🎤 Brother Joe's Tariff Fantasy: How MAGA Economic Myths Distort Tucson's Reality
A deep dive into how conservative radio pushes discredited economic theories
This is based on Wake Up Live with Chris DeSimone, a maga-conservative podcast in Southern Arizona, which was broadcast by Live The Dream Media on 4/7/25.
😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾
🎙️ Chris DeSimone's podcast spent two hours criticizing Tucson's economy 📉 and celebrating Trump's tariff plans 🇺🇸. The hosts used cherry-picked statistics 🍒📊 to paint Tucson as failing while ignoring how Republican state policies 🏛️ limit city budgets 💰. The bright spot was an interview with Erin Durbin about her late husband Donovan 💔, who worked tirelessly to improve downtown Tucson 🌆. This Thursday, the city will name the 6th Avenue underpass after him 🏗️, decorated with historic postcard images 🖼️ he collected. Unlike the angry complaints throughout the rest of the show 😡, Donovan's story shows how people can work together 🤝 to make our community better 🌟.
🗝️ Takeaways
🔍 Conservative commentators use selective economic statistics to undermine confidence in local progressive leadership while ignoring state-level Republican policies that hamstring municipalities
💼 Despite constant criticism of local government, the story of Donovan Durbin shows how dedicated public servants can make real positive change through collaboration rather than division
💰 The podcast's celebration of Trump's tariff announcements demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of how tariffs function as taxes on American consumers, not foreign countries
🏭 While lamenting American manufacturing decline, the hosts blame China rather than the American corporations who deliberately outsourced production to maximize profits
🧩 The 6th Avenue underpass dedication this Thursday represents a creative, historically-grounded approach to public art that honors Tucson's unique character
The DeSimone Drama: The Sound and Fury of Conservative Talk in the Desert
Right-Wing Radio Reaches the Airwaves Again
If you're wondering what conservative narratives are circulating in Tucson these days, look no further than Chris DeSimone's "Wake Up Live" podcast from April 7th. I subjected myself to the full three hours so you don't have to, and let me tell you—it was quite the journey through the MAGA looking glass.
Between celebrating liberation from Comcast (apparently switching internet providers is now political performance art) and bemoaning Tucson's economic indicators with cherry-picked statistics, DeSimone and his rotating cast of guests managed to provide a masterclass in conservative grievance politics dressed up as local commentary.
But even in the desert of right-wing talking points, there were a few oases worth noting—particularly a heartfelt tribute to a true community advocate that momentarily transcended the partisan posturing.
A Genuine Tribute Amidst the Noise: Remembering Donovan Durbin
The podcast's most authentic segment featured Erin Durbin, widow of beloved community advocate Donovan Durbin, who passed away nearly two years ago. This Thursday at 11 am, the city will dedicate the 6th Avenue underpass in his honor, featuring postcard-themed ceramic tiles that reflect Donovan's passion for collecting historic Tucson postcards.
"He was the connector," Erin explained, describing how Donovan bridged gaps between various stakeholders in downtown development. "He was involved in every committee that you could think of that involved downtown. And he just wanted to take care of these people because they're the ones that are trudging through the day to day down there."
Unlike the constant criticism of local government that permeated the rest of the podcast, Erin painted a picture of someone who worked constructively within the system to advocate for small business owners and preserve Tucson's unique character.
"If you're doing the right thing and the good thing and the best thing for the most people, then you're on his team," she noted, explaining Donovan's approach that transcended partisan politics.
Imagine that—a vision of public service focused on community well-being rather than ideological point-scoring. What a concept!
The postcard art installation itself sounds like a beautiful tribute—22 historic Tucson postcards enlarged into ceramic tiles on the underpass walls, with images of Donovan and Erin cleverly integrated as "Easter eggs" within some of the designs. It's exactly the kind of creative, historically grounded public art project that helps make Tucson special.
For those interested in attending, the ceremony will take place on Thursday at 11 am near Corbett's, with parking available in their lot.
The Economic "Analysis": MAGA Mythology in Full Force
When DeSimone and "Brother Joe" launched into their segment on tariffs and the economy, the podcast transformed into a veritable carnival of conservative economic fallacies—each more misguided than the last.
Their enthusiastic embrace of Trump's recently announced tariffs revealed either a profound misunderstanding of basic economics or a willful disregard for how tariffs actually function.
DeSimone proudly listed various countries' tariff rates on American goods as justification for Trump's "liberation day" announcement, completely missing the fundamental reality that tariffs are taxes paid by American consumers, not foreign countries.
"The government has been bracketing risk," Brother Joe explained, lamenting how the Federal Reserve has supposedly protected markets unnaturally. What followed was a bizarre celebration of market volatility as some kind of moral cleansing, dismissing concerns about retirement savings as entitlement.
"What are you whining about?" DeSimone asked about recent market drops, displaying shocking callousness toward Americans watching their financial security evaporate. "If you're in your retirement years, getting a payout right now and you're that exposed that whatever happened to your portfolio just ruined your retirement, that's on you."
Yes, because systemic economic problems are always individual moral failings. How very on-brand for conservative thinking.
Brother Joe suggested using tariff revenue to eliminate income taxes or provide tax credits—a libertarian fantasy that would devastate public services while primarily benefiting the wealthy. This isn't economic policy; it's wishful thinking dressed as analysis.
The most revealing moment came when they celebrated reports that "50 countries have reached out to negotiate" with the Trump administration on tariffs—a claim presented without verification, context, or critical examination. This uncritical acceptance of political talking points exemplifies the podcast's approach to information: if it supports the conservative narrative, it requires no scrutiny.
The "Failing Tucson" Narrative: Selective Statistics and Missing Context
DeSimone devoted considerable time to interpreting statistics from the University of Arizona's MAP Dashboard, painting Tucson as uniquely failing compared to other Western cities. He highlighted job losses and median income figures without acknowledging broader economic contexts or examining root causes.
"Is Tucson a community on the rise?" he repeatedly asked, clearly expecting—even demanding—a negative answer.
Because nothing says "I love my community" like actively rooting for it to fail under progressive leadership, right?
What DeSimone conveniently ignored:
The data he presented lacks crucial context about pandemic recovery patterns in different regional economies
Tucson's unique challenges stem partly from decades of anti-tax policies at the state level that have limited municipal revenue options
Many of the issues he identified are complex structural problems that extend far beyond city leadership
His cherry-picked statistics ignored positive indicators in areas like quality of life and affordability relative to other Western cities
A guest caller, Ted Maxwell from the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, added slightly more nuance, noting that "we need the whole entire region if you're really going to get the major benefit of job growth and expansion."
Yet even this conversation defaulted to blaming local leadership without acknowledging how conservative state policies have hamstrung municipal governance.
The China Scapegoating: Hypocrisy on Full Display
Perhaps the most transparent display of conservative cognitive dissonance came during discussions about China and manufacturing. DeSimone and Brother Joe expressed outrage about American dependence on Chinese manufacturing while completely absolving American corporations who enthusiastically outsourced production to maximize profits.
"American companies going into China and using slave labor, slave labor, right? Either real slaves where they got nothing or someone getting paid crap," DeSimone noted, briefly acknowledging corporate responsibility before quickly pivoting back to blaming China.
Brother Joe chimed in: "They want to make electric cars in Mexico and then bring it across. Oh, this is the Mexican product. Chinese car, Mexican product. More game, more game playing."
The irony of conservatives suddenly discovering concerns about corporate behavior and labor exploitation—only when it serves nationalist talking points—is truly something to behold.
Missing from this conversation was any recognition that the "rise of China" they decried was deliberately engineered by American corporations seeking to escape labor protections, environmental regulations, and living wages for American workers.
The podcast's selective outrage directed exclusively at foreign countries rather than the corporate executives who made these decisions reveals the nationalist framework driving their analysis.
What This Means For Tucson: The Real Stakes
The narratives peddled in podcasts like DeSimone's aren't just abstract political positioning—they have real consequences for our community. By consistently undermining confidence in local institutions and promoting a narrative of decline, these voices make it harder to build the collective goodwill necessary to address genuine challenges.
When every municipal initiative is painted as wasteful or corrupt, when every economic challenge is portrayed as unique to progressive leadership, we lose the ability to engage in good-faith debate about solutions. The relentless negativity serves a clear political purpose: to associate progressive governance with failure and to erase the impact of decades of conservative policy at the state level.
The cruelest irony? Many of the economic concerns DeSimone identifies—stagnant wages, lack of good jobs, struggling small businesses—are precisely the issues that progressive policies aim to address.
Yet instead of engaging with these solutions on their merits, the podcast defaulted to vague bromides about "being business-friendly" without specifying what that would actually entail beyond tax cuts and deregulation—the same failed approaches that have expanded inequality for decades.
A Ray of Light: Donovan Durbin's Legacy Points the Way Forward
Despite the gloomy picture painted throughout much of the podcast, the tribute to Donovan Durbin offers a different vision for Tucson's future—one based on collaborative problem-solving, respect for local character, and genuine care for small businesses.
"He knew how important it was," Erin said of Donovan's work on the Gem Show shuttle program, describing how he personally drove and timed routes to ensure the system would work effectively.
This hands-on, detail-oriented approach to community service stands in stark contrast to the abstract grievances and ideological posturing that dominated the rest of the podcast. While DeSimone and Brother Joe offered complaints disguised as analysis, Donovan Durbin actually built things that made Tucson better.
Perhaps there's a lesson here about the difference between those who criticize from the sidelines and those who roll up their sleeves to address complex community challenges.
Taking Action: Beyond Conservative Talking Points
If you're tired of narratives that talk down our community while offering no constructive solutions, here are ways to engage more productively:
Attend community events like the Donovan Durbin dedication ceremony to celebrate those who have contributed positively to Tucson's development
Seek out diverse economic analyses beyond conservative talking points to understand Tucson's genuine challenges and opportunities
Support local media outlets that provide nuanced, contextual reporting on municipal issues rather than partisan framing
Engage with city planning processes directly rather than relying on secondhand characterizations of municipal initiatives
Volunteer with organizations working to address specific community needs—from affordable housing to small business support
The path forward for Tucson doesn't lie in pessimistic declarations about our city's worth or simplistic finger-pointing. It lies in the kind of roll-up-your-sleeves community engagement that Donovan Durbin exemplified—working within imperfect systems to make them better, finding common ground across differences, and maintaining a fundamental belief in our community's potential.
As we navigate these challenges together, we can choose between cynical narratives designed to divide or the harder, more rewarding work of collaborative problem-solving. The latter may not make for provocative radio, but it's how real community progress happens.
What do you think Tucson needs most to address its economic challenges while preserving its unique character? And how can we move past partisan talking points to find solutions that benefit all Tucsonans? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Quotes
"If you're a Hispanic living in Tucson, Arizona, compared to the United States, you're easily making probably about $15,000 less a year." - Chris DeSimone using MAP Dashboard statistics to criticize local leadership while ignoring broader economic contexts
"He was the connector... If you're doing the right thing and the good thing and the best thing for the most people, then you're on his team." - Erin Durbin describing her late husband Donovan's approach to community service that transcended partisan politics
"What are you whining about? If you're in your retirement years, getting a payout right now and you're that exposed that whatever happened to your portfolio just ruined your retirement, that's on you." - Chris DeSimone dismissing concerns about market volatility with shocking callousness
"We're so cozied up with China. This all comes from, I believe, the Marshall Plan, 1948 after World War II." - Brother Joe demonstrating a bizarre historical analysis that blames post-WWII recovery efforts for current trade relationships
"American companies going into China and using slave labor... America loved living off of slave labor in China." - Chris DeSimone briefly acknowledging corporate responsibility before quickly pivoting back to blaming foreign countries
People Mentioned and Memorable Quotes
Donovan Durbin - Late community advocate for downtown Tucson whose memory will be honored with the naming of the 6th Avenue underpass. His wife Erin said: "He knew working with the city, we could turn it around, we could clean it up, we could paint it, we could get the lighting updated, LED lighting and the historic lighting, and then put a public art component on it."
Erin Durbin - Widow of Donovan Durbin who is working to preserve his legacy through the Donovan Dean Durbin Supports Tucson Foundation. She noted about his passion: "He loved downtown and in any capacity he could be down there. He would be."
Brother Joe - Conservative economic commentator who praised Trump's tariff announcements and suggested using tariff revenue to eliminate income taxes. Notable quote: "We have to produce something, Chris. We just can't be dependent on China."
Ted Maxwell - From Southern Arizona Leadership Council, called in to discuss economic development. Said: "We need to grow through jobs in the economy... the fact of the matter is you have to have policies that make it easy to do business."
Jerome Powell - Federal Reserve Chairman criticized by Brother Joe: "He's the man that coined transitory inflation. He still doesn't know what he's talking about."
Greg Abbott - Texas Governor mentioned for offering to welcome Axon (Taser manufacturer) to Texas if Arizona doesn't accommodate their expansion plans.
Rick Smith - CEO of Axon, discussed for wanting to expand their Scottsdale headquarters to include housing and hotels for workers.
Have a scoop or a story you want us to follow up on? Send us a message!
