C: We haven’t talked about Trump for a few months. How would you grade his economy?
M: C-plus. Maybe a D-minus.
S: A-plus.
C: Mark, you’ve given him a pretty low grade. Why?
M: He did cut my taxes, so I didn’t give him an F. His random, capricious interventions in the economy are causing me and my car dealership lots of problems. The tariffs are killing us. We’re selling 2023 models that no one wanted before to avoid jacking up prices. Profits are down. And it’s not going to get any better anytime soon.
C: Leaving aside your personal issues, how would you rate the macro elements of the economy?
M: Unemployment is up slightly. Inflation hasn’t fallen; in fact, practically everything Trump is doing is designed to increase prices. Poor people are struggling. There is no industrial renaissance. The deportations are causing labor shortages. There’s nothing here to celebrate.
C: Sebastian, why do you think the economy is so great?
S: Gas prices are down. There’s hope again. Trump is sticking it to the people I hate. That’s what I really care about.
C: It sounds like your evaluation isn’t really based on the state of the economy.
S: What’s really important to me is showing blue America who’s the boss. That’s Trump, and by extension, people like me. It may not make me money, but it sure feels good.
C: What do you think of the “No Kings” protests?
S: I want Trump to be a king. I want him to burn down blue America. Those people are getting what they deserve from him.
C: How do you feel about his attacks on the universities?
M: Some of his ideas about protecting conservatives on campus are OK. But, as a taxpayer, I want money for cancer research to go to the most qualified people, not to people who agree with Trump about trans people. That’s just stupid.
S: It’s another example of Trump fulfilling his promises to inflict pain on the elites. I totally approve of that. If some money gets wasted in the process, that’s OK.
C: What about sending troops to American cities?
M: It’s unnecessary and divisive. It could lead to big trouble in the future.
S: Still another example of Trump showing the bad guys who’s boss.
C: And the indictments of Trump’s enemies?
S: They’re getting what they deserve. They did it to him first.
M: That turns my stomach. It tells you that anyone who speaks out against Trump could be next.
S: Yeah, it could be you, RINO.
C: That’s enough for today.