In this heavyweight edition of Devolution Power Hour, Jon Herold and Burning Bright break down the multi-layered global chessboard unfolding around Donald Trump’s aggressive new tariffs, and the cascading geopolitical, economic, and narrative consequences they’re triggering.

The duo dives deep into Trump’s 125% tariff strike against China, unpacking how this move is not just about trade, but about forcing a global realignment. They reveal how over 75 nations are now rushing to the table to strike “bespoke” trade deals, effectively isolating China and trapping it in an economic pincer movement. Scott Bessent’s economic strategy and the public narrative around “surrounding China” is dissected with precision, as Herold and Bright explore whether this is a true trade war, or a coordinated decoupling effort with Xi himself.

From bond market anomalies and treasury yield chaos to Main Street vs. Wall Street dynamics, the hosts propose that Trump may be gaming the Federal Reserve into lowering interest rates, using tariff pressure, asset repositioning, and even China’s own moves against it. They also question whether all these global deals have already been made behind the scenes...and we’re just watching the theatrical rollout.

In the second half, they shift focus to the CNN article on Trump’s dismantling of Obama-era election infrastructure. With CISA gutted, DHS funding pulled, and election security networks disbanded, they argue that Trump is not just “fortifying” 2024, he’s surgically removing the entire rigged narrative scaffolding erected since 2016. They bring receipts from Trump’s executive order, comment on Chris Krebs’ nervous media appearances, and explore why the media is warning of chaos in 2025.

With humor, clarity, and a whole lot of receipts, this episode exposes the quiet demolition of the old regime and asks the question no one else is asking: what if it’s all going exactly to plan?