Geopolitical Economy Report

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

The discussion delves into the US's long-standing economic war on Venezuela, highlighting the strategic interests behind regime change. The role of oil in US foreign policy is scrutinized, revealing a pattern of exploitation and interventionism aimed at undermining leftist governments. Additionally, the podcast critiques the portrayal of Venezuela in drug trafficking narratives, exposing the misinformation used as a pretext for military threats. Historical coups and geopolitical alliances are also explored, emphasizing the complexities of U.S. relations in Latin America.

The podcast reveals how Trump's divide-and-conquer strategy between Russia and China backfired, leading to a closer alliance. Key discussions cover the deepening political ties and trade partnerships between these nations, as well as the implications of a rising multipolar world order. The dialogue highlights how US actions have inadvertently united countries like India, Russia, and Iran against Western hegemony. Additionally, the conversation touches on dedollarization efforts and the strengthening of alliances within the Global South.

The podcast explores how U.S. aggression has unintentionally united China, India, and Russia, fostering deeper ties at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Discussion highlights India's shift closer to China post-Trump's tariffs, changing global dynamics. It also addresses the emerging multipolar world, the push for dedollarization, and the rise of Global South organizations like BRICS. The analysis points out the challenges to U.S. dominance in international finance, emphasizing the need for UN reform and cooperation among member nations.

The discussion dives into the U.S. support for corrupt leaders in Latin America, showcasing the hypocrisy in its foreign policy. Álvaro Uribe, linked to drug trafficking, is defended by U.S. officials, while Venezuela faces unproven accusations. The podcast critiques military interventions and historical patterns of meddling, highlighting past alliances with drug cartels. It reveals how the narrative against Venezuela may serve ulterior motives, exposing a tangled web of geopolitics and human rights abuses.

The decline of the US dollar's dominance is gaining momentum, with economists surprising even mainstream voices speaking out. Trump's policies may cause a swift transition toward de-dollarization amid geopolitical shifts. As the dollar's role diminishes, the rise of China's influence and increasing gold purchases by central banks come into play. Concerns over inflation and US Treasury market volatility further complicate the landscape, and tensions surrounding interest rates are adding pressure as foreign investments dwindle.

In this engaging discussion, Zhang Weiwei, a renowned scholar from Fudan University, delves into the intricacies of China’s political system and socialist market economy. He elaborates on the unique 'China model,' emphasizing meritocracy and community involvement in governance. The conversation explores how China views democracy compared to the U.S. and critiques the ongoing trade war, highlighting its economic implications. Zhang also discusses the shift towards a multipolar world and China’s strategies to reduce dependence on U.S. financial systems.