If you thought the political news cycle couldn't get any more dizzying, last week proved otherwise. It was one of those weeks where President Donald Trump seemed to be operating on multiple fronts at once, from corporate boardrooms to global trade policy, with each move sending ripples through conversations—and potentially markets—worldwide.

Let's walk through what happened, because it's a lot.

The Netflix Boardroom Intrusion

It started on Saturday when Trump took to Truth Social with a demand that seemed more suited to a corporate activist than a former president. He called for Netflix Inc. (NFLX) to fire its board member, Susan Rice. His accusation? That she's politically biased and has threatened political retaliation through corporate influence. This isn't just about a streaming service; it's about the ongoing, messy debate over partisan bias and how much sway political figures should have over media companies. Trump's demand essentially throws a spotlight on the uncomfortable intersection of politics, media, and corporate governance.

A Surprise Tariff Hike

Also on Saturday, Trump dropped another bombshell: he's raising the worldwide tariff rate from 10% to 15%, effective immediately. He framed this as a response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling he called "anti-American." Here's the twist: a YouGov poll shows 60% of Americans actually back the court's decision. So, you have a policy move that's at odds with public opinion, at least according to that snapshot. For investors, this kind of sudden tariff shift is the stuff of nightmares—it can disrupt supply chains, inflate costs, and create uncertainty across global markets overnight.

Macron's Diplomatic Rebuke

The international reaction came swiftly. French President Emmanuel Macron, in an interview with YouTuber Raj Shamani, responded to Trump's public sharing of their private messages. Macron didn't hold back, saying such actions reflect a troubling shift in American leadership and a breakdown in diplomatic respect. When a major ally like France is openly criticizing the conduct of a former U.S. president, it's a sign that geopolitical tensions aren't just about policy—they're about personal diplomacy, too. For businesses operating internationally, that kind of friction can complicate everything from trade deals to cross-border investments.

Rolling Back EV Incentives

Shifting to domestic policy, the Trump administration made a move that could hit the auto industry hard. The Department of Energy rescinded a rule known as the "fuel content factor," which had incentivized automakers to produce more electric vehicles (EVs) to comply with fuel economy standards. Essentially, this rule let companies like General Motors (GM) calculate their fleetwide fuel economy by giving EVs higher efficiency figures. Taking that away removes a key carrot for EV production. In an industry racing toward electrification, this policy reversal could slow momentum and force automakers to rethink their compliance strategies, potentially affecting stock valuations and long-term planning.

Cuba in the Crosshairs

Finally, Trump turned his attention to Cuba, calling it a "failed nation" amid an oil blockade that's disrupting daily life and raising humanitarian concerns. But he also revealed that the U.S. is in discussions with Cuba, emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid. It's a contradictory stance—tough rhetoric paired with talk of aid—that highlights the complex balancing act in foreign policy. For markets, especially those in energy or regional trade, any shift in U.S.-Cuba relations can create both risks and opportunities, depending on how the situation unfolds.

So, what's the takeaway from all this? It was a week where political actions blurred into economic signals. From Netflix's boardroom to global tariff rates, from EV policy to diplomatic spats, each story underscores how deeply interconnected politics and markets have become. For investors, staying informed isn't just about earnings reports anymore—it's about reading the political tea leaves, too.