I really don’t have one for much of a diary or for links, but I want to lay down a marker right here. Donald Trump suddenly blurred out his new tariff policy on March 1st with absolutely no roll out, no prepared remarks, no rules written, no prior effort to get congressional buy in — none of the hallmarks of a serious policy move.
So what prompted his sudden, dramatic, controversial actions?
For my money, it was Charlie Cook moving the PA-18 race from lean Republican to toss-up on February 28th. That was the real emergency Trump was responding to. He is hungry for a W and thinks this little stunt could put him over the top for this one congressional seat.
If I’m right, look for him to soften his trade war rhetoric on 3/14.