Axis of Reason

This week, the mental gymnastics rational Republicans undertake in defending President Trump's conduct with Ukraine. Plus, why recent polling in swing states shows Trump is in a better position for reelection than a lot of people think.

Two decades after the Bill Clinton impeachment, Trump-supporting Republicans are defending against the same arguments they made in favor of impeaching Bill Clinton.

This week, we break down the impeachment madness and what's going on with Ukraine.

Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Combatting Terrorism Juan Zarate joins us to discuss the implications for U.S. national security if Iran is responsible for the recent drone attack on Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure. Juan is currently chairman and co-founder of the Financial Integrity Network, a consultancy advising clients on sanctions and anti-money-laundering compliance.

It's not only the Democrats that are vying to run against President Trump. At least two Republicans have thrown their hat into the ring to challenge him. But, do they have a chance?

The U.S. economy is entering the longest expansion in U.S. history. But, it could be getting long in the tooth. The economic turmoil and relentless uncertainty of Trump’s mercurial trade policies are making businesses more reluctant to expand. The New York Times' Neil Irwin joins us to talk about whether this all adds up to a recession on the horizon.

How the Recession of 2020 Could Happen

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/17/upshot/how-the-recession-of-2020-could-happen.html

Neils new book, How to Win, is available here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J4RSKYZ?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&pf_rd_r=F1QFSJVXFZV0AE9W0P7D

Jeffrey Epstein has long been a political hot potato. His relationships with powerful political figures, including Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, has long fed partisan conspiracy theories. Both sides are certain the other was mixed up in his crimes.

Epstein's death this weekend had the fringes of the right convinced that the Clinton's were behind it. To a lesser extent the left made the same sort of accusations about Trump. How the toxicity of Jeffrey Epstein's and his connections with politicians made his death a fertile battlefield for partisan nonsense.

Plus, the Trump Administration announced a partial delay in the next round of China tariffs for some consumer products. We break down what it really means and why American consumers are likely to feel more pain from this next round of tariffs than they did the last.

In this week’s Axis of Reason, what the shootings in El Paso and Dayton say about our current political moment. Trump readies new tariffs on China and labels Beijing a currency manipulator. We discuss what it means and where this all is headed. (Episode 40)

As Congress strikes yet another deal to raise the debt ceiling (and spending), it's worth asking what is debt ceiling good for if all it does is give politicians an excuse to hold America's credit hostage for more spending? Journalist Kevin Carmichael, who has just written an excellent new column on the subject to discuss.

Kevin Carmichael New budget deal doesn't fix the debt ceiling — the world's most inane attempt at fiscal restraint

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/new-budget-deal-doesn-t-fix-debt-ceiling-world-s-ncna1032581

This week, we talk with best-selling author James Rickards about his new book, Aftermath: Seven Secrets of Wealth Preservation in the Coming Chaos. Jim explains why he thinks the extraordinary steps central banks took to tame the great recession, an explosion in the national debt fueled by spending-addicted politicians, and general political dysfunction have put the global economy on a collision course with calamity. Aftermath will be released on July 23rd, but is available now for pre-order from Amazon and other booksellers.

GET THE BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735216959?tag=randohouseinc7986-20&author-follow=B0058M3XL8&