Josh Barro and Jonathan V. Last: The Patriotic Cowboys Wrecking Our Economy

Finally, some accountability in Washington: Sen. Eric Schmitt’s general counsel and poster-holder is in career limbo after the infamous basketball mix-up in the Jack Smith hearing. And Americans seem to be holding Trump responsible for their economic frustrations—he’s below the Bush Line. Josh Barro explains: We’re not in a recession, but people feel stuck because borrowing costs are higher. Big budget deficits are inflationary, the president’s war of choice is making things worse, and our leaders don’t have a plan to deal with any of it. Plus, JVL explains why the markets are finally pricing in the risk of Trump’s war, and he and Tim discuss the weirdos running our government, Hegseth’s obsession with masculinity, and the importance of shame in a liberal democracy.

Josh Barro and Jonathan V. Last join Tim Miller.
show notes:

• Part one and part two of Tim’s list of Democrats who can win Red America
• TIME’s interview of Trump
• Subscribe to JVL’s Triad
• JVL on oil risk premiums
• Jodi Kantor for The New York Times on the public shaming of John Roberts
• Closing Song: The War on Drugs - Suffering