6 Comments
User's avatar
Abhcán's avatar

If the above are Trump's actual goals, then he is doing close to the opposite of achieving them. He's torching trade and military alliances built up over scores of years. Not to mention the reputation of American defence contractors, who are now all suspect.

https://www.thebulwark.com/p/america-first-is-a-lie-a76

https://www.theconcis.com/p/the-beginning-of-the-end-of-american

https://dgardner.substack.com/p/what-trump-is-costing-america

https://dgardner.substack.com/p/what-trump-is-costing-america-part

Expand full comment
The Angry Demagogue's avatar

Its not quite clear what his goals are. Like everyone else- just guessing

Expand full comment
Jerome's avatar

Thorough and thoughtful. Thank you. I wonder about China. Zeihan says they're gonna crumble because of demographics. What do you think?

Expand full comment
The Angry Demagogue's avatar

Zeihan was convinced Russia would crumble, too.

Their economy is not what they say it is but they are a military power and a major player in the global economy. i think they are not what they are made out to be but I feel that the West and the US are not in a great position either.

Something has to give. The US deficit is a crisis - it can be fixed but it is real.

Expand full comment
Abhcán's avatar

It's difficult to know the exact state of the Russian economy at any given time, especially since the Russians cut down on the number of official figures they release and that autocrats tend not to enjoy bad news.

But there is evidence that their economic woes have been increasing over time.

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/russia-stagflation-rising-inflation-weak-growth-dwindling-liquid-reserves-by-anders-aslund-2025-01

https://geopoliticalfutures.com/russias-severe-labor-crunch/

https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/russias-wartime-economy-isnt-weak-it-looks

Expand full comment
Jerome's avatar

I agree; US deficit should start every conversation about policy.

Expand full comment