81 | Trade Turmoil, AI Failures & America's Economic Uncertainty in 2025

Host Neeta Bidwai examines the cascading effects of recent trade policy shifts, economic sentiment challenges, and AI patterns.

This episode of Good Revenue covers:

• Trade Policy Whiplash: The administration's dramatic pivot on the worst tax hike since the 1930s creates market turmoil, investment freezes, and risking the dollar's global leadership
• China's Response: Implementation of non-tariff barriers specifically targeting red states through beef, poultry, and LNG restrictions
• Economic Sentiment Crisis: Dallas Fed survey revealing unprecedented anxiety among oil and gas executives despite traditional conservative alignment
• Financial Distress Indicators: 401(k) hardship withdrawals exceeding historical norms by 15-20%, signaling last-resort financial desperation
• The AI Confidence Divide: Pew research showing 56% of AI experts anticipate positive impacts while only 17% of the public shares this optimism
• AI Implementation Failure Surge: S&P Global data revealing AI initiative failures increased from 17% in 2024 to 42% in 2025, creating headwinds for SaaS business models

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Where to find Neeta:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/neetabidwai/

Where to find Good Revenue: https://goodrevenue.io/goodrevenue

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHrhuWbpYnUwrR75H2Ip4yQ

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Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:27 Trade Policy Turbulence

02:15 Economic Reactions and Market Impact

02:49 China: Retaliation & Non-Tariff Barriers

03:49 US Trade Policy Challenges

08:03 Uncertainty in Business and Economy

13:39 AI in Focus

15:56 Conclusion and Farewell

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Referenced:

• M&A frozen: https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/tariff-turmoil-puts-freeze-global-ma-dealmaking-2025-04-04/

• China choking off exports: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/12/china-trade-war-exports-00287123

• Commerce secretary contradicts President on chips: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/04/13/tariffs-chips-lutnick/

• Commerce secretary does not understand how Social Security works: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/21/social-security-lutnick-fraudsters/82603442007/

• Blackrock predicts recession: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/11/blackrocks-larry-fink-says-us-is-very-close-to-a-recession-and-may-be-in-one-now.html

• Americans using more 401K hardship withdrawals: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/americans-are-tapping-401ks-more-than-usual-empower-ceo-says

• Oil & gas execs worried: https://www.dallasfed.org/research/surveys/des/2025/2501#tab-comments

• Full list: https://youtu.be/DlRBkGoleJ8

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