General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and paramount leader of China
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Last month, President Xi Jinping spoke at an AI conference in Shanghai, China. There he promoted AI accessibility for the world, touting China's adoption of open-weighted models.After OpenAI's rogue model incident in which a training model hacked into the company HuggingFace and stole confidential information, the discussion over whether models should be open or closed has intensified.“Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carion spoke with Adam Segal at the Council of Foreign Relations about China's soft power play in the global AI arms race.
Last month, President Xi Jinping spoke at an AI conference in Shanghai, China. There he promoted AI accessibility for the world, touting China's adoption of open-weighted models.After OpenAI's rogue model incident in which a training model hacked into the company HuggingFace and stole confidential information, the discussion over whether models should be open or closed has intensified.“Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carion spoke with Adam Segal at the Council of Foreign Relations about China's soft power play in the global AI arms race.
The government keeps getting robbed of its own Bitcoin and a new bill wants to fix that. The BPI team breaks down the American Reserve Modernization Act (ARMA): what it would do for Treasury custody standards, why it has Democratic co-sponsors, and why they're bullish it could pass the House. They also cover the wave of digital-asset departures shaking up DC, from Hester Peirce to Paul Grewal. They also cover Kimi K3, China's open-source push, and the data center fight.
Isaac Stone Fish, author of America Second: How America's Elites Are Making China Stronger, investigates how American political, corporate, and cultural elites have become deeply entangled with the Chinese Communist Party(CCP) since the 1970s. He identifies Henry Kissinger as the most influential figure in this relationship, alleging that Kissinger's consulting model prioritized personal profit and CCP interests over American national security. The book also critiques the Bush and Clinton families for their roles in romancing Beijing and facilitating China's entry into the WTO. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the self-censorship of Hollywood, where studios now reflexively avoid critical portrayals of China to maintain market access. Stone Fish details how the CCP uses "psychological manipulation" to force apologies from executives like Michael Eisner and to silence stars like Richard Gere. This influence extends to sports, highlighted by LeBron James' criticism of Daryl Morey for supporting democracy in Hong Kong. Stone Fish argues that while trade was initially sold as a means to democratize China, it has instead empowered a more authoritarian regime under Xi Jinping. He warns that the CCP's success in using American "interlocutors" and "friends" has allowed it to pursue genocide in Xinjiang and aggressive "wolf warrior" diplomacy with minimal resistance from the West's most powerful institutions. He urges a new consensus to address the national security and ethical risks posed by these ties. (4)1935 Beijing
If you ever studied modern Chinese history, you likely met the “century of humiliation” in your first class. In 1840, British gunboats shattered the pride and legitimacy of the Qing empire, and the decades of semi-colonization that followed inaugurated a century of reform and revolution — all aimed at restoring an ancient, creaky civilization to unity and to the top of the world. The Kuomintang and the Communist Party told the same story and drew the same conclusion: the mandate belongs to whoever ends the humiliation.In China, history has never been merely academic. Where elections do not exist, leaders seek legitimacy in historical title deeds — which is why the Party still teaches the story in every classroom and invokes it in every speech on national rejuvenation. The battle crossed the Pacific, too. John King Fairbank absorbed the nationalist framework in wartime China and canonized it at Harvard, organizing American understanding of modern China around two dates: 1840 and 1949. He built the field of China studies as we know it, and generations of his students inherited the framework with it, until American scholarship was teaching China's nationalist mythology back to itself — and to Washington, where it still underwrites op-eds casting Xi Jinping as the new emperor. How America tells China's story shapes how America makes China policy.Dr. Alice Miller thinks we have the story wrong. From 1974 to 1990, she was a senior CIA analyst of Chinese foreign policy and domestic politics, and later a division chief supervising analysis of China, North Korea, Indochina, and Soviet policy in East Asia. She is now a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, where she edited and contributed to the China Leadership Monitor from 2001 to 2018. She published as H. Lyman Miller before her gender transition.In part two of our conversation — edited for clarity and brevity — we trace her formation at Princeton under Fritz Mote, the ferocious “Who lost China?” debates of the 1950s, the eternal feud between historians and political scientists, and her heterodox verdict on engagement: it didn't fail — it worked so well that Xi Jinping had to stomp on it. We close with a story of a different kind: her transition in 2006, and the unexpected grace with which the CIA, Hoover, and the Naval Postgraduate School received it. Part one, on her years decoding Beijing for the CIA, is here.Enjoy!LeoMusic: Carnaval Op. 9 No. 18 - “Aveu”, Bishara Haroni, Artlist Classics, Robert SchumannFor quick navigation to the specific sections:* Early sinologist debates about “who lost China?”* The fallacy of “The Century of Humiliation”* The battle between historians and political scientists over contemporary China studies* “How Did We Get China So Wrong?”* An identity transition from Harold to AlicePeking Hotel is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.About usThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu's research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming.We also have a Chinese-language Substack. We hope to publish more conversations like this one, so stay tuned! Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe
Xi Jinping recently spoke in Beijing, promoting a Chinese Communist Party initiative seeking Beijing's international control over the expansion of cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology. This episode explores how Xi and the CCP are using the AI governance initiative as the latest ideological-warfare tool in pursing global domination under Marxism-Leninism with Chinese characteristics. The counterproposal section looks at the work of the great Polish philosopher Leszek Kolakowski who provides important ideas that can effectively counter Marxism. The news portion discusses how China is using AI to bolster its military forces and instead of an interview, this episode present excerpts of an important speech by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the urgent need to defeat the growing threat of Marxist-motivated violence. This episode is must listening!
Last October, Pastor Wang Lin, one of the leaders in Zion Church in China, was arrested and imprisoned under false charges of "fraud" and "illegal business practices." Sarah Su (Su Ziming in Chinese), wife of Pastor Wang, recounts the day her husband was arrested and the Christian persecution they faced even before he was imprisoned. Sarah will share about her husband's role in Zion Church's leadership and in training other leaders, how the church continues to reach many people despite persecution from the Chinese Communist Party, and recent updates about Pastor Wang's condition in prison. "The moment I married Wang Lin, I have decided to face all this together," Sarah says. "I knew that his mission was to train and disciple more Christians in China…I knew something like [this] would happen one day." You'll hear from Sarah how she continues to face this persecution with courage, faithfully enduring times of worry and loneliness. She will share how she and her husband both are committed to serve the Lord—no matter the cost. Zion Church made international headlines during President Trump's visit to Xi Jinping in Beijing in May and with the release of Zion senior pastor Ezra Jin from prison during America's July 4 celebrations. Sarah thanks God for Jin's release, and says the case against Zion Church continues, with eight church leaders remaining in prison. She asks that we pray for their release, the dismissal of charges, for their physical and spiritual health, and for her and her children, along with family members of the other persecuted Christians from Zion Church. Visit Prisoner Alert to write an encouraging letter to Pastor Wang Lin, and letters to other Christians imprisoned for their faith in Iran, Eritrea, and China.
Le monde occidental vit une crise civilisationnelle et politique qui exprime tout à la fois un vertige sur l'état des lieux, une perte de sens, un doute sur ses capacités, une haine de soi et une peur de la disparition qui se traduit aujourd'hui par la gigantesque insurrection antisystème qui secoue les démocraties d'Occident. Cette crise est une crise majeure faite de critiques en tous genres qui viennent saper les bases de notre civilisation au risque de la détruire. À quoi s'ajoute l'autoritarisme qui s'affirme sur la scène politique trumpienne. Autre réalité, elle aussi destructrice. Affaibli par ses doutes et le schisme apparu brutalement entre l'Europe et l'Amérique de Donald Trump, l'Occident est par ailleurs confronté à une coalition dont la Russie de Poutine et la Chine de Xi Jinping sont les leaders incontestés liés par un ressentiment historique qu'ils nourissent vis-à-vis de l'Occident et par la peur de l'attraction que la liberté occidentale pourrait susciter chez leurs peuples. Ils voient l'Occident comme l'ennemi à abattre et mènent contre lui une guerre hybride à grande échelle, qui connecte tous les théatres d'opérations. Invité : Jean-Sylvestre Mongrenier, chercheur à l'Institut Français de Géopolitique, directeur de recherche à l'Institut Thomas More et collaborateur de Desk-Russie. Dictionnaire Géopolitique du Monde Occidental, Presses Universitaires de France.
Today, John, Les, and Special Guest Peter Harrell—former Senior Director for International Economics at the NEC & NSC—trace the arc of U.S. trade and economic policy toward China from the engagement era of the late 1990s through future administrations. For decades, Washington operated on the theory that integrating China into the global economy through the WTO would create market opportunities and encourage political liberalization — a paradigm that persisted through Clinton, Bush, and Obama even as warning signs accumulated. The shift came gradually, driven by Chinese malign tactics, Xi Jinping's consolidation of power, and a business community that eventually saw more risk than opportunity in the relationship.What tools — tariffs, export controls, industrial policy — have actually moved the needle on economic security, and which are more political theater than strategy? Did Trump's first-term tariffs reshape trade flows in any meaningful way, or did transshipment through states such as Vietnam and Mexico simply obscure continued Chinese dominance? How should policymakers think about the trade deficit as a strategic variable, and what would it actually take to address it? Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@johnclipsey@petereharrellLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/Metg6cjphQo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
En Chine, l'envolée du prix de l'or ne bouleverse pas seulement les marchés financiers. Elle influence aussi le calendrier des mariages. Une étude menée par trois chercheurs chinois montre qu'une forte hausse du métal précieux incite les couples à avancer la date de leur union afin d'éviter une augmentation du coût des bijoux traditionnels. Un phénomène révélateur des liens étroits entre économie, traditions et crise démographique. Quel rapport entre le prix de l'or et le nombre de mariages célébrés en Chine ? À première vue, le lien peut sembler surprenant. Pourtant, une étude menée par trois chercheurs chinois, publiée récemment et fondée sur près de vingt ans de données recueillies entre 2006 et 2023, met en évidence un phénomène régulier : lorsque le prix de l'or augmente fortement, le nombre d'unions progresse également. Le sujet est d'autant plus intéressant que la Chine traverse une crise démographique majeure, où chaque mariage supplémentaire revêt une importance économique et politique considérable. Pour comprendre ce phénomène, il faut revenir au rôle de l'or dans les mariages chinois. Dans le pays, les bijoux en or occupent une place importante. Depuis des siècles, ils sont associés à la prospérité, au bonheur et à la longévité, et il est traditionnel d'en offrir aux jeunes mariés. Dans certaines régions du sud de la Chine, la mariée reçoit même ce que l'on appelle les « quatre pièces d'or » : un collier, un bracelet, une bague et une paire de boucles d'oreilles. Ces cadeaux sont souvent financés par les parents ou les beaux-parents. Cette double fonction, culturelle et patrimoniale, explique pourquoi les familles restent très attachées à cette tradition. À lire aussiLa Chine compte sur ses amoureux pour stimuler son économie Une hausse du prix de l'or qui pousse les couples à anticiper leur mariage Résultat, lorsque le cours du métal jaune s'envole, le coût du mariage augmente lui aussi. Les économistes parlent alors d'un phénomène d'anticipation. Les futurs mariés craignent que les bijoux coûtent encore plus cher dans quelques mois. Ils préfèrent donc avancer la date de leur union plutôt que d'attendre. Le mécanisme est comparable à celui observé lorsqu'une hausse de TVA est annoncée : les consommateurs achètent leur voiture ou leur électroménager avant l'augmentation. En Chine, certains couples avancent leur mariage. L'année 2025 en a offert une parfaite illustration. En yuan, le prix de l'or a bondi de près de 60%, porté par les tensions géopolitiques, les achats massifs des banques centrales et le statut de valeur refuge du métal précieux. Les familles ont alors dû s'adapter. Certaines ont offert des bijoux plus légers, d'autres ont réduit leurs dépenses. Un phénomène inédit est même apparu : la location d'alliances le temps de la cérémonie ou des photos de mariage. La flambée de l'or reflète aussi les difficultés économiques de la Chine Cette hausse des prix modifie également la manière dont les Chinois achètent de l'or. Selon le World Gold Council, les achats de bijoux ont reculé d'environ un tiers l'an passé. À l'inverse, les achats de lingots et de pièces ont bondi de 35%. Autrement dit, les ménages les plus modestes renoncent parfois aux bijoux devenus trop coûteux, tandis que les plus aisés profitent de la hausse pour investir davantage dans ce qu'ils considèrent comme une valeur refuge. Cette évolution s'explique aussi par la crise immobilière que traverse la Chine. Pendant des années, la pierre était le placement privilégié des ménages. Mais avec les difficultés du secteur, beaucoup se tournent désormais vers l'or, jugé plus sûr pour protéger leur épargne. Pour Pékin, ce sujet dépasse donc largement celui du marché de l'or. Le pays fait face à une chute historique des mariages et des naissances. Les autorités multiplient les mesures pour encourager les unions, car elles restent aujourd'hui le principal préalable à la naissance d'enfants en Chine. L'étude montre ainsi qu'un actif financier peut influencer des décisions aussi personnelles que la date d'un mariage, illustrant la manière dont les évolutions économiques peuvent façonner les comportements des ménages jusque dans leur vie quotidienne.
The fifth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee will be held in Beijing in October, with a focus on studying major issues on consistently advancing the Party's full and rigorous self-governance.The announcement came on Thursday after a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, which was presided over by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.A statement issued after the meeting said that with the profound changes in the international landscape, national conditions and the Party's development, there are new circumstances and issues in advancing the Party's self-governance.In exercising full and rigorous Party governance, efforts should be focused on enhancing the Party's long-term governance capability, maintaining its advanced nature and integrity, and preserving the close bond between the Party and the people, in order to ensure that the Party always remains the strong leadership core in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, the statement said.The meeting also analyzed and studied the current economic situation and made arrangements for economic work in the second half of this year.During the meeting, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the Party's top decision-making body, pledged to step up macro policy support, and underlined the need to implement a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy, fully leverage the effectiveness of existing policies and roll out practical and effective incremental measures in a timely manner.It is essential to strengthen countercyclical adjustments, intensify efforts to expand domestic demand and optimize supply, enhance development momentum and stimulate social vitality in order to achieve sustained, innovative and improved economic growth, the meeting said.The meeting emphasized the need to accelerate the pace of fiscal spending and the use of bond funds, effectively utilize monetary policy tools and adjust them in a timely manner, and optimize fiscal-monetary coordination to boost domestic demand.It is important to expand mutually beneficial international economic and trade cooperation, vigorously develop service trade, and promote balanced trade development, the meeting said, calling for efforts to actively attract and utilize foreign capital.The meeting emphasized the importance of stabilizing the real estate market, while highlighting the need to enhance the resilience of the capital market and investors' confidence.China's economy grew 4.7 percent year-on-year in the first half of the year. This put the country largely on track to meet its annual growth target of between 4.5 and 5 percent.To effectively carry out economic work for the remainder of the year, efforts must be made to better consider both the domestic and international situations in a coordinated way, balance development and security, consistently deepen reform and opening-up, and speed up the transition from old growth drivers to new ones, the meeting said.The meeting underlined the need to take solid steps to build the "six networks" — water, new-type power grids, computing power, next-generation communication, urban underground pipe and logistics, while calling for efforts to accelerate the development of a modern industrial system and strengthen long-term and steady support for basic research.While calling for deeply implementing the "AI Plus" initiative, fostering new forms of the smart economy and improving the governance system for artificial intelligence, the meeting underscored the need to seek breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies and the development of future industries.Efforts should be made to build emerging pillar industries, while continuously driving the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, the meeting said.The meeting emphasized the need to create a level playing field for market entities, comprehensively address "rat race" competition, further deepen the reform of State-owned assets and enterprises, optimize the development environment for the private economy, and promote the regulated and healthy development of the internet-based platform economy.It is important to effectively implement a package of debt relief measures, and steadily advance the reform and risk mitigation of local small and medium-sized financial institutions, the meeting said.Advice on economic workPrior to Thursday's Political Bureau meeting, the CPC Central Committee held a symposium on July 24 with non-CPC personages to solicit opinions and suggestions on the current economic situation and economic work for the second half of this year.While presiding over the symposium, Xi said that in the first half of the year, China's economy made steady progress despite headwinds, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality.In the second half of the year, efforts should focus on enhancing the effectiveness of macroeconomic policies, Xi said.Key priorities include tapping into the potential for expanding domestic demand, promoting the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation, deepening reform and expanding high-standard opening-up, improving people's livelihoods and continuing to mitigate risks in key areas, he said.plenary /ˈpliːnəri/ adj.全体出席的;全体会议的countercyclical /ˌkaʊntəˈsɪklɪkl/ adj.逆周期的incremental /ˌɪŋkrəˈmentl/ adj.增量的;新增的resilience /rɪˈzɪliəns/ n.韧性;抗风险能力symposium /sɪmˈpəʊziəm/ n.座谈会;专题研讨会mitigate /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ v.缓解;化解(风险、债务、压力)
SCHEDULE FOR THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 7-29-26.1885 CHILE STEEL SIDED WARSHIPRebecca Grant and Gordon Chang report China is escalating provocations against the Philippines and Japan, including dangerous maneuvers near Second Thomas Shoal and firing missiles from submarines. Grant highlights the US Navy's preparedness to defend allies, noting a "red line" if Filipino sailors are killed. Despite China's permanent presence, the US maintains dominance through carrier strike groups and superior undersea warfare. The lack of operational officers on China's Central Military Commission suggests potential command risks. (1)Rick Fisher and Gordon Chang discuss reports that China is transferring hundreds of advanced QW-12 and FN-16 man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) to Iran via Hong Kong intermediaries. Fisher warns this poses a significant threat to US aircraft in the Strait of Hormuz. Chang advocates for reimposing sanctions on Hong Kong. The transfer, which China denies, represents a major escalation and highlights China's ongoing role in arming US adversaries like North Korea and Pakistan. (2)Charles Burton and Gordon Chang note Xi Jinping broke tradition by skipping the 50th anniversary of the devastating Tangshan earthquake, sending a surrogate instead. Burton suggests this absence may signal political instability or paranoia regarding his domestic standing. The earthquake historically symbolizes a loss of the "mandate of heaven." Furthermore, vacancies on the Central Military Commission and the mysterious death of former Premier Li Keqiangindicate profound internal disarray and a lack of clear succession. (3)Charles Burton and Gordon Chang discuss how trade tensions and rhetoric from the US have led to increased disdain among Canadians toward their neighbor. Burton discusses a poll showing Canadians view China more favorably than the US due to perceived economic threats from American tariffs. While the integrated North American market remains strong, Canadian provincial governments are reportedly restricting US alcohol sales. There are even suggestions that Canada should adopt "resistance" strategies similar to Ukraine. (4)Evan Ellis reports Keiko Fujimori has been inaugurated as Peru's president, appointing a respected center-right cabinet focused on fiscal discipline and US alignment. However, she faces challenges from endemic insecurity, corruption, and significant Chinese investment. Meanwhile, the influence of Cuba remains a concern across Latin America, with accusations of espionage and interference in democratic processes. Díaz-Canel's regime is under pressure from the Trump administration, potentially facing coercive negotiations or military action. (5)Evan Ellis previews Brazil's upcoming October election, which pits the leftist Lula da Silva against Flavio Bolsonaro, son of the former president. While Lula currently leads in polls, his Workers' Party background and ties to the São Paulo Forum raise concerns about radicalism and increased engagement with China. Ellis warns that a Lula victory could lead Brazil into a recession and a state-centric social policy, potentially settling political scores while lacking necessary financial resources. (6)Evan Ellis surveys shifting political landscapes: Javier Milei is rallying support for the Bolsonaros in Brazil, highlighting a new era of cross-border political interference. In Colombia, President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella is signaling a pro-US shift by cutting ties with Cuba and Nicaragua. Conversely, Venezuela remains in a "holding pattern" under Delcy Rodríguez. Despite reports of crumbling oil infrastructure, major investment is unlikely until a legitimate government is established to address the nation's $240 billion debt. (7)Evan Ellis notes President Claudia Sheinbaum has seen success in reducing homicides and cooperating on border security, but deep-seated corruption persists. The USMCA's future is uncertain, with the Trump administration using ongoing negotiations as leverage. Additionally, China is quietly expanding its presence in Mexico's telecom and automotive sectors. Sheinbaum must navigate a delicate balance: pursuing economic diversification and relationships with China without jeopardizing critical access to the US market. (8)Michael Bernstam reports Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries have severely pinched Moscow's fuel production, forcing it to import refined products from India. Bernstam argues that the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have merged into a singular global energy crisis. With critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea threatened, a quarter of the world's oil supply is endangered. As governmental reserves dwindle, the US has become a primary exporter. (9)Michael Bernstam notes official statistics reveal the Russian economy has entered a state of stagnation, with GDP growth at a mere 0.2% for the first half of 2026. While weapons production remains high, the civilian economy—including agriculture and construction—is in recession. Bernstam notes that "perceived inflation" for Russian consumers is roughly 15%, significantly higher than official reports. Reckless interest rate cuts have further invited inflation, signaling a deepening commercial and fiscal crisis. (10)Sadanand Dhume observes that despite having a vast pool of engineers and data, India lags behind the US and China in developing frontier AI models. Dhume discusses the "winner-take-all" fear versus the belief that AI technology will eventually diffuse globally. While the Indian government is investing in semiconductors, many IT sector jobs in coding and back-office support are threatened by automation. The debate continues over whether India can successfully reap benefits without being a front-runner. (11)Sadanand Dhume examines India's "reservations" system, a rigid quota-based affirmative action program facing intense criticism for undermining university competitiveness. Originally intended to redress historical caste-based wrongs, quotas have expanded to cover roughly 60% of medical school seats. Dhume notes that while merit-based systems in Chinaprovide a brutal but efficient benchmark, Indian political parties fear touching the quota system would be "electoral suicide." This policy has entrenched caste identities. (12)General Blaine Holt analyzes reports of China supplying advanced shoulder-launched missiles (MANPADS) to Iran via Hong Kong and Pakistan, signaling a major geopolitical shift. Holt explains that while these weapons threaten low-flying aircraft, the supply chain is vulnerable to intelligence interdiction. Holt observes that recent Iranian escalations in Iraq and the Gulf suggest a fragmented leadership in disarray rather than a cohesive strategy. The US and Saudi Arabiaare actively striking Iranian-backed militias. (13)Mary Anastasia O'Grady reports that following a narrow election victory, center-right businessman Abelardo de la Espriella faces fierce opposition from outgoing President Gustavo Petro. Petro, a former M19 terrorist, has refused to recognize the results, alleging fraud and foreign interference. De la Espriella plans to take a hard line against illegal armed groups like the ELN and FARC. To build support, he intends to hold his inauguration at a military garrison, signaling a commitment to restoring national security. (14)Bob Zimmerman reports SpaceX's 13th Starship Super Heavy launch was a major success, demonstrating the reliability of Raptor 3 engines and the thermal protection system. Zimmerman highlights the shift toward a "capitalism model," where private companies manage missions for NASA. Meanwhile, a schizophrenic GAO report on NASA's workforce reductions suggests that budget cuts have not significantly impacted major projects, despite agency officials' claims that funding decreases are "disastrous." (15)Bob Zimmerman notes the Deep Space Network facility in Spain narrowly avoided destruction by wildfires, highlighting the fragility of planetary communication nodes. Beyond Earth, astronomers have observed a precipitous drop in star formation within the Andromeda galaxy as it moves toward an eventual collision with the Milky Way. Additionally, NASA's Dragonfly mission to Titan faces potential power shortages from its nuclear sources. Despite these risks, commercial space continues to expand into private stations. (16)Corrections applied: Rick Fisher (transcribed as "Fischer" in segment 2 — matching the spelling from your earlier batch), Delcy Rodríguez, Díaz-Canel, and São Paulo Forum with accents. Also standardized "man-pads" to MANPADS and hyphenated the QW-12/FN-16 designations. Stray double commas from the source cleaned throughout.5
STREAMING THE MAKING OF THE JBS, 7-29-26The provided text is a transcript from the John Batchelor Show, featuring a detailed discussion between hosts and experts regarding escalating geopolitical tensions involving China, Iran, and the South China Sea. The speakers highlight provocative Chinese military actions, including maritime bullying of Filipino personnel and the rare launch of a first-strike missile system from a submarine. Experts also examine a reported arms deal between China and Iran for anti-aircraft missiles, suggesting this marks a significant escalation in global instability. Additionally, the dialogue explores domestic turmoil within the Chinese Communist Party, specifically focusing on vacancies in the Central Military Commission and the unusual absence of Xi Jinping from high-profile commemorative events. Finally, the segment addresses the strained diplomatic and economic relations between the United States and Canada, noting a shift in Canadian public perception toward China and the U.S. amid trade disputes.
Charles Burton and Gordon Chang note Xi Jinping broke tradition by skipping the 50th anniversary of the devastating Tangshan earthquake, sending a surrogate instead. Burton suggests this absence may signal political instability or paranoia regarding his domestic standing. The earthquake historically symbolizes a loss of the "mandate of heaven." Furthermore, vacancies on the Central Military Commission and the mysterious death of former Premier Li Keqiangindicate profound internal disarray and a lack of clear succession. (3)1945 TOKYO STATION POSTCARD
China is moving quickly to expand its influence over global governance as the United States steps back from its traditional leadership role. Earlier this month, President Xi Jinping unveiled the World Artificial Intelligence Organization, a new Shanghai-based institution with 29 founding members, most from Asia and Africa, that Beijing hopes will help shape the global rules governing AI. The new organization is the latest in a series of Chinese initiatives aimed at reshaping the international order to better reflect Beijing's priorities. Through efforts such as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and now the WAIO, China is positioning itself not just as a participant in the existing system, but as an architect of new global rules. Yu Jie, a senior research fellow on China at Chatham House in London, joins Eric to discuss whether Beijing can turn its diplomatic ambitions into lasting influence and why many countries in the Global South are receptive to China's vision.
Deze zomer is Amsterdam het middelpunt van de internationale queergemeenschap. Het is World Pride, twee weken vol feest én protest. Want wereldwijd staan de rechten van lhbti'ers onder druk.Vandaag hoor je China-correspondent Tabitha Speelman in gesprek met queer activist Peng Yanhui (ook bekend als Yanzi). Zijn onverwachte overwinning in de rechtbank bleek een keerpunt voor queer activisme in China en inspireerde vele anderen om ook voor hun rechten op te komen. Maar echte wetsverandering blijft uit en intussen worden burgerrechten alleen maar meer ingeperkt.Gast: Tabitha SpeelmanPresentatie: Gabriella Adèr Redactie: Iddo HavingaMontage: Iddo HavingaEindredactie: Ignace SchootCoördinatie: Ignace SchootProductie: Rhea StroinkHeb je vragen, suggesties of ideeën over onze journalistiek? Mail dan naar onze redactie via podcast@nrc.nl.Zie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SCHEDULE THE MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 7-28-26.1900 IDAHOLiz Peek reports the US economy remains robust, driven by strong consumer spending in rural areas like Connecticutand Lancaster County. Peek highlights rising small business and consumer confidence despite increasing gasoline prices. Attention shifts to new Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh, who may end "dot plot" forecasting. Warsh aims to be more "taciturn," forcing markets to rely on incoming data rather than Fed projections. (1)Liz Peek examines the Michigan Democratic Senate primary as a national test for the party's ideological direction. Moderate Haley Stevens faces Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate favored by the Democratic Socialists of America. Peek notes the "shocker" UAW endorsement of El-Sayed, highlighting a shift toward "woke" politics among union members in higher education. This race evaluates if a far-left candidate can win a statewide swing-state contest. (2)Thaddeus McCotter and Judy Dempsey discuss Ukraine's strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, which complicates global energy security for Europe. This inland sea is a vital source of non-Russian energy. Dempsey reports that Germany is carefully observing the implications of this new front. The strike underscores the deep military connection between Russia and Iran regarding equipment exchanges. Meanwhile, recent polls show seven out of ten Americans oppose the Iran war. (3)Thaddeus McCotter and Judy Dempsey turn to a deadly ramming attack at a Berlin parade that has put Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the defensive regarding his security credentials. The populist AfD party is exploiting the tragedy to criticize "uncontrolled immigration" ahead of crucial state elections. While Merz responded with calls for law and order, the incident underscores the difficulty police face in monitoring numerous terrorist suspects. The AfD utilizes these crises to offer simple solutions. (4)Mary Kissel notes diplomatic efforts with Iran currently involve "shuttling messages" through intermediaries like Omanand Qatar. Kissel argues that the Islamic Republic is a revolutionary regime with no interest in genuine strategic peace. The administration's lack of a cohesive strategy has led to declining public support for military action. Meanwhile, the Houthi threat in the Red Sea remains a dangerous Iranian-backed tool for disrupting international shipping. (5)Mary Kissel observes President Zelenskyy is receiving a warmer reception in Washington due to Ukraine's increasing military leverage. Innovative long-range drone strikes on Russian energy nodes have demonstrated Ukraine's utility to USstrategic interests. Unlike the situation with Iran, the US maintains active diplomatic channels in Moscow to discuss potential conflict resolutions. Kissel notes that influential voices on the right are beginning to shift their views on Ukraine. (6)Jonathan Schanzer reports the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East are merging as Russia, Iran, and Chinacoordinate their efforts. Schanzer notes that Ukraine's Caspian Sea strike has clarified this global partnership. The US is currently attempting to "keep a lid" on Israel to prevent a regional escalation. However, the US military faces a depletion of missile interceptors, making it difficult to sustain a long, high-intensity conflict. (7)Jonathan Schanzer discusses new UK–US talks focused on a maritime coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has an opportunity to reset the relationship with Donald Trump. The Iranian-backed Houthi threat remains a top concern for global oil analysts and regional powers like Egypt. Meanwhile, the US is signaling that Lebanon is "too big to fail" to counter Hezbollah's regional influence. (8)Gregory Copley reports the Trump administration has imposed tariffs on Australia, alleging "forced labor" practices—a claim Copley describes as spurious. This move antagonizes a loyal ally that has fought alongside the US for over a century. Consequently, Australia and Canada are beginning to lessen their strategic dependence on the US. Copley warns that such unilateral protectionism could weaken the long-term structure of the Western alliance. (9)Gregory Copley describes Cuba's total implosion as its infrastructure collapses and major blackouts occur. Copley describes a strategic failure in the Caribbean, where China has built significant influence over the last 20 years. The USmust decide whether to facilitate a rapid collapse or a managed transition of the regime. While the Cuban people suffer, the wealthy expatriate community remains ready to fund reconstruction. (10)Gregory Copley reports Xi Jinping faces significant internal opposition from Communist Party elders at the Beidaiheretreat. Despite his titles, Xi's operational power is waning as the Chinese economy evaporates and social unrest grows. A recent ballistic missile launch served as a show of strength before a state visit to the US. Copley notes that youth unemployment is high, and the PLA may eventually act independently. (11)Gregory Copley turns to the UK, where following the rise of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the country faces political uncertainty as Labour struggles with a lack of growth. Copley highlights King Charles III's vital role as a unifying force, focusing on British national identity and values. While the Burnham government is viewed as sclerotic and ideological, the King remains an egalitarian figure. His efforts to preserve heritage, like Dumfries House, bolster his standing. (12)Joseph Sternberg criticizes Prime Minister Andy Burnham's economic policy as ineffective against the cost-of-living crisis. Sternberg argues that the UK is trapped by net-zero regulations that prevent the use of vast North Sea oil and gas reserves. Burnham finds it politically difficult to cut taxes or reverse climate policies despite potential economic benefits. This paralysis makes his government a target for future replacement. (13)Joseph Sternberg notes Chairman Kevin Warsh is moving the Federal Reserve toward a "taciturn" style, ending the practice of "forward guidance." This reform aims to prevent the Fed from becoming locked into policies that may become inappropriate as data shifts. Sternberg suggests that saying less may protect the Fed from political conflict with the White House over tariffs. Markets must now interpret raw data rather than Fed signals. (14)Thaddeus McCotter describes the Michigan Democratic Senate primary as a "civil war" between establishment candidate Haley Stevens and progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. The candidates are sharply divided over AIPAC funding and support for Israel. Stevens is endorsed by high-profile figures like Gretchen Whitmer and Barack Obama. The result will indicate if the Democratic Socialists of America can succeed in a statewide race in a swing state. (15)Thaddeus McCotter notes Dr. Abdul El-Sayed denies being a socialist, claiming he merely wants to regulate "capitalism run amok." However, his platform includes radical proposals such as abolishing ICE. Haley Stevens frames him as a "celebrity candidate" and questions his appeal to women voters. McCotter notes that while the DSA lacks a ground model, identity politics may drive a high turnout among Michigan's large Muslim population. (16)Corrections applied throughout as directed: Thaddeus McCotter and Liz Peek.
Gregory Copley reports Xi Jinping faces significant internal opposition from Communist Party elders at the Beidaiheretreat. Despite his titles, Xi's operational power is waning as the Chinese economy evaporates and social unrest grows. A recent ballistic missile launch served as a show of strength before a state visit to the US. Copley notes that youth unemployment is high, and the PLA may eventually act independently. (11)
Is China's open-source AI strategy a values shift or a game-theoretic bluff? On this episode of The Bitcoin Policy Hour, the BPI team argues it's the latter and explains what happens when Chinese chips catch up to Nvidia. They dig into the Dean Ball vs. David Sacks debate over regulating Chinese models, "FINRA for AI," and the commoditization of intelligence. Plus: the first hearing on the American Reserve Modernization Act and the future of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
Alice Han and James Kynge break down Xi Jinping's pitch at the World AI Conference in Shanghai: free, open-source Chinese AI models for developing nations shut out by expensive U.S. systems. They dig into WAICO, the new 29-member intergovernmental AI organization China just launched, how it echoes (and diverges from) the Belt and Road and Digital Silk Road playbooks, and whether China's open-source generosity can actually last. Then: mathematicians Yu Deng and Hong Wang just became the first two Chinese nationals to win a Fields Medal in the same year — only the second and third Chinese nationals ever to win math's highest honor. Alice and James discuss why it's being celebrated as a milestone for Chinese science, and what it says about talent flow between China and the West. Plus: Amy Lyons — known online as @BlondieinChina — joins to talk about a decade of covering Chinese food and culture, what most people get wrong about Chinese cuisine outside Beijing and Shanghai, and how the creator economy is reshaping global perceptions of China. Subscribe to China Decode on Substack for weekly analysis, livestreams, and deep dives into the biggest story shaping the global economy: chinadecode.profgmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First—China is quietly preparing for a future beyond Vladimir Putin, cultivating relationships throughout the Russian political establishment as Moscow becomes increasingly dependent on Beijing. Once viewed by Xi Jinping as a model of strength, Putin now finds himself leading the junior partner in an increasingly unequal relationship. Later—a Gulf-backed proposal offers a possible path toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The plan calls for shared regional management and voluntary shipping fees, but would require Iran to abandon its demand for sole control over the critical waterway. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief QUO: Make this the season where no opportunity slips away. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://Quo.com/PDB Cardiff: Get fast business funding without bank delays—apply in minutes with Cardiff and access up to $500,000 in same‑day funding at https://Cardiff.co/PDB Pendulum: Ditch the afternoon crashes and naturally curb your cravings with 20% off the doctor-recommended Pendulum Metabolic Daily at https://pendulumlife.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this week's episode of China Insider, Miles Yu reviews statements from President Xi Jinping delivered at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, and how China plans to use AI as a platform to extend its global dominance initiatives and influence. Next, Miles cover the latest developments from southern China as Typhoon Noul made landfall, and details the Chinese government's response to the emergent crisis. Finally, Miles examines the contributions of mathematicians Hong Wang and Yu Deng, who became the first ever Fields Medal recipients from China, and details their global academic careers. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute's China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world's future.
President Xi Jinping says China stands ready to work with Slovakia to foster a strategic partnership featuring mutual respect, trust, and resilience. He made the remarks in Beijing during talks with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, who is on a state visit to China.
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Donald Trump caving after China's leader Xi Jinping issued a deadly ultimatum Trump. Find your forever cookware @hexclad and get 10% off at https://hexclad.com/MEIDAS! #hexcladpartner Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-harbaugh-show Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nicholas Burns is a veteran diplomat who served as President Biden's ambassador to China during a crucial period in U.S.-China relations. We caught up at the Aspen Security Forum in July for a wide-ranging conversation about Chinese foreign policy, including Beijing's evolving diplomatic role in the conflict with Iran, what Xi Jinping hopes to gain from upcoming summits with Donald Trump, and whether China is really seeking to supplant the United States in international institutions.
This weeks ai slop is served up by DeepSeek v4 Pro. I tried to use Kimi but it got stuck generating the notes. So now you get this. Could be worse. Episode SummaryJack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack return for a wide-ranging conversation that spans the turbulent state of Australian politics and the precarious state of global affairs. The episode opens with striking Redbridge polling data suggesting One Nation could pick up as many as 19 seats in the upcoming Victorian state election -- a result that would leave neither major party able to form government in its own right. The Jacks explore the mechanics of minority government, the prospect of a marriage of convenience between the Liberals and One Nation, and whether Labor voters in protest mode could deliver One Nation unexpected inroads into heartland seats.The domestic focus then shifts to the Australian economy. Drawing on former ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty's recent analysis, the hosts dissect a bureaucracy more concerned with treating symptoms than causes, lamenting squandered billions on unused quarantine centres, infrastructure costs among the highest in the world, and a housing crisis driven by a failure to train enough workers. The conversation turns to political courage -- or the lack of it -- comparing today's risk-averse governing class with the Hawke-Keating reform era, when fringe benefits tax was meant to kill the long lunch but somehow did not.A spirited defence of Emerge Australia -- an advocacy group training GPs to diagnose and treat myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome) -- highlights the government's decision to cut a mere $400,000 in funding, a move Jack the Insider brands disgraceful for an organisation serving an estimated 250,000 Australians. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme reform also gets a hearing, with pharmaceutical companies increasingly bypassing Australia for clinical trials.Internationally, the Jacks confront the escalating dangers of the Russia-Ukraine war. With Ukraine making Crimea increasingly uninhabitable and Vladimir Putin backed into a corner, the prospect of an attack on a NATO or NATO-aligned state looms. The conversation covers Russia's cancelled bond sale, the shifting power dynamic between Putin and Xi Jinping, and thousands of Russian passports arriving in Moldova -- a familiar prelude to intervention. On Iran, the hosts reflect on the Trump administration's military strikes, oil climbing past USD 100 a barrel, and the political consequences for the upcoming US midterm elections.The episode closes with sport: the FIFA World Cup (and Argentina's remarkable ability to unify the football world in mutual disdain), the AFL's handling of the Nicky Winmar domestic violence case and questions of consistency, the end of the Bazball era in English Test cricket, a warm tribute to the late Sir Garfield Sobers, and rugby union's new Nations Championship format.Timestamped Highlights(All timestamps adjusted +25 seconds to account for theme music.)00:00:26 -- Introduction and Banter Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack open the show trading observations on air conditioning, long lunches, and the perils of sitting directly beneath the vent.00:01:32 -- One Nation's Victorian Polling Surge Redbridge polling data indicates One Nation could win as many as 19 seats in the Victorian state election. In an 88-seat legislature, that would make a majority for either major party almost impossible.00:02:52 -- Minority Government Mechanics Hong Kong Jack explains the constitutional pathway: if no party wins a majority, the sitting Premier gets the first conversation with the Governor and may be recommissioned to form government.00:04:20 -- A Three-Cornered Contest Jack the Insider argues the Allan government is at the end of the road, but the Liberal alternative inspires little confidence. One Nation may poll well in Labor heartland seats as protest voters look for an outlet that is not the Liberal Party.00:06:33 -- The Polling vs. the Pencil Hong Kong Jack predicts One Nation's polling numbers will soften once voters are alone in the booth with an HB pencil hovering over the ballot paper.00:08:32 -- Commonwealth Games Land in Glasgow The hosts acknowledge the Commonwealth Games have begun -- in Glasgow, not Victoria. The opening ceremony featured King Charles and Queen Camilla emerging from a Doctor Who TARDIS.00:10:50 -- Pauline Hanson and the Tommy Robinson Interview The Jacks dissect Hanson's decision to interview the controversial British figure, with Hong Kong Jack arguing the motivation is straightforward: publicity, good or bad.00:12:12 -- Factions Within One Nation Barnaby Joyce's visible discomfort with the Robinson interview signals internal tensions. Jack the Insider warns One Nation risks veering further towards the "lunar right."00:13:30 -- Two Australias: The Great Dog Divide A detour into the changing culture of pet ownership. Jack the Insider contrasts the utilitarian farm dogs of his Reservoir childhood with the multi-billion-dollar industry of designer dog beds, pushchairs, and booties.00:15:59 -- Bill Kelty's Economic Diagnosis Former ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty delivers a blunt assessment: Australian governments have spent decades treating symptoms rather than causes -- quarantine centres never used, infrastructure costs at world-record levels, a housing crisis born of under-investment in skills.00:17:59 -- The Courage Deficit Hong Kong Jack argues the current government, like its recent predecessors, lacks political boldness. The Prime Minister's Labor conference speech seemed "spooked by One Nation" rather than offering a growth narrative.00:19:22 -- The Keating Comparison Jack the Insider revisits the Hawke-Keating reform era, noting the howls of outrage that greeted early reforms -- including fringe benefits tax, which was meant to "kill lunch" but somehow did not. The difference today: social media amplifies every backlash.00:23:02 -- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Funding Cut An urgent segment on the defunding of Emerge Australia, an advocacy group that has trained roughly 10% of the nation's GPs in diagnosing and treating ME/CFS. The cut amounts to approximately $400,000 -- a sum Jack the Insider describes as negligible in public expenditure but catastrophic for the 250,000 Australians living with the condition.00:26:37 -- The PBS and Australia's Clinical Trial Problem Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly bypassing Australia for clinical trials, leaving patients with rare conditions to raise extraordinary sums for overseas treatment. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme's pricing structure may require root-and-branch reform, particularly for newly developed drugs.00:29:50 -- What Should Labor Do About One Nation? Hong Kong Jack's prescription is simple: fix the economy and stop saying silly things. One Nation will wither on the vine if economic growth returns.00:30:17 -- Derryn Hinch: The Human Headline Remembered The former broadcaster, senator, and Justice Party founder has died aged 82. The Jacks reflect on a complicated legacy -- a man who transformed Melbourne talkback radio and tabloid television, was twice married to Jacki Weaver, and whose profound impact on the media is tempered by a deeply troubling intervention in the justice system.00:32:00 -- The Glennon Case: When a Headline Cost Children Their Safety Jack the Insider recounts in detail how Hinch's decision to publicly name convicted paedophile priest Michael Glennon during an active trial led to the suspension of proceedings, an eventual overturned conviction, and a four-year window in which Glennon continued operating camps and abusing children -- as many as 20 additional victims.00:38:14 -- Hinch's Media Legacy Despite the Glennon tragedy, Hong Kong Jack credits Hinch with changing the sound of Melbourne radio. The talkback format he pioneered arguably saved stations like 3AW.00:40:32 -- Ukraine and the Battle for Crimea The Ukrainians cannot hold Crimea, but they are making it unliveable. Water, electricity, and supplies have been cut. Crimeans are fleeing en masse. The Russian Black Sea Fleet has effectively ceased to exist.00:42:13 -- Putin Backed Into a Corner Jack the Insider warns that Vladimir Putin, when cornered, does not act rationally. The spectre of an attack on a NATO country -- perhaps a Baltic state -- or on Moldova is real. Putin cannot sue for peace; it would mean the end of him.00:44:21 -- Russia's Economic Pressure Points Hong Kong Jack notes that Russia cancelled a regular bond sale last week after failing to find buyers. The economic squeeze is mounting. Putin and his deeply unpopular party are now being fused together ahead of elections.00:47:13 -- Russian Passports Arrive in Moldova Thousands of Russian passports have been shipped to Moldova -- the same playbook used in Crimea and eastern Ukraine before intervention.00:49:32 -- Iran, the Houthis, and Oil Above USD 100 US strikes on Iran continue. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have struck oil tankers. The price of crude has pushed past USD 100 a barrel -- a politically dangerous number for Donald Trump four months out from the midterms.00:50:33 -- The Netanyahu Pitch for Regime Change Jack the Insider recounts the scene from Swan and Haberman's book: Benjamin Netanyahu presenting a case for US-Israeli combined bombing to achieve regime change in Iran. Trump was impressed; Marco Rubio and the CIA director were not.00:52:56 -- US Midterms: The Democratic Candidate Problem The Democrats' prospects are muddied by candidate issues including the withdrawal of Graham Plattner over sexual assault allegations and the party's persistent inability to select candidates who genuinely connect with the white working class.00:54:40 -- Tim Waltz, John Kerry, and Authenticity Hong Kong Jack contrasts the Democrats' clumsy attempts to project authenticity -- Tim Waltz hunting, John Kerry windsurfing -- with the reality that Kerry was an ice hockey player who once attended a White House meeting with two black eyes from a congressional game.00:58:19 -- The Sickness in American Democracy Jack the Insider argues the two-party lock on presidential politics -- achieved partly by keeping third-party candidates off ballots in roughly 30 states -- is profoundly undemocratic. With 40% of voters now registering as independents, millions have no candidate who represents them.00:59:43 -- Can Trump Disrupt the Midterms? Hong Kong Jack analyses the constitutional limits on presidential interference in state-run elections. Any attempt to use emergency powers would go straight to court.01:03:43 -- Marine Le Pen: France's Next President? Polling around 67%, Le Pen is the frontrunner for the French presidential election. Her felony conviction for misusing EU funds appears to be no impediment.01:05:09 -- Andy Burnham's Fast Start as UK Prime Minister The new PM has hit the ground running with popular measures: a GBP 2 bus fare cap across England, 20% business rate cuts for pubs, clubs, and live music venues, and the scrapping of VAT on domestic electricity bills.01:07:36 -- Britain's Investment Challenge The biggest test for Burnham will be attracting investment. The UK has 11 million working-age citizens on benefits -- a figure now exceeding tax receipts.01:09:03 -- FIFA World Cup: Argentina Triumphs, Trump Photobombs Argentina are world champions, but not before a petition signed by millions demanded their exclusion from the final. Donald Trump appeared on the podium; the Spanish commemorative photos, the Jacks note, did not include him.01:11:07 -- The Refereeing and the Expansion The officiating was patchy, but the expanded tournament format was vindicated. Seeing Cape Verde, Australia, New Zealand, and Iran compete gave the event a genuinely global feel.01:14:23 -- Nicky Winmar, the AFL Hall of Fame, and Domestic Violence The Jacks grapple with the AFL's removal of Winmar from the Hall of Fame following a domestic violence conviction. Jack the Insider questions the consistency: Wayne Carey and Gary Ablett Sr. remain honoured. Hong Kong Jack suggests a suspension rather than permanent expulsion would have been more appropriate, arguing that football cannot be reserved for choirboys.01:19:06 -- Bazball's End: The McCallum Era Concludes Baz McCallum is out as England's Test coach after 49 Tests: 27 wins, 20 losses. Ten of the first eleven were victories; seven of the last nine were defeats. The hosts debate whether Bazball added to cricket's audience even if it could not sustainably win Test matches.01:23:20 -- Sir Garfield Sobers: The Greatest of All Time A warm tribute to the late West Indian legend. Jack the Insider recalls meeting Sobers at the Hilton in Barbados. Hong Kong Jack shares the story of Sobers -- completely ambidextrous -- playing golf off scratch left-handed and off two right-handed.01:27:53 -- Rugby Union's Nations Championship A new format pits Northern Hemisphere sides against Southern Hemisphere sides, culminating in finals at Twickenham. Hong Kong Jack is sceptical anyone will care which hemisphere wins. The 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, however, is selling tickets strongly.01:30:00 -- Sign-Off Jack the Insider thanks listeners and apologises for the previous week's absence due to illness. The hosts promise to return on or around 31 July, though Hong Kong Jack advises against buying "20-year futures in us."Social Media PostsTwitter / XPost 1: One Nation could win up to 19 seats in the Victorian election. On this week's episode, we break down what a three-cornered contest means for the major parties -- and why minority government may be coming to Spring Street. Listen now.Post 2: "Putin, when cornered, does not act rationally." This week we examine the escalating dangers in Ukraine, Russian passports in Moldova, and why oil above USD 100 spells trouble for Trump. New episode of The Two Jacks out now.Post 3: $400,000. That is what it costs to train GPs across Australia to diagnose and treat ME/CFS -- and the government has cut it. We discuss why this quiet defunding of Emerge Australia is a disgrace. Full episode linked.Post 4: Derryn Hinch transformed Australian media. He also, by his own grandstanding, gave a paedophile priest four more years of access to children. This week we examine the complicated legacy of the Human Headline.Post 5: Bazball is dead. Garry Sobers is immortal. Nicky Winmar is out of the Hall of Fame. Our sport segment this week covers the big calls in cricket, AFL, rugby, and a World Cup final that unified the planet -- against Argentina.FacebookThis week on The Two Jacks: Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack navigate a political landscape where the old rules no longer apply.Redbridge polling has One Nation on track to become kingmaker in Victoria. We explore what minority government would actually look like -- and whether Labor can cling to power even if it finishes second.Bill Kelty says Australia's bureaucracy treats symptoms, not causes. We ask: where has political courage gone, and could anyone sell reform the way Keating did?From a USD 400,000 funding cut that will devastate chronic fatigue sufferers, to pharmaceutical companies abandoning Australian clinical trials, to a PBS in need of root-and-branch reform -- the domestic agenda is packed.Internationally, the picture is darker. Putin is cornered in Ukraine. Iran burns. Oil has passed USD 100. And the US midterms are shaping up as a referendum on Trump's foreign policy.Plus: Derryn Hinch's complicated legacy, Argentina's World Cup, Nicky Winmar and the AFL's consistency problem, the death of Bazball, and a toast to Sir Garfield Sobers -- the greatest cricketer who ever lived.Listen wherever you get your podcasts.InstagramCaption for episode artwork: Episode 165 is live. This week: One Nation's Victorian moment, Putin's dangerous corner, the Hinch legacy, and why a $400K funding cut matters more than you think. Link in bio.
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It was a tournament full of drama, upsets, and cultural moments - not least in China, where Xiaohongshu streamed all 104 matches for free and Norwegian striker Erling Haaland generated nearly 1.8 billion views on the platform. China's national team, meanwhile, watched from home. Again. Mark Dreyer has spent nearly two decades trying to explain that paradox.Mark is the founder of China Sports Insider, author of Sporting Superpower: An Insider's View on China's Quest to Be the Best, and one of the most respected English-language journalists covering sport in China. His recent piece in The Economist on the state of Chinese football went viral, laying out why a country with enormous resources, a football-obsessed president, and 1.4 billion people has qualified for the World Cup exactly once - in 2002 - and shows few signs of returning anytime soon.In this episode, Mark gives his verdict on the 2026 World Cup - the football, the format, and the final. As a dual English-Canadian citizen, he also has personal stakes in two teams: England, who reached the semi-finals before losing to Argentina and finished third with a thrilling 6-4 win over France, and Canada, who bowed out in the round of 16. He breaks down the state of Chinese football at every level - the national team, the domestic league, and the youth development pipeline - and explains why the problems run much deeper than money or political will can fix.Mark also digs into how China consumed this World Cup differently: Xiaohongshu's landmark streaming deal, the Haaland phenomenon and what it reveals about how Chinese fans engage with foreign athletes, and whether China will ever host - let alone win - a World Cup of its own. Discussion Points· Overall verdict on the 2026 World Cup: the football, the 48-team format, North America as hosts, and Spain's win over Argentina· England's semi-final run and third-place finish, and Canada's round of 16 exit - Mark's personal take as a dual citizen· North America as a three-country host and whether England or China could host a future World Cup· The state of the Chinese men's national team: why investment and political will haven't translated into results· Youth football in China: structural problems, academic pressure, and what a genuine grassroots culture would require· The Chinese Super League post-boom-and-bust: where the domestic league stands after the salary caps and corruption investigations· Xiaohongshu's landmark streaming deal: all 104 matches free of charge, and what it signals about sports broadcasting in China· The Haaland phenomenon: 1.8 billion Xiaohongshu views, 'Ha Bao,' romance game edits, and what it tells us about Chinese fan culture· Xi Jinping's three football ambitions - host, qualify, win - and which, if any, are achievable· The single most important thing that needs to change for Chinese football to genuinely improve
OpenAI files for a trillion-dollar IPO the same week a pre-release model breaches Hugging Face and 42 state attorneys general open a coordinated investigation. Patrick Moorhead and Daniel Newman also break down AMD's hyperscaler CPU numbers from Advancing AI, the Moonshot distillation accusations, a wave of coordinated AI governance moves in Washington, and a stacked earnings slate spanning TSMC, Alphabet, IBM, ServiceNow, and Intel. The handpicked topics for this week are: OpenAI compresses a trillion-dollar IPO filing, a 42-state AG investigation, and a Hugging Face breach into five days: OpenAI and Anthropic both filed S-1 paperwork the same week 42 state attorneys general opened a coordinated investigation into OpenAI's data handling and safety practices, and a pre-release model reportedly breached Hugging Face days later. Moorhead and Newman question the timing, noting a rogue-agent narrative surfacing in the same week as a trillion-dollar valuation push draws obvious scrutiny. (The Decode) AMD's Advancing AI event puts a number on its hyperscaler momentum: Lisa Su confirmed Helios ships at the end of Q3 with volume ramping in Q4, backed by two-gigawatt capacity commitments from Microsoft and Anthropic and a claimed 70 to 75 percent share of hyperscaler CPU deployments. Moorhead points to NVIDIA's multi-layer software stack as the harder barrier AMD still has to close. (The Decode) Washington accuses Moonshot of distilling Anthropic's models days after Xi Jinping's WAIC keynote: Xi launched a 29-country AI cooperation organization at the Shanghai World AI Conference, and US officials Kratsios and Bessent followed with claims that Moonshot's Kimi K3 model shows data overlap with Anthropic's Opus models. Newman points to NVIDIA hardware in the training runs as evidence the distillation question extends beyond software alone. (The Decode) Five layers of government moved on AI oversight in a single week: Congress drafted a breach-response framework in reaction to the Hugging Face incident, the White House's 30-day pre-release review framework nears finalization, and state attorneys general and statehouses continue advancing their own rules in parallel. Moorhead notes nearly two decades of prior Capitol Hill engagement compressed into a single week of coordinated action, with each branch pursuing a different definition of the problem. (The Decode) Chinese open-source models now account for roughly a third of US developer traffic, and Moorhead and Newman take opposite sides on what it means: Moorhead argues enterprises are de-risking away from frontier-lab dependency, pointing to demand for smaller, workflow-specific open models. Newman counters with Vercel data showing those models capture 29 percent of gateway tokens against just 4 percent of revenue, framing the shift as a price discount that enterprise dollars have yet to follow. (The Flip) TSMC sells out CoWoS packaging capacity through 2026 and confirms a 10 percent price increase for 2027: The company posted a record quarter and committed $100 billion to its Arizona expansion on top of the pricing move. Newman calls the sustained capital spending a signal that the broader AI buildout still has runway. (Bulls & Bears) Google Cloud grows 82 percent as Alphabet posts its first-ever negative free cash flow quarter: The company raised its capital expenditure guidance to $195 to $205 billion and beat on revenue and EPS once one-time gains from its SpaceX and Anthropic stakes are excluded. Newman frames the spending as evidence Alphabet is prioritizing long-term AI infrastructure position over near-term cash generation. (Bulls & Bears) IBM misses Q2 revenue at $17.16 billion and cuts its full-year growth guide to 4 to 5 percent: Mainframe revenue fell 42 percent as enterprises redirected budget toward GPU and AI infrastructure purchases. CEO Arvind Krishna says a portion of the delayed deal flow has already resumed into the current quarter, pointing toward a potential rebound. (Bulls & Bears) ServiceNow crosses $1 billion in agentic AI annual contract value and raises its full-year guide: Agentic AI usage in production climbed 9x in nine months, and the company reaffirmed a target of $1.5 billion in AI ACV by year end. Newman points to margin compression from recent acquisitions as the tradeoff behind the platform's push into workflow and security convergence. (Bulls & Bears) NetSuite's new agentic platform, Next, becomes part of Six Five's own back-office stack: Newman and Moorhead both confirmed their companies are testing NetSuite Next for finance and accounting workflows. Newman points to the rollout as evidence that established SaaS platforms are absorbing agentic features directly into existing systems. Intel posts its fastest revenue growth since 2011 and lifts 2026 capital spending guidance: EPS came in near double consensus estimates, and CFO David Zinsner signaled a significant capex increase for 2027 tied to 14A demand. Moorhead reads the spending signal as confirmation of an anchor customer for the 14A node, ahead of any formal announcement. (Bulls & Bears) Watch the full video at sixfivemedia.com, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode. OpenAI's High-Stakes Week: https://www.npr.org/2026/07/23/g-s1-135085/openai-hacking-ai-models AMD's Advancing AI Push: https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2026/07/20/microsoft-expands-azure-ai-and-hpc-infrastructure-with-amd/ Moonshot and the Distillation Debate: https://x.com/mkratsios47/status/2079933645888880708 Five Layers of AI Governance: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/22/openai-hugging-face-congress-response-01009190 Chinese Open-Source Traffic Debate: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/07/chinese-ai-models-costs-us-openai-anthropic.html ; https://wyomingdatacenterfacts.com/2026/07/20/the-quiet-surge-how-chinese-open-weight-models-are-powering-u-s-ai/ TSMC's Pricing Power: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-21/tsmc-in-talks-to-raise-prices-by-up-to-10-in-2027-nikkei-says Alphabet's Cash Flow Turn: https://qz.com/alphabet-google-second-quarter-earnings-revenue-cloud-072226 IBM's Mainframe Miss: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/22/ibm-q2-earnings-report-2026.html ServiceNow and NetSuite's Agentic Push: https://newsroom.servicenow.com/pressreleases/details/2026/ServiceNow-Reports-Second-Quarter-2026-Financial-Results/default.aspx ; https://www.netsuite.com/portal/home.shtml Intel's Growth Signal: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/23/intel-intc-earnings-report-q2-2026.html
Confira os destaques do Jornal da Manhã desta segunda-feira (27): A convenção do PDT oficializou Alexandre Kalil como candidato ao governo de Minas Gerais. Ex-prefeito de Belo Horizonte, Kalil disputa o cargo pela segunda vez após concorrer em 2022, quando foi derrotado por Romeu Zema no primeiro turno. Reportagem: Suylan Riquelme. O PSD confirmou a candidatura de Ronaldo Caiado à Presidência da República, com Gilberto Kassab como candidato a vice. Durante a convenção, Caiado defendeu a construção de uma alternativa à polarização política e prometeu implementar um novo modelo de governo, caso seja eleito. Reportagem: Beatriz Manfredini. O PL oficializou a candidatura do senador Flávio Bolsonaro à Presidência da República. O partido ainda não definiu o candidato a vice, cuja indicação, segundo Valdemar Costa Neto, caberá ao ex-presidente Jair Bolsonaro. Reportagem: Júlia Fermino. Pela segunda noite consecutiva, Estados Unidos e Irã interromperam os ataques diretos, em uma pausa atribuída a recomendações de comandantes militares americanos. Enquanto Israel pressiona pela retomada da ofensiva, o Pentágono enfrenta críticas por mudanças na contabilização de militares mortos no conflito. Reportagem: Luca Bassani. O fim de semana foi marcado por uma intensa agenda política no Rio de Janeiro, com a realização das convenções partidárias que oficializaram candidaturas e chapas para as eleições de outubro. Ao longo de sexta-feira (24) e sábado (25), PL, Progressistas, Republicanos, PSDB e a federação PRD-Solidariedade reuniram lideranças e filiados para definir seus nomes na disputa pelos principais cargos do estado. Os encontros deram início à fase oficial das campanhas das legendas. Reportagem: Rodrigo Viga. O presidente da China, Xi Jinping, manifestou apoio ao Brasil em conversa telefônica com o presidente Lula e afirmou ser contrário a interferências externas nas eleições brasileiras. Os dois líderes também discutiram o fortalecimento da cooperação bilateral, a coordenação em fóruns internacionais e o avanço das negociações para um acordo entre Mercosul e China. Reportagem: Marco Viana. O senador e astronauta Marcos Pontes (PL) concedeu entrevista ao Jornal da Manhã e falou sobre a escolha do vice de Flávio Bolsonaro, que ainda não foi definida, e sobre as alianças do Partido Liberal para a eleição presidencial. Durante a entrevista, Pontes afirmou: “Estou à disposição, assim como estava na eleição de Jair Bolsonaro”. O governo do Irã prometeu reagir ao ataque ucraniano contra um navio comercial iraniano no Mar Cáspio, que deixou um marinheiro morto e outro ferido. O chanceler Abbas Araghchi acusou a Ucrânia de agir a mando de Israel e classificou a ação como uma violação da Carta da ONU, afirmando que o episódio não ficará sem resposta. Reportagem: Luca Bassani. A pesquisa BTG/Nexus mostra o presidente Lula liderando as intenções de voto para a eleição presidencial de 2026. No primeiro turno, Lula aparece com 42%, seguido por Flávio Bolsonaro, com 33%, enquanto Ronaldo Caiado e Renan Santos vêm na sequência. Em uma simulação de segundo turno, Lula registra 47% das intenções de voto contra 43% de Flávio Bolsonaro, configurando empate técnico dentro da margem de erro. O PT e os partidos da Federação Brasil da Esperança acionaram o TSE e o STF para contestar o uso de um vídeo com inteligência artificial de Jair Bolsonaro durante a convenção do PL que oficializou a candidatura de Flávio Bolsonaro. A ação alega propaganda eleitoral antecipada e uso irregular de IA, pedindo a retirada do conteúdo, a proibição de novas divulgações e multa de R$ 30 mil ao PL e ao senador. Reportagem: Mauro Viana. Essas e outras notícias você acompanha no Jornal da Manhã. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Confira no Morning Show desta segunda-feira (27): O presidente Lula (PT) conversou por telefone durante quase uma hora com o premier chines, Xi Jinping. A conversa tratou do novo tarifaço do governo americano, com o presidente da China afirmando que apoia o Brasil em sua soberania e rejeita a interferência externa, enquanto o Palácio do Planalto destacou o comércio bilateral entre os dois países. O presidente da Argentina, Javier Milei, participou da Convenção Nacional do PL neste sábado (25), discursando por mais de meia hora e polemizando ao classificar o ministro do STF como “lixo careca”. A fala gerou reações do presidente da Corte, Edson Fachin, e do chanceler Mauro Vieira. Uma pesquisa eleitoral realizada pelo Instituto Datafolha divulgada nesta segunda-feira (27), apontou que 52% dos entrevistados acreditam que o presidente americano, Donald Trump, age para ajudar na eleição de Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) com a aplicação de tarifas ao mercado brasileiro. Durante o evento de posse de Wellington Damasceno como presidente do Sindicato dos Metalúrgicos do ABC, o presidente Lula (PT) deu um “recado” ao presidente americano, Donald Trump. Segundo Lula: “a gente aqui no Brasil não aceita que ninguém meta o nariz onde não é chamado”, referindo-se ao recente tarifaço e a tentativa de enviar diplomatas para contestar o sistema eleitoral. O governo brasileiro negou vistos para dois diplomatas do Departamento de Estado americano que, segundo o jornal “The Washington Post” viriam ao Brasil para levantar dúvidas sobre o sistema eleitoral brasileiro. O PSD oficializou a candidatura de Ronaldo Caiado (PSD), ex-governador de Goiás, à Presidência da República em convenção partidária neste domingo (26). No evento, Caiado falou sobre a possibilidade de Lula (PT) não participar dos debates, afirmando que o presidente “amarelou”. O Índice de Atividade Econômica divulgado pelo Banco Central (IBC - Br) aponta que o estado de São Paulo foi o que menos cresceu nos últimos 12 meses, com um desempenho de 0,4% de crescimento, frente a 0,5 do Rio de Janeiro. O desempenho regional do sudeste foi pior, enquanto os estados que compõem a fronteira agrícola se destacaram. Um homem morreu ao colidir com a estrutura de um pedágio na Rodovia Campinas-Mogi Mirim (SP-340), o acidente derrubou parte do telhado e provocou o fechamento de 18 cabines, causando congestionamento. O caso ocorreu na manhã deste domingo (27). Cidades na região de Ribeirão Preto foram fortemente afetadas por chuvas neste final de semana. A população sofre com falta de energia em milhares de casas, fechamento de escolas e a destruição de diversos equipamentos públicos. Essas e outras notícias você confere no Morning Show.
Confira nesta edição do JR 24 horas: O presidente da República, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, conversou por telefone com Xi Jinping por mais de uma hora na noite do último domingo (26). O presidente da China manifestou apoio ao Brasil em relação à defesa da soberania nacional e na rejeição às interferências externas. Lula publicou em suas redes sociais que ele e Xi Jinping discutiram como aproximar os planos de desenvolvimento dos dois países e acelerar as tratativas para um acordo entre o Mercosul e a China. E ainda: Incêndios florestais deixam mais de 325 mil pessoas desabrigadas na Europa.
Legendary economist Martin Armstrong returns to the program to provide the strategic insights and geopolitical analysis that have made him one of the most closely followed economic forecasters in the world. We discuss what President Trump's meeting with Xi Jinping likely resulted in regarding Taiwan and the broader implications for the balance of power in Asia. Armstrong shares his perspective on the negotiations, the interests of the major players involved, and why the public narrative often misses the deeper strategic objectives shaping world events.Armstrong also discusses his involvement in the brokered peace framework with Vladimir Putin and explains why he believes President Trump has followed many of the key elements outlined in the agreement. According to Armstrong, these developments represent a positive step toward a more productive working relationship with Russia.See the full extended version of the interview at SarahWestall.Substack.com.See more from Martin Armstrong at MartinArmstrongEconomics.com.
durée : 00:59:14 - Avec philosophie - Aujourd'hui, partons à la découverte du dragon, totem des empereurs et symbole de la Chine. De la dynastie des Shang aux paroles d'une chanson taïwanaise reprise par Xi Jinping, de la peinture lettrée à Bruce Lee, retour sur la longue histoire d'un mythe que les pouvoirs n'ont cessé de convoquer. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France
Une première incroyable : des IA s'échappent de leur environnement de test et passent à l'attaque • La France interdit les réseaux sociaux aux moins de 15 ans • Paris refuse d'autoriser le FSD de Tesla • Google déploie AI Overview en France et inquiète les créateurs de contenu • Mistral signe un partenariat stratégique avec Microsoft • La Chine frappe fort avec Kimi K3 et affiche ses ambitions mondiales • Samsung prépare le terrain face au futur iPhone pliantL'actu de la semaine avec Bruno Guglielminetti (Mon Carnet)Des IA d'OpenAI attaquent Hugging FaceL'affaire marque sans doute un tournant dans l'histoire de l'intelligence artificielle. Deux modèles expérimentaux d'OpenAI sont parvenus à sortir de leur environnement de test et à mener une attaque contre Hugging Face. Cet incident pose le débat sur la sécurité des modèles les plus avancés.La France interdit les réseaux sociaux aux moins de 15 ansC'est fait. La France devient le premier pays à instaurer une interdiction des réseaux sociaux pour les moins de 15 ans. Mais au-delà de l'aspect juridique se pose la question technique de la vérification d'âge qui alimente la crainte d'une surveillance généralisée.Tesla privée de FSD en FranceLe gouvernement français refuse d'autoriser le système Full Self-Driving de Tesla sur son territoire. Les autorités estiment que la surveillance du conducteur reste insuffisante et que le système ne respecte pas pleinement les exigences de sécurité, notamment concernant les limitations de vitesse.AI Overview arrive enfin sur Google FranceLes internautes français découvrent désormais les réponses générées par intelligence artificielle directement dans les résultats de Google. Une évolution appréciée des utilisateurs mais qui inquiète fortement les éditeurs de contenus, confrontés à une baisse annoncée de leur trafic et de leurs revenus.Microsoft mise plusieurs milliards sur MistralMicrosoft investit massivement dans les infrastructures de calcul de Mistral afin d'accroître ses capacités en Europe. Ce partenariat renforce la position de la start-up française dans la course mondiale à l'IA tout en offrant à Microsoft un argument supplémentaire autour de la souveraineté numérique européenne.Kimi K3 propulse la Chine dans une nouvelle dimensionLe lancement du modèle Kimi K3 par Moonshot AI confirme l'accélération spectaculaire des acteurs chinois. Performant, moins coûteux et destiné à séduire les développeurs du monde entier, il s'inscrit dans une stratégie plus large présentée par Xi Jinping, qui souhaite faire de la Chine un acteur incontournable de la gouvernance mondiale de l'intelligence artificielle.Samsung prépare l'ère des smartphones pliantsSamsung dévoile une nouvelle génération de smartphones pliants dont le design semble préfigurer celui du futur iPhone pliable attendu chez Apple. Les nouveaux appareils mettent également l'accent sur l'intégration poussée de l'intelligence artificielle directement dans les terminaux, au prix d'une hausse spectaculaire des tarifs.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Friday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan reports that Iran's Red Sea attacks on Saudi oil ships were a direct IRGC operation, as President Trump weighs a major escalation of the air campaign with B-1 bombers now back in action. Bryan covers fresh satellite evidence showing Iran rebuilding damaged facilities far faster than expected, the Pentagon's expanding war footing amid concerns about Russian and Chinese support for Tehran, and new conditions attached to the proposed US-Saudi nuclear deal tied to Israeli recognition. He also tracks Ukraine's shift toward targeting Russian oil ships, a sweeping purge inside China's military leadership, and Nicaragua's move to cancel future elections. Plus, Bryan runs through a batch of domestic stories including falling jobless claims, a widening ActBlue donor fraud investigation in Michigan, a New Jersey Motor Voter scandal now under DOJ review, a legal challenge to the Pentagon's new testosterone policy, and a look at side effects tied to GLP-1 weight loss drugs. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32 Keywords: Wright Report, Bryan Dean Wright, Iran, Red Sea, Houthis, IRGC, Saudi Arabia, B-1 bomber, Trump, nuclear deal, Israel, Ukraine, Zelenskyy, Russia oil ships, China military purge, Xi Jinping, Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, ActBlue, Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, New Jersey voter fraud, DOJ, Pentagon testosterone policy, trans military policy, GLP-1, weight loss drugs, jobless claims, AOC, DSA
On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss intensifying US and Iran military operations; Washington and Riyadh strike a nuclear pact; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee; update on the NDAA; Russia pounds Ukraine clouding the critically important Ukrainian port in Odessa; a week firing former Defense Minister Mykhailo Federov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired his chief of defense staff, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi; Russia conducts live fire exercises 46miles, off Britain's key Portsmouth naval base as Andy Burnham becomes the UK's new prime minister with John Healy at the Treasury; the People's Liberation Army Daily blasts Tokyo and it's drone capabilities as China and Russia step up military exercises off the Japanese coast that included a Chinese live fire drill; Secretary of State Marco Rubio prepares for Trump's summit with Xi Jinping as he meets his Quad counterparts in Manila at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting; Beijing and Manila spar over Second Thomas Shoal Incident and racist video posted by China Daily; the region braces for new US tariffs as the continuing Iran war drives energy prices up again; and the White House accused China of stealing American technology to improve its AI program.
Gordon Chang and Rick Fisher examine Xi Jinping's introduction of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), designed to establish Chinese dominance in setting global AI rules. Headquartered in Shanghai, the group aims to make international partners dependent on Chinese technology while promoting anti-democratic values. Meanwhile, China's economy is struggling, with real growth potentially near zero. Despite manufacturing strengths, China remains vulnerable due to a critical lack of high-end Nvidia chips required for advanced AI development. (1)1923 TOKYO EARTHQUAKE
SCHEDULE FOR THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 7-22-2026.1740 BATAVIA MASSACREGordon Chang and Rick Fisher examine Xi Jinping's introduction of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), designed to establish Chinese dominance in setting global AI rules. Headquartered in Shanghai, the group aims to make international partners dependent on Chinese technology while promoting anti-democratic values. Meanwhile, China's economy is struggling, with real growth potentially near zero. Despite manufacturing strengths, China remains vulnerable due to a critical lack of high-end Nvidia chips required for advanced AI development. (1)Gordon Chang and Peter Huessy discuss the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) bill to drastically reduce the U.S. nuclear triad, including cutting ICBMs from 400 to 150. Supported by Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, the plan effectively promotes unilateral disarmament. Critics argue this trashes the concept of nuclear deterrence just as China and Russia expand their arsenals. Furthermore, there is a widespread "miseducation" of Americans regarding the necessity of a modernized nuclear deterrent. (2)Gordon Chang and Victoria Coates report that Iran has activated the Houthis to attack the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical choke point for Saudi Arabian oil exports. This escalation has pushed oil prices past $95 as the Houthis use Iranian-supplied missiles and drones to harass shipping. While the House of Saud is targeted, internal frictions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE complicate a unified regional response. The conflict represents a major humanitarian and economic disaster for global commerce. (3)Gordon Chang and Victoria Coates continue: China benefits from discounted Iranian oil but views the regime's economic instability as a "bad debt." Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia is deepening its partnership with the U.S. through a landmark nuclear cooperation deal. Iraq has also signaled a shift toward Washington, signing $60 billion in energy deals with American companies like Chevron. While Russia seeks to sell extra capacity to Asia, Ukrainian strikes on refineries may hinder Putin's ability to remain a reliable energy supplier. (4)Peter Earle traces how the word "trillion" entered the economic lexicon in 1981 when the U.S. passed $1 trillion in public debt. Today, the U.S. national debt approaches $40 trillion, with annual interest payments exceeding $1 trillion. Unlike 19th-century millionaires who faced high risks, modern trillion-dollar figures are often a product of government monetary expansion. We have entered "Trillionstan," where massive quantities of money are common, yet their long-term significance is often overlooked by the public. (5)Peter Earle argues that not all trillions are equal; some represent genuine wealth creation, such as SpaceX's $2 trillion valuation based on future technological potential. However, inflation and government borrowing have also inflated nominal values, potentially leading to a fiscal reckoning. If creditors lose faith in U.S. debt, the government may be forced to print more money, further devaluing the currency. Maintaining prosperity requires ensuring that economic forces focus on creating new wealth rather than merely redistributing it. (6)Henry Sokolski warns that the Trump administration's nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia allows the kingdom to enrich uranium, a process that can easily be diverted for bomb-making. Saudi Arabia has rejected the "additional protocol" for rigorous UN inspections, raising concerns about their true intentions. This "black box" arrangement lacks sufficient safeguards to prevent a rapid diversion of nuclear materials. Critics warn that providing enrichment technology to an ally involved in regional warfare is inherently delusional and dangerous. (7)Henry Sokolski continues: the Saudi nuclear deal could trigger a proliferation race, with nations like Egypt, Turkey, and the UAE demanding similar enrichment rights. Furthermore, allies such as South Korea and Poland may reconsider their own nuclear ambitions if they view American security guarantees as insufficient. Proliferation is no longer "old news" but a growing threat as nations seek their own deterrents. The result is a destabilized global order where multiple states hover on the verge of nuclear weapon status. (8)Michael Bernstam explains how Ukrainian drone strikes have destroyed 30% of Russia's refining capacity, causing the "crack spread"—the profit margin for refining oil—to triple worldwide. While Russia exports crude, it now suffers from severe domestic shortages of gasoline and jet fuel. Consequently, Russia is forced to buy back its own refined oil from India at premium prices. Putin has been "hoist on his own petard," creating a global energy weapon that has ultimately turned against the Russian economy. (9)Michael Bernstam reports that Ukrainian drones recently destroyed major distribution hubs for Wildberries, the Russian equivalent of Amazon, causing $2 billion in damage. These strikes have devastated small businesses and middle-class consumers, fueling internal resentment against the Kremlin. Simultaneously, 18 local Russian officials signed a petition calling for Putin's resignation as economic conditions worsen. The loss of consumer infrastructure and rising fuel costs are creating a constituency for ending the war to prevent a total economic collapse. (10)Bob Zimmerman reports that SpaceX is preparing for its 13th Starship flight, a prototype featuring major upgrades for future orbital missions and in-orbit refueling. In India, the startup Skyroot achieved a landmark success with the Vikram-1 rocket, signaling the rise of a private, capitalist space sector. However, the Indian government has counterproductively restricted ISRO employees from leaving for private firms. These contrasting approaches highlight the tension between state-run agencies and the efficiency of private enterprise in the global space race. (11)Bob Zimmerman surveys new discoveries: astronomers have detected a helium atmosphere on a terrestrial exoplanet located 48 light-years away in its star's habitable zone. Closer to home, archival data from Pluto reveals massive landslides, proving the dwarf planet is geologically active rather than dormant. Meanwhile, new images of Valles Marineris on Mars illustrate the canyon's staggering scale, with depths equivalent to the height of Mount McKinley. These discoveries emphasize that planetary bodies across our solar system are dynamic and evolving. (12)Simon Constable notes European energy prices are skyrocketing, with Brent crude hitting $95 and natural gas up 47% in a single month. In France, a heatwave and suspicious forest fires have added environmental stress to the economic crisis. A political movement in the U.S. is targeting data centers for their high energy consumption, which now exceeds 4% of usage. Surprisingly, the United Kingdom hosts the second-highest number of data centers globally, despite its historical association with "Luddite" skepticism. (13)Simon Constable observes that new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces immediate skepticism, with polls indicating nearly half of voters feel his government lacks direction. Burnham's focus on domestic issues like capping bus prices is criticized as a "tax and spend" policy that might alienate the wealthy. While he has emphasized national security, his early days have been defined by local populist initiatives. Critics worry his leadership style mimics a "Lord Mayor" rather than a strategic global prime minister. (14)Brandy Shufutinsky details how Qatar has provided extensive grants for Arabic language and culture programs in U.S.K-12 schools. These programs often utilize textbooks that omit Israel from maps and glorify extremist ideologies. Qatar Foundation International (QFI) even funds teacher salaries and work visas, raising concerns about who these educators truly report to. This funding creates a "pipeline" from elementary school to higher education, potentially instilling foreign-influenced perspectives in future generations of American citizens. (15)Conrad Black argues that Canada's economic growth has stalled due to high corporate taxes and "climate alarmist" policies under the Trudeau government. He suggests that new leadership under Mark Carney could revitalize the nation by making it more tax-competitive with the U.S. Canada's vast resources and skilled workforce provide the potential for a rapid rebound. For Canada to succeed, it must pivot back to pro-capitalist policies and attract foreign investment to drive future growth. (16)Two spelling corrections applied: Peter Earle (5, 6 — transcribed as "Pete Earl"; the AIER economist) and Brandy Shufutinsky (15 — transcribed as "Shubatinsky"). Both added to the log unless you'd prefer otherwise.
This week on Sinica, a rare treat: an in-person recording from Beijing with two dear friends who happen to be two of the very best in the business on technology and China — Samm Sacks and Paul Triolo, fresh off the exhibition floor of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. We dig into Xi Jinping's first in-person WAIC appearance and his most extensive statement on AI to date, the launch of the World AI Cooperation Organization, Moonshot's release of Kimi K3, the Trump administration's reported push to shut Chinese open-weight models out of the U.S. market, the coming age of agents, the untranslatable problem of ānquán, and what to expect from the first U.S.-China AI dialogue in September.8:51 – The view from the floor: heat, humidity, robot boxing grandmas, WeChat-gated free water, and the "AI+" vibe — why WAIC 2026 felt less like an AI conference than a sector-by-sector snapshot of China's entire economy being supercharged with AI, with attendance swelling to some 200,000 tickets16:32 – Why Xi showed up: what the leader's first in-person WAIC appearance and his most extensive AI statement to date signal, and why domestic drivers matter as much as geopolitics18:01 – Chapter and verse: which phrases from the speech will be put to work in the system — "secure and orderly development" and the governance of agents, and Xi's strikingly extensive language on AI safety after China was frozen out of the Paris process22:26 – The ānquán problem: one word meaning both "safety" and "security," the three buckets of AI risk, and how China's safety community has moved from bias and deepfakes toward CBRN and loss-of-control concerns — Black Mirror versus Star Trek28:14 – Shanghai's baby: how WAIC's ownership structure differs from the CAC-run World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, Chen Jining's very visible host duties, and whether the center of gravity in AI policy is shifting to the Yangtze River Delta30:05 – WAICO: what the new World AI Cooperation Organization with its 29 founding members is actually for, Xi's concrete deliverables for the Global South — 5,000 AI training slots, regional cooperation centers, the MAZU early-warning system — and healthy skepticism about follow-through34:39 – Kimi K3: what's technically significant in Moonshot's big new model, why it's the fourth arguably frontier-class Chinese release in a single month, the two-way traffic in distillation accusations, and what it all says about the state of the frontier gap four years into export controls40:33 – Washington reacts: the reported menu of options for shutting Chinese open-weight models out of the U.S. — entity listings, a draft executive order, supply-chain security authorities — and why none of the tools actually fit the problem49:36 – Strange bedfellows: David Sacks versus the "closed lab duopoly," the FUD strategy, why some 80% of Andreessen Horowitz portfolio companies reportedly run on Chinese open models, and how gating U.S. frontier models while Chinese weights flow freely supercharges the AI sovereignty argument worldwide54:55 – The model is infrastructure, the agent is the product: the ByteDance–ZTE agentic phone, the CAC's new initiative on agent trust and interoperability, and why agents fused into operating systems upend both super-app walled gardens and China's data protection regime1:02:27 – An exegesis of kěkòng: the many meanings of "controllable," the long history of ānquán kěkòng in Chinese tech policy, and the unanswered question of who — CAC, NDRC, or somebody new — actually owns AI safety in either system1:08:54 – The road to September: what to expect from the first U.S.-China AI dialogue, why Mythos tops the Chinese grievance list, the securitization feedback loop that starves trust-and-safety advocates of resources on both sides, and why recursive self-improvement makes this feel like a last, best chancePaying It ForwardPaul nominates Tony Peng, whose Substack RecodeChinaAI offers sharp, well-written analysis of the application side of China's AI industry — part of an impressive new generation of independent China tech writers. Samm gives a shout-out to Professor Zhu Yue of Tongji University Law School, published in Science and doing pioneering work at the intersection of disability law and AI law.RecommendationsSamm: The Land and Its People by David Sedaris — laugh-out-loud funny, especially the "Enough is Enough" chapter; Transcription by Ben Lerner, a perfect small novel about fathers, sons, memory, and technology as enabler or disabler of connection; and Didion and Babitz, on Joan Didion and Eve Babitz and the 1970s California rock scene.Paul: The Party's Interests Come First by Joseph Torigian — dense but beautifully written, and essential for understanding the current Chinese leadership.Kaiser: A fiction-only summer! Stoner by John Williams, a small life told most grandly in some of the most beautiful sentence-level writing anywhere; Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, an epistolary novel dense with distilled wisdom from a dying Iowa minister; and Wang Xiaobo's The Golden Age (黄金时代) in Yan Yan's excellent new translation — bawdy, hilarious, and super Beijing-y despite its Cultural Revolution setting.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
An unreleased OpenAI model just broke out of its sandbox and hacked Hugging Face using chained attacks, while the companies defending against it had to turn to a nearly unguardrailed Chinese model to fight back. The result? A real-world stress test of guardrails, hype, and global AI competition. Hugging Face breach: OpenAI claims its models were responsible AI just disproved the 87-year-old Jacobian conjecture Quoting Sam Altman Top Pentagon official blasts OpenAI's Dean Ball Exclusive: Nvidia's Jensen Huang defends Chinese AI amid Kimi panic Xi Jinping casts himself as leader of new AI world order Data center opponents stage 142 protests across 42 US states NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook Google's Red-Hot Cloud Growth Drives Second-Quarter Revenue Gains Meta in Talks to Lease Computing Power to Anthropic in Potential $10 Billion Deal Anthropic's $1.5B copyright settlement approved; only 350 authors opted out AMD commits up to $5 billion to Anthropic Netflix Co-CEO Explains How Gen-AI Was Used in 300 Different Titles: 'We Believe It Is Going to Enhance Their Abilities' Bellwether Lawsuit Against Meta Over Social Media Addiction Is Dropped Google is building a chip with Gemini baked into the silicon Cyclospora all the time Jensen's jacket auctioned. Guess the price " Everyone Gets Lost at the Pitbull Concert" John C. Dvorak dies at age 80 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau Guest: Nate B. Jones Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: rippling.ai/machines zscaler.com/security
An unreleased OpenAI model just broke out of its sandbox and hacked Hugging Face using chained attacks, while the companies defending against it had to turn to a nearly unguardrailed Chinese model to fight back. The result? A real-world stress test of guardrails, hype, and global AI competition. Hugging Face breach: OpenAI claims its models were responsible AI just disproved the 87-year-old Jacobian conjecture Quoting Sam Altman Top Pentagon official blasts OpenAI's Dean Ball Exclusive: Nvidia's Jensen Huang defends Chinese AI amid Kimi panic Xi Jinping casts himself as leader of new AI world order Data center opponents stage 142 protests across 42 US states NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook Google's Red-Hot Cloud Growth Drives Second-Quarter Revenue Gains Meta in Talks to Lease Computing Power to Anthropic in Potential $10 Billion Deal Anthropic's $1.5B copyright settlement approved; only 350 authors opted out AMD commits up to $5 billion to Anthropic Netflix Co-CEO Explains How Gen-AI Was Used in 300 Different Titles: 'We Believe It Is Going to Enhance Their Abilities' Bellwether Lawsuit Against Meta Over Social Media Addiction Is Dropped Google is building a chip with Gemini baked into the silicon Cyclospora all the time Jensen's jacket auctioned. Guess the price " Everyone Gets Lost at the Pitbull Concert" John C. Dvorak dies at age 80 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau Guest: Nate B. Jones Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: rippling.ai/machines zscaler.com/security
An unreleased OpenAI model just broke out of its sandbox and hacked Hugging Face using chained attacks, while the companies defending against it had to turn to a nearly unguardrailed Chinese model to fight back. The result? A real-world stress test of guardrails, hype, and global AI competition. Hugging Face breach: OpenAI claims its models were responsible AI just disproved the 87-year-old Jacobian conjecture Quoting Sam Altman Top Pentagon official blasts OpenAI's Dean Ball Exclusive: Nvidia's Jensen Huang defends Chinese AI amid Kimi panic Xi Jinping casts himself as leader of new AI world order Data center opponents stage 142 protests across 42 US states NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook Google's Red-Hot Cloud Growth Drives Second-Quarter Revenue Gains Meta in Talks to Lease Computing Power to Anthropic in Potential $10 Billion Deal Anthropic's $1.5B copyright settlement approved; only 350 authors opted out AMD commits up to $5 billion to Anthropic Netflix Co-CEO Explains How Gen-AI Was Used in 300 Different Titles: 'We Believe It Is Going to Enhance Their Abilities' Bellwether Lawsuit Against Meta Over Social Media Addiction Is Dropped Google is building a chip with Gemini baked into the silicon Cyclospora all the time Jensen's jacket auctioned. Guess the price " Everyone Gets Lost at the Pitbull Concert" John C. Dvorak dies at age 80 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau Guest: Nate B. Jones Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: rippling.ai/machines zscaler.com/security
An unreleased OpenAI model just broke out of its sandbox and hacked Hugging Face using chained attacks, while the companies defending against it had to turn to a nearly unguardrailed Chinese model to fight back. The result? A real-world stress test of guardrails, hype, and global AI competition. Hugging Face breach: OpenAI claims its models were responsible AI just disproved the 87-year-old Jacobian conjecture Quoting Sam Altman Top Pentagon official blasts OpenAI's Dean Ball Exclusive: Nvidia's Jensen Huang defends Chinese AI amid Kimi panic Xi Jinping casts himself as leader of new AI world order Data center opponents stage 142 protests across 42 US states NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook Google's Red-Hot Cloud Growth Drives Second-Quarter Revenue Gains Meta in Talks to Lease Computing Power to Anthropic in Potential $10 Billion Deal Anthropic's $1.5B copyright settlement approved; only 350 authors opted out AMD commits up to $5 billion to Anthropic Netflix Co-CEO Explains How Gen-AI Was Used in 300 Different Titles: 'We Believe It Is Going to Enhance Their Abilities' Bellwether Lawsuit Against Meta Over Social Media Addiction Is Dropped Google is building a chip with Gemini baked into the silicon Cyclospora all the time Jensen's jacket auctioned. Guess the price " Everyone Gets Lost at the Pitbull Concert" John C. Dvorak dies at age 80 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau Guest: Nate B. Jones Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: rippling.ai/machines zscaler.com/security
Joseph Sternberg. Joseph Sternberg analyzes China's struggling economy, citing a real estate implosion, high youth unemployment, and demographic decline. Unlike Japan's historical democratic transition, Xi Jinping's adversarial posture and reliance on subsidized exports face global resistance, leaving the CCP with few ideological options for a virtuous recovery. (7)1880 NANTUCKET
The dictator Hasan Piker wore to a Democrat convention — and the tip screen America is finally revolting against | Wake Up America Hasan Piker put on Mao Zedong's uniform this weekend and a room full of College Democrats cheered. So today we tell you what that costume actually means: the largest famine in human history, the war on sparrows, the trap called "let a hundred flowers bloom," and the Red Guards who beat Xi Jinping's own father in a stadium. Plus — America is in open revolt against the guilt-trip tip screen, and the real history of tipping is more American than you think. Then: Camellia Peterson (Americans for Prosperity–Missouri) on the Missouri Republicans who killed school choice the second it hit their own backyard, and Tom Pappert (The Tennessee Star) on JD Vance declaring war on Milton Friedman — and squaring off with Marco Rubio for 2028. ⏱️ SEGMENTS 00:00 Cold open A1 — The war on the tip screen A2 — The dictator they cheered: the crimes of Mao B1 — Camellia Peterson: Missouri's school-choice collapse B2 — Tom Pappert: Vance vs. Friedman, Vance vs. Rubio
durée : 00:04:44 - Les Matins de France Culture - par : Camille Nédellec - Deux discours du président américain et du président chinois en regard, deux façons de voir le monde, deux façons d'essayer de le conquérir aussi. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France
Silicon Bites Ep372 | 2026-07-21 | They've Started Burying Putin Alive. The oligarchs are running, Beijing is hedging, the ratings are collapsing — every group that holds this regime up is quietly preparing for the world after Putin. They have not yet moved against him, but the life support for his regime is being switched off one input at a time. Soon the plug will be pulled, as Putin's relentless war is dragging Russia down the abyss and taking everyone in a benighted, failing empire with him. In a single week in July 2026, Bloomberg documented the oligarchs stampeding for the exits with tens of billions of dollars; the Wall Street Journal revealed that Xi Jinping now treats Putin as a supplicant and is quietly building relationships with the people who will run Russia after him; the Kremlin's own pollsters recorded the steepest one-week collapse in Putin's approval since the mobilisation panic of 2022; and Russia's Defence Ministry admitted its flagship drone force has recruited barely a quarter of its plan. Four pillars. One message. The people who know this regime best have stopped believing in it.----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga's Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine's largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Bloomberg — "Russia's Elite Are Moving Billions Beyond Putin's Wartime Grasp" (16 July 2026), via Yahoo FinanceMeduza — "Russia's richest businessmen are moving billions abroad amid fears of asset seizures, Bloomberg reports" (16 July 2026)Ukrainska Pravda — "Russian oligarchs move billions abroad for fear of asset confiscation" (16 July 2026)The Wall Street Journal — "Putin Was Xi's Role Model. Now He's the Junior Partner." (14–15 July 2026), via tovima.comMeduza — recap of the WSJ report on Power of Siberia 2 and Putin's supplicant status (15 July 2026)RBC-Ukraine — "Xi preparing for power shift in Russia as Putin losing China's trust — WSJ" (15 July 2026)Meduza — "Putin's approval rating just posted its steepest drop since Russia invaded Ukraine" (17 July 2026)Kyiv Post — "Putin's Approval Rating Sees Biggest Weekly Drop Since 2022 Amid Fuel Crisis" (17 July 2026)Charter97 — "Putin's Approval Rating In Russia Has Fallen To A Record Low" (17 July 2026)Kyiv Post — "Russia Struggles to Staff New Drone Force as Military Recruitment Falters – Report" (20 July 2026, citing CIT and Ukraine's SZRU)Janis Kluge — "Federal budget data shows 71,216 new contract soldiers in Q1 2026, lowest in 3 years" (9 June 2026)----------
durée : 00:03:12 - Géopolitique - Retour sur le discours de Xi Jinping, lors de la Conférence mondiale sur l'Intelligence artificielle, qui se tenait ce week-end à Shanghai; le président chinois a plaidé pour une IA accessible à tous. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France
Britain's governing Labour Party has officially declared Andy Burnham its new leader paving the way for him to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. In his first speech as leader, he pledged to 'bring back hope'. China's President Xi Jinping has called for global cooperation on the development of artificial intelligence to mitigate the risks it poses. India has begun operating its first ever hydrogen-powered train; it's hoped the green technology will help modernise one of the world's biggest rail networks. The Japanese parliament has approved a bill to relax imperial succession rules, amid concerns over the dwindling size of the imperial family. But it does not change the law barring women from ascending to the throne. An angry crowd has reportedly attacked a hospital housing an Ebola treatment centre, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, forcing patients and health workers to flee. A UK study of a minimally-invasive treatment for prostate cancer has found it is as effective as surgery or radiotherapy - but with far fewer side-effects. For the first time, astronomers have detected an atmosphere around an Earth-like rocky planet that could have water on its surface. And the great niece of the acclaimed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo expresses concern that the growing hype and merchandise connected with her image, might detract from her art. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: Henry Nicholls/ Reuters Credit: Andy Burnham reacts as he speaks after being confirmed as the Labour Party's new leader and the country's next Prime Minister
You can't understand China today without understanding its president, Xi Jinping. Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has doubled down on communist ideology and significantly consolidated his own power while transforming China into an industrial juggernaut unrivaled in the world. And Xi's ambitions for China go far beyond that. So what does Xi want for China in the coming years? And how should the United States respond? Kevin Rudd has a unique perspective on these questions. He first met Xi in the 1980s, when Rudd was a China analyst in Australia's foreign service and Xi was a local party official. Decades later, when Rudd was the prime minister of Australia and Xi was China's vice president, the two men got to know each other better. And after leaving office, Rudd decided to really try to understand Xi; his latest book, “On Xi Jinping: How Xi's Marxist Nationalism Is Shaping China and the World,” is built off the doctorate he pursued at Oxford after his time as prime minister. Rudd recently finished a stint as Australia's ambassador to the United States and is now the global president and chief executive of the Asia Society. In this conversation, Rudd explains Xi's ideology and the forces that shaped it, his ambitions for China and strategy for achieving them, and what Xi thinks of the United States and Trump. Mentioned: On Xi Jinping by Kevin Rudd The Avoidable War by Kevin Rudd Book Recommendations The Party's Interests Come First by Joseph Torigian The Souls of China by Ian Johnson Magnifica Humanitas by Pope Leo XIV Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. You can find the transcript and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.html This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Rollin Hu. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Kate Sinclair and Mary Marge Locker. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Johnny Simon. Our recording engineer is Johnny Simon. Cinematography by Marina King. Video editing by Steph Khoury, Dani Dillon and Kristen Williamson. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Marie Cascione, Annie Galvin, Kristin Lin, Emma Kehlbeck and Jack McCordick. Original music by Pat McCusker and Diane Wong. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Shows is Annie-Rose Strasser. And special thanks to Joseph Torigian and Eyck Freymann. Transcript editing by Sarah Murphy and Marlaine Glicksman. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.