In a fast-paced segment on WFEA’s The Morning Update with host Jeff Chidester, regular policy expert Drew Cline, president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, delivered sharp commentary on the fallout from the New Hampshire State Primary and the worsening trade friction between the United States and Canada.
Primary Breakdown: Surprises, Polling, and the Road Ahead Cline zeroed in on key primary surprises, noting how late-breaking voter momentum outpaced standard polling expectations.
While polls largely captured top-line trends, they lagged in predicting candidate margins in lower-ballot contests, proving once again that Granite State voters routinely defy last-minute data.
Moving into the General Election, Cline highlighted that winning candidates face an immediate strategic shift: moving away from base-broadening primary rhetoric toward kitchen-table economic issues that resonate with independent and swing voters across the state.
US-Canada Trade Conflict: Does Anyone Win?
The conversation turned to trade policy as Chidester and Cline examined the escalating tension between the U.S. and Canada. Cline offered a direct free-market analysis, warning that cross-border tariffs and protectionist rhetoric act as hidden taxes on everyday consumers and businesses on both sides of the border.
Answering the core question of whether anyone comes out ahead in a trade war, the consensus was clear: prolonged economic friction results in a lose-lose scenario, driving up costs for American manufacturers while harming Canadian export markets.
Overall, the segment showcased Chidester and Cline at their best, delivering quick-witted, grounded analysis connecting local political outcomes to broader economic realities.
