Donald Trump calls tariffs “the most beautiful word”—but to small businesses, consumers, and even fellow Republicans, his economic strategy is anything but pretty. In this episode of Inside America, Amanda Walker investigates the political and economic chaos caused by one of the most aggressive trade agendas in modern US history. As tariff hikes trigger lawsuits, price surges, and global uncertainty, we visit businesses on the front lines, ask why GOP voices are split, and unpack the deeper risks to global trade and US alliances. With rising costs, shifting policies, and global retaliation looming—can tariffs really deliver the American manufacturing revival Trump promises? Or is this gamble backfiring? Featuring insights from economists, diplomats, small business owners, and geopolitical analysts.

Donald Trump says he’s rescuing free speech from the so-called woke mob—but critics say his administration is weaponising the First Amendment to silence universities, journalists, and political opponents. Inside America goes to the University of Virginia, the site of the deadly 2017 rally, to understand how students and faculty are navigating the crackdown on expression. From law students fearing deportation to lawsuits against news outlets like NPR and CBS, this episode unpacks the tension between free speech and political control in Trump’s second term. We hear from civil rights advocates, university scholars, and press freedom defenders to ask: Is the First Amendment being protected—or politicised?