DeProgram: Trump’s Retaliatory Tariffs and NSA Firings Linked to Laura Loomer

In this episode of DeProgram, hosted by political cartoonist Ted Rall and whistleblower John Kiriakou, the discussion centers on two major developments in the Trump administration. The first topic explores President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of retaliatory tariffs, a sweeping policy set to impose a minimum 10% tax on nearly all U.S. imports, with higher levies targeting goods from dozens of countries. This follows his tariff unveiling, prompting global economic reactions, including China’s countermeasure of 34% tariffs on U.S. goods and restrictions on rare earth exports critical for technology manufacturing.

The second focus is Trump’s abrupt firing of key national security figures, including NSA Director General Timothy Haugh and his deputy Wendy Noble, alongside at least four National Security Council (NSC) staff members—Brian Walsh, Maggie Dougherty, Thomas Boodry, and David Feith. These dismissals came shortly after a White House meeting between Trump and far-right activist Laura Loomer. Loomer, known for her controversial stances, reportedly urged the president to remove officials she deemed disloyal, presenting a list of names during the Oval Office discussion attended by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and other top aides. The episode examines the intersection of these personnel shake-ups with the ongoing fallout from a Signal messaging scandal involving Waltz and the broader implications for U.S. national security and foreign policy.