🎙️ The Deep Dive — A Tariff on Human Capital
Donald Trump’s proposal of a US$100,000 tariff on H-1B visas is more than immigration policy — it’s a tariff on minds. This episode dives into how such a measure punishes excellence, cripples innovation, and echoes the dystopian logic of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged.
We draw parallels between Herbert Hoover’s Smoot–Hawley tariffs, Trump’s new “tariff on brains,” and Frédéric Bastiat’s classic satire The Candle Makers’ Petition, which mocked protectionism by demanding laws to block out sunlight to help candle producers. Just as Bastiat exposed the absurdity of mercantilism, this new immigration tariff exposes the absurdity of penalizing talent in the name of protection.
We also expand on the arguments from Roberto Rachewsky’s Substack article, A Tariff on Human Capital, which frames this policy as an attack not only on economic dynamism but also on the moral core of capitalism: the freedom of minds to create and trade.
The U.S. once thrived by welcoming the world’s best — from Einstein to the immigrant CEOs of Google and Microsoft today. Will protectionism of the mind drive away the innovators of tomorrow?
Join us for a deep dive into capitalism, freedom, and the ongoing battle between mediocrity and excellence.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.