Political elites cash in every time. Tariffs are bargaining chips for campaign donors, lobbyists, and photo-op politics — manufacturers and workers just get used as props.
Political elites benefit most. Tariffs give them a tough-on-trade talking point while consumers eat higher prices and industries fight over favors.
Domestic manufacturers win big because tariffs box out cheaper foreign goods. This hands them a captive market and lets them hike up prices for bigger profit margins.
Political elites rig tariffs to dole out favors and rack up donor cash while the rest eat higher prices.
