The crew examines the 2025 U.S. tariff strategy, dissecting who benefits, who pays, and the far-reaching ripple effects on industries and daily life. From price hikes on imported cars to the global chess match of trade retaliation, this episode makes the shifting landscape of tariffs accessible and engaging.
Chapter 1
Franklin "Frank" McAllister
Alright, yâall, welcome back to The New Sentinel. Frank here, and today weâre wrangling with tariffsâthose big olâ price tags slapped on imports. Now, I know âtariffâ sounds like something youâd find in a dusty economics textbook, but stick with us. Weâre talkinâ 60% or more on Chinese goods, andâget thisâup to 200% on vehicles from Mexico. Thatâs not just a number on a spreadsheet. Thatâs a wall, or maybe a shield, dependinâ how you look at it.
Evangeline "Evie" Dugas
Yeah, Frank, and like, itâs not just about keeping out the competition, right? These tariffs are supposed to protect U.S. manufacturingâlike, give our folks a fighting chance. And, um, the governmentâs looking at almost $900 billion a year in revenue if these stick. Thatâs a lotta crawfish boils, yâall! But seriously, thatâs money that could go into schools, roads, or, you know, disaster relief when the next hurricane rolls through.
Chijioke Eze
You know, Evie, in Nigeria we say, âWhen the drum beats loud, the dancers must follow.â These tariffsâthey make a lot of noise. But they also give America a strong hand in negotiations. Countries like Vietnam, the UK, Japanâthey all have to listen when the U.S. brings tariffs to the table. Itâs leverage, pure and simple. But, ah, sometimes the music changes before the dance is done.
Carlos Estevez
And, look, from a tech guyâs angle, itâs not just about the money. Itâs about power. If you can threaten tariffs, you can get better dealsâmaybe force a country to open up their markets or play fair. But, uh, Frank, you mentioned seeing this play out in your own backyard, right?
Franklin "Frank" McAllister
Yeah, Carlos. So, picture this: my old hometown in Texas, used to be all tumbleweeds and shuttered plants. Then, after some of these trade policies kicked in, I saw a couple factories fire up again. Folks I grew up withâguys whoâd been outta work for yearsâsuddenly had jobs on the line. Now, I gotta ask: does real protection mean real jobs for folks on the ground, or is it just a flash in the pan? Yâall still with me, or did I lose ya in the weeds?
Evangeline "Evie" Dugas
No, Frank, Iâm right there with you. Itâs like, the promise is real, but I always wonderâhow long does it last? And whoâs really getting the benefit? Is it the workers, or just the big companies?
Chapter 2
Carlos Estevez
So, letâs flip the coin. These tariffs, theyâre not all sunshine, right? I mean, imported carsâup 12%. Thatâs not just a number, thatâs your neighborâs new ride costing thousands more. And donât even get me started on tech. I saw a projectionâiPhones could hit $2,300. Thatâs wild. Whoâs buying that?
Evangeline "Evie" Dugas
Oh, totally, Carlos. And, like, itâs not just the sticker shock. Down in Louisiana, I know this auto parts supplierâfamily-run, been around since my grandpaâs day. Theyâre getting squeezed hard. Their costs are up, but they canât just pass it all on to customers, right? So, theyâre stuck in the middle, trying to keep the lights on and not lay off their crew. Itâs, um, a real mess for small businesses.
Chijioke Eze
Evie, thatâs the thing. When the river floods, it doesnât just wash away one farm. These tariffsâthey disrupt the whole supply chain. Tech, autos, you name it. Parts from China, Taiwan, Vietnamâthey all get more expensive. And, ah, when business leaders see this kind of unpredictability, they hesitate. Investors get nervous. Long-term plans? They go out the window. In the army, we used to say, âIf you donât know where the landmines are, you walk slow.â Thatâs whatâs happening nowâeveryoneâs walking slow.
Franklin "Frank" McAllister
Chijioke, you nailed it. I mean, back in the oil patch, if the rules changed every week, nobodyâd drill a well. You gotta have some certainty, or folks just sit on their hands. And thatâs what Iâm hearing from some of my old buddies in financeâtheyâre spooked. They donât know if they should invest or just wait it out.
Carlos Estevez
Yeah, and itâs not just the big shots. Itâs regular people, too. If prices keep jumping, folks might hold off on buying a car, or a new phone, or even just upgrading their home tech. That ripples outâhurts everyone, not just the companies at the top.
Chapter 3
Chijioke Eze
But, you know, every storm brings new rivers. Some companies are looking to bring production back homeâreshoring, they call it. Or theyâre finding new partners, like Vietnam. That could mean more jobs here, or at least less risk if one country decides to play hardball. And, ah, when things get tough, people get creativeâautomation, new materials, all that. Sometimes, pressure makes diamonds.
Evangeline "Evie" Dugas
Yeah, Chijioke, and like, Iâve seen some of that in the coastal parishes. Folks are hustling to find new suppliers, or even inventing ways to use local resources. But, um, thereâs a flip side. Chinaâs hitting back with 34% tariffs, and the EUâs got their ownâ20% on some U.S. goods. Thatâs a lotta tit-for-tat, and itâs scary for anyone who depends on exports.
Carlos Estevez
Evie, thatâs exactly it. I keep thinking about this ransomware attack I dealt with back in 2017âMiami business, totally blindsided. One day, everythingâs fine, next day, chaos. Thatâs what these trade wars feel like for companies that rely on exports. You never know when the next hitâs coming. And, uh, Deloitteâs saying U.S. GDP growth could drop below 1% in 2026 if this keeps up. Thatâs not just a blipâthatâs a slowdown you feel in your wallet.
Franklin "Frank" McAllister
Carlos, thatâs a good point. Itâs like, you can build a fence to keep out trouble, but sometimes you end up locking yourself in, too. I reckon the next few yearsâll show if these tariffs are a shield, a sword, or just a heavy load for everyone to carry. Weâll be here to keep an eye on it, thatâs for sure.
Evangeline "Evie" Dugas
Yâall, this was a wild ride. Thanks for breaking it down with me. Iâm already looking forward to what we dig into next time.
About the podcast
The New Sentinel is a podcast dedicated to providing in-depth discussions and deep dives into a wide array of topics. From the glitz and glamour of pop culture to the strategic intricacies of military operations, we cover it all. Each episode is thoughtfully crafted to offer listeners a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, featuring expert interviews, detailed analysis, and engaging storytelling. Whether you're a pop culture enthusiast or someone with a keen interest in global security, The New Sentinel has something for everyone. Tune in to stay informed and entertained.
Chijioke Eze
Thank you, my friends. As my father would say, âThe road is long, but we walk it together.â Until next time.
Carlos Estevez
Stay sharp, everybody. Donât let the headlines get you down. Catch you on the next episode.
Franklin "Frank" McAllister
Alright, folks, thatâs a wrap from The New Sentinel crew. Take care, and weâll see yâall down the road.