Opinion - Leland Vittert's War Notes: Willing to Try Anything

Yahoo

04-04-2025

WOW: We heard some incredible and heartwarming stories from you and about your families after the announcement of my new book, 'Born Lucky.'
We'll share some of them tonight – make sure you check out the comments on our Instagram and TikTok video announcements.
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Watch tonight: 12-time New York Times best-selling author and my co-writer for the book, Don Yaeger, joins tonight on the message of hope and promise of love and dedication that 'Born Lucky' offers.
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NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight's 9 pm ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.
Much of the media, credentialed class, experts, politicians, economists – virtually every part of America's elite – spent the day with their hair on fire about President Trump's tariffs.
As we told you in yesterday's 'War Notes,' Trump does not care – he believes in tariffs like a priest believes in the Pope.
'The markets are going to boom. The stock is going to boom. The country is going to boom — and the rest of the world wants to see is there any way they can make a deal,' President Trump told reporters earlier today.
For those wondering why Trump voters appear willing to give him a chance – at least in the short term – let me explain why:
The same credentialed Washington elite and the media that brought us:
The 2008 financial crisis – where Trump voters lost their homes while Wall Street got rich.
Told everyone to wear a mask and stay at home while paycheck-to-paycheck workers worked in plants so the elite could get their Amazon packages.
Went all in on DEI and Black Lives Matter, often at the expense of white working-class Americans.
Knew President Biden was struggling physically and mentally but largely refused to report it.
Demand boys must be able to play girls sports or you are transphobic.
It's the same credentialed elite and media who now say that Trump's tariffs are going to kill the American economy.
MSNBC's banner read, 'Trump tariff fallout begins as layoffs price hikes and retaliation tank markets.'
I don't want to say that Katy Tur and her guest were giddy, but they did seem to delight in telling everyone how terrible Trump's policies would be for the country and most of all his voters – HA!
Katy Tur anchored from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to drive home just how stupid Trump is.
CNN's banner read, 'Stocks battered as reality of Trump's tariffs sinks in/ stocks plunge, dollar weakens as recession fears grip Wall Street.'
Trump voters don't believe them – in fact, they are maybe a little happy that Wall Street is getting crushed.
Remember: Trump can selectively take the tariffs off as he sees fit.
As Bill O'Reilly explained earlier in the week, Trump likes the drama and wants to make deals and declare wins.
Those that give him wins will be rewarded.
Personal pain: Much of MAGA America – loosely defined as rural, mostly white and working-class people:
Are willing to give anything a chance because nothing else has worked.
Since the 1990s, their factories keep closing, their towns keep disappearing, their financial situation keeps getting worse.
They see the experts' plans making the experts and fellow elites richer, but not them richer.
So now when they see the 'experts' on TV, they laugh.
Almost as if when something is bad for elite and wealthy America, it must be good for them.
They might be okay with higher prices at the Dollar Tree – which just announced they might raise prices due to the tariffs – if it means factories and towns wiped out by low-cost overseas manufacturing see a boom in business.
Disclaimer:We told you last night that Trump is gambling with the American economy.
He's believed in tariffs since the 1980s, while Ronald Reagan pushed for fair trade and brought huge American economic expansions.
Consumers pay tariffs, not foreign countries.
As a 'War Notes' reader pointed out, if we are getting ripped off, as Trump says, why are we the richest and most powerful nation on Earth by a long shot?
It's going to get VERY ugly for a while – and the poorest always get hurt the worst.
But Trump might pull it off – we heard many of these same warnings about much smaller tariffs in his first term – economically, those tariffs ended up pretty well for everyone.
Then again, there are a lot of people who think I am wrong – see above.
Early wins: GM announced increased truck production at its Fort Wayne, Indiana, plant.
Pro tip: Trump should go to the plant tomorrow and hand out donuts to the third shift rather than taking the weekend at Mar-a-Lago.
Bad news: Stellantis announced that it will be temporarily laying off 900 employees at plants in Warren and Sterling Heights, Michigan, and Kokomo, Indiana.
Watch tonight: Bill Kristol and Scott Walker, plus Stephen Capone, president of Capone Iron Corporation, and Mayor Norman Bauer of Stanton, Tennessee, join us.
Tune into 'On Balance with Leland Vittert' weeknights at 9/8 CT on NewsNation. Find your channel here.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.
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