Why does US policy seem inconsistent between negotiators and bureaucracy?

Global trade isn’t just an economic story - it’s a test of power, pride, and patience. Jacob and Marko dive into the illusion of U.S.-China decoupling, exploring how power, dependency, and ideology are colliding in a world too connected to pull apart. From semiconductor choke points to rare earth retaliation, the United States and China are caught in a feedback loop of control and dependency that neither can fully escape. The cousins challenge the myth of economic sovereignty and ask what it really means to compete when every side still depends on the other to function.

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction

(00:38) - Basketball Banter and Podcast Dynamics

(01:31) - Ryan Russillo's Move to Barstool Sports

(04:31) - US-China Trade Relations and Rare Earth Elements

(13:30) - Bureaucratic Inertia and US Foreign Policy

(17:45) - Technological Decoupling and Global Trade

(21:04) - Geopolitical Realities and Future Predictions

(40:15) - Allies and Economic Dependencies

(41:30) - American Public Opinion on Trade and China

(48:04) - Generational Differences in Political Activism

(50:02) - Global Protests and Political Unrest

(01:05:31) - Emergence of New Political Brands

(01:12:38) - Cocaine and Global Trade

(01:16:53) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

--

Referenced in the Show:

--

Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

--

Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

--

Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future.

Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic

Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/

Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papic

Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro