The Lincoln Logue — May 12th-17th
Your weekly guide to life under Trump 2.0. Part Orwellian, part reality TV, fully on fire.
Welcome back to The Lincoln Logue, where we track the chaos, cut through the fog, and remind you that yes, it’s really happening.
For those just joining us: The Lincoln Logue is your weekly dive into Trump’s second term — the authoritarian escalation, the Democratic response (or strategic silence), and the global fallout. We connect the dots between headlines, agencies, and ideologies. And we don’t pretend that this is normal.
At Lincoln Square, we believe that logging the chaos isn’t enough. We believe in linking outrage to action, analysis to strategy, and receipts to resistance. Because in times like these, shouting into the void is not enough — but mocking fascists, mobilizing your community, and refusing to accept apathy as a coping mechanism? That’s where we start.
This week, RFK Jr. testified before Congress and told Americans to ignore his own department, and DHS floated a Hunger Games-style reality show where immigrants compete for U.S. citizenship — because of course they did.
A week like this can leave you numb. But numbness is what they want. You’re here. You’re still reading. Let’s keep going.
Monday, May 12 — Trump Declares Victory in the Trade War He Started, Offers 30% Tariffs as a Gift
▌It’s economic Stockholm Syndrome in real time.
Tracking the trade war in 2025 feels like getting repeatedly punched in the gut — and today’s news is that Trump’s stopped using brass knuckles. For now.
After weeks of economic chaos, market crashes, and businesses teetering on collapse, the U.S. and China have agreed to a 90-day tariff “detente.” Trump has rolled back his punitive 145% tariffs on most Chinese imports to a still-bonkers 30%, and China has responded by lowering its 125% retaliatory tariffs to 10%.
In the twisted reality of Trump 2.0, that’s what passes for relief. Wall Street cheered like a hostage blinking in Morse code. Markets soared Monday, not because 30% tariffs are good — they’re not — but because Trump, for once, didn’t escalate the fire he started.
But let’s be clear: even at 30%, this tariff regime is still expected to raise consumer prices nearly 2% — costing the average U.S. household $2,800 this year, according to Yale Budget Lab. Unemployment is projected to rise by .4 percentage points, with an additional 456,000 jobs lost by year’s end.
While Trump spits on the American consumer and tells us it’s raining (money that is!) and last week’s “landmark” U.K. trade deal (that wasn’t actually a deal), economists remain unconvinced. Growth is slowing. Prices are climbing. And businesses still have no idea what policy will look like in 24 hours because Trump’s priorities shift with every Fox News chyron.
As economist Justin Wolfers put it: “Today we have good news, but what would really be good news is if someone just took the button away from him.”
Yes, 30% is better than 145%. But if you’re still paying for it, it’s not a deal — it’s extortion with better lighting.
Source: CNN