Weekly civic intelligence report ยท v2.2
Trump administration announced reciprocal tariffs that fundamentally overturn decades of established US trade policy. The action represents a major shift in international economic relations.
Executive order implementing reciprocal tariffs scores high on constitutional damage (49.4) due to significant rule_of_law impact (unilateral trade policy reversal bypassing congressional trade authority), separation concerns (executive overreach into legislative commerce powers), and institutional capture (economic policy serving political narrative). Policy_change mechanism with international scope yields strong modifiers (1.3ร1.4). Severity elevated by durability (reshapes trade relationships), precedent (normalizes unilateral executive trade actions), and moderate reversibility (requires diplomatic repair). Election driver reflects 2025 political positioning. B-score (27.8) reflects substantial media attention to 'decades of policy overturned' framing, high novelty and media-friendliness, with moderate strategic layer (timing, narrative pivot to economic nationalism). Intentionality moderate (6/15) - executive action with policy reversal framing. Delta (+21.6) indicates primary constitutional concern, but both scores exceed 25 threshold creating Mixed classification - genuine policy shift with significant hype amplification around 'overturning decades' narrative.
Monitor implementation details: congressional response to executive trade authority assertion, WTO compliance challenges, retaliatory measures from trading partners, and economic impact data vs political messaging. Track whether tariff structure actually reciprocates specific barriers or serves broader protectionist agenda. Distinguish substantive trade policy reform from performative economic nationalism.