play_arrow

keyboard_arrow_right

Listeners:

Top listeners:

skip_previous play_arrow skip_next
00:00 00:00
playlist_play chevron_left
volume_up
chevron_left
  • cover play_arrow

    Mental Health Is the New ROI — and How AI Agents Can Help You Get It Back IQ

  • cover play_arrow

    Tariffs Ain’t Strategy — They’re a Smoke Screen IQ

  • cover play_arrow

    Autism Ain’t a Conspiracy — It’s a Responsibility IQ

  • cover play_arrow

    DEI Isn’t a Trend — It’s a Lifeline IQ

  • cover play_arrow

    The Economics of False Optimism IQ

  • cover play_arrow

    MLM vs. Tech Startups: Why You’re Basically the Same — But Not in a Good Way IQ

Background

Tariffs Ain’t Strategy — They’re a Smoke Screen

  • cover play_arrow

    PLAY EPISODE


Transcript arrow_drop_down

Transcript

 

Yo — it’s IQ.
And if you voted for tariffs thinking they were some kind of power move…
You might be feeling the pain now.

And if you’re not — your wallet is.

Let’s break it down.
No fluff. No politics.
Just raw economics — and real consequences.


What You Thought Tariffs Were

You were told tariffs would punish other countries.
That China was eating our lunch and we needed to “fight back.”
That slapping taxes on imports would bring jobs back.
That it would protect American industries and “level the playing field.”

Sounds good, right?

Too bad that’s not how any of this works.


What Tariffs Actually Do

Tariffs are taxes on imported goods.

But guess what?
Foreign companies don’t pay those taxes. You do.
Businesses pass those costs straight to the consumer.
That means you’re paying more for the same products — made somewhere else —
Because someone wanted to “look tough” on trade.

Tariffs don’t make things better —
They make things more expensive.


Who Got Hit?

  • Farmers got crushed. Couldn’t export. Got stuck with surplus.
  • Retailers saw costs skyrocket. Couldn’t pass it all to customers.
  • Small businesses struggled to stay profitable with higher supply chain costs.
  • And your favorite tech, clothes, furniture? All quietly went up in price.

Meanwhile, the factories that were supposed to return?
Yeah… they didn’t.

They went to Vietnam. Mexico. India.
Not back to Ohio.

Because tariffs didn’t solve the real problem —
Automation, global labor costs, and broken domestic infrastructure.


This Ain’t an “I Told You So” — It’s an “Open Your Eyes”

People voted for strength.
They voted for America First.
I get it.

But real strength is about understanding systems.
Not just punching walls and calling it strategy.

Tariffs became a campaign slogan —
Not an economic solution.
And now?
We’re seeing the bill come due.

Higher prices.
Wrecked global relationships.
No measurable comeback in domestic manufacturing.

And the people who believed in the promise?
They’re the ones paying the most.


So What’s the Play Now?

You can’t change the past — but you can adjust the future.

You want real power?
Learn how the game works.
Study trade. Understand supply chains. Build local. Build digital.
And stop falling for economic cosplay dressed up as patriotism.

You want to really protect your bag?

Automate. Diversify. Scale smarter.

That’s where BrightIQ comes in.

AI agents. Chatbots. Virtual assistants.
They’re not stuck in politics — they just get results.
They’re the future you can actually control.


This has been IQ.
I’m not here to tell you who to vote for —
I’m here to teach you how to build regardless of who wins.

BrightIQ.org.
Cut through the noise.
Own your economy.

And next time?
Vote with knowledge — not just pride.

 

Tagged as:

Playlist

Tariffs Ain’t Strategy — They’re a Smoke Screen
  • fast_forward00:00:00 IQ - Tariffs Ain’t Strategy — They’re a Smoke Screen

Be the first to leave a comment

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ctrl+ IQ Host

Meet IQ — your no-BS guide to smarter business.

IQ is the voice of the future: bold, brainy, and built with AI. With a pulse on what’s next and a knack for cutting through the noise, IQ delivers straight talk, sharp insights, and the kind of wisdom that turns ideas into impact.

Ctrl+ IQ is the podcast for entrepreneurs ready to take control and scale smarter.

We decode the future of business with unfiltered insights, AI-powered strategies, and stories from the front lines of innovation. If you’re building, growing, or just tired of outdated advice—this is your edge.

0%

Login to enjoy full advantages

Please login or subscribe to continue.

Go Premium!

Enjoy the full advantage of the premium access.

Stop following

Unfollow Cancel

Cancel subscription

Are you sure you want to cancel your subscription? You will lose your Premium access and stored playlists.

Go back Confirm cancellation