Oren Cass, founder and chief economist at American Compass, discusses what's driving the Trump administration's aggressive new approach to trade in North America and around the world. Cass explains why the New Right rejects the old "America as benevolent hegemon" model, how tariffs fit into its broader vision of balanced trade relationships, and where its thinking diverges from both traditional conservatism and the New Left. He also explores what this realignment means for labour policy, industrial strategy, the future of the Republican coalition, and ultimately Canada.

This episode is produced in partnership with the New North America Initiative at the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary. From the shifting ideologies of the New Right and the New Left in the U.S., this multi-month series will bring Canadians inside debates on trade, globalization, and power that are likely to shape America's policy direction — and Canada's interests — for the years and decades to come.

The New North America Initiative is generously funded in part by the Government of Alberta.

Learn more about the initiative: https://newnorthamerica.org.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this multimedia content do not necessarily represent those of the New North America Initiative, the School of Public Policy, or the University of Calgary. This content has been made available for informational purposes, and our role in production does not constitute an endorsement.

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CREDITS:

Elia Gross - Producer and Editor Sean Speer - Host Carlo Dade and Alexander Giordano - New North America Initiative