Podbit · The Bulwark Podcast
Trump refused to renew the USMCA — a trade deal he called the best ever — replacing it with yearly shakedowns of Canada and Mexico. Susan Glasser explains this isn't just chaos: it's Trump's monarchical view of economic governance, where all deals flow through him personally, and unpredictability is the point.
Where this was said
At 31:20 · chapter starts 29:50
Tim Miller flags the strange decision not to renew the USMCA, noting Trump has called it 'the best trade deal of all time.' Susan Glasser explains this isn't inconsistency — it's design [1] — Susan Glasser "Trump refused to renew the USMCA — a trade deal he called the best ever — replacing it with yearly shakedowns of Canada and Mexico. Susan G…" 31:20 . Trump's preferred economic governance is monarchical: not predictable rules and treaties, but munificent decisions from a tsar who doles out favors and punishments personally. She adds that Trump's animus toward Canada is increasingly personal — directed at Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has built a profile as the leader of middle-power resistance to Trump's brand of authoritarianism. Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico has similarly shown backbone. The result for farmers, Tim notes, is one hit after another — and yet rural support for Trump remains durable, which Susan suggests is itself part of what Trump finds gratifying: proving his base will tolerate any humiliation.
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