In this episode of Filtered with TJ Walker, we look at how affordability, power, and presidential behavior collide, from Costco’s lawsuit over Trump tariffs to a late-night Truth Social meltdown and the surprising idea that progressives should learn from Trump’s brutal efficiency in using government power.

What we cover:

  • Costco vs. Trump’s Tariffs

    • Why Costco is suing over reciprocal and fentanyl tariffs

    • The December refund deadline could cost importers billions

    • Why tariffs are basically sales taxes on American consumers


  • Chanel’s Subway Runway in New York City

    • Turning an abandoned subway platform into a global fashion moment

    • Everyday commuters as inspiration instead of royalty

    • The communication lesson: do something different, or be ignored


  • Trump Calls Affordability a “Con Job”

    • From “affordability president” to calling affordability a fake narrative

    • Fact-checking inflation history vs. Trump’s claims

    • How mixed, muddled messaging is eroding his perceived economic strength


  • Trump’s Midnight Truth Social Binge & Midday Naps

    • Hundreds of posts in a night: Obama tribunals, Venezuela surrender, Canada conspiracies

    • Cameras catching the president nodding off in cabinet meetings

    • What constant social media use does to attention, judgment, and sleep


  • What the Left Can Learn from Trump’s Brutal Efficiency

    • Biden’s stalled chargers, green projects, and infrastructure vs. Trump’s fast (if harmful) actions

    • The left’s dilemma: loving government power for some things, fearing it for others

    • The “Robert Moses problem” and why Democrats can’t seem to build housing, transit, or clean energy


  • Personal Development: Daily Priorities & Deep Work

    • Why a single clear priority beats a 40-item to-do list

    • Guarding your 3–4 highest-energy hours each day

    • How sustained focus turns years of small steps into big outcomes


About the Show
Filtered with TJ Walker takes the top business, technology, economic, and culture stories of the day and filters them through the lens of communication skills and personal development, so you don’t just understand the news, you get better at navigating your own life and work because of it.