The podcast dives into the fallout from a canceled Pentagon meeting involving Elon Musk and its implications for national security. It analyzes the political turmoil surrounding executive actions and the shifting alliances in U.S. foreign policy. Economic discussions highlight the impact of Evergrande's troubles and public sentiment in U.S.-Canada relations. The show also addresses the growing conflict between big tech and right-wing factions, while exploring AI's role in research and technology advancements. Finally, it touches on climate change and its effects on personal vehicles.

Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator at the Financial Times and author of 'The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism,' delves into the complexities of modern geopolitics. He discusses China's rapid rise to superpower status and its ramifications on global economics. The conversation shifts to the intricate ties between democracy and capitalism, underscoring the perils of authoritarianism. Wolf also tackles the looming threat of global debt and offers a glimmer of optimism through technology, punctuating the need for ongoing political engagement.

Senator Tom Cotton, Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and author of "Seven Things You Can't Say About China," shares insights from his political journey and military background. The conversation dives into the lab leak theory of COVID-19 origins and critiques U.S. policies on China, highlighting the continuity of authoritarianism. Cotton discusses China's geopolitical threats, economic vulnerabilities, and the high-stakes role of Taiwan in global relations, emphasizing the need for strategic military reforms.

A world in disarray

Al From, founder of the Democratic Leadership Council and a key strategist in the Democratic Party, shares insights on revitalizing the party's identity. He discusses historical challenges faced in establishing the DLC and the importance of innovative policy-making, particularly around educational reform and economic opportunity. Al emphasizes the urgency of reconnecting with working-class voters and adopting a centrist approach to engage younger demographics. He also explores creative solutions for student loan relief tied to national service.

Inauguration Week in Review! Joe and John on the ascendant Trump, the triumph of the Tech Bros, Dems in disarray, the Lars Anderson Bridge and the whereabouts of Philip K. Howard. 

Nobody knows the New York Post like Susan Mulcahy. She wrote the book. She talked about it with us. 

Episode Four: A dream assignment: David moves to Shanghai and begins covering China. He goes from "Sock City" to Apple, to the extraordinary changes in China's economy, politics and culture. The final episode covers everything from Wuhan to Taiwan, fentanyl to semiconductors, quantum computing to cyberhacking, to Xi's political standing and how much (and how many of) China's most successful people dislike and distrust Xi. 

Episode Three: The not-a-partnership partnership of one of the world's greatest entrepreneurs and one of the world's richest men is a case study in modern China. David describes the "partnership" that became the subject of an extraordinary report co-produced by The New York Times and David's news magazine, The Wire China.

Episode Two: We begin our conversation with David about China and whether the "Thucydides Trap" can be avoided.