THE UPSHOT

Good news on Trump’s tariffs

The bad news about Trump’s tariffs is easy to find. The chances of the economy entering a recession have risen to 60%, thousands of U.S. factory workers have already lost their jobs, and the stock market has lost trillions of dollars in value.

• But when you zoom out—not ignoring the pain but trying to understand it in perspective—there could be some very good news in all this.

First, Trump’s idiotic trade war is both politically poisonous for him and his movement—and second, it may just trigger massive changes in how our oppressive economic system works.

THE LATEST: Stocks went on a wild ride yesterday—thanks in no small part to some (actual) fake news that gave desperate capitalists a momentary glimmer of hope that Trump might delay implementation of his tariffs.

• Instead, the White House denied those claims—with Trump himself doubling down on social media.

Instead, the billionaire nepo-baby scolded Americans: “Don’t be Weak! Don’t be Stupid!“

BIG PICTURE: Needless to say, an unpopular president forcing an unpopular tax increase down Americans’ throats is a terrible political strategy—good news for anybody opposed to fascism.

• Economic worries largely got Trump elected last November. But now, a majority of Americans disapprove of Trump’s economic plans—even before the full effects of the tariffs are felt.

The last time the public disapproved this much of a president’s handling of the economy was Jimmy Carter—and it took Carter 11 months to reach the abysmal numbers Trump has put up in just 11 weeks.

• Plus, Trump’s tariffs are even more unpopular among the voters who gave him the small boost he needed to win the 2024 election.

If last week’s absolute landslide victory in Wisconsin is any indication—the midterm elections may be a stunning rebuke to the fascist MAGA movement—and that’s good news.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: The economic populism that swept Trump into office just may be the final death blow an economic system that heavily favors the rich: neoliberal capitalism.

• Trump’s massive tariffs are the exact opposite of neoliberal orthodoxy—which claims that the best market is a “free” market (with free in quotes because it isn’t actually free).

That “free” market ideology destroyed America’s middle class and enslaved poor workers across the world—but gave rise to a renewed demand that the economy work for all, not just the wealthy.

• Even Biden—a corporate Democrat who repeatedly declared he’s a capitalist—capitulated to progressive demands for more worker protection and pushed for a stronger social safety net.

BIG PICTURE: And neoliberalism coming to end is (potentially) a good thing. But—what will follow neoliberal capitalism?

• That’s up to us—and if we’re willing to fight for a system that works for all.

GO DEEPER: Something far worse than a recession may be coming.

📰 Most important stories

There’s a lot of BS out there. Here’s what’s actually important—and why.

Supreme Court says Trump can use wartime law for deportations, but only after judges’ review

Why it matters: Although ruling last night that Trump can use an 18th century law to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members, the court also ruled that those about to be deported must be able to “actually seek” relief before being deported. This is a huge win—every refugee deserves due process. The Court reaffirmed that. Full story from Politico.

Israel demolishes everything in path to create “buffer zone” with Gaza

Why it matters: “Israel’s military has transformed every bit of Gazan territory within about half a mile of the Israeli border into a wasteland.” That sort of wanton destruction is a war crime. Full story from CNN.

Trump may hold a military parade on his birthday

Why it matters: Washington city officials say they’ve been approached by the White House about hosting a military parade—an idea floated in his first term—on his birthday in June. The White House says no parade has been “scheduled.” Wait ‘til those DOGE teenagers who hate waste hear about this one. Full story from The New Republic.

A NEW HOPE

The resistance arrives

The one question on everybody’s mind in the days and weeks after Trump’s inauguration was—where is the opposition? This weekend we found out.

• On Saturday, an estimated 3 million Americans turned out for “Hands Off” protests against Trump and his fascist agenda.

It’s the biggest mass protest of Trump’s second term—so far.

THE DETAILS: Led by the progressive activist groups Indivisible, 50501, and Women’s March, protesters turned out at over 1,400 demonstrations across all 50 states and a dozen sites globally.

• Over 100,000 people attended the Washington, D.C., rally—ten times more than organizers were expecting.

• New York City also saw over 100,000 people turn out, captured in this stunning photo marching up 5th Avenue.

• Even deep red states saw protests with thousands of people, including outside the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka, downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota, flood-ravaged Asheville, North Carolina, and outside the Utah Statehouse in Salt Lake City.

A former New Jersey state senator, now 90 years old, even hosted a demonstration at her senior living facility.

There was only one report of violence: a Trump supporter with a gun threatened protesters in Lafayette, Indiana. Luckily no one was seriously (physically) injured.

WHAT’S NEXT: The people have taken the streets and we’re not giving them back.

• 50501 is already planning another day of action on Saturday, April 19.

• Bernie Sanders’ Stop Oligarchy tour has announced upcoming rallies in California, Utah, Montana and Idaho.

As Mother Jones put it: You can stop asking, ‘where is the opposition?’ It’s everywhere.

MORE: BuzzFeed put together a list of the 22 most clever signs from the protests.

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🗳️ Question of the day

On Thursday we asked: How are you feeling about the world right now? Despite some recent good news, a slight majority of people is still feeling depressed.

READERS WRITE: Joh said they’re “hopeful after Wisconsin …and Cory Booker!“

But one reader from Michigan wrote, “a few good notes don’t reverse two months of evil with 46 more months to go.”

Nevertheless, as Marie wrote, “Long as we have hope , we will overcome!!!!!”

TODAY’S QUESTION: This week we want to know, did you take part in Saturday’s protests? Tell us about it after you vote!

👀 Under the Radar

Here are some stories the algorithm may have kept out of your feed.

• Tim Walz is going viral for what he just said on tape about Kamala Harris

• Bernie will hold a major televised Town Hall this week—here are the details

• Supreme Court shows rare common sense on gun control

• Video shows Israel lied about killing emergency workers in Gaza

• Jon Stewart: Donald Trump’s latest nickname proves he’s finished

• A huge basketball star is facing deportation after Trump’s latest visa chaos

• DOGE goons just caused a major f-up at Social Security 

• An ‘evolutionary force’ has ‘de-extincted’ an animal that hasn’t been seen in 10,000 years

• A new report says one area could lose 80,000 homes in the next 15 years due to climate change

• One MLB team is under fire for visiting Trump at the White House—and Jackie Robinson would be outraged

• One of Trump’s cabinet members has been demanding freshly baked cookies and other ‘alarming’ perks 

• Stephen Miller is calling on Congress to ‘step up’ and abolish one of the last things standing in Trump’s way