The Daily Feather — Extreme Makeover: Trade War Edition

“MOVE THAT BUS!” Back in the day, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition acolytes had a visceral reaction to the prompt. Aired on ABC from 2004 to 2012, families that had fallen on hard times were gifted a completely remodeled home. Each episode launched with megaphone-toting host Ty Pennington announcing the crew’s presence as the lucky family sequestered themselves in a hotel. Viewers were privy to grandiose design plans and construction (allegedly) completed in just one week. When the family returned to see their new digs, they would find themselves standing behind a giant charter bus that blocked the view. The “MOVE THAT BUS!” order revealed the grand transformation. In the reality show’s first run, more than 200 families were blessed, reality-show style. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition returns January 2 at 8 pm ET on ABC and can be streamed on Hulu.

Befores and afters have us pondering the challenges that have beset economists since the Taiwanese soccer team canceled a trip to play in a major tournament in Wuhan in November 2019. It’s been five years since we occupied a before COVID world. As for the after, it’s a bit like the before. Trump 2.0 is set to be inaugurated and Trade War II will shortly be launched. The biggest difference between now and then is the U.S. trade deficit is materially bigger.