Keen On America

Minxin Pei, a prominent China scholar and professor at Claremont, dives into the complexities of China's broken dream in this engaging discussion. He critiques the reforms of Deng Xiaoping and Xi Jinping, highlighting how they have revived totalitarianism despite some economic achievements. Pei contrasts materialism with the lack of political freedoms, warns of growing inequality, and examines China's mobilization advantages as a one-party state. He also explores the pitfalls of superpower ambition and forecasts the challenges Xi faces in 2026.

Peter Wehner, a senior fellow and conservative commentator, explores the striking moral chasm in modern American conservatism. He critiques Megyn Kelly's descent into violent rhetoric, contrasting her with Senator Mark Kelly's principled stance against military aggression. Wehner argues that the GOP's embrace of shock jock culture, represented by figures like Nick Fuentes, signifies a broader intellectual decline. He emphasizes the importance of moral courage in political discourse and warns against the mainstreaming of extremism.

Joshua Colangelo-Bryan, a human rights lawyer and author, sheds light on his experiences at Guantanamo Bay, revealing shocking truths about the detainees and their mistreatment. He challenges the myth of the 'worst of the worst,' pointing out that many were innocent, sold for bounties, and endured inhumane conditions. His friendship with detainee Jaber Mohammed highlights the personal impact of these injustices. Colangelo-Bryan warns against the current demonization of immigrants, drawing parallels to past abuses and emphasizing the importance of protecting human rights.

In this engaging discussion, Keith Teare, a tech entrepreneur and investor, reveals why framing AI as a race is misleading. He introduces the three C's: capabilities, capital, and civics, emphasizing that understanding these elements is crucial for assessing AI's progress. Teare argues that we're in an endless cycle of innovation, not a competition with winners and losers. They also explore the potential impacts on industries and politics, noting that equitable distribution of AI's benefits is essential to avoid societal upheaval.

Christopher Marquis, a Cambridge University business professor and expert on China, discusses the challenge businesses face in today's turbulent environment. He introduces the concept of "strategic hibernation," advising companies to focus internally while avoiding public conflicts. Marquis shares lessons from Chinese companies like Jack Ma's Alibaba and the NBA's cautious approach after political missteps. He also emphasizes the importance of internal DEI efforts and the need for brands built on values to engage collectively, rather than go silent.

James Horncastle, a Serie A correspondent and football journalist at The Athletic, explores the nuanced world of Italian football. He delves into how post-war austerity birthed a defensive style that paradoxically values elegance, illustrated by legends like Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi. The podcast also highlights Italy's reverence for the creative number 10, embodied by Roberto Baggio, and the political dimensions of club loyalties. Horncastle reveals why Diego Maradona found a home in Naples, merging his brilliance with the city's unique culture.

In this engaging discussion, Harvard historian Sven Beckert explores the complex history of capitalism, highlighting its roots in merchant communities and the significant role of slavery in American capitalism. He challenges the notion that alternatives to capitalism could return us to a romanticized pre-capitalist era, arguing that such a regression is both impossible and undesirable. Beckert even delves into the implications of AI on future economic systems, emphasizing the need for political actions to address inequality and environmental challenges in our capitalist framework.

Michael Cox, a London-based football journalist and author renowned for his tactical insights, dives into the contrasting legacies of Messi and Maradona. He praises Messi's extraordinary skills but critiques his lack of captivating personality compared to Maradona's theatrical flair. They explore the cultural hurdles in English football that stifle creative geniuses. Cox also reflects on the historical significance of players like Di Stéfano and the shifting dynamics of football's greatest rivalries, emphasizing that the sport thrives on both technical brilliance and captivating narratives.

Maradona, Pele or Messi? It’s the eternal debate. Who is the greatest footballer of all time? According to The Soccer 100, The Athletic’s new book ranking football’s hundred greatest players, the answer is Messi. But the North London based contributor Amy Lawrence cast a dissenting vote: she chose Pelé, deferring to those who witnessed the Brazilian king’s dominance firsthand. The book’s official ranking places Maradona second, Pelé third, then Cruyff, Ronaldo, and Di Stefano. But the list reveals something more interesting than rankings: the impossibility of comparing eras. How do we judge players like Alfredo Di Stefano or Ferenc Puskas we’ve only seen in grainy footage against those, like Messi or Ronaldo, whose every touch has been televised? And why do great footballers like Diego Maradona —masters of intelligence on the pitch—sometimes become such flawed and tragic figures off it?1. The Pelé Problem: Why Nostalgia Matters Amy Lawrence voted for Pelé as number one, even though The Athletic’s collective ranking placed Messi first. Her reasoning? “When I grew up, when you spoke to people who were older than you, there wasn’t a debate. Pelé was the best.” She deferred to those who witnessed him live—a rare admission that nostalgia might actually be wisdom, not sentimentality.2. Maradona’s Genius Was Inseparable from His Madness Lawrence describes Maradona as playing “with a madness...there was something of the kind of intense creative artist about him.” He was a street footballer thrust into Italian mafia management, hacked and kicked because defenders “couldn’t stop him by playing football.” His 1986 World Cup remains the most dominant individual performance in history—but his life became the cautionary tale of what happens when raw genius meets extreme celebrity.3. Cruyff Was the Anti-Ronaldo Johan Cruyff “encouraged everybody to think instead of just watch”—a philosopher-footballer who “was a bit of a rebel” and famously skipped the 1978 World Cup (possibly because his wife didn’t trust him with the ladies). Contrast that with Cristiano Ronaldo, whom Lawrence describes as “built by design”—the AI-generated footballer, all machine, no poetry. If Ronaldo represents modern football’s corporate efficiency, Cruyff embodied its lost intellectual soul.4. Women Journalists Don’t Play the Gender Card—But Maybe They Should Lawrence, possibly the only woman among the ten journalists who compiled The Soccer 100, says she “never played the women’s card” when arguing for players. But she admits that being a woman in a male-dominated field made her “just a bit more memorable” and perhaps allowed for “a slightly more sensitive line of questioning” that helped players relax. It’s a fascinating tension: rejecting gender as relevant while acknowledging its subtle advantages.5. The Impossibility of Comparing Eras Makes These Lists Meaningless—and Essential How do you compare Di Stefano (whom most people have only seen in grainy footage) with Messi (whose entire career has been televised)? Or account for the fact that modern players rack up goals against Lithuania and Andorra, while older players “never got able to pick up goals playing against” minnows? Lawrence acknowledges “there was never any pretense that this was some kind of definitive list”—yet we need these lists anyway, because they force us to articulate what we value in greatness itself.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Johan Norberg, a Swedish writer and historian known for his insights on globalization and progress, discusses the decline of civilizations in his latest work. He argues that when societies, like Sparta, turn inward, they stifle innovation and decline. This raises alarms about contemporary trends in America, Russia, and China. Norberg emphasizes the importance of openness and pluralism and critiques the MAGA movement for undermining democratic traditions. He highlights that stagnant empires, marked by extreme nationalism, are particularly dangerous as they resist progress.