Elon and Orwell

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Sep 16, 2025

Dive into an intriguing discussion on the unsettling trend of youth disillusionment and violence, partly fueled by social media. Explore how Pokémon cards are surprisingly outpacing traditional investments. The hosts also tackle the political fallout from Charlie Kirk's assassination and Bolsonaro's legal woes, while examining historical lessons on extremism. With a nod to Orwell, they link past literature's relevance to today's societal chaos, all wrapped up in a playful banter reflecting on current events and cultural nostalgia.

01:34:20

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ANECDOTE

Weird Headlines Set The Tone

Jacob opens with surprising cultural stories: Pokemon cards gave higher returns than Meta, and Cornell students legally skinned a bear.
These vignettes set a light, bewildered tone before the heavier political discussion.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Musk Wearing Orwell T-Shirt

Jacob recounts Elon Musk wearing a 'What Would Orwell Think?' T-shirt at a British rally and misusing Orwell's politics.
He argues Orwell was a democratic socialist and would disagree with Musk's alignment.

insights

INSIGHT

Elite Overproduction Fuels Modern Angst

Overproduction of elites and stalled economic pathways fuel young men's angst, echoing 19th-century patterns.
Writers like Richard Reeves and Peter Turchin show these structural dynamics driving unrest today.

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Navigating Chaos in a Post-Summer World

02:11 • 2min

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Unexpected Returns: The Hidden Value of Pokémon Cards

03:46 • 3min

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Youth, Violence, and Societal Disillusionment

06:38 • 27min

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Economic Reflections and Historical Lessons

33:42 • 28min

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Nostalgia and Orwell: Music and Literature Reflections

01:02:02 • 2min

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Bolsonaro's Legal Battle and Geopolitical Tensions

01:03:43 • 27min

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Germany's Basketball Triumph and Its Geopolitical Significance

01:30:54 • 3min

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#21

• Mentioned in 253 episodes

The Anxious Generation

Jonathan Haidt

In 'The Anxious Generation', Jonathan Haidt examines the sudden decline in the mental health of adolescents starting in the early 2010s. He attributes this decline to the shift from a 'play-based childhood' to a 'phone-based childhood', highlighting mechanisms such as sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, and perfectionism that interfere with children’s social and neurological development. Haidt proposes four simple rules to address this issue: no smartphones before high school, no social media before age 16, phone-free schools, and more opportunities for independence, free play, and responsibility. The book offers a clear call to action for parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments to restore a more humane childhood and end the epidemic of mental illness among youth.

#178

• Mentioned in 82 episodes

Of Boys and Men

Richard V. Reeves

In 'Of Boys and Men,' Richard V. Reeves delves into the complex and urgent crisis of boyhood and manhood. He discusses how profound economic and social changes have led to many boys and men losing ground in education, the workplace, and family life. Reeves presents detailed research on the structural challenges, including lower academic performance, declining labor force participation, and the specific hardships faced by black boys and men. He argues that both conservative and progressive politicians have failed to provide effective solutions and offers fresh, innovative proposals such as delaying boys' entry into school, increasing male teachers, and improving vocational education. The book emphasizes the need for a positive vision of masculinity in a more equal world without compromising gender equality.

#44666

Under western eyes

Joseph Conrad

Published in 1911, 'Under Western Eyes' is a literary historical fiction novel that delves into the complexities of Russian politics and the moral struggles of its protagonist, Kyrilo Sidorovitch Razumov. The story begins in St. Petersburg where Razumov, a quiet and conscientious student, is forced to hide Victor Haldin, a revolutionary who has just assassinated a government official. Razumov's decision to betray Haldin leads him into a web of espionage and moral conflict. The novel explores themes of betrayal, revolution, and the impact of autocracy on ordinary people, all through the eyes of an English narrator who reflects on the events from Geneva. Conrad's work is often seen as a thematic response to Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment' and is praised for its deep exploration of human psychology and political turmoil.

#174

• Mentioned in 84 episodes

Crime and Punishment

Bibliophile Bibliophile Pro

Constance Black Garnett

FYODOR DOSTOEVSKY

Published in 1866, 'Crime and Punishment' is a psychological novel set in St. Petersburg, Russia. It revolves around Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished and intellectually gifted former student who formulates a theory that some individuals are morally justified in committing crimes for the greater good of society. Raskolnikov puts this theory to the test by murdering an old pawnbroker and her half-sister, leading to a profound exploration of his psychological and emotional struggles with guilt, paranoia, and the consequences of his actions. The novel delves into socio-economic disparities, moral dilemmas, and the psychology of criminals, making it a classic of Russian literature and existential thought.

#124

• Mentioned in 106 episodes

Animal Farm

George Orwell

Published in 1945, 'Animal Farm' is a novella that allegorically represents the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rise of Stalinism. The story begins with Old Major, a boar, inspiring the animals of Manor Farm to rebel against their human oppressor, Mr. Jones. After the rebellion, the animals rename the farm 'Animal Farm' and establish a utopian society based on the principles of equality and solidarity, known as Animalism. However, as time passes, the pigs, led by Napoleon and Snowball, consolidate power and gradually corrupt the original ideals, leading to a dystopian regime that mirrors the oppressive human rule they initially rebelled against. The novel critiques totalitarianism and the corrupting nature of power, reflecting Orwell's experiences and views on the Soviet Union under Stalin's rule.

#1461

• Mentioned in 18 episodes

Homage to Catalonia

George Orwell

In 'Homage to Catalonia', George Orwell provides a firsthand and candid account of his experiences during the Spanish Civil War. The book details his decision to enlist in the worker's militia of the POUM (Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista), his training in Barcelona, and his time on the front lines in Aragón. Orwell vividly describes the camaraderie, hardships, and political complexities of the war, including the betrayal of the anarchist and socialist factions by the Communist Party. The book also includes his personal account of being wounded and his subsequent hospitalization, as well as his observations on the political deceit and media manipulation that characterized the conflict. Orwell's narrative is marked by his commitment to honesty, his critique of political factions, and his admiration for the resilience and courage of the Spanish people.

Pokemon cards outperforming Meta, Cornell students skinning bears, and Elon Musk misusing Orwell... Welcome to this Geopolitical Cousins episode 25. Jacob and Marko continue their conversation about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, arguing that his killing was likely driven less by ideology and more simply a symptom of disaffected young men radicalized by social media and stripped of purpose. Drawing on Dostoevsky’s Raskolnikov and Richard Reeves’ research on boys, they trace how elite overproduction and information overload fuel unrest. Unlike Europe, America lacks historical “inoculation” against extremism. The discussion closed with Bolsonaro’s legal troubles in Brazil and Asia’s simmering political tensions.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:07) - Banter

(03:00) - Trivia

(09:58) - The Charlie Kirk Assassination Discussion

(12:13) - The Crisis of Manliness and Societal Impacts

(21:00) -Historical Context and Modern Parallels

(33:49) - Global Perspectives and Extremism

(46:11) - Political Turmoil in Asia

(46:47) - Charlie Kirk and Social Media Impact

(48:10) - Historical Reflections on Evil

(52:10) - Personal Anecdotes on Racism and Segregation

(53:35) - US Education Crisis and Ignorance

(57:33) - Civil Wars and State Capacity

(01:04:05) - Brazil's Political Drama: Bolsonaro's Trial

(01:17:27) - Geopolitical Tensions: Venezuela and Beyond

(01:21:10) - China's Moves in the South China Sea

(01:21:54) - Russia's Probing Tactics in Europe

(01:30:53) - Concluding Thoughts and EuroBasket Update

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

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