Simon and Whiton

Can the United States and Russia collaborate even as the Ukraine War continues? What is possible if the war stops and if it doesn't? Fyodor Lukyanov, the prominent Russian expert in foreign affairs, research director at the Valdai Discussion Club, and editor in chief of the publication "Russia in Global Affairs" joins co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon to discuss Russia and the United States, Russia and China, Europe's declining relevance to both powers, and how to improve relations. 00:00 Lead-in: Putting America first regarding Russia and Ukraine 07:06 What's on Putin's mind11:30 Can US and Russia talk about the future?16:45 Areas of possible US-Russia cooperation22:40 Russia turning away from Europe?29:40 Can US and Russia beef up non-official discussions?36:30 Initiating better diplomacy 41:40 Russia and China48:00 Chinese in eastern Russia

The world now knows that it has to take President Trump seriously. However, the deranged media is still lost. Trump has solid accomplishments heading toward his 100th day in office, but he needs to tighten his message and get Congress to enshrine some of his policies. Kelly Sadler, the commentary editor for The Washington Times who was a special assistant to President Donald Trump in his first administration joins co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon to discuss Trump, his accomplishments, the media, and who among his top aides are most effective and likely to last. 00:00 World Takes Trump Seriously 04:10 Trumps Trade and Comms Strategy 08:22 Trump Will Always Have Some Chaos 11:05 Wall Street Journal Soft on China15:50 Media Even More Trump Deranged?25:00 Trump May Be Best Media President 32:00 Naughty and Nice in Trump's Cabinet40:00 Who Can Push Back on Trump

Trump Shifts Trade and America's Future (guest Mark DiPlacido)While the establishment goes nuts, President Trump's decision on tariffs marks the most fundamental turning point in decades--one that promises to set American on the path of long-term revival. So many "experts" have no idea what is going on and what it means. Former Trump administration trade official Mark DiPlacido of American Compass joins co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon to explain why Trump made his decision and what means for the economy and national power, including which sectors will prosper.00:00 America Wakes Up on Trade02:00 Trump and the Core of the Issue 07:00 Americans Losing New Foreign Asset Division09:50 Chinese Acquiring Assets 10:20 Domestic Freight Set to Pick Up14:20 Middle Class Wages17:40 Dems and Some Republicans Deranged 24:25 Woke Dems Divorcing Working Class33:50 Failures of Past Trade Deals38:10 China Doesn't Use Tariffs to Screw USA40:05 “Laces” and Transshipping to Avoid Tariffs 

Japan will fight, but Taiwan must up its game as U.S.-Asia policy changes dramatically. DOGE, Ukraine, and border security have dominated the early frenetic days of the second Trump administriaton. But behind the headlines looms major change in how the USA handles China and the future of Asia and the Pacifc. Trump has held summits with the leaders of Japan and India. China won't fight conventionally; it will craft a new hybrid war. How hard Taiwan will fight in a China war remains unclear, but Steve Yates, Mark Simon and Chrisitan Whiton argue a changed Japan will fight. Is Trump's imposition of 20% tariffs on China a warmup to delinkage or prelude to a deal. What does Elbridge Colby's confirmation hearing to be under secretary of Defense for policy tell us about Trump policy? What can Taiwan do to curtain its growing estrangement from the United States?00:00 Asia Policy03:24 Early Trump Moves07:45 Criticism of Taiwan Warranted13:40 China Bad at Conventional War 16:36 Taiwan Can Be Less Bad 20:05 Taiwan vs MAGA 24:22 Transvestites Don't Scare Beijing35:26 China Uses Race43:36 Removing China from Panama

Trump took more than a year to raise tariffs in his first term, but slapped China with higher levies just two weeks into Trump II and promised much more. Are we at the beginning of a global trade war or just seeing a more assertive United States? Does Trump want to use tariffs just to extract concessions on matters like immigration, drug cartels, and defense spending? Or does he want to use them to partially supplant the income tax with tariff revenue and eliminate trade deficits? Which countries will pay the most? Co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon discuss these matters with C.J. Mahoney, a deputy U.S. Trade Representative in Trump's first term.

Trump triumphs early in his second term, but decisions on TikTok raise questions. Former Justice Department official and leading legal mind John Yoo outlines the tremendous strides Trump is taking to restore national security and the rule of law, but also pitfalls that may diminish his successes. Topics include TikTok, birthright citizenship, impoundment, presidential power, and whether peace with France was unwise.

Trump's fills out his team strongly with some controversial choices. Will the Senate confirm them and how will they perform? Trump's threatened tariffs already working magic plus what we know about his negotiating style. Were the Bobs from “Office Space” prototypes for Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and their Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)? Will DOGE succeed? Plus: how the media makes up sources and whether they have learned anything from Trump's election. Co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon interview Jeff Berkowitz, CEO of Delve and veteran of multiple successful presidential campaigns.  Timestamps 00:00 Trump transition strong 05:40 Trump's new team  10:00 Will the Senate confirm? 15:11 Trump tariffs as negotiating strategy 20:00 Will Elon and Vivek succeed? 26:00 Media's fake news sources 38:10 Left scheming to thwart Trump 40:53 Rubio and running national security 47:20 Disassembling bureaucracies 52:32 Milton (“Office Space”) in the basement

Can Trump change the media? On this episode of Domino Theory, Neil Patel, the Co-Founder and CEO of Tucker Carlson Network and the Co-Founder and Publisher of the Daily Caller speaks with co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon. Topics include the runaway success of the Tucker Carlson Network, whether Trump will dump the hostile White House Correspondents Association and obsolete daily briefing, the impact of big tech censorship on the Daily Caller, the future of media bigs, Elon Musk's media innovations, and plans for the Tucker Carlson Network. 

On this episode of Domino Theory, co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon speak with Elliott Abrams about human rights in a notional Trump II administration. Abrams was as senior official in the Trump, Bush, and Reagan administrations. How did human rights become a woke progressive crusade, including against our allies, and how can a potentially reelected Trump and his top people bring it back to being a tool of unapologetic national power? We also throw around ideas for negotiating with governments like those of China and Russia, which is necessary, while still pressing human rights. BONUS: How the KGB got the attention of Tehran and its hostage-taking puppets in Lebanon.  00:00 How human rights went woke 04:00 Where to start de-Carterizing 07:45 Failure of Arab Spring 09:42 Egypt and Saudi governments are legitimate 15:30 High-information electorate's impact 19:45 Talk to dictators, but raise human rights  23:55 Americans have gotten wise to Chicoms 29:00 Do democracy orgs still work? 35:50 Why do we allow Iran to threaten assassination? 40:10 Kicking kids of Chinese and Iranian elite out of US schools 44:20 How the KGB dealt with Iranian hostage-takers

We're joined by Garrett Exner from the Hudson Institute, previously a staffer for Sen. Ted Cruz, on this episode of Domino Theory with Christian Whiton and Mark Simon. Topics include Kamala Harris's deteriorating campaign and attempt to turn back the clock to appeasing China. 00:00 State of the presidential race01:40 Dolly steps up to help neglected hurricane victims04:40 What Kamala thinks about China and Taiwan 11:13 Who is telling Kamala what to say15:10 Differences between Trump and Kamala in Asia 17:00 Japan and other allies looking to USA20:15 Will whining Korea actually help the USA in war24:58 Taiwan "arts and crafts club" has no connection to MAGA30:33 China probably not ready for war34:40 Filipinos getting pissed at Chico's43:00 Who will win Congress and can Trump do better on personnel46:30 Kamala can't even do friendly media and coherent policy 

On Domino Theory, Ned Ryun discusses the state of the 2024 presidential election, including turnout efforts and recent Trump advances in swing states, with co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon. Ned also discussed his new book: "American Leviathan: The Birth of the Administrative State and Progressive Authoritarianism." 00:00 Monologue - Trump victory coming into view 06:00 Dems and the unproductive part of the economy 12:18 Voters wising up to unelected bureaucrats  15:10 Whether media can be improved  23:00 Ugly history of progressivism  28:22 Trump got personnel wrong 34:10 Supreme Court opening to help cut administrative sate  40:54 Innovation at at the state level 43:45 The swamp and conformity  45:20 Comedians beating journalists 49:10 American Majority and trends that are helping Trump

In this first episode of "Domino Theory," a reboot of "Simon and Whiton," hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon, along with guest Steve Yates, delve into Trump as a shock to both parties and Kamala Harris's attempt in 2024 to redo Biden's 2020 basement campaign. Topics include: China's fentanyl war against America, which claimed the life of Steve's daughter, and why many Americans won't face it, what the Chicoms think about the U.S. election, the phony label of "isolationism," whether Taiwan and the Philippines will fight China, the dying media and what will survive, and why people trust comedians more than journalists.  Christian was an official in the Trump and Bush administrations, a finance guy, and the author of “Smart Power: Between Diplomacy and War.” Mark is a longtime media executive, deputy to imprisoned publisher and dissident Jimmy Lai, and a veteran of Asia-Pacific business and private equity. Steve was a deputy national security advisor in the Bush administration, the chairman of the Idaho Republican Party, and has held a number of other positions in government, business, and at think tanks. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Domino Theory 00:44 Kamala's Failed CNN Interview 06:36 Chicom View of U.S. politics  10:32 Taiwan's Confusing Politics  20:51 Trump Outside the System, Not Isolationist 26:12 China's Fentanyl War on the USA 32:09 The Failing Media and Money   38:12 Are Conservatives Succeeding in Media?  43:36 Christian's Worst Pitch Ever  46:12 Woke Snowflakes in the Newsroom

Could the Philippines and the South China Sea could be a more likely flashpoint for war with China than Taiwan? How China could be set back 20 years in a conflict. Does the CIA's old SMICE criteria (sex, money, ideology, compromise, ego) apply to U.S. executives who still bend the knee in Beijing? How demographics paint a grim picture for China, a mediocre one for Vietnam, but a good one for the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. 

The liquidation of Evergrande by a Hong Kong court accelerates China's real estate and economic crisis to a new speed, but how does it really affect Chinese individuals and banks? And will the effects impact political stability? But why is no one in the White House seeking to exploit this reality, and would officials in a second Biden term broach a bailout of China and the country's best and brightest make plans to leave? Mark Simon reports from Taipei in a discussion with Christian Whiton in the USA. 

Hong Kong outsources torture, Taiwan's looming election, China's economy sputters In the trial of Jimmy Lai, is Hong Kong outsourcing witness torture to mainland China? Why are Chinese fleeing to the U.S. border—a fifth column or to reach a land of opportunity? Despite likely victory, why is Taiwan's DPP sputtering? Why China's economy is still stagnant and why Beijing packs little punch globally despite top billing.

Taiwan's ruling DPP party is poor on economics and lacks vision. Taiwan's economy is stagnant. Its financial system is third rate. The last US bank (Citi) just departed. Can the ruling party salvage the situation? Meanwhile the U.S. presidential election and China's economic malaise keep getting more interesting and U.S.  businesses embarrassed themselves fawning over Xi Jinping in San Francisco. 

What Hong Kong's hysterical and deranged response to a media freedom discussion in Geneva tells us. Can Xi and the CCP escape the demographic and real estate doom loop? Filipino fisherman beat China at sea. Is Jakarta's carbon exchange for real or just for fun? 

Congressional hawks try to sweeten unpopular Ukraine aid with funds for Taiwan, but Taiwan's history of self-funding is an asset it should preserve. DeSantis over Trump. The semiconductor industry has friends in high (soft-on-China) places. Hunter might not be smoking crack the right way. China's economic problems mount. Disney's new management just as woke as the old. 

Chicom Committee Chairman Gallagher politely asks what led to Biden admin's unrequited romancing of China. Who in the administration is calling shots? DeSantis gains momentum on distracted Trump. Parting with Yellen vs. Hunter. How much can you blow on five days in hot Singapore?

Taiwan gets more U.S. attention, but not necessarily the right kind. Elon Musk goes deeper into China. Will he have to sell Tesla to keep SpaceX and Twitter? China's reopening is overhyped as the economy exhibits major stress. Bud Lite goes woke and broke. 

Ron DeSantis has the unconventional idea that our foreign policy should actually have priorities. Chinese CCP boss Xi Jinping goes to Russia amid weakness at home. Taiwanese Vice President William Lai takes a step closer to winning election, but how will he treat business and Beijing?  

Why can't Britain embrace greatness and why is Ukraine getting weapons Taiwan bought from the USA? What demographic decline tells us about China and Japan and what the opposite tells us about Indonesia and the Philippines. Should advanced countries make having kids free?

Taiwan and Japan reopen to most travel, but will business pick up? Does Taiwan prioritize children sufficiently, and do Taiwanese think Americans will really help them in a war? Is Hong Kong going to phony up financial analysis in the name of national security? Christian is just back from Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Taipei.

Chinese protesters take to the streets in Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities. Is this just a flash over COVID restrictions or a harbinger of something deeper? What should the USA and the rest of the free world do? Taiwanese voters send a message to the DPP, the Vatican still romances Beijing, and Jimmy Lai goes on trial again in Hong Kong.

Xi and Trudeau have words in public at G-20 in Bali. Trump is in the race—does China want him there? Labor in Australia disappoints. Are arms for Taiwan are going to Ukraine instead?

Taiwan and the rest of Asia react to the prospect of divided government in the USA. Why Taiwan must ask permission before asking permission to buy arms. Problems with AIT, the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan. Vietnam's leader goes to China and the Philippines thinks again about China.

Taiwan and Japan reopen to most travel, but will business pick up? Does Taiwan prioritize children sufficiently, and do Taiwanese think Americans will really help them in a war? Is Hong Kong going to phony up financial analysis in the name of national security? Christian is just back from Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Taipei.

Singapore displaces Hong Kong as the East's key financial capital. New York still ranked at the top globally but will its politicians ruin that? China wants to have its cake and eat it too. Are Republicans surging as Latinos ditch Dems?

India declines to play along with the Biden administration's joke of an economic framework for Asia and some flee expensive Singapore to work from Bali, but probably not for “naked experience” hotels. Is there a role for special ops in Taiwan and the broader fight looming in the Pacific?

Why China's real estate crisis is a YUGE problem, the US-China accounting agreement flops, Taiwan relies too much on fleeting semiconductor hoopla, and Singapore welcomes you if you're rich.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan; why did Beijing think it could stop the trip? Manufacturing dips in China at the housing industry crisis deepens. Hong Kong goes from bad to worse for business.

Joe Biden tells House Speaker Nancy Pelosi not to go to Taiwan. Will she comply and why the wimpy tone from Biden? Also, China's real estate crisis deepens and Beijings is cutting is dollar reserves. Will Japan increase its defense budget?

China has an ugly reaction to the assassination of Shinzo Abe, banks start to pull back in Northeast Asia amid slump but Southeast Asia may be a different story. Will Taiwan suffer from semiconductors becoming boring again? Myanmar is back in play.

The bear market continues; is there a refuge? Mark has a plan to fix CNBC with Family Guy. Woke companies alienate anti-abortion employees. Aussies give 70 percent support to nuclear subs. White progressives don't want armed minorities. China might attack something other than Taiwan first.

Stagflation hits markets, CNN can't recover, WaPo eats it own, Japanese yen collapse, China in a fix, Liz Cheney faces a reckoning from Wyoming voters.

Taiwan never disappoints those expecting disappointment. China hits an inflection point where it probably won't ever catch the USA. Is beyond-gay Nordstrom selling its overpriced attire to art students? why American companies are out of style in Dubai, and whether Nelson Peltz will de-wokify flagging Unilever.

Why anyone listens to Kurt Campbell and company, what prompted Joe Biden to vow to defend Taiwan, will Bongbong Marcos be an improvement over Duterte in the Philippines, whether Japan will also go to war, the zombie TPP, and what China is up to in the Solomon Islands.

Disney isn't just, woke, it's also a horribly run company. Why Elon Musk doesn't have a PR department. Also, Biden finally announced a trip to Asia, but will it be a nothing burger? Why is the U.S. Trade Representative wasting everyone's time in East Asia with a woke excuse for a trade framework?

Twitter is an awful company, but Elon Musk may have much bigger plans than what people expect. Is the collapse of the Japanese yen a glitch or a signal of much bigger problems for Japan? Is the USA or China closer to recession, and does anyone in the U.S. government really know what Xi Jinping is facing?

Elon Musk scares the woke censors at Twitter. What ships' captains trading arms for fuel tells us about using ammo for currency if society collapses. Why one shouldn't “buy on the dip” and how to weather stagflation and a bear market. Banking in Singapore and whether the Philippines will hug the panda under new leadership.

Only a handful of Disney employees actually walked out of work to protest the company's lack of additional activism against Florida. Are the least productive employees the most politically active at work? Why Disney has no talent and what to look for economically as the Ukraine war progresses.

Mark and Christian explore the source of wokism in companies, especially the human resources, public relations, and marketing departments. Does management really have to listen to them? Do Twitter mobs matter? Should you keep employees who want to bring their activism to work? They also discuss Disney's wimpy CEO being instructed by his workers to take on Florida's elected governor and legislature, the difference between dealing with ad departments in America and Asia, and how much you could profit by matching Nancy Pelosi's “well-informed” investing strategy.

Mark and Christian discuss energy opportunities and possible work-arounds that Russia is likely to use to circumvent sanctions. Which regions benefit and how is China likely to act as the crisis progresses? Biden sends a plane load of squishes to Taiwan to reassure the government. Gold is better than crypto.

Mark and Christian question Eileen Gu's unpatriotic mantra, "When I'm in the U.S., I'm American, but when I'm in China, I'm Chinese,” as well as an article by Ashley Wong in the New York Times cheering the freestyle skiing gold medalist and suggesting those who disagree are racist. Also discussed is why many Asian-Americans have associated with Democrats despite cultural differences and whether that is changing.

Inflation got worse in January, spooking markets and lowering Joe Biden's poll numbers further. What are the political and business impacts? Mark and Christian ponder the very limited future of print. "Indonesia's Donald Trump” goes long on coal and Rio Tinto continues to impress. America's Donald Trump-led "Truth Social," a project of DWAC, incurs a delay and takes a dive. The olympics aren't just bad for China, but are particularly bad for NBC. Can they recover?

Can CNN recover now that disastrous Zucker is out, and why the double standard for his paramour? Mark and Christian speculate on the future of CNN under Discovery ownership. Also, will Spotify support Joe Rogan against the cancelistas and was Rogan smart to apologize? They discuss the decision by ABC News to suspend Whoopi Goldberg, why The View is even under the news division, and whether Rachel Maddow's break from MSNBC is permanent. Equities discussed: DISCA, SPOT, VIAC, DIS, NWSA, AMZN, NYT.

Mark interviews Christian from Singapore, where a common question was whether the USA will defend Taiwan. They discussed who is winning and losing in the region, where the price of oil and gold are headed, and the looming disasters of the Olympics and NBC's coverage.

The Wall Street Journal pretends it hasn't gone woke, but doesn't fool readers. Goldman sparks a selloff in equities and it may be only the beginning. Why did Donald Trump agree to a predictably disastrous interview with leftwing NPR? Russia funds are off on the crisis with Ukraine, but may be poised to bounce back.

NYT buys The Athletic for $550 million, but sports fans might not go for woke sports commentary from an even more woke media property. Is NYT still a buy? Mark and Christian have fun redefining ESG investing. ARKK takes a dive but Rio Tinto looks better and better. Is Tesla in China's Xinjiang region or CBC in Canada closer to communism?

Intel committed an act of decency regarding slave labor in China, but promptly retracted its statement and apologized to Beijing. Are U.S. companies overestimating China's economic potential? Spiderman rakes in over $1 billion without the Chinese market, and Indonesian coal miner Adaro goes “green” by building a huge aluminum smelter. WaPo boss Bezos gets filmed canoodling. Is the Russian economy a “buy”?

Senator Manchin's demur means Dems have only 49 votes at most for a big tax-and-spend package. Omicron rules may drive business and land value to red states. Rio Tinto hires a Canadian Sinophile CEO, but will unwoke mining shareholders tolerate his decisions? NYU impoverishes its grad students and Stephen Spielberg flops with woke West Side Story remake.