Conversation

One weird thing that happens with authoritarian leaders is that they make stupid decisions that make no sense, and nobody can tell them no.

I understand why people want to read some big master plan into Trump's tariffs, but IMO it's as simple that it's a fixed set of dumb beliefs in protectionism that nobody can talk him out of. He's been saying the same nonsense since the 1980s.

All authoritarian leaders do stupid shit like this. That's why you don't want to end up with authoritarian leaders.