What happens when tariffs, rate cuts, and AI forecasting collide in the world of wholesale distribution?

In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton break down the latest economic, technological, and policy shifts affecting distributors and manufacturers.

From the longest U.S. government shutdown in history to the Supreme Court’s pending tariff ruling, they unpack what these changes mean for margins, pricing, and the role of AI-driven customer intelligence in building resilient distribution networks.

What You’ll Learn:

• How government shutdowns and rate changes create ripple effects across distribution
• The true meaning of a 17.9% average tariff rate, and why not everyone feels it equally
• Why tariff refunds could take years (or never happen at all)
• How AI-enabled CRM and contextual intelligence are helping distributors gain visibility into customers and pricing gaps
• What smart distributors are doing to balance efficiency, inventory, and profitability heading into 2026

Episode Highlights:

• 03:10 – The U.S. government shutdown “ends”… or just gets delayed until January 31
• 15:25 – How prediction markets like Polymarket are shaping economic forecasting
• 27:40 – The Fed’s next move: dissenters, inflation targets, and “The Burton Market”
• 43:05 – Tariff talk: why the Supreme Court ruling isn’t really about tariffs
• 55:18 – Mark Brohan’s article on the 17.9% effective tariff rate and what it means for distributors
• 01:07:34 – Why smaller distributors dependent on wholesalers face steeper challenges
• 01:16:55 – Final thoughts: AI, efficiency, and the future of pricing power

Meet the Hosts:

Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are co-founders of LeadSmart Technologies, creators of LeadSmart Channel Cloud™, the industry’s first AI-enabled Customer Intelligence and Smart CRM platform built exclusively for manufacturers and distributors.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – Unified customer intelligence platform for distributors and manufacturers
• Polymarket – Decentralized prediction market for economic forecasting
• Yale Budget Lab Study – Analysis of U.S. tariff rates and macroeconomic effects
• Context Engineering – Aligning AI systems with business intent
• Customer Intelligence Framework – Turning siloed ERP, CRM, and eCommerce data into actionable insights
  
  

Closing Insight:

“AI doesn’t replace relationships, it reinforces them by removing friction.” — Kevin Brown

From tariff volatility to AI-driven opportunity, this episode explores how distributors can navigate uncertainty with smarter strategy, deeper data, and stronger customer connections.

Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.

Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.

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What do rate cuts, tariffs, and the rise of agentic AI mean for the future of wholesale distribution?

In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton dissect the week’s biggest economic shifts, from the Federal Reserve’s policy moves to AI’s rapid integration across manufacturing, logistics, and B2B commerce. Learn how forward-thinking distributors are preparing for 2026, where automation meets leadership and contextual intelligence defines competitive advantage.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why AI literacy and contextual intelligence are essential leadership skills in 2025
• How tariffs, prediction markets, and Fed rate cuts are shaping industrial investment
• The emerging impact of agentic commerce on B2B buying behavior
• The business risks of ungoverned generative AI in enterprise settings
• How distributors can balance data automation with human trust in decision-making

Episode Highlights:

• 04:18 – How the U.S. government shutdown is influencing the Fed’s economic playbook
• 18:32 – What the latest rate cuts reveal about manufacturing, inflation, and capital investment
• 33:27 – Tariffs, Supreme Court delays, and the uncertain trade horizon for distributors
• 51:08 – The “AI slop” problem: when generative tools create risk instead of efficiency
• 01:04:22 – Amazon and PayPal move toward agentic commerce, what B2B can learn
• 01:14:10 – The rise of humanoid robotics and physical AI in supply chain operations
• 01:26:55 – Why courage and clarity will define the next generation of distribution leaders

Meet the Hosts:

Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are the co-founders of LeadSmart Technologies, creators of LeadSmart Channel Cloud™, an AI-enabled CRM and customer intelligence platform for distributors and manufacturers. With decades of combined experience in digital transformation, leadership strategy, and industrial data systems, they help B2B leaders thrive in the age of AI-driven distribution.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-powered CRM + Customer Intelligence for distribution
• Agentic Commerce – The next evolution of AI-driven transactional systems
• Context Engineering – Framework for aligning AI with business intent
• Industrial Supply Association (ISA) – Leadership development and AI fluency initiatives
• Section 232 & 301 Tariff Mechanisms – Understanding how U.S. trade rules impact sourcing

Closing Insight or CTA:

“AI doesn’t replace relationships, it reinforces them by removing friction.” — Kevin Brown

As AI redefines how businesses operate, leadership must evolve alongside it.

Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.

Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.

Want even more insight to the stories we discuss each week? Subscribe to the Around The Horn Newsletter.

You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

What happens when two industry veterans break down the biggest stories shaping wholesale distribution, AI adoption, and the global economy, live and unfiltered?

In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton analyze everything from Fed rate cuts and tariffs to the rise of AI-driven commerce and the evolving role of leadership in an age of automation. Through their signature mix of insight and humor, they explore how distributors can stay resilient, data-smart, and human-centered amid rapid technological and economic change.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why AI-driven transformation is redefining productivity and workforce trust
• How agentic commerce and AI-powered purchasing are disrupting e-commerce models
• The real-world effects of rate cuts, tariffs, and government shutdowns on the wholesale channel
• Why contextual intelligence and digital ecosystems are the new growth drivers
• How leaders can leverage AI and emotional intelligence to future-proof their organizations
  
  

Episode Highlights:

• 04:08 – A look at market sentiment in wholesale distribution heading into 2025
• 16:42 – What the Fed’s latest rate cut means for lending, mortgages, and growth capital
• 31:55 – The ripple effects of the ongoing government shutdown on supply chains
• 46:30 – Trump’s proposed tariff reset and its implications for import-dependent industries
• 59:18 – How AI adoption is reshaping manufacturing and reducing burnout in operations
• 01:10:05 – Agentic commerce and how PayPal is leading the charge in AI-driven transactions
• 01:20:44 – Why distributors must rethink e-commerce or risk losing 25% of their market share

Meet the Hosts:

Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are the co-founders of LeadSmart Technologies, creators of LeadSmart Channel Cloud™, an AI-powered CRM and customer intelligence platform built for distributors and manufacturers. Together, they bring over 40 years of experience in digital transformation, AI strategy, and industrial growth, translating complex trends into actionable insights for industry leaders.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-enabled CRM and Customer Intelligence platform
• Agentic Commerce – AI-driven transactional automation and conversational e-commerce
• Context Engineering – Framework for aligning AI and workflow intent
• Human + Machine Collaboration Model – Integrating empathy and analytics for smarter teams
• ISA Leadership Academy – Developing adaptive, future-ready leaders across the supply chain

Closing Insight:

“AI isn’t going to take your job; it’s someone using AI that will.” — Kevin Brown

From economic volatility to AI-enabled innovation, this episode challenges distribution leaders to rethink strategy, leverage intelligence, and lead through disruption.

Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.

Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.

Want even more insight to the stories we discuss each week? Subscribe to the Around The Horn Newsletter.

You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.