1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: For the second year in a row. Now Donald Trump 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: has basically rained on the parade that is our economic recovery. 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: The economists this week of being busy beavering away updating 4 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: their economic forecast, so we can kiss goodbye to up 5 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,159 Speaker 1: to a third of our growth for the year. What 6 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: was about three percent is now about two percent. It's 7 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: groundhog day. This is exactly what happened last year with 8 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: the tariffs. Remember, of course you do. The recovery begins 9 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: in earnest there are signs of life, and then Trump 10 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: posts on truth social and the world comes crashing down 11 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: around him. If Karmala Harris was in the White House 12 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: controversial hot take. If Krmala Harris was in the White House, 13 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: our economy would probably be up on the foils by now. 14 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: Recession would be a distant memory. Life probably would be 15 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: better for your average Kiwi. Now, a Harris presidency could 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: arguably have been much worse for Americans and their fortunes, 17 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: but who cares. We live here. The question is whether 18 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: the midterm elections are actually going to change anything for 19 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: Trump and the and by extension US, and the answer is, basically, 20 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: even if the Republicans lose the midterms, Trump still has 21 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: the power to start wars and do tariffs. The courts 22 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: have slapped down some of them, but he's found other 23 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: ways of doing things, other ways around it. Trump is 24 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: the commander in chief and doesn't need Congress to blow 25 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: stuff up. He didn't with Iran. No sign off for 26 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:23,479 Speaker 1: the blockade in Venezuela. Same goes for deposing Maduro threatening Greenland. 27 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: Under the US Constitution, the military reports to the president. 28 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: As for the tariffs, you just find some national security 29 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,479 Speaker 1: reasons to impose them. There's an unfair trade imbalance, there's 30 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: offenanal crisis. Whatever, you're in business. So for those hoping 31 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: that November's midterm elections would put Trump back in a 32 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: box and keep a lid on his tactics, you're out 33 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: of luck. Sure, hostile Congress has more power. They can 34 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: withhold funding for wars, they can create legal problems for tariffs, 35 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,919 Speaker 1: but there is no silver bullet to the executive powers 36 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: which Trump is using and we are paying for. He's 37 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: two from two years in rocking the boat, and there's 38 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: no real reason to think the next two will be 39 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: much different. For more from early edition with Ryan Bridge, 40 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: listen live to news talks, it'd be from five am weekdays, 41 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.