Andrew Schulz Grills Fareed Zakaria: Are Trump’s Tariffs Hurting America or Just Exposing Media Bias?

In a fiery episode of the Flagrant podcast, comedian Andrew Schulz sat down with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria for a conversation that quickly turned into a masterclass in challenging mainstream narratives. The topic? America’s tariffs, Trump’s trade war, and whether the media’s constant negativity is actually missing the bigger picture.

Tariffs: Net Positive or National Headache?

Schulz opened with a question that’s on every American’s mind: Have Trump’s tariffs actually brought any net positive? Zakaria, known for his polished CNN analysis, didn’t sugarcoat his answer. He argued that America’s real superpower isn’t just its economy, but its vast network of allies—countries like Canada, Mexico, Japan, and those in Europe. According to Zakaria, Trump’s tariffs have ironically hit America’s closest partners the hardest, punishing countries that have integrated their economies with the U.S. for decades.

He pointed out the oddity that Russia—hardly an ally—was exempt from many tariffs, while Canada and Mexico, whose supply chains are deeply intertwined with America’s, bore the brunt. “We don’t make cars in America anymore. We make cars in North America,” Zakaria said, highlighting how tariffs disrupt industries where parts cross borders multiple times, multiplying costs for consumers.

Schulz Pushes Back: Is Media Bias Making Tariffs Look Worse Than They Are?

But Andrew Schulz wasn’t about to let Zakaria off easy. He challenged the mainstream media’s narrative, noting that countries America is now imposing tariffs on also impose tariffs on the U.S. “Why is it only bad for foreign relations when we’re tariffing them?” Schulz asked, echoing the skepticism many Americans feel toward media coverage that seems relentlessly anti-Trump.

Zakaria explained that, before Trump, average tariffs among advanced countries were only around 2.5%. While every country protects certain industries (like European agriculture), the world generally operated under low tariffs. Trump’s policies, he said, pushed average U.S. tariffs up to 15%, a sixfold increase that prompted retaliatory tariffs and higher prices for American consumers.

Who Really Pays the Price?

Zakaria’s main point: It’s the American consumer who suffers. Everyday products at Walmart—food, clothes, household goods—become more expensive, hitting working-class Americans the hardest. Schulz acknowledged the pain felt in middle America, where manufacturing jobs have vanished, but questioned whether blaming tariffs alone tells the whole story.

Media Narratives and Real-World Impact

The conversation also touched on the media’s portrayal of Trump’s trade war. Zakaria admitted that even he was swept up in fears of a trade war with China, but in reality, China respected Trump’s assertiveness and no war ever materialized. Schulz pointed out that the European Union and China have leverage, but NATO ties make it unlikely Europe will push back too hard against the U.S.

A Podcast That Pulled No Punches

What made this podcast episode stand out was Schulz’s willingness to confront not just Zakaria, but the broader issue of media bias and moral grandstanding. At one point, Schulz called out the tendency to inject unnecessary moral judgments into economic discussions—like assuming middle America is inherently racist—arguing that the focus should be on jobs and prosperity, not virtue signaling.

Final Thoughts: Tariffs, Truth, and Tough Questions

In the end, Schulz’s grilling of Zakaria was a rare moment where mainstream talking points met genuine skepticism. The takeaway? America’s trade policies are complex, and while tariffs may hurt consumers and allies, the story is far more nuanced than the headlines suggest. And maybe, just maybe, the media could benefit from a little more real talk—and a little less bias.

What do you think? Are tariffs hurting America, or is the media blowing things out of proportion? Join the debate below!