Global Macro Update

George Friedman of Geopolitical Futures discusses the shifting global order in this essential conversation. He explains why the world is "re-anchoring" away from the Cold War framework, how Russia's failure in Ukraine has ended its status as a global power, and why the US-China relationship is now the defining geopolitical dynamic of our era.

Charles Schwab Chief Investment Strategist Liz Ann Sonders joins us to discuss why geopolitical events rarely move markets long-term, how AI investment themes are evolving, and why 74 stocks outperformed Nvidia in 2025. Plus, Sonders shares her jigsaw puzzle philosophy on investing and more.

"Even before a single missile or shot at Taiwan, the market will already react." Ed sits down with Lyric Hughes Hale, editor-in-chief of EconVue, and Taiwan-based analyst Eric Huang to discuss a hidden vulnerability in global markets: Taiwanese insurance companies.

This is one of my favorite interviews of 2025. Jeff deGraaf, founder of Renaissance Macro Research, built his career translating technical analysis into actionable investment strategies for institutional clients. Hear about his market cycle clock—and why inflation matters more to stocks than GDP growth does.

Everyone worries AI will take their job. Steve Lord thinks we'll hit a bigger wall first: power. Lord is COO of Burkland Associates, which works with Andreessen Horowitz and dozens of other top VC firms. Hear about the infrastructure bottleneck facing AI, what went wrong with crypto's original promise, and Lord's advice for founders trying to raise capital in today's market.

CrossBorder Capital founder Michael Howell built his framework for tracking global liquidity while at Salomon Brothers. His central thesis: the ratio between debt and liquidity predicts financial crises and asset bubbles. Howell explains why the $350 trillion global debt pile requires $70 trillion in annual refinancing, how ZIRP created the "everything bubble," and what happens when the bill comes due.

While the Fear and Greed Index just hit "Extreme Fear" territory, Spectra Markets president Brent Donnelly says we're in more of a rotation than a panic. Brent and I talk about the AI trade—why Meta's earnings marked a shift, whether OpenAI's $500 billion valuation is defensible, and why 65% of respondents would short it. Plus, why Buffett just bet on Google.

Bruce Mehlman unpacks the government shutdown, the recent Democratic sweep, and the AI bubble. Then he pulls out his crystal ball for the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential predictions.

Everyone is wondering if we're in another tech bubble. There's a mad rush to invest in AI, and tech companies are breaking valuation records, with Nvidia leading the charge. My friend Jared Dillian believes we're back in 1997/98. Hear why on today's episode.

Jacob Shapiro, director of geopolitical research at the Bespoke Group, dives into the complexities of the AI arms race and its implications for the U.S. and China. He discusses how China's focus on practical AI outpaces U.S. innovation, influenced by its centralized planning and ruthless capitalism. Jacob also explores Mexico's potential as a manufacturing hub amid U.S.-Mexico relations affected by drug cartels. He argues that understanding macro forces is crucial to navigating these geopolitics, making for a thought-provoking conversation.