Who Cares About Tariffs? w/Richard Wolff

And Sonali Kolhatkar on politicized antisemitism. (Two videos)

In all the debates about tariffs, the question of inflation almost always comes up when discussing their effect working people—and then, only as it applies to American workers. In this conversation, economist Richard Wolff and I discuss tariffs from a broader perspective: will they help or hurt the cause of economic justice?

Prof. Wolff argues that tariffs are regressive taxes that disproportionately harm working-class individuals, using the example of electric vehicles from China. We discuss how free trade agreements have hurt American workers. I raise the idea of “people’s tariffs” as a tool for building global worker solidarity by demanding global minimum standards for wages, working conditions, and environmental protection.

Prof. Wolff challenges the notion of a "win-win" economic scenario for employers and workers, whether in globalization or protectionist policies. He even raises a provocative question: should the left join the tariff debate at all?

Illustration from “Information for the People,” a serialized encyclopedia in newspaper form. Published 1856 (est.) by William and Robert Chambers, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Sonali Kolhatkar: “Anti-Semitism Act” is Anti-Speech

Sonali and I discuss the proposed Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, which was passed by the House, died in the Senate, but still lingers in the political atmosphere.

The bill would have used a misguided and even warped definition of antisemitism to criminalize legitimate speech about Israel. One example: House Republicans included an amendment allowing people to accuse “the Jews” of killing Jesus—a classic anti-semitic trope—while silencing political commentary made by Jewish critics of the Israeli nation.

We also explore the difference between antisemitism and anti-Zionism, noting the significant involvement of Jewish students and organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace in pro-Palestinian activism.