"Moment of Zen"

• Who Controls China When Xi Jinping Is Gone? | Samo Burja

  Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja dive deep into how Xi Jinping is shaping China's society today and its place in the world. They discuss Xi’s firm hold on power, his connections with different political groups, and how his decisions are affecting China's economy, military, and politics. Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one: Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/ Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess  🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse  -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  Tools and Weapons with Brad Smith Join Microsoft Vice Chair Brad Smith as he explores tech's impact on society with Bill Gates and Satya Nadella sharing untold stories and insights on Microsoft's AI-fueled future. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4bYASdhkHwovdSmU4YAjYg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tools-and-weapons-with-brad-smith/id1632459165 -- SPONSORS: BREX | NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | INCOGNI Ready to take your startup to the next level? Visit https://www.brex.com/grow to join the 30,000+ companies already streamlining their finances with Brex. Get high-yield banking, smart expense management, and scalable financial tools designed specifically for founders who want to focus on building, not bookkeeping. Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at https://netsuite.com/zen. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MOMENT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/moment -- X / TWITTER: @SamoBurja @eriktorenberg @turpentinemedia -- HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DISCUSSION: Consolidated unprecedented power through anti-corruption campaigns Dismantled previous oligarchic system but created succession crisis Maintains Marxist ideology while managing slowing economic growth Limits wealth influence and civil society (Jack Ma case) Reframes economic challenges as equality/environmental successes Belt and Road Initiative less impactful than expected Scientific innovation hindered by political conformity Future paths: South Korea-style model or renewed socialist focus Demographic challenges may limit long-term economic/military power

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• Cartels vs. State: The Power Struggle in Mexico w/ Samo Burja

  Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the complex relationship between Mexican drug cartels and the country's political system. Samo explains how cartels operate not as insurgencies but as business entities with deep connections to Mexican elites. The discussion covers the economic impact of drug trafficking, how legalization affects cartel operations, and comparisons with other countries' experiences, and explore potential solutions for Mexico's development and the geopolitical implications for U.S.-Mexico relations. Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one: Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/ Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess  🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse  -- SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | INCOGNI | SQUAD Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at https://netsuite.com/zen. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MOMENT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/moment Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS PODCAST: “Mexico’s Drug Cartels Are Not Competitors to the State” https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/p/mexicos-drug-cartels-are-not-competitors -- X / TWITTER: @SamoBurja @eriktorenberg @turpentinemedia -- HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DISCUSSION: Cartels' Political Integration: Mexican cartels operate not as insurgencies against the state but as partners with government officials, creating a corrupt patronage system. Economic Impact: While drug trafficking represents a small percentage of Mexico's economy (0.3% of labor force), it provides significant corrupt revenue for political elites. Evolution of Cartel Operations: Following marijuana legalization in the U.S., cartels shifted from agriculture (growing marijuana/heroin) to chemistry (producing synthetic drugs like fentanyl). Border Security Concerns: The porous U.S.-Mexico border currently poses limited direct national security threats but could become problematic during escalating tensions with China or Russia. Development Challenges: Mexico's extractive elites and corrupt political economy hinder genuine industrialization and development. Potential Solutions: Successfully industrializing Mexico would require defeating extractive elites and eliminating corruption sources, potentially with U.S. or Chinese investment. Future Outlook: Latin American countries like Mexico might eventually become more peaceful as populations age, similar to countries like Portugal or Greece.

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• Inflation, Elon's Competence, and Changes Democrats Need to Make w/ Noah Smith

  Erik Torenberg and economist Noah Smith dissect the Democratic Party's path forward. Smith advocates for fiscal responsibility over progressive rhetoric, refocusing democracy concerns away from voter ID laws toward election integrity, and embracing patriotic messaging instead of identity politics. Their exchange ventures into Elon Musk's influence on Republican effectiveness, the merits of Japanese bureaucratic models, and building a more competitive political landscape where both parties can harness entrepreneurial talent to implement practical governance solutions. — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess  🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse  — SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | INCOGNI | SQUAD Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at https://netsuite.com/zen. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MOMENT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/moment Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- RELATED LINKS: How the Democrats can fight back against MAGA https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/how-the-democrats-can-fight-back Only fools think Elon is incompetent https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/only-fools-think-elon-is-incompetent — X / TWITTER: @noahpinion @eriktorenberg @turpentinemedia -- HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE Three Recommendations for Democrats: Anti-Inflation Strategy: Emphasize fiscally responsible policies, cut deficits, and abandon price controls and MMT rhetoric Democracy Focus: Focus specifically on election integrity rather than voter ID laws or gerrymandering Patriotic Messaging: Abandon progressive "America was founded on racism" rhetoric and embrace traditional American values Tech Leadership Dynamics: Elon Musk has transformed Republican effectiveness through entrepreneurial approaches Democrats have alienated tech entrepreneurs through "tech bro" antagonism Democrats need their own tech-savvy leaders (suggestions included Sam Altman, Marc Benioff, Reid Hoffman) Biden's Economic Record: The Inflation Reduction Act was misnamed but had positive industrial policy effects Biden successfully fought inflation through Fed policy, deficit reduction, and energy production The administration's effective actions contradicted progressive rhetoric Project 2025 Critique: Good intentions but lacks nuanced understanding of government functions Relies too heavily on right-wing social media ecosystem for information Would benefit from consulting policy experts at conservative think tanks Social Media Transformation: Twitter/X has become narrower and more political under Musk A more fragmented social media landscape is positive for America Social platforms naturally polarize along political lines Alternative Economic Model: Need for a "third way" beyond neoliberalism Combine industrial policy, regulatory reforms, and Japanese-style bureaucratic approaches Emphasize efficient governance over ideological purity Cultural Observations: "Situationships" replacing traditional relationships among young people Free speech principles being abandoned by some Democrats Increasing education polarization in political alignment

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• Free Speech in Europe & the Future of Western Civilization | Samo Burja

  Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja examine the pervasive fascination with American political dynamics and their far-reaching impact worldwide, especially across Western democracies and European nations. They analyze how digital connectivity has accelerated the harmonization of political discourse and cultural values across borders, while exploring the emerging shifts in European political frameworks that increasingly reflect American ideological patterns and media narratives — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess  🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse  — SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | INCOGNI | SQUAD Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at https://netsuite.com/zen. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MOMENT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/moment Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. — LINKS: Two buttons meme: https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.2365085899.3351/st,small,507x507-pad,600x600,f8f8f8.jpg  The Clash of Civilizations: https://www.amazon.com/Clash-Civilizations-Remaking-World-Order/dp/1451628978  Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/ — X / TWITTER: @SamoBurja @eriktorenberg @turpentinemedia -- HIGHLIGHTS Global Political Influence US politics heavily impact Western countries, while Americans know little about other nations' political leaders Western countries form a connected political unit, using only other Western nations as models Internet's Unifying Effect Shared digital platforms have synchronized Western attention and culture more than ever before Younger Europeans increasingly consume political news in English online rather than in local languages Political & Cultural Transfer American political concepts (from trans rights to gun advocacy) spread to Europe Tension between traditional European media control and Silicon Valley's free speech platforms like X.com Potential European Transformation Free speech on social media could trigger significant right-wing political shifts in Europe Upcoming elections may demonstrate the impact of changing information access Questions about EU's "democratic deficit" and bureaucratic dominance Western Alignment Liberal and conservative international movements both center on US terms and platforms Military strength contributes significantly to America's cultural influence Western nations function as a de facto alliance despite having no formal "Western Union"

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• Victor Davis Hanson Predicts the Future: Trump, China, Russia, & Europe in 2030

  This week, Erik Torenberg is joined by Dr. Victor Davis Hanson, classicist, political commentator, and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford. Together they conduct a thought experiment: it's 2030, how can we expect to understand the legacy of Donald Trump, the shifting political landscape in Germany and the rest of Europe, the outcome of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, China's ambitions regarding Taiwan, Israel's strategic challenges, and the future of the Democratic Party? — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess  🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse  — SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | INCOGNI | SQUAD Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at https://netsuite.com/zen. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MOMENT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/moment Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. — RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: Official site: https://victorhanson.com/ The Victor Davis Hanson podcast: https://victorhanson.com/podcasts/ Hoover Institution - featured publications and videos: https://www.hoover.org/profiles/victor-davis-hanson Erik's substack: https://eriktorenberg.substack.com/  — X / TWITTER: @VDHanson @eriktorenberg @turpentinemedia -- HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE: Reflecting on Trump's Legacy Trump's Second Term JD Vance's Future Ukraine-Russia Conflict US-Europe Relations The Future of Europe China's Ambitions and Taiwan Israel's Strategic Dilemmas The Future of the Left

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