Kathleen Culliton is Raw Story's managing editor. She's been covering local and national news for more than a decade for outlets that include the New York Post, Al Jazeera, DNAinfo New York, Bustle, the New York Daily News, WNYC, NY1, City Limits and the New York City Patch. Kathleen is a proud alumna of the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) appeared on MS NOW Sunday morning to condemn Trump's economic policies as he threatens the United States' northern neighbor with a trade war.
"This is going to bemassive overall in terms ofboth exports and imports," Boyle said. "At a time in which the Americaneconomy is really teetering onrecession, this is the kind ofthing that actually could pushus over the edge."
Trump's new 50 percent tariffswent into effect after tradetalks fell apart on Friday, prompting Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney to argue the country was under attack.
"They asked toomuch and they offered toolittle," Carney said. "You're at war when youget attacked. We got attacked."
A dollar-for-dollar retaliation — which would target exports such as steel, dairy appliances andagricultural equipment — is now slated to take place on Sept. 8.
"These are the largest tariffsthat we have faced in almost acentury," said Boyle. "The last time tariffswere this large, of course, wasthe Great Depression."
Boyle blamed both Trump and Republicans in Congress for the growing threat of recession — then made a telling slip of the tongue.
"Why isa Republican majority in Congress just so weak thatthey're not willing to stand upfor this president," said Boyle, then corrected himself on the "Freudian slip."
"Or, stand upto this president," he said. "Instead, they're standingup for this president."