Geopolitical Economy Report

The U.S. is intensifying its conflict with Venezuela, with Trump authorizing the CIA for lethal operations aimed at regime change. Innocent civilians, including Colombians and Trinidadians, have been killed during U.S. military actions. The podcast discusses Trump's dubious claims about drug trafficking, paralleling them with past justifications for war. It also highlights the controversial support for U.S. intervention from a Nobel Prize winner and a Venezuelan coup leader's plans to privatize oil resources.

María Corina Machado, a controversial Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, boldly declares her intent to privatize Venezuela's oil for U.S. corporations. In a candid conversation with Donald Trump Jr., she outlines her plans to reshape the country's economy and become a key energy hub. Machado's far-right stance, calls for U.S. military intervention, and connections with influential American politicians highlight her vision of aligning Venezuela with U.S. interests, raising concerns about national sovereignty.

The discussion centers around María Corina Machado, a controversial Nobel laureate backed by the U.S. who has openly supported Israel amidst accusations of genocide. It explores her connections to Donald Trump's regime-change efforts in Venezuela, highlighting her calls for military intervention and privatization of the country’s oil resources. The podcast critiques the Nobel Committee's decision, revealing the historical precedent of awarding figures tied to U.S. military interests, while underscoring the devastating impact of sanctions on Venezuelan citizens.

World leaders gather at the UN, condemning US and Israeli actions in Gaza. A mass walkout protests Netanyahu’s remarks, showing global discontent. Latin American countries assert solidarity with Palestine, highlighting a unified stand against US imperialism. Noteworthy calls for international intervention emerge, with leaders like Colombia's Gustavo Petro likening the US to Nazi Germany. Discussions also touch on the modern colonial implications of debt and the urgent need for a reformed UN, signifying a shift toward a multipolar world.

The podcast dives into alarming rhetoric from the US Secretary of War, urging military actions that flout international law. Trump’s call for using US cities as military training grounds raises eyebrows about the government's stance on internal threats. Hegseth's advocacy for a more aggressive military strategy suggests a shift toward 'peace through strength'. The discussion critiques media focus on cultural wars, emphasizing the greater danger of militarization and imperial ambitions, especially in relation to targets like Venezuela and China.

Explore the stark contrasts between U.S. and Chinese visions of global order, as highlighted in their UN speeches. Delve into Trump's unilateralism versus Li Qiang's multilateral approach, focusing on peace and development for the Global South. Analyze claims about economic performance, military actions, and climate policies, revealing the implications of each leader's rhetoric. Discover how China's rise challenges U.S. hegemony and its potential to shape a more equitable world through international cooperation.

Donald Trump wants to use tariffs to force countries to buy more US oil and natural gas. Instead, China and Russia signed a deal to build the massive Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which could transform the global energy market. Russia is integrating with Asia, while Europe faces a crisis that is devastating its manufacturing sector. Political economist Ben Norton explains. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6wtK8Hrpl4 Topics 0:00 Close China-Russia relations 1:28 Power of Siberia 2 pipeline 3:23 Dedollarization 4:04 Europe boycotts Russian energy 5:28 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage 6:28 (CLIP) Trump on Nord Stream & US energy 7:06 Crisis in Europe 9:14 Russia integrates with Asia 10:13 Russia tried to join the West 11:03 NATO expansion 11:47 Ukraine coup & war 13:26 Russia's trade with China 14:16 De-dollarization 14:43 Trump's tariffs 17:01 Why Trump hit India with tariffs 18:22 (CLIP) Trump on US oil & gas 18:34 USA: #1 producer of oil & gas 19:17 Weaponizing energy 19:46 China's natural gas imports 22:11 China & Russia: long-term partnership 23:22 Colonial Monroe Doctrine & oil 25:02 China's oil imports 25:41 Trade chokepoints 27:04 Europe becomes US vassal 28:17 (CLIP) Trump boasts of imposing EU deal 28:55 EU imports of oil & gas 30:38 Deindustrialization of Europe 31:16 EU prosperity depended on China & Russia 31:50 (CLIP) Ex EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell 32:35 Germany's "existential" industrial crisis 34:15 China's car manufacturers & electric vehicles (EVs) 36:44 Europe loses out as Asian Century advances 37:40 Outro

The US government has, six times now, unilaterally vetoed resolutions in the UN Security Council that called for peace and a ceasefire in Gaza. Meanwhile, a United Nations commission stated conclusively that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people, with the full support of the United States, under both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Ben Norton reports. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thjVQp9wafs Topics 0:00 US vetoes 6 UN Gaza resolutions 1:24 China calls for peace 2:04 Israel creates famine in Gaza 3:29 UN commission report on Israeli genocide 4:15 Legal definition of genocide 6:06 UN inquiry on genocide in Gaza 7:37 USA sells weapons to Israel 9:06 Genocide experts' opinion 9:50 ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu 10:43 ICJ case against Israel 11:36 Trump's plan to take over Gaza 13:26 US & Israel want "real estate bonanza" 14:11 Colonialism 15:28 Trump withdraws US from UN bodies 18:46 US imperialism vs the world 21:12 Outro

Michael Hudson, an economist and critic of financialization, joins Radhika Desai to unpack Donald Trump's relentless critiques of the Federal Reserve. They explore how the Fed's easy-money policies have led to rampant asset-price inflation and question the true independence of the central bank. The discussion also delves into Trump’s contradictory goals regarding monetary policy, the growing financial oligarchy, and the shift from democratic economics to financial sector dominance. Ultimately, they reflect on the future of democracy in the face of central bank influences.

Donald Trump is imposing tariffs and unequal treaties on longtime allies in Europe, Japan, and South Korea, forcing them to pay and move their factories to the US. Meanwhile, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are building a new multipolar world order based on mutually beneficial trade and investment. Ben Norton is joined by economist Michael Hudson to discuss. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpYgXMkzWc8 Read Michael's article on Trump's attacks on Europe, Korea, and Japan: https://www.geopoliticaleconomy.report/p/michael-hudson-trump-europe-korea-japan You can support Michael on Patreon at https://Patreon.com/MichaelHudson Topics 0:00 Trump attacks US allies 0:35 Exploitative US deal imposed on Japan 3:04 ICE detains South Korean workers 5:46 Trump to abolish Education Department 6:29 Angering US allies 7:19 US trade deal imposed on Europe 8:37 BRICS & SCO build multipolar order 10:20 Intro to Michael Hudson 10:46 Highlights of Michael Hudson 13:58 Interview starts 15:03 The BRICS alternative 18:54 US strategy of economic colonialism 26:01 Europe 33:06 India and Eurasia 35:15 Trump's tariff trap 37:28 Energy 41:03 Backlash in Europe 43:43 EU did not negotiate 46:48 European capital flows into US 49:40 BRICS sells US Treasuries 53:24 South Korea 56:59 Attacks on immigrants 1:05:37 Class politics 1:11:13 Japan 1:20:08 Latin America 1:21:48 Middle East (West Asia) 1:22:41 Dedollarization 1:24:18 Outro