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From high-speed rail to electric cars to batteries to AI, it's clear that China can operate with incredible speed at massive scale. Can the US still compete?We sat down with Dan Wang, a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution and the author of “Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future” to discuss. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction1:36 Lawyers vs. Engineers: Cultural and Economic Differences4:06 Urban and Rural Life: Comparing Infrastructure7:20 Barriers to Progress: Regulation and Governance11:00 Industrial Policy and Public-Private Partnerships14:20 The Double-Edged Sword of Legal and Engineering Mindsets16:50 Social Engineering and Policy in China23:00 Competition, Intellectual Property, and Business Culture27:10 Manufacturing, Scale, and Global Supply Chains36:00 Lessons from Japan and Korea41:30 Complacency, Quality, and the Future of Competition48:45 Strategic Resources and Industrial Policy54:00 Foreign Policy: Engineering Diplomacy vs. Alliances59:00 Taiwan, Demographics, and the Future of US-China Relations Resources:Follow Dan on X: https://x.com/danwwangRead Dan's blog: https://danwang.co/Buy Breakneck on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1324106034/Follow Steven on X: https://x.com/stevesi Stay Updated:Find a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Podcast on SpotifyListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Paul Mueller critiques industrial policy's resurgence, noting proponents conflate it with pro-market growth. He argues government direction leads to overproduction and resource misallocation, referencing China's EV troubles 1870 MANHATTAN
Veronique de Rugy defines industrial policy as central planning using subsidies and tariffs to shape the economy. She argues the US already succeeds best through limited government and free trade principles. 1887
Paul Mueller critiques industrial policy's resurgence, noting proponents conflate it with pro-market growth. He argues government direction leads to overproduction and resource misallocation, referencing China's EV troubles. 1964 MD
Paul Mueller critiques industrial policy's resurgence, noting proponents conflate it with pro-market growth. He argues government direction leads to overproduction and resource misallocation, referencing China's EV troubles. 1910 FRESNO
Guest host Robin Gill talks to Jerome Gessaroli, senior fellow with the Macdonald Laurier Institute, and leads the Sound Economic Policy Project at BCIT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paul Mueller of Civitas Outlook magazine discusses how industrial policy is conflated with successful pro-growth, pro-market agendas. This mistake obscures tensions regarding market allocation and firm discipline. 1908 BRADDOCK PA.
Veronique de Rugy of the Mercatus Center questions the need for US industrial policy, arguing that the existing system of limited government and free trade, which produces unparalleled tech and wealth, is already superior. 1790 ADAM SMITH
Sep 25, 2025 – Industrial policy experts Marc Fasteau and Ian Fletcher discuss the big investments the US is making into a variety of industries and companies as part of their “three pillars of US Industrial Policy," which includes currency adjustments...
HEADLINE: US Industrial Policy Criticized as Ad-Hoc State Capitalism GUEST NAME: Veronique de Rugy SUMMARY: Veronique de Rugy analyzes government support for Intel and Nvidia's investment as state capitalism, distinct from cronyism. She criticizes government intervention, predicting poor outcomes when businesses operate under political pressure. The Trump administration's industrial policy lacks clear philosophy, creating uncertainty that could "kill investments" through unpredictable, reversible decisions. 1941
PREVIEW: GUEST NAME: Veronique de Rugy SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Veronique de Rugy about the Trump administration's inconsistent industrial policy. De Rugy explains it's transactional, based on "deal-by-deal" decisions, not a clear philosophy. She notes the logic is hard to follow, as it's not consistently about fighting China or semiconductors, citing Nvidia's sales to China. 1907 NYSE
Kyle Chan is a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Lecturer in Sociology at Princeton University. His research focuses on industrial policy, clean technology, and infrastructure with a regional focus on China and India. He is currently working on a book on Chinese industrial policy that aims to explain how China came to dominate certain industries today that had originally been led by the US, Japan, and other industrialized nations. These industries include electric vehicles, solar, high-speed rail, and consumer electronics. The book will describe the wide range of industrial policy tools used in China and their ongoing efforts in other industries, such as semiconductors and biotechnology.Kyle Chan writes a popular newsletter called High Capacity on industrial policy, clean technology, and infrastructure, particularly in China and India.Personal website: https://www.kyleichan.com/NYT op-ed: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/opinion/china-us-trade-tariffs.htmlLu Feng interview: https://www.high-capacity.com/p/chinese-industrial-maximalismChapter Markers:(00:00) - Introduction (00:50) - Kyle's Background and Research Interests (05:51) - China vs. India: A Comparative Study of Railway Development (12:38) - The Broader Implications of Industrial Policy (37:48) - Introduction to Industrial Maximalism (38:54) - China's Manufacturing Strategy (41:33) - US-China Technological Competition (59:45) - Global Collaboration and Future Outlook Music used with permission from Blade Runner Blues Livestream improvisation by State Azure.–Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at MSU and Director of the Institute of Theoretical Science at the University of Oregon. Hsu is a startup founder (SuperFocus.ai, SafeWeb, Genomic Prediction, Othram) and advisor to venture capital and other investment firms. He was educated at Caltech and Berkeley, was a Harvard Junior Fellow, and has held faculty positions at Yale, the University of Oregon, and MSU. Please send any questions or suggestions to manifold1podcast@gmail.com or Steve on X @hsu_steve.
part one: Todd Tucker A political scientist, Todd Tucker is director of Industrial Policy and Trade at the Roosevelt Institute. Tucker is a prolific political scientist specializing in trade and political economy. article: Democrats: Don't Let Trump Define What State Capitalism Can BThere's no turning back from Trump's moves on Intel and U.S. Steel. The challenge is to make public ownership serve the people. part two: Mark Joseph Stern a senior writer at slate.com and regular commentator on MSNBCarticle: The Supreme Court Just Let ICE Detain Americans Based on Race
Is Washington becoming Wall Street's biggest investor? The “Henssler Money Talks” hosts discuss the government's latest 15% stake in MP Materials and nearly 10% in Intel, as it is taking positions in the same companies citizens invest in. We explore how the deal illustrates the CHIPS Act's impact on U.S. economic policy, combining subsidies, national security priorities, and direct investment to rebuild domestic manufacturing.Original Air Date: September 6,2025Read the Article: https://www.henssler.com/the-u-s-bets-big-on-chips-inside-the-intel-stake-and-industrial-policy-shift
In Darren's own research, topics like tariffs, industrial policy and the decaying rules-based economic order are a daily focus. On these issues and many more relating to the global economy, financial markets, economic security, and US-China geoeconomic rivalry, there is no-one whose expertise and judgment Darren respects more than that of Brad Setser, today's guest. In a conversation recorded on 1 September, three big themes are canvassed: (i) tariffs, (ii) China, and (iii) Australia's position in a fraying economic order. As the hosts of the “Odd Lots” podcast would say, Brad is the ‘perfect' guest, and Darren could not be more thrilled. What is motivating Trump, and what could constrain him? Which country has negotiated the best deal? Is China's export-driven economic model locked in? Could other countries rein in Beijing's overcapacity? Is the rules-based economic order finished? Brad Setser is the Whitney Shepardson senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. His expertise includes global trade and capital flows, financial vulnerability analysis, and sovereign debt restructuring. Bred served as a senior advisor to the United States Trade Representative from 2021 to 2022 and as the deputy assistant secretary for international economic analysis in the U.S. Treasury from 2011 to 2015. Australia in the World is written, hosted, and produced by Darren Lim, with research and editing this episode by Hannah Nelson and theme music composed by Rory Stenning. Relevant links Brad Setser (bio): https://www.cfr.org/expert/brad-w-setser Odd Lots (podcast), "Liz Truss on the 'Doom Loop' Engulfing the UK Economy", 29 August 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyQOEJ38kW8 Jonathon Sine, “Litigation Nation, Engineering Empire: A review of Dan Wang's new book Breakneck”, Cogitations (substack), 28 August 2025: https://www.cogitations.co/p/litigation-nation-engineering-empire Bob Davis and Lingling Wei, Superpower Showdown: How the Battle between Trump and Xi Threatens a New Cold War (Harper Collins, 2020): https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780062953070/superpower-showdown/ Mark Kurlansky, Salt: A world history (Penguin, 2003): https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780062953070/superpower-showdown/
In this deep-dive episode, Ray Powell and Jim Carouso are joined by Matthew Zolnowski, former Special Advisor at the U.S. Department of Defense and President of Greyfriars LLC, for an expert exploration of critical minerals and rare earth elements in the context of U.S.-China strategic competition. As tensions escalate in the Indo-Pacific, they examine why these "rocks" are essential building blocks for both military weapon systems and the civilian economy.Critical Minerals vs. Rare Earths: Understanding the DifferenceMatt breaks down the distinction between critical minerals (50+ commodities spanning the periodic table from antimony to zirconium) and rare earth elements (those mysterious bottom rows of the periodic table you never had to learn). He explains China's dominant position in heavy rare earth processing, particularly for permanent magnets used in defense applications, while noting that light rare earths like cerium and lanthanum—used in petroleum refining and glass polishing—remain more accessible from domestic sources like California's Mountain Pass mine.Stockpiling, Strategy, and Supply Chain VulnerabilitiesThe discussion reveals concerning gaps in U.S. defense procurement, including how electronic components bypass normal sourcing requirements, allowing Chinese rare earth magnets into submarines through hard drives, while direct magnet purchases require allied sourcing. Zolnowski details the $2 billion stockpile expansion and explains how stockpiles "buy time" rather than widgets—bridging the gap between crisis onset and Defense Production Act responses.Industrial Policy vs. Market ForcesRay and Jim probe the tension between America's traditional free-market approach and emerging industrial policy, examining deals like the MP Materials contract with its $150 million heavy rare earth separation line and EBITDA guarantees. Matt argues this represents uncharted territory, fundamentally breaking with traditional government-industry relationships as the U.S. grapples with China's strategic dominance in processing and price manipulation.Australia, Allies, and Alternative StrategiesThe hosts explore why U.S.-Australia collaboration on critical minerals has remained limited despite Australia's "periodic table on a plate" capabilities, with Zolnowski noting regulatory barriers that only recently opened Defense Production Act eligibility to Australian companies. He advocates for commodity-specific strategies rather than broad critical minerals policies, suggesting successful models like heavy mineral sands operations that diversify beyond single-commodity dependence.
"Golden shares” at home, grand bargains abroad. In this episode, Cato scholars weigh Trump's push for equity stakes in U.S. firms under the CHIPS Act and his effort to strike a quick deal with Putin on Ukraine. What does state capitalism at home mean for American liberty—and can deal-making diplomacy abroad actually end the U.S. entanglement in Ukraine?Featuring Ryan Bourne, Gene Healy, Norbert Michel, and Justin LoganScott Lincicome, “The government's Intel stake is antithetical to American greatness”https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/08/24/trump-intel-government-marketplace/Justin (and Dan Caldwell) on security guarantees: https://thefederalist.com/2025/08/26/if-ukraine-wants-security-guarantees-it-should-get-them-from-europe/Ryan Bourne, “Trump's cronyism is quietly unravelling American capitalism,”https://www.thetimes.com/us/business/article/trumps-cronyism-is-quietly-unravelling-american-capitalism-jxlwwf7dwRyan Bourne, Industrial Policy was the Gateway Drug to Cronyism Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previously a Fulbright Scholar, Fox International Fellow and Teaching Fellow at Yale, Gul has also been a Lead for the Digital Transformation of Industries at the World Economic Forum in Geneva, and an Expert on Higher Education, Entrepreneurship, and Industrial Policy at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation in Vienna. His book The New Geography of Innovation won the Financial Times/McKinsey Bracken Bower Prize for writers under 35. In this episode you will learnHow the geography of innovation is shifting and what it means for the new world order The art of connecting innovation, geography, and ambition with the help of illustrative case studiesHow to write a deeply-researched book
Jeff Bialos, a former deputy undersecretary of defense for industrial policy who now heads the defense practice at the Eversheds Sutherland law firm, Dr. Jerry McGinn who also served in the Pentagon's Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy office and now leads the Center for the Industrial Base at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Bryan Clark who leads the Center for Defense concepts and Innovation at the Hudson Institute think tank joint Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's that the administration is considering stakes in US defense and aerospace contractors; the Pentagon's new acquisition approach to more rapidly develop capabilities to address joint force operational problems; and the abrupt resignation of Doug Beck as the head of the Defense Innovation Unit as the Defense Department reorders its innovation ecosystem.
LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured A fiery takedown of Washington's latest “public-private partnership,” where taxpayer dollars flow into Intel under the guise of investment. From Trump-era deals to Biden's subsidies, this episode dissects how Republicans and Democrats alike signed off on the CHIPS Act, making Intel effectively too big to fail. With echoes of past bailouts, government's inability to pick winners and losers, and the dangers of throwing good money after bad, this is a no-holds-barred critique of America's misguided industrial policy.
In the wake of President Trump's meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joins heads of state from Germany, France, the UK, and other European leaders in Washington, DC. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker explains the concessions on the table for peace in Ukraine. A group of Senate Democrats have written a letter urging President Trump to rethink US chip sales to China. In a debate about that industrial policy and the impact of a potential government stake in Intel, former economic advisor for President Trump Stephen Moore joins former Treasury official under President Biden, Natasha Sarin. Plus, investors await the Federal Reserve's annual symposium this upcoming Friday in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are aiming to capitalize on an open IPO window. Matthew Whitaker - 16:07Natasha Sarin & Stephen Moore - 29:53 In this episode:Eamon Javers, @EamonJaversBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie
01:00 Why Do Elite News Operations Sound So Dumb So Often? https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162886 13:00 Industrial Policy's Potential with Marc Fasteau and Ian Fletcher, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MykCxs4aFl4 21:00 Yoram Hazony: The Man Driving the Nationalist Revival on the Right, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162566 1:08:00 Industrial Policy for the United States: Winning the Competition for Good Jobs and High-Value Industries (2025), https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162358 1:17:00 Attitudes to AI are a rorschach's test 1:34:00 Megyn Kelly on Russiagate and the New York Times, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162867 1:40:00 The Prestige Economy, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162904 1:50:00 The Engineered Chinese State Vs Lawyerly America, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162900 1:52:00 Ira Israel: Could Enlightenment Mean Accepting Our Own Insignificance?, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162921 2:03:00 The most powerful systems of epistemic closure in America today, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162850 2:20:00 Russiagate and the New York Times, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162867 2:30:00 The Politics of Expertise, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162857 2:55:00 What Goes Unsaid In Stephen P. Turner's Autobiography Mad Hazard: A Life in Social Theory?, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162822 3:58:00 Individualism Is Not A Right-Wing Value, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162613 4:01:00 ‘The Making of the American Conservative Mind: National Review and Its Times' (2005), https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162696
Laura Taylor-Kale, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, joins Double Take to dig into the strategic importance of rare earths, exploring their impact on national security and why they are considered the hidden gems of the tech world.
Aug 7, 2025 – Today we explore the evolving landscape of U.S. industrial policy, featuring insights from two policy experts on the bipartisan shift away from neoliberal free trade, the increasing use of tariffs, the strategic importance of...
Today Anjney Midha, General Partner at a16z joins The Cognitive Revolution to discuss sovereign AI and China's growing semiconductor capabilities. Check out our sponsors: Gemini CLI, Labelbox, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Shopify. Shownotes below brought to you by Notion AI Meeting Notes - try one month for free at https://notion.com/lp/nathan What is Sovereign AI? Varies by stakeholder - for enterprises it means controlling where AI workloads run, while for nation-states it represents both technical independence and cultural alignment with local values Semiconductor Competition with China: "Chip sanctions on China have resulted in an enormous doubling down of local investment in Huawei's ecosystem... they're in a full-on tear to try to decouple themselves from American chips" Middle Path on American AI Policy: Midha advocates for a Marshall Plan for AI where countries maintain sovereignty over models while partnering with the US on semiconductor infrastructure European AI Alignment: "It's a huge win for America that MARA in Europe is going with American chips and not Huawei chips... the European continent has been courted by the Chinese semiconductor industry like never before" The Race to Close the Gap: "Huawei is in a much stronger position today than it was three years ago... They will be able to close the gap and because workloads are becoming more efficient, they can decouple at least the inference part of their ecosystem from the US within two to three years" Cultural Independence in AI: Nations seek models that align with their values while maintaining technical independence - requiring a nuanced approach to global AI partnerships Links:Anjney Midha & Jensen Huang on Winning the AI Race https://a16z.com/podcast/jensen-huang-and-arthur-mensch-on-winning-the-global-ai-race/ Sponsors: Gemini CLI: Open-source, lightweight utility for direct Gemini access—find Gemini CLI on GitHub. Labelbox: Labelbox pairs automation, expert judgment, and reinforcement learning to deliver high-quality training data for cutting-edge AI. Put its data factory to work for you, visit https://labelbox.com Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is the next-generation cloud that delivers better performance, faster speeds, and significantly lower costs, including up to 50% less for compute, 70% for storage, and 80% for networking. Run any workload, from infrastructure to AI, in a high-availability environment and try OCI for free with zero commitment at https://oracle.com/cognitive Shopify: Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at https://shopify.com/cognitive PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing
The United States and China wrapped up the third round of high-level trade negotiations earlier this week. American and Chinese negotiators met in Stockholm on July 28 and 29. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the talks as constructive and wide ranging. He acknowledged that an extension of the 90-day tariff pause was discussed but said that the final decision was up to President Trump. As of today – August 1 – Trump has remained mum. The Chinese side's readout was devoid of details, although China's vice minister of commerce said that both countries would continue to push for an extension of the reciprocal tariffs and Chinese countermeasures.How should we assess the dynamics in the trade talks, including the balance of leverage between Washington and Beijing? And how might the trade negotiations shape the future of the US-China relationship? To discuss these questions, we are joined by Dr. Scott Kennedy. Scott is senior adviser and trustee chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Timestamps[00:00] Start[02:06] Lessons Learned from Trump's First Administration[05:20] Chinese Outlook on Future Economic Policy[09:28] Who's Winning the Trade War?[14:30] China's Reactions to Transshipment Provisions[18:18] Bessent's Rebalancing Plans [24:14] Challenges to Chinese Investment in the US [29:15] China's Trade Deal Goals
In this episode, we are joined by Kyle Chan, postdoctoral researcher at Princeton's Sociology Department and adjunct researcher at the RAND Corporation, to explore China's approach to AI industrial policy. We discuss the fundamentals of industrial policy and how it operates in China's digital technology sector (4:15), the evolution of China's AI industrial policy toolkit and its impact on companies (19:29), China's current AI priorities, protectionism strategies, and adoption patterns (47:05), and the future trajectory of China's AI industrial policy amid US-China competition (1:12:22). Kyle co-authored RAND's June 26 report "Full Stack: China's Evolving Industrial Policy for AI," which is available here.
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After the 2008 financial crisis, and especially after the COVID pandemic of 2020, an increasing number of Americans are questioning the wisdom of unregulated markets and envisioning a more active role for the state. Scholars have coined a panoply of neologisms to capture this view of the political economy, including political scientist Kenneth Vogel's “marketcraft.” The term indicates that the state not only lays the foundation for markets through the protection of the rule of law and property rights, but it also shapes market economies through policy interventions and regulatory institutions like the Federal Trade Commission.Chris Hughes' new book, “Marketcrafters: The 100-Year Struggle to Shape the American Economy,” traces how governments led by both major parties have worked with the private sector since the country's founding to intentionally and strategically shape markets. The narrative reveals how Adam Smith's proverbial “invisible” hand has always been rather quite visible.Hughes is a co-founder of Facebook who left the company in 2007 to work for former President Barack Obama and is now completing his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Hughes joins Bethany and Luigi to discuss the government's historical role, both in success and failure, of marketcrafting to rebalance economic power and create fairer and more efficient markets. Their journey takes us from the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913 in response to a series of banking failures to recent mass investment in the semiconductor industry. Together, they discuss how to stop marketcrafting from becoming a victim of the political process, how it is operationalized differently in times of normalcy versus times of crisis, and how it must navigate the limits of individual and institutional power. Finally, they also discuss whether it is truly possible to craft markets in advance or only to correct market flaws after a crisis, with Hughes' own prior stomping grounds at Facebook as their case study.Read an excerpt of the book on ProMarket here.
The President of the United States signed the “Big, Beautiful Bill” into law on July 4th. The new legislation brings big changes to the future of U.S. clean energy development. It reduces many (though not all) of the Biden-era subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). This week on the podcast, our guest is Mike Carr, Executive Director at SEMA Coalition—an organization supporting the U.S.-based solar supply chain. Mike has extensive experience in U.S. federal energy policy, including past positions at the Department of Energy and the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy. Jackie and Peter asked Mike: How would you characterize the Bill's impact on U.S. clean energy, and what damage has it caused? At a high level, does this major policy shift lessen the appetite for investment, even in areas where subsidies remain, due to concerns about political uncertainty? For clean technology manufacturing, such as solar panels, do the newly introduced restrictions on Foreign Entities of Concern (like China) regarding content, intellectual property, and investment make it more challenging to qualify for the production tax credit (45X)? Renewable energy projects that commence construction within a year of the Bill's passage can still be eligible for subsidies for the following four years; does this create a construction boom, and what happens afterward? Given China's dominant position in manufacturing many types of clean energy technology, how should the U.S. compete? Is it better to leapfrog China with innovation, rather than simply following and producing the same technology?Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/ Check us out on social media: X (Twitter): @arcenergyinstLinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research Institute Subscribe to ARC Energy Ideas PodcastApple PodcastsAmazon MusicSpotify
Join Us in October for our Plan B Conference: https://www.crisisinvesting.com/p/the-plan-b-uruguay-conference-with-72c In this episode, we dive into a wide range of topics, starting with the significance of Independence Day. We then discuss the implications of a newly passed bill touching on farming subsidies, defense spending, and industrial policy. The conversation also covers issues like the privatization of the military, the future of Ukraine, short selling, and the concept of chemtrails. Doug also shares his thoughts on international investing, specifically in Bolivia and Japan, while addressing questions from subscribers on various financial and political issues. 00:00 Introduction and Independence Day Reflections 00:22 The Significance of the Declaration of Independence 01:42 Critique of Modern 4th of July Celebrations 03:01 Discussion on Trump's Big Beautiful Bill 04:20 Farm Subsidies and Agricultural Policies 10:02 Defense Spending and Industrial Policy 17:03 Citizenship by Investment in Sierra Leone 19:08 Opinions on JP Morgan Funds and Short Selling 25:15 Ukraine Conflict and Global Implications 28:40 Chemtrails and Relocation to Paraguay 29:30 Chemtrails and Weather Modification 30:07 Skepticism and Historical Context 31:02 Modern Weather Modification Practices 34:29 NATO and Political Dynamics 37:23 Insights on Writing and Market Analysis 43:18 Farming Analytics and High-Tech Agriculture 46:16 Bolivia's Political and Economic Landscape 48:06 Privatized Military and Eric Prince 50:18 Japan's Economic Moves and Demographic Challenges 54:17 Concluding Remarks and Future Plans
While the U.S., India, and countries in the Persian Gulf are all moving quickly to establish new critical mineral supply chains, the European Union is struggling to follow suit, particularly in Africa. The EU currently lacks a cohesive policy framework that would bolster mining companies, support partner countries, and encourage the development of a mineral processing sector that can lessen Europe's current dependence on China. To do this, the EU should follow China's model in Africa, where it paired extraction with the development of vital infrastructure, according to a new commentary from the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM). The authors, Poorva Karkare and Karim Karaki, join Eric & Géraud from Brussels to explain why the EU should strive for strategic complementarity rather than competition with China in Africa. SHOW NOTES: ECDPM: The EU's playbook for African minerals amid China's dominance by Poorva Karkare and Karim Karaki AFRICA POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE: The tumultuous path toward EU-China-Africa trilateral cooperation on Critical Raw Materials in Africa by C. Géraud Neema JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @christiangeraud Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth
Last week on the Dynamist, we spoke with several of the architects behind the Techno-Industrial Policy Playbook (TIPP). Part I covered key questions over regulation, trade policy, workforce development, investing in frontier science and technology, and how manufacturing can safeguard national security.In Part II, we dive into one of the pillars of TIPP: Industrial Power. Austin Bishop and Julius Krein, co-founders of the New American Industrial Alliance, join Evan to tackle the tough questions underlying America's industrial revival. How should we balance factories that employ large numbers of workers versus highly automated, hyper-efficient plants? Should manufacturing focus more on military capabilities or products aimed at global markets? And given the gap between investor expectations and the reality of manufacturing returns, how can we realistically finance this industrial renewal?COVID laid bare just how vulnerable we've become through dependence on foreign supply chains—particularly those controlled by geopolitical rivals. Krein and Bishop argue that it's time to rebuild the industrial foundations America traded away for cheap consumer goods and service-sector jobs. The proposed solution involves innovative financial structures inspired by sovereign wealth funds and a reshaped private equity model designed for the long haul. But can these strategies compete when tech giants like Amazon, Apple, and Google are already constructing their own supply chains and new industrial policies languish in Washington conference rooms?Evan explores with Bishop and Krein whether America still has time—and political will—to regain control over its industrial destiny, or if decades of decline have already pushed us too far behind.
Pat McGee - Apple in ChinaCurious Worldview Newsletter - https://curiousworldview.beehiiv.com/subscribe-----Each year, Apple sells more than 100 million unit's of it's various products, with some factories capable of producing up to 500,000 iPhones (alone) per day. This scale of quality and quantity is not replicated anywhere else in history. And it's all down to the special and unique relationship between one of the world's largest hardware companies, Apple and the worlds largest manufacturer, China. Pat McGee wrote the book on this... 'Apple in China', and joins me for a discussion which explores the intricate relationship between Apple and China's manufacturing landscape. Tim Cook's pivotal role, the challenges of relying on China for production, and the unique conditions that have allowed China to dominate the manufacturing sector. Pat reflects on the geopolitical implications of Apple's strategy and the serendipitous nature of his writing process, culminating in a discussion about the future of industrial statecraft and the lessons learned from Apple's experience.00:00: Pat McGee02:52: Tim Cook's Role in Apple's Success in China06:00: Apple's Reliance on China and Its Vulnerabilities12:12: The Scale of Apple's Manufacturing and Its Implications18:12: Foxcon & Terry Gou24:03: China's Manufacturing Strategy and Apple's Role29:59: China's Ambitions and Apple's Unintentional Consequences39:50: The Journey of Writing The Book44:05: Leaning Into Serendipity51:31: The Impact of Apple's Industrial Strategy58:59: Geopolitical Implications of China's Manufacturing01:08:02: Doing Jon Stewart!
This week I'm joined by economist Ian Fletcher to discuss how decades of economic missteps have left the U.S. dangerously dependent on imports and vulnerable to competitors like China. Fletcher is the co-author with Marc Fasteau of an important book entitled Industrial Policy for the United States: Winning the Competition for Good Jobs and High-Value Industries. Fletcher breaks down why free trade hasn't delivered on its promises, how tariffs alone can't save us, and why America urgently needs a real, comprehensive industrial policy.Listen in on a great discussion!A transcript of this podcast is available on the post page on our website. Get full access to The Liberal Patriot at www.liberalpatriot.com/subscribe
When we talk about building a more productive and competitive manufacturing industry, talk of AI, automation, and other new tech usually crops up. But let's not forget the basics – the way we power, staff, and build sustainable practices. That stuff's also important.We're in an era of transformation right now, but it's definitely not the first time the US has gone through this. In fact, we get a little history lesson in this episode from Ted Fertik, VP of Manufacturing & Industrial Policy at BlueGreen Alliance. With a PhD in Economic History, we hear how today's manufacturing challenges mirror our history and what we can learn from it.As we look to the future, Ted talks about today's greater demands on the electrical grid but also why a low carbon economy and electrification are the future. Ted gives us a breakdown on the work that BlueGreen Alliance is doing to make manufacturing more sustainable and attractive to fresh talent and investors.In this episode, find out:Ted shares his background as a PhD grad in Economic History with a focus on industrySome stories from industrial history that inspired Ted to build a career, including the history of Brazil and the UK's industriesHow industrial strategy has been successfully rolled out in other countries in the pastWhat the BlueGreen Alliance does to help build a low carbon economy and a stronger industryWhy focusing on investment into transformation benefits everyone, not just the economyThe connection between sustainability and productivity and why they benefit each other and workersWhy manufacturing is such a critical part of a healthy modern economy, especially in the USWhat a low carbon future could look like and why we can't overlook the effect on the demand for electricityHow manufacturing and industry can attract talent and the role of trade unionsHow to attract investment to a capital-intensive industry and the role of the public sector in making it economically viableWhy we need to make sure that the benefits of careers and investment in manufacturing are widely felt across the populationEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It's feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"We need the benefits of the manufacturing economy to be really widely felt. And we need them to be real.”“There's a powerful link between making things with less carbon and the prospect of huge gains in productivity and in material wellbeing for people.”“As we're thinking about building out manufacturing, an affordable, stable, and reliable clean grid is an essential ingredient to a thriving, future-facing manufacturing sector in the US.” Links & mentions:BlueGreen Alliance, an organization that shapes US industrial policy with a focus on good-paying union jobs and environmental progress St. Arnold's Mussel Bar, serving an extensive variety of mussels, Belgian beers, waffles, and more in a ground-level, brick-lined space near Dupond Circle in Washington, DC Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
The U.S. production base has slipped: China passed America in manufacturing output in 2011 and last year ran a surplus roughly equal to Britain's entire GDP; at current capacity, it would take the United States about eight years to replace key munitions at wartime production rates.The urgency has propelled an alliance of think tanks — the Foundation for American Innovation, American Compass, Institute for Progress, and New American Industrial Alliance — to publish the Techno-Industrial Policy Playbook. Their proposals span three critical pillars: Industrial Power, Frontier Science and Technology, and National Security. They range from ambitious initiatives like "Project Paperclip 2.0" to fast-track foreign-born STEM PhDs, to establishing twenty “X-Labs” at $50 million each for transformative science funding. They also advocate for "Special Compute Zones" that would waive certain environmental requirements to rapidly scale up AI computing infrastructure, treating computational capacity with the same urgency America once reserved for World War II shipyards.As the United States finds itself at a techno-industrial crossroads, is America capable of marshaling the political will and institutional capacity needed to reverse decades of industrial decline? Can these ambitious proposals navigate the complex realities of American governance while delivering meaningful results? Or is this comprehensive vision destined to join countless other policy recommendations in Washington's archive of unfulfilled potential?Evan is joined by the architects behind this effort: Kelvin Yu, lead author and a non-resident fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation; Chris Griswold, Policy Director at American Compass; Santi Ruiz, Senior Editor at the Institute for Progress; and Robert Bellafiore, Managing Director for Policy at FAI.
Manufacturing in India was hobbled by the state for many decades after Independence — and is still not in great shape. Why is this so? How can we move forward?Welcome to Episode 104 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In the first of a two-parter, Ajay lays out the grim reality today, and Amit gives a historical perspective. In the next episode, we discuss why Industrial Policy would be the worst way to tackle this.TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The Travails of the Indian Businessman05:12 Chapter 1: The Hard Facts about Indian Manufacturing09:07 Chapter 2: The Difference Between Manufacturing and Services28:43 Chapter 3: A Historical View43:47 Chapter 4: The Problems with Indian Manufacturing TODAY1:08:05 Chapter 5: The Union and the State1:09:49 Chapter 6: RecommendationsFor full show notes, click here.
President Trump's tariffs on China have highlighted how much American companies, and consumers, depend on products made in China. And arguably no company has been more exposed than Apple. The conventional wisdom in the West is that Apple and other corporations simply flocked to China for cheap, unskilled labor. While that is true, it masks the depth of Apple's relationship with the Middle Kingdom. Yes, Apple products are made in China. But Apple also made China—at least the advanced technological China confronting the U.S. today. From training tens of millions of workers, to investing hundreds of billions in the country, our guest today argues that Apple has done more than anyone, or anything, to make China a manufacturing powerhouse. As one tech analyst observed, “It's hard to reconcile the fact that the greatest American company, the most capitalist thing in the world, survives on the basis of a country that has Communist in its title.”So how did America's most iconic tech company become so invested in, and dependent on, the U.S.'s chief global adversary? What did Apple CEO Tim Cook know about what was happening, and when did he know it? How might the world look but for these investments? And as the U.S. government urges companies to de-risk and decouple from China, what position does that put Apple in?Evan is joined by Patrick McGee. He was the Financial Times's Apple reporter from 2019 to 2023 and is now the author of Apple in China: The Capture of the World's Greatest Company.
This week on Sinica, I chat with Jostein Hauge, political economist and an Assistant Professor in Development Studies at the University of Cambridge, based at the Centre of Development Studies and the Department of Politics and International Studies, and author of the book The Future of the Factory: How Megatrends are Changing Industrialization.3:09 – Self Introduction: Jostein Hauge4:23 – Anti-China Sentiment in Western Discourse7:40 – Misconceptions and Prevailing Narratives10:08 – Technological Transfer and the Political Economy12:18 – Historical Periods of Economic Rivalry 14:36 – Evolving Industrial Policy: From Japan's MITI to China and the U.S. today18:59 – China's Contemporary Industrial Policy: Quality or Quantity? 21:13 – China as a Rising Power: Is History Repeating?24:18 – The Sustainability of China's Industrial Policy 26:43 – China, Overcapacity, and Global Imbalances34:07 – Overcapacity: Economic Reality or Ideological Construct?36:04 – China's domination in the renewable energy market39:13 – China's greenhouse gas emissions43:17 – How China is reshaping the IP regime 48:14 – The U.S. national security stance and the trade war with China55:10 – Europe's approach to ChinaPaying it forward: Kyle Chan at High CapacityRecommendations:Jostein: The White Lotus (TV Series)Kaiser: The Raider: The Untold Story of a Renegade Marine and the Birth of U.S. Special Forces in World War II by Stephen R. PlattSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Jeb Nadaner, the senior vice president of government relations at Govini who served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for manufacturing and industrial base policy during the first Trump administration, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administrations focus on defense industrial strategy; how to ensure success including by extending the tenure of program managers; the role of both heritage and new economy contractors in delivering new capabilities quickly and at scale; role of the government in software development; and getting the most out of the Defense Production Act.
In Episode 421 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Ian Fletcher, one of America's foremost experts on industrial policy, about the problems with free trade and how to revitalize the U.S. economy. Ian and Demetri spend the first hour of the episode laying the foundation for the argument Fletcher and his co-author, Marc Fasteau, present in their book Industrial Policy for the United States: Winning the Competition for Good Jobs and High-Value Industries. This portion includes a comprehensive critique of free-market economics and a systematic exploration of the tools that can be deployed to build critical industries and ignite flywheels of innovation essential to the long-term success of a modern economy. In the second hour, Kofinas and Fletcher examine international and historical examples of both successful and unsuccessful implementations of industrial policy, discussing what went right, what went wrong, and how those lessons can inform the development and implementation of a successful industrial policy for the United States in the 21st century. The conversation concludes with a series of policy recommendations for the White House and Congress. Subscribe to our premium content—including our premium feed, episode transcripts, and Intelligence Reports—by visiting HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you'd like to join the conversation and become a member of the Hidden Forces Genius community—with benefits like Q&A calls with guests, exclusive research and analysis, in-person events, and dinners—you can also sign up on our subscriber page at HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you enjoyed today's episode of Hidden Forces, please support the show by: Subscribing on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, SoundCloud, CastBox, or via our RSS Feed Writing us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Joining our mailing list at https://hiddenforces.io/newsletter/ Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe and support the podcast at https://hiddenforces.io. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 06/2/2025
A fascinating discussion with Ian Fletcher, co-author of the comprehensive new book Industrial Policy for the United States (Cambridge University Press). In this episode, Ian unpacks the critical role of industrial policy in shaping America's economic future, challenging the myths of free trade, and exploring how the U.S. can protect and grow its advantageous industries. From historical successes like the Morrill Act to modern challenges like China's rise and the overvalued dollar, this conversation covers the past, present, and future of U.S. industrial strategy. Chapters:(00:00 Introduction)(01:17 Regarding Free Trade)(02:43 What is Industrial Policy?)(04:07 National Security and Deindustrialization Risks)(07:49 The Role of Government in Innovation)(09:37 Defining Advantageous Industries)(12:29 Tariffs and Strategic Industries)(13:55 U.S. Industrial Policy Through History)(18:26 Government's Role in Aviation and Tech)(23:31 Industrial Policy Failures: Synthetic Fuels & Solyndra)(29:48 Case Study: China's Industrial Policy Success)(38:21 Case Study: The UK's Industrial Policy Failure)(43:13 What Should the U.S. Do Today?)(49:27 Evaluating Trump's Tariff Policies)(53:36 Key Takeaways from the Book)(54:28 Ian's Advice: Trust Economic History, Not Theory)Buy Industrial Policy for the United States: https://www.amazon.com/Industrial-Policy-United-States-Competition/dp/1009243071/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
REALIGNMENT NEWSLETTER: https://therealignment.substack.com/PURCHASE BOOKS AT OUR BOOKSHOP: https://bookshop.org/shop/therealignmentEmail Us: realignmentpod@gmail.comIan Fletcher, co-author of Industrial Policy for the United States: Winning the Competition for Good Jobs and High-Value Industries, joins The Realignment. Marshall and Ian discuss what industrial policy actually means and why it includes trade policy, the rise and fall of free trade orthodoxy, what went right and wrong with Trump and Biden's industrial policy strategies, why "Liberation Day" isn't enough to reindustrialize America, and which industries and technologies the U.S. should focus its attention on.
The U.S. has spent the last 70 years making massive investments in basic and applied research. Government funding of research started in World War II driven by the needs of the military for weapon systems to defeat Germany and Japan. Post WWII the responsibility for investing in research split between agencies focused on weapons development and space exploration (being completely customer-driven) and other agencies charted to fund basic and applied research in science and medicine (being driven by peer-review.)
In this episode, Luke Gromen joins the show to discuss the trade agreement with China, why the U.S. can't afford real interest rates, and how the bond market—not policymakers—is now setting the rules. We also explore the hidden costs of decoupling from China, the inevitability of dollar devaluation, why any attempt at fiscal austerity is doomed, and more. Enjoy! __ Follow Luke: https://x.com/LukeGromen Follow Felix: https://x.com/fejau_inc Follow Forward Guidance: https://twitter.com/ForwardGuidance Follow Blockworks: https://twitter.com/Blockworks_ Forward Guidance Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/forwardguidance Forward Guidance Telegram: https://t.me/+CAoZQpC-i6BjYTEx — Join us at Permissionless IV June 24th - 26th. Use code FG10 for 10% OFF! https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-iv __ Blockdaemon is the gateway to the decentralized economy, securing over $110B in digital assets for 400+ institutions with blockchain nodes, APIs, MPC wallets and vaults, and staking solutions. Learn more: www.blockdaemon.com Arkham is a crypto exchange and a blockchain analytics platform. Arkham allows crypto traders and investors to look inside the wallets of the best traders, largest funds and most influential players in crypto, and then act on that information. Sign up to Arkham: https://auth.arkm.com/register?ref=blockworks Eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Users residing in certain jurisdictions will be excluded from onboarding. At Ondo, we design institutional-grade platforms, assets, and infrastructure to bring financial markets onchain. We believe that combining the best of TradFi with the best of DeFi will dramatically improve our financial system—making it fairer, faster, and more accessible to all. Learn more about how Ondo is bringing capital markets onchain at https://ondo.finance/ — (00:00) Introduction (01:38) China Trade Deal (08:09) Balance of Trade IS Currencies (10:45) Ads (Blockdaemon, Arkham, Ondo) (12:08) Gold, Yuan & USD (15:36) China Market & Competitive Edge (20:06) Global Bifurcation (24:51) Southeast Asia & Industrial Policy (29:23) Ads (Blockdaemon, Arkham, Ondo) (31:23) US Fiscal Endgame (35:56) Treasury Tools (41:06) Why Issue Any Long Duration? (43:40) The Fed's Next Move (45:38) Austerity Risk (51:06) The Trend Hasn't Changed __ Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on Forward Guidance should be considered as investment advice. Please always do your own research & speak to a financial advisor before thinking about, thinking about putting your money into these crazy markets.
Today I'm joined by Michael Lind, co-founder of New America and the author of Hell to Pay: How the Suppression of Wages is Destroying America. Michael walks us through the last couple decades of globalization, including how both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump came to denounce the TPP. He then argues that Trump 2.0 has done some good things with tariffs—including partial decoupling from China—but much of the administration's actions have been too haphazard. We also dive into the delicate balancing act of the “new” and “old” right. Where do they intersect? What do Reaganites think of DOGE? Switching gears, what about the good and bad of Biden's industrial policy? Can Democrats move past “Trump bad” and define a policy vision for the country? Join us for a wide-ranging and fascinating discussion.A transcript of this episode is available on the post page on our website. Get full access to The Liberal Patriot at www.liberalpatriot.com/subscribe
In this episode, Derek Thompson (Writer, The Atlantic) delves into the tumultuous nature of Trump's trade policies, especially regarding tariffs, and how they impact American manufacturing and global markets. They discuss the constant changes in policy, the resulting uncertainty for industries like automotive and aerospace, and the mismatch between Trump's ‘madman strategy' and effective industrial policy. The conversation also explores the broader economic consequences, including stock market volatility, housing affordability issues, and the role of government in promoting economic growth and innovation.(00:00) Intro(00:20) Trump's Trade Policy and Its Implications(01:30) The Uncertainty of Tariff Policies(02:12) Impact on American Manufacturing(05:15) Stock Market Reactions(07:00) Debating the Effectiveness of Tariffs(10:02) Wall Street vs. Main Street(18:44) Housing and Healthcare Challenges(34:53) Historical Context of Housing Regulations(41:48) The Reality of Construction Jobs(42:35) The American Dream and Housing Costs(42:57) The 30-Year Mortgage and Its Impact(43:48) Comparing Home Ownership to Stock Market Investments(45:14) Political Reception of the Book 'Abundance'(46:17) Pro-Business Democrats and Government's Role(48:38) The Need for Aggressive Democratic Leaders(51:18) The Importance of Economic Growth(01:01:26) Debating Government's Role in Industrial Policy(01:03:34) Challenges in the Semiconductor Industry(01:13:19) The Housing Problem in New York City(01:15:26) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsExecutive Producer: Rashad AssirProducer: Leah ClapperMixing and editing: Justin HrabovskyCheck out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA
Highlights from their conversation include:Introducing Marc and Ian and the New Book (0:41)Defining Modern Industrial Policy (4:33)Industry-Based Economic View (5:35)Importance of Industry Selection (7:23)Global Perspectives on Industrial Policy (11:25)Three Pillars of Industrial Policy (17:26)List of Industrial Policy Tools (19:16)Granularity of Industrial Policy (25:27)Role of Tariffs in Industrial Policy (26:49)Workforce Development and Automation (29:00)Future of U.S. Industrial Policy (30:58)Challenges of Policy Silos (31:36)Hope for Unified Discipline in Industrial Policy (32:24)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/