Multipolarity

Kamala Chameleon, Biden’s Building Binge, Another BRIC in the Wall

Aug 22, 2024

Kamala Harris, the current U.S. Vice President, and Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor, delve into pressing geopolitical shifts. They discuss Ukraine’s ongoing conflict and the potential repercussions for U.S. foreign policy under new leadership. The conversation also critiques the Inflation Reduction Act, revealing how promised green advancements are stymied by economic reality. Finally, they explore Azerbaijan's ambition to join BRICS, emphasizing its strategic pivot towards Russia amidst the changing global landscape.

51:57

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Episode guests

Kamala Harris

Jake Sullivan

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast emphasizes a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, suggesting a potential pivot from supporting Ukraine towards realigning with broader global interests.

It critiques the Inflation Reduction Act's limited impact on creating a sustainable green economy, highlighting failures in transforming the U.S. manufacturing sector effectively.

Deep dives

The Shift to a Multipolar World Order

A growing focus on multipolarity is apparent in global geopolitics, particularly as regional conflicts evolve. The podcast highlights the tension surrounding the ongoing Ukraine conflict, drawing parallels with historical military campaigns. Skepticism regarding Ukraine's military strategies is now surfacing even in mainstream media, indicating a shift in narrative as the implications of the war begin to weigh heavily on future diplomatic relations. This evolving perspective reflects a broader schism within U.S. foreign policy circles, signaling a potential shift away from supporting Ukraine in favor of realigning with other global interests.

Intro

5min

Shifting Sands of U.S. Foreign Policy

26min

The Inflation Reduction Act: Promises vs. Reality in Manufacturing and Startups

5min

Challenges and Setbacks in American Industrial Policy

5min

Azerbaijan's BRICS Ambitions and Regional Dynamics

12min

As Ukraine punches into Kursk, and the world asks whether this is this more Kaiserschlacht, or more Ardennes Offensive, cooler heads are focused on the bigger picture.

Word is Kamala Harris is going to sack Jake Sullivan. Given that Trump would have sacked him anyway, we’re now into a world where the pro-Ukraine top team is, fait accompli, gone. Which means the US pivot to Asia is increasingly nailed on.

Meanwhile, two years after Joe Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act, it turns out the thick end of four trillion dollars buys you a huge boom in the construction of factories – but not much by way of a green economy. As new research shows many of the pop-up LLCs the IRA spawned are popping into Chapter 12, we’re sifting through the debris, looking for recycling.

Finally, Azerbaijan is the latest BRIC in the BRICS. After their short and decisive war with Armenia, this rising former western ally is now binding itself to Russia. In the global carve-up bigger picture, should we really keep on getting Armenia in the divorce?

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