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Rand Paul on Tariffs, Trade Wars, and the Myth of a Hollowed-Out Middle Class | Just Asking Questions

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Senator Rand Paul has been speaking out against Trump's tariffs, as well as supporting bills to repeal his emergency powers that allowed him to levy tariffs on Canada. He joins the show today to rail against tariffs, espouse basic economics, and to promote his own bill, the No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2025.

This interview was recorded on April 8, 2025.

In this episode of Just Asking Questions, Senator Rand Paul joins Reason’s Zach Weissmueller and Liz Wolfe to break down the economic myths behind tariffs, trade wars, and presidential overreach.

🔹 Is the president abusing emergency powers to impose tariffs? 🔹 Has the American middle class truly been "hollowed out" by globalization? 🔹 What does Rand Paul think about Trump’s economic rhetoric? 🔹 Why trade deficits aren't the evil they're made out to be. 🔹 The real causes of inflation, manufacturing decline, and economic inequality.

Senator Paul also defends his Taxation Without Representation Act, argues for congressional authority on tariffs, and explains why free trade and capitalism remain key to prosperity—even for working-class Americans.

This conversation challenges populist narratives on both the left and right and offers a principled, pro-liberty perspective on trade, economics, and the role of government.

Chapters:
00:00 Coming up...
00:22 Can the president start a trade war alone?
03:43 Congress vs. Emergency Powers on Tariffs
05:29 Rand Paul reacts to Trump’s market and trade comments
08:27 Is the middle class really hollowed out?
13:17 Tariffs, class warfare, and the MAGA Left
15:51 Debunking the Rust Belt narrative and the future of jobs
20:04 Rand Paul on the Taxation Without Representation Act