, delayed, or even scrapped outright when the market pushes back.

Morag McAllister

Oh, but that’s classic Trump. Ignore the long-term fallout, just chase the headlines, right? It’s shallow, it’s unsustainable, and it puts the average American—the voter he claims to champion—at a significant disadvantage. Only, they’re too distracted to notice they’re footing the bill!

Eric Marquette

So it feels like—while he’s busy playing to the crowd’s emotions—businesses and global trade partners are being forced to take drastic measures to protect themselves from this volatility. A less reliable United States? That impacts everyone.

Morag McAllister

And the cost—we’re already seeing it. Just ask anyone trying to import machinery or export agriculture. They're stuck between his promises and his U-turns, and it’s not sustainable.

Morag McAllister

And that’s exactly the kind of fallout we’ve been talking about—it’s not just economic. Senator Malhuret’s warnings strike at the heart of the issue. He said it quite plainly—Trump’s actions risk dismantling alliances that have held the Western world together for decades. NATO, global coalitions, even basic trust between allies—it’s all crumbling.

Eric Marquette

And that’s a terrifying thought. I mean, the idea that the U.S., which has always been this bedrock of democratic stability, could waver like this? It leaves allies in a really precarious spot. No one knows if America will defend them or turn the other cheek.

Morag McAllister

Precarious? It’s downright dangerous, Eric. Take Ukraine as an example. Trump pats Zelensky on the back one moment, then leaves him high and dry the next. Halts weapon shipments, undermines him at the UN—what kind of ally does that?

Eric Marquette

Right, and what message does that send to other leaders—Putin, Xi Jinping? If they see America abandoning its allies, it emboldens them. They think, “Why not act now? The U.S. won’t stop us.”

Morag McAllister

Exactly. Malhuret compared it to Nero’s court—fire, chaos, power plays. And for what? Some fleeting political advantage? Meanwhile, the long-term implications—those could be catastrophic. A fractured Europe, an isolated U.S., rising authoritarianism—it’s the stuff of history books, Eric.

Eric Marquette

And the media plays a huge role here. It shapes how Americans understand these dynamics. If the press fails to connect those dots—how this impacts global democracy—then public accountability just evaporates. People focus on the soundbites, not the consequences.

Morag McAllister

Oh, don’t even get me started on soundbites. That’s what Trump thrives on, right? Oversimplify the narrative, distract everyone with drama. But allies, they’re not looking for drama—they need dependability. Without that, we’re all worse off.

Eric Marquette

And you know, it’s not just the allies. This affects Americans too. It’s their security, their economy, and, ultimately, their trust in leadership that’s on the line. It reminds me of what Malhuret said about resilience—how democracy can still push back. That’s what gives me hope.

Morag McAllister

Hope is all good and well, but without concrete action? It’s meaningless. Alliances don’t rebuild themselves, Eric. And every reckless decision pushes us further from recovery.

Morag McAllister

Eric, it’s exactly that lack of concrete action that worries me. When alliances crumble and reckless decisions prevail, we flirt dangerously with history’s darkest warnings—the Weimar Republic, for instance. A fragile democracy teetering on collapse paved the way for devastating consequences. Are we not repeating those same mistakes in this so-called modern era? The cost of ignoring history is far too high.

Eric Marquette

Yeah, it’s like history’s echoing back at us. The erosion of trust in institutions, unchecked authoritarianism—and the gradual normalization of these patterns. It’s all a recipe for disaster if we don’t act. But I wonder—how do we break the cycle when things feel so entrenched?

Morag McAllister

Well, it starts with calling it out. Like what Malhuret did—he didn’t mince words. We’re watching the dismantling of democratic values at a global level. And Trump’s foreign policy? It’s, uh, turning international norms into a punchline. Territorial integrity, alliances—it’s all up for grabs while he pushes his own agenda.

Eric Marquette

And the ripple effects are staggering. Ukraine, for instance—Trump’s erratic moves send such a dangerous message. His abandonment of allies undermines not just Ukraine but the entire principle of collective security. That principle kept the post-war world stable.

Morag McAllister

Right—and in Scotland, there’s a clear parallel. Democracy isn’t guaranteed. It’s hard-fought and easily lost. We’ve faced our own struggles—the push for independence, resisting authoritarian policies from Westminster. It might not be the same magnitude, but the fight for democratic values? It’s universal.

Eric Marquette

That’s such a powerful point, Morag. The fight for democracy really does connect us all. Whether it’s Scotland, Ukraine, or the U.S., it’s about resisting those who try to consolidate power at the expense of democratic freedoms. And we’ve seen, time and again, how small acts of resistance can have profound impacts.

Morag McAllister

Aye, but resistance alone isn’t enough. We need leadership. Accountability. Concrete steps to rebuild trust in our institutions. That’s what history teaches us. I mean, I I think of my family’s place in Glasgow—those old tenements stood for generations. But the moment the foundation was neglected? Cracks appeared. Same thing with democracy, Eric.

Eric Marquette

That’s such a vivid metaphor—it really drives the point home. And despite all the cracks, democracy can still endure. I mean, Malhuret’s faith in the resilience of American Democracy? That resonates. It’s not about perfection—it’s about persistence. People standing up, speaking out. That gives me hope.

Morag McAllister

Hope is good, as long as it leads to action. Without accountability, even the most resilient systems can crumble. We can’t afford complacency—not in the U.S., not in Europe, not anywhere.

Eric Marquette

Absolutely. And as dire as things may seem right now, history does remind us that the defenders of democracy have always been capable of fighting back and reclaiming their values. It’s a tough road ahead, but it’s not hopeless.

Morag McAllister

On that note, we’ll leave it there for today. Keep questioning, keep resisting, and most importantly—keep pushing for accountability. Thanks for listening.

Eric Marquette

Yes, thank you all for joining us. Until next time, stay informed and stay engaged.