Why is Krugman doing this now?
Although his personal credibility might have some influence on him, my take is that he very much knows that his bread is really buttered by his value to the Left, in selling their BS to society.
Trade issues are probably killing them in polling in the Rust Belt, and they need to pretend to have a new pro-American hard line on trade, to lie their way through the next election.
So Krugman starts selling their new conversion to the public, as the latest economic “science” - the Party’s “current truth”.
Good analysis, BeauBo.
And get it. It’s merely a talking point to win elections... because there will be no PROMISES KEPT when they get elected.
Consistency is in speak is more important than consistency between speech and action.