Council of Councils
Think Global Health
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Introduction
Over the last several decades, governments have collectively pledged to slow global warming. But despite intensified diplomacy, the world is already facing the consequences of climate…
Show Notes
Get caught up on the first four seasons:
Season four:
“Hyperventilating Over Hypersonics”
“The Climate for Nuclear Energy”
“Mexico”
“Sexual Assault in the U.S. Military”
“Perspective on Afghanistan, With Richard N. Haass”
“When the Microchips Are Down”
Season three:
“A Global Shot in the Arm, With Anthony Fauci”
“The Most Persistent and Lethal Threat”
“Russia”
“China’s Starring Role in Hollywood”
“A Climate Bomb in the Amazon”
Season two:
“Why We Need International Students”
“The Human Cost of Labor Trafficking”
“Bonus Episode: ‘A Medically Induced Economic Coma’”
Season one:
“China Doesn’t Want Your Trash”
“New Years Special: 2020 Hindsight”
“The One Where We Talk About NATO at a Party”
Tariffs are often discussed in big, abstract terms—trade wars, economic strategy, global power struggles. But for ginseng farmers in Wisconsin, their effects are painfully personal. In this episode, Why It Matters dives into how tariffs work and how they’re hitting one of America's most niche yet lucrative exports: Wisconsin-grown ginseng.
Is a trade consensus in Washington even possible? Well, it used to be. In 1989, the Washington Consensus introduced ten economic principles that championed global trade and guided U.S. policy. This vision was embraced for decades, with trade seen as a bridge connecting nations and strengthening economies. However, by 2025, protectionism and trade wars are now threatening to unravel years of cooperation. So how did trade evolve from a symbol of unity to a flash point for global conflict?
There was once a broad consensus in Washington that trade was a force for good—a way to connect, grow, and prosper. But today, trade has evolved into something much bigger than just the exchange of goods. It’s become a powerful tool to rewrite the rules of foreign policy, reshape how the United States is viewed by the rest of the world, and steer us toward an increasingly uncertain future. When did this change begin, and where did we go off course?