Geopolitical Cousins

• A Jew and a Nihilist Talk About The Pope

  After a whirlwind of parenting, flights, and failed schedules, the cousins are back with overreactions and the U.S. dollar’s free fall. They riff on Chinese tech breakthroughs... but Marko's still not buying BYD over a German car. Europe? Left for dead, so maybe it’s time to buy? Jacob freaks out over India-Pakistan tensions, while Marko tries to keep us from launching WWIII. They also touch on Trump’s Nobel dreams, Pope predictions, and why Japan just became the spiciest trade negotiator in the room. Plus: rice diplomacy and NBA despair.Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction and Announcements(00:51) - Catching Up After a Busy Week(01:56) - Overreactions Segment Introduction(03:51) - First Overreaction: US Dollar Decline(13:19) - Second Overreaction: China's Tech Advancements(22:55) - Third Overreaction: Europe's Geopolitical Decade(26:01) - Fourth Overreaction: Trump Administration's Peace Dividend(31:43) - Discussion on the Vatican and the Pope(33:15) - Conspiracy Theories and Pope Francis(34:34) - The Future of the Papacy(35:52) - Trump as Pope?(36:55) - The Role of the Vatican(40:06) - Global Politics and Religion(41:50) - Canada and Australia Elections(46:51) - Japan's Trade Stance(52:29) - India-Pakistan Tensions(56:04) - Multipolar World Conflicts(01:03:36) - NBA Playoffs and Predictions

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• The Tip of a Peninsula with a Bunch of Crazy People

  Marko unloads on the myth that austerity worked in Greece, calling out lazy linear thinking, Eurozone nerds with Excel models, and Paul Krugman’s fantasy economics. He explains how Greece’s turnaround was real - but not for the reasons anyone thinks - and why Syriza’s U-turn was political heroism, not betrayal. The conversation pivots to India, where Modi is playing the U.S., China, and Europe against each other with tariff diplomacy. Plus: Ottoman nostalgia, Donbas deadlock, and why even ISIS prefers Toyotas.--Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction (01:17) - Greece's Economic Turnaround(03:00) - Debating Austerity and Economic Policies(07:33) - Greece's Political Landscape and Reforms(12:17) - Comparing Greece and Brexit(30:19) - India's Market and Global Trade Dynamics(37:43) - The Importance of Foreign Competition in Domestic Markets(40:33) - The Impact of Tariffs on the Auto Industry(43:53) - India's Strategy Towards Foreign Auto Companies(45:12) - Russia-Ukraine Conflict Update(53:15) - Trump's Tariff Policies and Their Implications(56:23) - The Future of US Trade Deals(01:03:42) - Concluding Thoughts on Trade and Geopolitics

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  1:13:17
• Let Them Drink Bleach

  Trump's tariff chaos isn’t strategy - it’s a policy car crash in slow motion. Jacob Shapiro and Marko Papic walk listeners through how we got here: tariffs based on 6th grade math, no off-ramps, and the U.S. launching a trade war… against everyone. Meanwhile, the rest of the world’s like, cool, we’ll just trade with each other. This isn’t about toaster prices—it’s about the U.S. exporting its own recession. If April 9th isn’t the pivot, buckle up. Come for the analysis; stay for Marko’s tortured basketball metaphor at the end. Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(00:32) - Unexpected Market Concerns(01:43) - Tariffs and Market Reactions(03:33) - Global Trade Dynamics(05:06) - Impact on US Industries(12:39) - Agricultural and Energy Sectors(19:30) - Global Economic Shifts(26:43) - Trump's Acceleration and Structuralism(27:04) - Insane Policymaking and Tariffs(28:17) - The Importance of Due Process(29:13) - Arbitrary Policies and Financial Concerns(33:20) - Market Timing and Optimism(36:37) - Geopolitical Constraints and Future Outlook(44:00 ) - Kevin Durant and Trade Barriers Analogy(49:19) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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  49:43
• Riding on the Hog of a Fiscal Orgy

  Jacob and Marko convene an emergency episode to discuss Liberation Day. Afterwards, they speak to fellow cousin Matt Gertken about President Trump’s comments that he might serve a third presidential term. --Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction and Episode Overview(01:46) - Discussion on Tariffs and Trade Deficit(02:58) - Reciprocal Tariffs and Economic Reactions(04:56) - Market Reactions and Negotiation Strategies(07:02) - Uncertainty and Global Trade Dynamics(07:45) - Historical Context and Strategic Analysis(10:15) - Geopolitical Implications and Future Scenarios(13:15) - US Fiscal Policy and Global Trade War(30:57) - Potential Outcomes and Congressional Actions(35:20) - Biden's Missed Opportunity with Trade(36:04) - Challenges in US Trade Negotiations(37:44) - Inflation and Tariffs Debate(40:19) - Recession Concerns and Economic Adjustments(41:11) - Tariffs and Their Impact on American Manufacturing(43:09) - China's Military Exercises and Taiwan(44:30) - Debating China's Intentions with Taiwan(52:03) - Part 2 with Matt Gertken (54:48) - Trump's Third Term Speculation(01:06:44) - Reflecting on Beginnings and Career Paths(01:07:52) - The Impact of Leadership on Markets(01:10:52) - Comparing Political Systems: US, China, and Russia(01:13:11) - The Future of American Democracy(01:17:19) - Media Manipulation and Political Spectacle(01:20:50) - The Role of the Supreme Court(01:32:57) - European Politics and the Far Right(01:42:31) - Concluding Thoughts on Geopolitics--Referenced in the Show:Note from Matt on reference he made in podcast: Cato of Utica is associated with Geo Washington. He committed suicide when Caesar came to power - But it was Cato the ELDER who would retreat to his Sabine farm after various stints in power. https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/cato

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  1:44:23
• Get Off Our Lawn!

  Jacob and Marko make a cousins episode happen even as Jacob is moving into a new office and Marko is on the road – at one point he was literally recording from a bathroom at a hotel in Fort Lauderdale because that is the only place he could get WiFi. What other podcast hosts have that kind of dedication? None! This week the cousins tackle Trump’s latest bevy of tariff threats, discuss the improvement in India/China relations, and close with some lessons to learn from the ongoing protests in Serbia.--Timestamps:(00:00) – Intro(03:04) - US Tariffs (07:42) - Potential Domestic and Global Reactions to Tariffs(14:17) - Challenges in Renegotiating Trade Deals(28:58) - India-China Border Disputes and Economic Implications(32:17) - India and China: Complementary Economies(44:18) – Serbia/Turkey/Indonesia(53:59) – Over/under

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