Interviews with Scholars of Intellectual History about their New Books
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Mary Edwards, "Sartre’s Existential Psychoanalysis: Knowing Others" (Bloomsbury, 2022)

New Books in Intellectual History

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- Reframing Sartre Beyond the Café Image: While Jean-Paul Sartre is often imagined in Parisian cafés writing plays, Mary Edwards' book explores his deep interest in psychoanalysis and the clinic. Although not a trained analyst, Sartre engaged extensively with questions of understanding others, producing thousands of pages of lesser-known works that Edwards examines.

- Sartre's Early View on the Self: In "The Transcendence of the Ego," Sartre posits that the self or "I" are fictions retroactively imposed by consciousness. While this self-constitution is deceptive, it's also necessary for living. Sartre suggests that having a sense of self is a "healthy delusion" that's adaptive for living in society, though some self-conceptions can be existentially maladaptive if they're too rigid.

- The Look and the Structure of Shame: In "Being and Nothingness," Sartre introduces "the look," where one discovers oneself as a spectacle for others, often in a moment of shame. Shame represents a unique "triangular structure of consciousness" where we become aware of ourselves as objects for others. This reveals that our being exists outside ourselves and we have limited control over how others perceive us.

- Knowing Others Better Than Ourselves: Sartre makes the contentious claim that we are better positioned to know others than ourselves. While we attempt to align our self-image with our ideal self (often through distortion), others observe our actions more objectively. We have a strong motivation to create a likable self-image, which can lead to less reliable self-reflections.

- Rethinking the Problem of Other Minds: Rather than addressing the traditional epistemological problem of other minds directly, Sartre reframes it as an ontological issue. He argues that our most fundamental connection with others is through being, not knowledge. In shame consciousness, the other is built into our experience, showing that while we can't experience another's experience, we can potentially know everything that matters about them.

- Existentialism and Psychoanalysis: Though existential psychoanalysis initially seems impossible (as Sartre rejects the unconscious while psychoanalysis centers it), Edwards shows how the two can be fused. Sartre's concept of "bad faith" can explain maladaptive behaviors without tracing them to an irrational source outside consciousness, offering an alternative to Freudian explanations.

- The Progressive-Regressive Method: Sartre develops a method for understanding people that combines "regressive" aspects (similar to traditional psychoanalysis) with "progressive" aspects (using Marxist techniques to understand socio-material situations). This method attempts to respect both freedom and constraint, using dialectical reasoning to comprehend human history.

- Sartre's Study of Flaubert: In "The Family Idiot," Sartre applies his method to understand Gustave Flaubert. Edwards divides this study into three phases: understanding Flaubert's being (how he was constituted), comprehending his responses to his situation, and knowing his contribution to history through Marxist analysis. Sartre sees Flaubert's decision to become a writer as a response to his passive constitution and his father's humiliating intervention.

- The Role of the Imaginary: In Flaubert's case, Sartre identifies a retreat into the imaginary as a way to escape his situation rather than addressing it. Sartre divides humanity into those who choose to live in the real world versus those who choose an imaginary life. While the imaginary offers escape from oppression, it's ultimately an impoverished existence that prevents authentic self-development.

- Implications for Therapy and Self-Knowledge: Edwards suggests that Sartre's approach has significant implications for psychotherapy. His view that human action is "meaningful all the way down" suggests that self-knowledge comes not from biological causes but from understanding choices. Sartre's existentialism could provide a theoretical basis for integrative psychotherapy and help redress power imbalances between therapists and clients.

- Beyond the Clinic: Sartre's work highlights the role of the family in psychological oppression, the imagination in psychological illnesses, and suggests that we need others to learn about ourselves. Edwards proposes that his method of reading objects in the world as analoga for selves could extend to anything a subject uses to make their mark on the world.
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A daily show for everyone who works a regular job and wants to start an income-earning project on the side. In each episode, listeners will hear a different story of someone who's started a side hustle—along with what went well, how that person overcame challenges, and what happened as a result. The show is written and hosted by Chris Guillebeau, the New York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup, The Happiness of Pursuit, and other books.

Ep. 3249 - Weekend Workshop: From Ski Bum to Six-Figure Teacher

Side Hustle School

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- From Ski Bum to Successful Entrepreneur: Nev Lapwood was living as a "ski bum" in Whistler, British Columbia, snowboarding during the day and working restaurant shifts at night. When he was unexpectedly laid off, he faced the harsh reality of living in an expensive area with limited work opportunities.

- Leveraging Existing Skills: Instead of panicking or immediately looking for another restaurant job, Nev decided to use his snowboarding expertise to offer private lessons. His teaching was highly valued because he combined technical knowledge with genuine passion, helping students see dramatic improvement.

- Recognizing Limitations: Nev soon realized the constraints of in-person instruction: intense competition, limited client capacity, and seasonal restrictions. He was essentially trading time for money, which had real limitations despite being better than restaurant work.

- Digital Transformation: The breakthrough came when Nev realized people worldwide wanted to learn snowboarding, not just tourists visiting Whistler. He created "Snowboard Addiction," a comprehensive series of digital tutorials that could be delivered globally, taking advantage of the growing online education market.

- Impressive Business Growth: The business generated $30,000 in its first year, reaching customers in 20 countries. By becoming more strategic in year two—partnering with affiliates, expanding products, and focusing on marketing—Nev tripled his income to nearly $100,000.

- Global Expansion Strategy: Nev then translated his tutorials into nine different languages, exponentially multiplying his addressable market and reaching snowboarders worldwide in their native languages. Within two years of being laid off, his business was generating $300,000 annually.

- Applying This Model to Other Skills: The story demonstrates how aligning business interests with genuine passion can lead to success. This approach can work for any skill-based activity with global interest—sports instruction, creative techniques, technical skills, or hobbies—by packaging local expertise for worldwide digital distribution.
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Interviews with Scholars of Science, Technology, and Society about their New Books
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Heather Davis, "Plastic Matter" (Duke UP, 2022)

New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

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• The Intimate Relationship with Plastic: Plastics mediate our existence through everything from clothing to sex toys to computer networks, representing one of our most intimate connections to oil. The development of products like plastic milk bags illustrates how industry drives the proliferation of plastic primarily to maximize profits rather than respond to consumer needs.

• Plastic Matter as a Philosophical Concept: "Plastic matter" describes the recursive relationship between our desire for all matter to be pliable to human will and how plastic as a material reinforces this worldview. The emergence of plastic marked the beginning of molecular engineering, allowing scientists to study and manipulate molecular structures, which subsequently changed our relationship to materiality more broadly.

• Plastic Pollution as Colonialism: The ability to pollute land with plastic presupposes that land is infinitely available for use—a condition enabled by settler colonialism and the dispossession of Indigenous peoples. Plastic pollution follows patterns of environmental injustice, where consequences disproportionately fall along class and race lines, extending white supremacist culture through what Davis calls "synthetic universality."

• The Queer Agency of Plastic: Plastics exhibit a strange, unruly nature that defies containment—designed to separate humans from nature and decay, they instead penetrate every aspect of our bodies and environments. The "plastisphere" phenomenon, where plastic pieces in oceans become microbial reefs for novel organisms, exemplifies plastic's unexpected ecological relationships.

• Queer Values for Ecological Thinking: Queer ecological values involve caring not just for direct relations but for other species and entities to which one has no biological connection. Just as LGBTQ+ communities often develop chosen families beyond biological ties, this framework allows for expanding care networks to include non-human entities, recognizing that state mechanisms alone won't address environmental crises.

• The Problem with Apocalyptic Thinking: Apocalyptic narratives about environmental devastation offer a false sense of absolution and avoid responsibility. Rather than a single catastrophic event, environmental degradation happens incrementally, affecting those least responsible first. Apocalyptic thinking allows people to disengage from ethical obligations to make others' lives as livable as possible.

• Petro Time and Temporal Disruption: Plastic creates complex temporal problems—it represents compressed deep time (ancient organisms become oil, then plastic), yet is treated as disposable despite potentially lasting thousands of years. Plastic pollution effects may not manifest for generations, creating asynchronous temporalities that challenge our presentist orientation and legal frameworks for attributing harm.

• Queer Toxicity and Bodily Permeability: Many plastic additives have been known since the 1930s to have "queering" effects on bodies, disrupting endocrine systems. While acknowledging the serious health effects of toxicity, Davis suggests these disruptions reveal the fiction of bodily separation from the environment—demonstrating our fundamental porousness and interconnection with the world.

• Future Work on Petro Time: Davis's next project examines how Western modernity's concepts of time developed through fossil fuels—from standardized time zones necessitated by train travel to electric lighting reorganizing work patterns. The project will explore how to rethink progressive politics and lived experiences in an era where climate change disrupts traditional temporal frameworks.
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Interviews with Scholars of Education about their New Books
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Democracy and Freedom: The Role of Philanthropy and Education

New Books in Education

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The Erosion of Global Democracy: While 70% of the global population lived under democracy a decade ago, today only 40% do. Authoritarians are increasingly coordinated, sharing tactics to stifle dissent, employing sophisticated surveillance technology, and supporting each other through regular meetings in countries like Iran, Russia, and Nicaragua. This represents one of the fastest declines in democracy in recent history.

The Authoritarian Playbook: Dictators are dismantling democratic resistance movements through division, character assassination, political imprisonment, torture, and instilling fear. They have created sophisticated regional coalitions where they share repressive tactics and provide mutual support, making them more coordinated than democratic forces.

The Philanthropy Gap in Democracy Support: Only 1% of global philanthropic funding goes to freedom and democracy initiatives, and of that small portion, just 0.7% reaches authoritarian regimes. This severe underinvestment hampers the ability to counter the rise of autocracy, requiring a reframing of how philanthropy approaches democracy support.

Building Transnational Democratic Coalitions: New collaborative networks like the World Liberty Congress are emerging as global alliances of pro-democracy activists from authoritarian regimes. These coalitions are creating regional representation structures and bringing frontline activist voices directly to global philanthropists, building communities based on trust and shared purpose.

Freedom Technology for Democracy Defense: Activists are developing new technological tools to fight authoritarianism, including decentralized financial technologies like Bitcoin and communication platforms. "Freedom tech activists" are creating collaborative laboratories where activists, philanthropists, and developers work together in hackathon-style events to build and test new tools for resisting dictatorships.

The "Freedom Accelerator" Model: The Reynolds Foundation is developing an innovative approach applying investment banking principles to democracy philanthropy. This model categorizes projects into tiers based on risk: established organizations (Tier 1), emerging collectives and diaspora groups (Tier 2), and high-risk/high-return initiatives like independent journalism in semi-democratic states (Tier 3). This helps philanthropists allocate resources strategically across different risk profiles.

Education as Democracy Infrastructure: Civic education is essential to democracy building. The "Freedom Academies" initiative creates digital, open-source educational content about freedom and democracy, while the Reynolds Fellows program supports promising students from countries like Afghanistan and Ukraine to study at institutions like Cornell, building the next generation of democratic leaders.

Research-to-Practice Pipeline: Effective democracy support requires three research pillars: democratic defense (understanding resilience and resistance strategies), democratic offense (developing new tools and reimagining democratic futures), and meta-structure research (analyzing how various actors can collaborate effectively in the democracy ecosystem).

Open-Source Philanthropy: The Reynolds Foundation is pioneering an open-source approach to philanthropic work in democracy, sharing successes, failures, governance issues, and risk management strategies to help other funders learn and reduce their learning curves. This represents a paradigm shift away from ego-driven philanthropy toward collaborative, purpose-driven funding.

Building Trust as a Strategy: In countering authoritarianism, building trust across diverse stakeholders (activists, academics, philanthropists) is a crucial strategy itself. This trust enables non-violent peace movements and allows for constructive failure within the process of building democratic coalitions, focusing on intermediate achievements even when ultimate goals like regime change aren't immediately achieved.

Reasons for Hope: Despite democratic backsliding, there are reasons for optimism including: the sophisticated, nuanced understanding of young democracy activists; the commitment of philanthropists focused on tackling authoritarianism as a root cause of other social problems; and fact-based, evidence-driven research by scholars supporting democratic movements worldwide.
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Interviews with Sociologists about their New Books
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Adam Jones, "Sites of Genocide" (Routledge, 2022)

New Books in Sociology

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# Comprehensive Summary of "Adam Jones, "Sites of Genocide" (Routledge, 2022)" Interview

Evolution of Genocide Studies as a Field: Adam Jones discusses how genocide studies has evolved from the early 1990s through the 2010s, moving from a period of idealism and institution building to a more reflective and self-analytical approach. He notes that the field has consistently been attentive to issues of power dynamics, colonialism, and the vulnerabilities of indigenous peoples.

Personal Research Methodology and Experiences: Jones describes his approach to genocide studies as involving physical encounters with sites of mass violence. He recounts his powerful experience at Murambi, Rwanda, where exhumed bodies from the 1994 genocide are on display, highlighting how photography serves both as documentation and as an emotional shield when confronting such atrocities.

Anchoring Genocides Concept: Jones introduces the concept of "anchoring genocides" - cases like the Holocaust, Armenian genocide, and Rwandan genocide that receive particular scholarly attention due to their scale and severity. He argues these anchoring cases can serve as starting points for exploring broader regional and historical contexts of violence rather than being viewed in isolation.

Genocide as Process Rather Than Event: A key theme in Jones's work is understanding genocide as an extended process rather than a discrete event, particularly when examining indigenous genocides and colonial violence. This processual view helps researchers understand motivations behind genocidal actions and recognize the structural, systemic features that allow violence to persist over time.

Gender-Based Violence in Genocide: Jones discusses his work on "gendercide" and the importance of analyzing gender dimensions in mass atrocities. He notes progress in addressing gender-based violence in places like India, where demographic ratios have shifted positively, demonstrating that grassroots social changes can create significant impact without military intervention.

Ethical Challenges in Genocide Research: The interview explores the emotional and ethical challenges of studying mass violence, with Jones suggesting genocide scholars have as much in common with physicians as with historians. He emphasizes the importance of finding constructive interventions at local levels to maintain hope while recognizing the limitations of individual scholarly impact.

Indigenous Genocides and Structural Violence: Jones highlights how comparative genocide studies has been attentive to indigenous genocides since Raphael Lemkin's early work. He discusses how these cases often don't resemble the Holocaust or Rwandan genocide but instead manifest as extended processes spanning decades or centuries and requiring different analytical approaches.

Canon Formation in Genocide Studies: The interview addresses how certain genocides become part of the scholarly "canon" while others remain marginalized. Jones mentions how cases like the 1965-66 Indonesian genocide have gradually moved from the periphery toward greater recognition through scholarly efforts like Jeffrey Robinson's work.

Motivations Behind Genocide: Jones suggests that while manifestations of genocide are complex, the underlying motivations are often straightforward human drives like greed, narcissistic ambition, fear, and security concerns - patterns that have remained consistent throughout human history.

Future Directions in Genocide Studies: Jones mentions his current work on a fourth edition of his genocide textbook and plans for a new volume titled "Studying Genocide" that will focus on educational approaches to teaching about mass violence, intended as a practical resource for educators and students.
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Sunday Special: Wicked, Good?

The Daily

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Two-Part Adaptation Proves Successful Despite Initial Skepticism: Universal's decision to split the beloved Broadway musical "Wicked" into two films was initially met with criticism, but the first film proved to be a massive success - financially, culturally, and critically, even earning a Best Picture nomination. "Wicked for Good," the second film, continues the story with Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) branded as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda (Ariana Grande) serving as the propaganda face for the Wizard's administration.

Thinner Plot and Darker Themes in the Second Film: The panel discusses how Act 2 of the musical has always been thinner content-wise compared to Act 1, which presents challenges for a full-length film. Madison, a longtime "Wicked" fan, critiques the second film as feeling stretched too thin with heavy-handed political messaging, while Kyle appreciates the extended time with the characters, particularly highlighting Ariana Grande's dramatic performance as Glinda.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's Chemistry Powers Both Films: The performances and chemistry between the two leads is praised as the emotional core that elevates both movies. Their intimate moments together create the most compelling aspects of "Wicked for Good," with the panelists agreeing that their relationship forms the true love story of the franchise.

Viral Press Tour Phenomenon: The "pink and green blur" of the press tour for the first film became its own cultural touchstone, with Ariana and Cynthia appearing everywhere together in color-coded outfits. Most notably, the phrase "holding space for Defying Gravity" from an awkward interview question became a viral sensation that transcended the film itself and entered the digital lexicon.

A Rare Bright Spot in a Struggling Box Office: In a historically bad year for the movie business, with October 2024 recording the lowest monthly box office on record (excluding pandemic years), "Wicked" represents a rare success story. The panel discusses how young women in particular remain a loyal demographic who will not only see movies they love multiple times but also actively participate in online fandom communities.

Female-Focused Films Fill an Underserved Market: Kyle argues that Hollywood isn't producing enough content for female audiences despite evidence that they're the most reliable demographic when it comes to repeat viewings and creating fan communities. The success of "Wicked" demonstrates the financial potential of targeting this audience, similar to previous hits like "Barbie" and "Titanic."

Deep Online Fandom Culture: Madison explains how "Wicked" has always been an "extremely online" musical, partly because it's a story about being othered that resonates with communities who historically congregate in online spaces. Fans engage by sharing bootleg recordings, analyzing different actresses' vocal performances, and creating compilations of technical mishaps from live shows.
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Every Friday and Sunday, Slate’s popular daily news podcast What Next brings you TBD, a clear-eyed look into the future. From fake news to fake meat, algorithms to augmented reality, Lizzie O’Leary is your guide to the tech industry and the world it’s creating for us to live in.

The Surveillance Interstate

What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future

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- License Plate Tracking and Immigration Enforcement: ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has been using an app called Mobile Companion, made by Motorola, that allows officers to photograph license plates and add them to a massive database. This app connects with personal data from Thomson Reuters, giving ICE access to vehicle ownership, marriage licenses, business information, and other identity information that aids their deportation efforts.

- The Rise of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs): Companies like Motorola and Flock operate thousands of cameras across the US that scan and store license plate data. These systems capture information like license plate numbers, vehicle color, make, model, and identifying features, creating a nationwide surveillance network. Border Patrol also maintains covert cameras throughout the country, creating an extensive surveillance web that most drivers are unaware of.

- Flock's Surveillance Network: Flock, a leading ALPR company, has approximately 80,000 cameras nationwide and sells to both law enforcement and private neighborhoods/HOAs. What makes their system particularly powerful is that all cameras are networked, allowing police in one state to search license plate data captured in another state, often without a warrant.

- ICE's "Side Door" Access: Investigation revealed that ICE was gaining access to Flock's nationwide camera network indirectly by having local police departments run searches for them. This occurred even in states like California and Illinois where sharing ALPR data out of state is illegal, and many police departments were unaware they were breaking the law.

- Beyond Immigration: Expanding Surveillance Applications: The technology is being used beyond its marketed purpose of tracking stolen vehicles or finding missing persons. Reporters found evidence of police using Flock's network to search for a woman who had self-administered an abortion, demonstrating how this technology can be deployed for politically sensitive cases.

- Advanced Data Integration Plans: Flock has been developing a feature called "Nova" that would combine license plate data with hacked personal information from the dark web, creating even more comprehensive tracking capabilities. The company has also integrated natural language processing to allow police to search for people based on descriptions like clothing.

- Growing Resistance and Legal Challenges: Following investigative reporting, some communities are rejecting Flock cameras, with Oakland deciding against adding more. The ACLU and EFF have filed lawsuits arguing that the extensive camera coverage constitutes an unreasonable search under the Fourth Amendment and should require a warrant. Privacy advocates aren't necessarily calling for these systems to be eliminated but for proper legal safeguards around their use.
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Interviews with Political Scientists about their New Books
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

New Books in Political Science

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- The Decline of Global Democracy: Over the last decade, the percentage of the global population living under democracy has decreased from 70% to 40%. Authoritarians are learning from each other, sharing tactics to stifle dissent, developing sophisticated surveillance technology, and coordinating their repressive apparatuses through regular meetings in countries like Iran, Russia, and Nicaragua.

- The Authoritarian Playbook: Dictators use sophisticated methods to dismantle democratic resilience movements both domestically and internationally. They employ division, character destruction, military force, political imprisonment, and torture to instill fear and control populations. The freedom and democracy movement is losing ground at an alarming rate.

- The Need for Philanthropic Coordination: Only 1% of global philanthropy goes to freedom and democracy initiatives, with virtually none reaching authoritarian regimes. The Reynolds Foundation is working to create an "investment banking" approach to philanthropy in this space, categorizing projects into tiers based on risk to help philanthropists allocate resources more effectively through a "Freedom Accelerator."

- Building Transnational Democracy Networks: New collectives like the World Liberty Congress are bringing together pro-democracy activists from authoritarian regimes to create regional coalitions in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Global South. These networks provide local ownership of democracy efforts and connect activists with global philanthropists.

- The Role of Research and Universities: Academic research on democracy is crucial for the movement, particularly in understanding democratic defense/resistance, democratic offense (new tools and strategies), and the meta-structures of democracy support. Universities like Cornell are building datasets on resistance strategies and connecting research to practice.

- Education as a Foundation for Democracy: The Reynolds Foundation is developing "Freedom Academies" - digitally-based, open-source civic education platforms that combine educational capacity building with democracy advocacy. They're also supporting "Reynolds Fellows" - promising leaders from countries like Afghanistan and Ukraine who study at institutions like Cornell and return to lead coalitions in their home countries.

- Freedom Technology Development: There's an urgent need for research on new technologies that can support democracy activists, including financial freedom technologies like Bitcoin and communication tools that help evade surveillance. "Freedom tech activists" are creating laboratories where activists, philanthropists, and coders collaborate to develop and test new tools for fighting dictatorships.

- The Power of Trust and Collaboration: Building trust across disciplinary boundaries is essential to the democracy movement. The Reynolds Foundation emphasizes proximity to grantees, sharing failures openly, and creating spaces where different stakeholders can collaborate. This approach values process alongside outcomes, recognizing that bringing diverse groups together is a success in itself.

- Open-Source Philanthropy: The Reynolds Foundation is developing an open-source database of philanthropic grants, failures, and risk management strategies for freedom and democracy work. This transparency aims to help other philanthropists learn from their experiences and mitigate risks when entering this field.

- Hope for Democracy's Future: Despite current challenges, there are reasons for hope in the next generation of freedom activists who bring sophistication and nuance to their work, in philanthropists who are genuinely committed to democracy, and in researchers who provide evidence-based approaches to supporting democratic movements around the world.
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Russia, behind the headlines as well as in the shadows. This podcast is the audio counterpart to Mark Galeotti's blog of the same name, a place where "one of the most informed and provocative voices on modern Russia", can talk about Russia historical and (more often) contemporary, discuss new books and research, and sometimes talk to other Russia-watchers. If you'd like to keep the podcast coming and generally support my work, or want to ask questions or suggest topics for me to cover, do please contribute to my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/InMoscowsShadows The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is <a href="https://www.conducttr.com/">Conducttr</a>, which provides software for innovative and immersive crisis exercises in hybrid warfare, counter-terrorism, civil affairs and similar situations.

In Moscow's Shadows 225: A Chance for Peace in Ukraine?

In Moscow's Shadows

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• Not a Done Deal: The proposed Ukraine peace plan is currently just a set of outline ideas negotiated between Trump's representative Steve Witkoff and Putin's representative Kirill Dmitriev. It's a starting point for discussion, not a final agreement, and even Trump has acknowledged it's "not his final offer."

• Pragmatism Over Principles: While the proposed terms would effectively reward Putin's aggression and lift jeopardy for war crimes, the practical reality is that Ukraine is slowly losing the war. The peace plan aims to prevent Ukraine from being forced into even worse conditions in the future, even if it means accepting imperfect terms now.

• Ukraine's Military Position: The plan would cap Ukraine's forces at 600,000 troops, which is actually more than the estimated 500,000 Ukraine could realistically sustain long-term, and significantly better than the 85,000 Russia had previously demanded in 2022. Combined with long-range missiles and proper investment, this would make Ukraine a "seriously hard target" for any future Russian aggression.

• Trump's Motivations: The agreement is primarily about Trump fulfilling his campaign promise to end the war quickly, not about Ukrainian interests. If negotiations fail, Trump could withdraw remaining U.S. assistance, including intelligence sharing for air defense and priority access to American-made equipment.

• Ukrainian Sovereignty: Despite harsh concessions, Ukraine would retain 80% of its territory as a genuinely sovereign state with the right to join the EU. The plan includes de facto reparations through redirecting frozen Russian assets toward Ukrainian reconstruction.

• European Role and Ukraine's Veto: The terms require European participation for security guarantees and financial commitments. Ukraine maintains a veto power - if Zelensky ultimately rejects the plan despite potential consequences, it cannot proceed.

• The Decembrist Revolt Parallels: The podcast examines the Decembrist Revolt of 1825, drawing parallels between those liberal aristocratic revolutionaries and modern Russian dissidents. The revolt occurred during succession uncertainty after Tsar Alexander I died, when officers attempted to install Constantine (who had renounced his claim) as a constitutional monarch.

• Historical Patterns in Russian Dissent: Like the Decembrists, modern liberal reformers sometimes struggle to connect with the masses they claim to champion. Alexei Navalny was dangerous to the Kremlin precisely because he broke this pattern by reaching ordinary Russians.

• Middle Class and Civil Society: The Decembrists represented an early form of Russian civil society, albeit limited to the aristocracy. Today's civil society is rooted in a much broader middle class, as seen in the 2011-2012 Bolotnaya protests against Putin's return to the presidency.

• Opportunity as Catalyst: Political change in Russia often requires a specific catalyst or opportunity, as seen with both the Decembrists (succession crisis) and the Prigozhin mutiny. The current absence of opportunity shouldn't be mistaken for permanent Russian acquiescence to Putin's regime.
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The Lawfare Podcast features discussions with experts, policymakers, and opinion leaders at the nexus of national security, law, and policy. On issues from foreign policy, homeland security, intelligence, and cybersecurity to governance and law, we have doubled down on seriousness at a time when others are running away from it. Visit us at www.lawfareblog.com.Support this show <a target="_blank" rel="payment" href="http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare">http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare</a>. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Lawfare Archive: The Saudi-Iran Deal Featuring China

The Lawfare Podcast

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- Restoration of Saudi-Iran Diplomatic Relations: In March 2023, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic relations that had been severed since 2016. This involves reopening embassies and exchanging ambassadors, representing a return to the pre-2016 status quo rather than a dramatic new development. While significant, this restoration of diplomatic channels is more about establishing communication than resolving fundamental differences.

- Historical Context of Saudi-Iran Rivalry: The competition between these regional powers predates Iran's 1979 revolution. Tensions escalated after the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), with Iran increasing both nuclear activities and regional provocations through proxies. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states found themselves caught in escalating cycles of conflict, including attacks on Saudi oil facilities and shipping.

- China's Role as Facilitator: China's involvement in brokering the deal represents a political "target of opportunity" rather than a major diplomatic breakthrough. The rapprochement had been developing for approximately two years through talks hosted in Iraq and Oman before China stepped in. China had natural leverage as Iran's major trading partner and Saudi Arabia's primary oil customer, allowing it to position itself as a facilitator.

- Messaging vs. Substance: The agreement has significant messaging value for all three countries. China gains international prestige as a diplomatic power bringing peace rather than conflict. Iran gets recognition from a regional rival. Saudi Arabia demonstrates it can pursue independent foreign policy not dictated by Washington. However, the substantive content of the agreement remains limited.

- U.S. Policy Implications: The deal doesn't necessarily represent a "loss" for the U.S. as some commentators suggest. The U.S. had actually been encouraging regional de-escalation. However, it reflects Saudi Arabia's desire to demonstrate independence from Washington, particularly after tensions in the U.S.-Saudi relationship over human rights concerns and military sales restrictions.

- Different Diplomatic Tools: China engages the Middle East primarily through economic investment and infrastructure projects, while the U.S. has relied heavily on military presence and arms sales. This creates challenges as Congress has recently restricted weapons sales to Saudi Arabia over human rights concerns, leaving an opening for alternate suppliers like Turkey and China.

- Yemen Conflict Implications: The Saudi-Iran thaw has potentially significant implications for the Yemen conflict, with hopes for a ceasefire. China could play a role in pressing Iran to limit support to the Houthis. However, ending the war remains extremely complicated due to multiple competing factions, a weakened central government, and the risk of terrorist groups exploiting ungoverned spaces.

- The Test of Enforcement: China has thus far enjoyed the positive attention from its diplomatic role without facing the challenges of enforcement. The real test will come when agreements are violated and China must decide whether to pressure parties to comply, potentially damaging its economic relationships.

- Energy Politics: Both China and the U.S. share interests in relatively low global oil prices as major importers, while Saudi Arabia and OPEC want higher prices. The situation is complicated by Russia's interest in higher prices to offset Western sanctions and Saudi Arabia's need for revenue to fund its Vision 2030 economic transformation.

- Future Challenges for China: China faces significant limitations in expanding its Middle East influence, including its treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority, which could become a diplomatic liability. Additionally, Gulf states remain dependent on U.S. military technology and support systems that create long-term relationships beyond initial sales.

- Zero-Sum Thinking vs. Shared Interests: The narrative that China's involvement represents a U.S. "loss" reflects problematic zero-sum thinking. Both powers share interests in regional stability, and having another major power invest resources in maintaining that stability could benefit the U.S. as it focuses on other priorities.
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In The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz walks you through the entire Bible in 365 episodes, providing commentary, reflection, and prayer along the way.
Unlike any other Bible podcast, Ascension’s Bible in a Year podcast follows a reading plan inspired by The Great Adventure Bible Timeline, a ground-breaking approach to understanding salvation history developed by renowned Catholic Bible scholar Jeff Cavins. For each period in the timeline, Jeff will join Fr. Mike for a special episode that will help you understand the context of each reading.
With this podcast, you won’t just read the Bible in a year … you’ll finally understand how all the pieces of the Bible fit together to tell an amazing story that continues in your life today!
Listen and…
Read the ENTIRE Bible
Feel more confident about your understanding of Scripture
Experience the transformative power of God’s Word in your daily life
Start seeing the world through the lens of Scripture
Each 20-25 minute episode includes:
Two to three scripture readings
A reflection from Fr. Mike Schmitz
A guided prayer to help you hear God’s voice in his Word
The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.


Day 327: Origin of the Diaconate (2025)

The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

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- Cultural Division in the Early Church: Acts 6 reveals the first signs of cultural division in the early Church, with Greek-speaking Jewish Christians (Hellenists) complaining that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food compared to Hebrew-speaking Jewish Christians. This demonstrates that even in the early chapters of the Church's existence, human failings were present despite the Holy Spirit's guidance.

- Origin of the Diaconate: To address the issue of widows being neglected, the apostles ordained seven men to serve, creating the role of deacons (from Greek "diakonoi" meaning "those who serve"). These men were set apart through prayer and the laying on of hands, establishing a formal ordination process. Stephen, one of these first deacons, went beyond serving tables to perform "great wonders and signs," demonstrating that God's plans for these servants extended beyond their initial assignment.

- Paul's Anguish for Unbelieving Jews: In Romans 9, Paul expresses deep sorrow and "unceasing anguish" for his fellow Jews who haven't accepted Jesus as the Messiah. His pain is so great that he states he could wish himself "accursed and cut off from Christ" if it meant his kinsmen would come to know Jesus. This reflects the heartbreak many believers feel when loved ones reject faith in Christ.

- The Mystery of Faith and Hardened Hearts: Paul discusses the mystery of why some people accept the gospel while others reject it, using the example of Pharaoh whose heart was hardened. He emphasizes that salvation depends not on "man's will or exertion, but upon God's mercy." This represents the complex theological concept of God's sovereignty and human free will in matters of faith.

- Salvation Through Confessing and Believing: Romans 10:9 offers a clear pathway to salvation: "If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." This formulation emphasizes both external profession and internal conviction as necessary components of saving faith.

- The Power of Hearing God's Word: Paul emphasizes in Romans 10:14-17 that faith comes from hearing the word of Christ preached. Fr. Mike connects this to the power of the Bible in a Year podcast, noting that many listeners have experienced something uniquely impactful about hearing Scripture proclaimed aloud rather than simply reading it silently.
</answer>

Interviews with Anthropologists about their New Books
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

Sarah Hoiland, "Righteous Sisterhood: The Politics and Power of an All-Women's Motorcycle Club" (Temple UP, 2025)

New Books in Anthropology

<answer>
- The Origins of Women's Motorcycle Clubs: Dr. Sarah Hoiland's ethnography reveals that women have been part of motorcycle culture since the 1940s, challenging the dominant narrative that motorcycle clubs were exclusively male domains. Archival research from Hollister (site of the famous 1947 motorcycle rally) uncovered photos of women wearing patched jackets from this era, showing they were active participants rather than just passengers or "side pieces."

- Righteous Sisterhood Defined: Hoiland coined the term "righteous sister" to describe women who identify as bikers and prefer to ride with other women. The term "righteous" deliberately reclaims language from male motorcycle club culture (where it described exceptional male members) and applies it to women who had previously been unacknowledged in this world.

- Structural Parallels and Differences: Women's motorcycle clubs like Righteous Sisterhood MC mirror men's clubs in their hierarchical structure, patch system, and initiation processes. However, Hoiland found that RSMC had even longer initiation periods (3-5 years) than their male counterparts, partly to establish legitimacy in a male-dominated space.

- Mentorship vs. Hazing: While men's clubs often treat prospects as "grunt workers," RSMC emphasized mentorship and community. New members were called "sister" almost immediately, creating a sense of belonging and support that differed significantly from the male clubs' approach.

- The Power of Patches: Motorcycle club patches function like flags of a nation-state, symbolizing membership and requiring strict protocols for handling and protection. Members view their patches as sacred objects that represent their identity and place within the motorcycle world.

- Membership Motivations: Women who join RSMC are often middle-aged riders seeking community and purpose. Unlike male clubs, philanthropy is central to RSMC's identity, with fundraising activities focused on issues like domestic violence and breast cancer awareness. The club provides members with a powerful sisterhood network of support.

- Racial and Sexual Diversity Challenges: Both men's and women's motorcycle clubs remain highly racially segregated. Issues of race and sexuality were considered "club business" in RSMC - topics off-limits to discussion except among the highest leadership. The club faced pressure to conform to dominant motorcycle culture norms to maintain respect in this male-dominated world.

- Recognition of Excellence: RSMC has a formal award structure where members vote for "Sister of the Year," recognizing women who exemplify the club's values. Excellence can be demonstrated through various means - from specialized skills to caring for other sisters - creating multiple paths to recognition within the community.

- Membership Termination: Exile from the club is considered a "civic death," requiring all members to sever all communication with the expelled individual. This creates profound ruptures not just between club sisters but extending to family relationships developed through the club.

- Democracy and Power Dynamics: While RSMC operates with democratic principles like elected leadership and lengthy business meetings open to all members, challenges to leadership (described as "coups") can result in exile, revealing tensions between democratic ideals and leadership authority.
</answer>

The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

NPR News: 11-23-2025 6AM EST

NPR News Now

<answer>
Trump Ukraine Peace Plan Controversy: Bipartisan lawmakers are pushing back against President Trump's approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Senators claim Secretary of State Marco Rubio told them the peace plan being pushed on Kyiv is a "Russian wish list" rather than an official U.S. proposal. The State Department has denied this characterization, with Rubio suggesting the senators were mistaken.

Gaza Airstrikes Continue Despite Ceasefire: Israel has launched new airstrikes across Gaza, killing at least 24 people and injuring more than 80 others according to Palestinian health officials. Both Israel and Hamas are accusing each other of ceasefire violations, though the agreement is technically still holding in its second month. Israel claims it targeted Hamas militants who crossed into Israeli-controlled territory.

Arizona "Fake Electors" Case Continues: Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays will continue pursuing a case against 11 Republican electors and seven other defendants accused of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. This comes after a Maricopa County Superior Court judge quashed the original grand jury indictment, stating prosecutors failed to provide jurors with the text of an 1887 law relevant to the case.

Indiana's New Higher Education Requirements: Public colleges and universities in Indiana will soon be required to demonstrate how new degree programs promote "American values." This requirement is part of a new higher education law taking effect next year, which asks institutions to show how programs "cultivate civic responsibility and commitment to the core values of American society."

Trump's Plan to End Somali TPS Protections: President Trump announced he plans to strip Somali residents in Minnesota of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which shields certain immigrants from deportation. State leaders have called the move divisive, noting that only about 700 Somalis nationwide are currently covered by TPS, meaning most Somali residents in Minnesota would not be affected.
</answer>

(Apple's Best of 2018) In-depth conversations with people at the top of their game. Jordan Harbinger unpacks guests' wisdom into practical nuggets you can use to impact your work, life, and relationships. Learn from leaders (Ray Dalio, Simon Sinek, Mark Cuban), entertainers (Moby, Tip "T.I." Harris, Dennis Quaid), scientists (Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye), athletes (Kobe Bryant, Dennis Rodman, Tony Hawk) and an eclectic array of fascinating minds, from art forgers and arms traffickers to spies and psychologists.

1245: Black Friday | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

<answer>
- The Origins of Black Friday: The term "Black Friday" originated from an 1869 gold market crash and was later used by Philadelphia police in the 1950s to describe post-Thanksgiving chaos when shoppers flooded the city. It wasn't until the 1980s that retailers adopted the term to represent the day they moved from financial losses ("red") to profits ("black"). Today, Black Friday has expanded beyond a single day to become a weeks-long shopping period that includes Cyber Monday.

- Psychology Behind the Shopping Frenzy: Our brains are wired to chase scarcity, with limited-time offers triggering the same reward circuits as survival instincts. When shoppers score a deal, dopamine is released, creating the same chemical reaction involved in gambling or addiction. Studies show men and women approach Black Friday differently: men with strong self-control are less affected by the chaos, while for women, "public self-consciousness" (concern about how others perceive them) is a stronger predictor of shopping behavior.

- The Dark Side of Door-Busting Deals: Black Friday has led to numerous tragedies, including a 2008 incident where a Walmart employee was trampled to death by shoppers, and multiple cases of violence, including shootings over toys. "Consumer misbehavior" ranges from rude behavior to fights, theft, and even abandoning children in cars to grab deals. The shopping environment is intentionally designed to create urgency and trigger impulsive purchases.

- Fake Discounts and Pricing Illusions: Many Black Friday deals are illusions, with retailers quietly raising prices weeks before the event and then "discounting" them to create the appearance of massive savings. Price-tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel can reveal the true history of prices on Amazon, showing that many "deals" are just clever marketing. The crossed-out original prices, limited quantity warnings, and countdown timers are all engineered to create a false sense of urgency.

- Tiered Manufacturing Scams: Companies create cheaper versions of products specifically for Black Friday sales, often with plastic components instead of metal, lower-quality electronics, or inferior materials. These "exclusive models" may look identical to standard versions but have slight variations in model numbers to prevent price matching. This practice is common with electronics, appliances, plumbing fixtures, and even lawn equipment.

- Digital Dangers and Scams: Scammers capitalize on Black Friday urgency with sophisticated fake websites that mimic legitimate retailers by using similar URLs (like replacing the "M" in Microsoft with "rn"). Phishing emails claiming to track shipments can install malware when links are clicked. Calendar invites with fake transaction notifications are another new tactic to bypass spam filters and trick shoppers into clicking malicious links.

- Impact on Retail Workers: For the 4+ million Americans working in retail (earning an average of $16/hour), Black Friday means high stress, understaffing, and dealing with aggressive customers. Many stores designate this as a "blackout day," meaning employees can't request time off and may face termination if they call in sick. Workers often cope by taking extra breaks or focusing on manageable tasks to survive the chaos.

- Alternatives to Black Friday Madness: Some companies like Cards Against Humanity protest consumer culture with anti-Black Friday stunts, such as raising prices and donating profits to charity or selling "nothing" for $5 (which 30,000 people bought). "Buy Nothing Day" encourages people to pause spending and reflect on consumption habits, while "Buy Nothing" groups facilitate community swapping of goods rather than purchasing new items.

- International Spread: Black Friday has expanded globally to more than half the world's countries, including throughout Europe, Latin America, parts of Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand. In some regions, it's called "White Friday" or "Blessed Friday," but the consumer frenzy remains the same regardless of the name.

- Smart Shopping Strategies: To shop safely, stick to reputable retailers, look for HTTPS and lock icons in browser address bars, use credit cards instead of debit for better fraud protection, and focus on genuinely needed items. Compare model numbers between stores to detect tiered products, check price histories before buying, and don't rush purchases due to artificial urgency.
</answer>

V8 Sleuth Aaron Noonan chats one-on-one with icons of Australian motorsport. Along with the big wins and the big moments, Noonz digs a step deeper and unearths a few forgotten tales and funny stories from their life in racing.

V8SP: The Undercut – Grand Final Time!

The V8 Sleuth Podcast

<answer>
- Finals Format Sparks Intense Competition: The Supercars Finals format has created unprecedented excitement heading into the Adelaide Grand Final. The current system has kept more drivers relevant longer, with four contenders still able to win the championship, versus the old points system where Broc Feeney would have an insurmountable 286-point lead. Despite some criticism, the finals format aligns Supercars with other Australian sports and has intensified pressure, leading to more compelling storylines.

- Matt Payne's Championship-Ending Mistake: At Sandown, Matt Payne was battling Cam Waters when a collision resulted in damage that knocked him out of championship contention. While his racing instinct is commendable, he didn't need to make that pass to maintain his position in the finals. Despite this setback, Payne has had an impressive season with multiple race victories and a Bathurst win.

- Grove Racing's Team Ethics: The team made the right decision not to ask Kai Allen to sacrifice his position to help teammate Matt Payne's championship hopes after Payne's incident. While it might have provided short-term championship benefits, it would have created lasting damage to team culture and driver trust. This principled approach showcases Grove Racing's commitment to building a sustainable team environment.

- Hard Racing vs. Penalties: The incidents involving Cam Waters with Matt Payne and Will Brown raised questions about officiating standards. The panel suggested the rules need tweaking to better distinguish between racing incidents and deliberate fouls, particularly when contact is minimal or a car was going off track regardless of contact. The consensus was that hard racing should be encouraged, especially during finals.

- Tickford Sale Signals Potential Private Equity Era: The announcement that Tickford Racing will have a new majority shareholder could mark the beginning of a new private equity era in Supercars team ownership. This development might provide struggling teams with opportunities for investment and growth, potentially changing the landscape from the previous eras of mechanic-turned-owners and international racing organizations.

- Sandown Format Needs Revision: The current Sandown "500" format doesn't live up to its name or tradition. The panel suggested the event should either revert to its traditional endurance format with two drivers per car or be officially renamed and restructured as the "Semi Final" with shorter races to generate more action and intensity befitting its position in the championship.

- Garth Tander's Motorsport Legacy: With the announcement of Garth Tander's retirement from driving, the panel reflected on his impressive career: six Bathurst 1000 wins (five in Holdens), a Supercars championship, 58 race wins (fifth all-time), and his reputation as an intense, professional racer with exceptional race craft. His ability to win three Bathursts after being removed from Gary Rogers Motorsport demonstrates remarkable resilience.

- Adelaide's Rich Motorsport History: The discussion highlighted Adelaide's significance in Australian motorsport, from its Formula 1 Grand Prix days (1985-1995) with touring car support races to its current role as the Supercars championship finale. The challenging street circuit features iconic corners like Turn 8 and the Senna Chicane, which have created memorable moments throughout decades of racing.

- International Flavor in Adelaide: NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric and Xfinity Series champion Jesse Love will compete as wildcards at Adelaide. While their presence adds international interest, the panel questioned Cindric's preparation at Tailem Bend (which lacks the concrete walls and kerbs that make Adelaide challenging) and noted that Love will face significant challenges adjusting to the Supercars and street circuit.

- The Four Championship Contenders: Heading into Adelaide, the championship battle features Broc Feeney (who's dominated the season with 13 wins and 16 poles), Chaz Mostert (who's shown excellent form at the right time with three wins in the finals), Will Brown (whose poor qualifying has been offset by excellent race pace), and rookie Kai Allen (the fairy tale contender who has consistently maximized opportunities). The panel predicted significant team interference as these four battle for the title, with 300 points on the line across three races.
</answer>

Interviews with Scholars of Popular Culture about their New Books
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/popular-culture

Adrienne Domasin ed., "The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: The Last of Us" (Playstory Press, 2025)

New Books in Popular Culture

<answer>
• Post-Apocalyptic Utopia: From a Marxist perspective, The Last of Us represents a kind of utopia where capitalism has collapsed, allowing for new social structures to emerge. The fictional community of Jackson is explicitly described as a commune with democratic elections and communal governance, demonstrating how ordinary people might restructure society more equitably after a collapse.

• Psychological Themes: The book explores how trauma, grief, morality, survival, and revenge shape the characters in The Last of Us franchise. These psychological elements drive character development and narrative arcs across both games and the HBO adaptation, creating emotionally resonant storytelling.

• Media Adaptation Challenges: Different media forms (games vs. television) have inherent technological constraints and affordances. The HBO adaptation necessarily makes changes due to the differing narrative requirements of television versus interactive gameplay. Casting decisions were influenced by HBO's production model, using star vehicles like Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey to appeal to existing audiences.

• Joel's Hospital Decision: A pivotal moment in the franchise occurs when Joel saves Ellie's life at the hospital instead of allowing doctors to potentially develop a cure. This decision, driven by Joel's trauma and grief over losing his daughter Sarah, creates the central conflict for the entire franchise. It demonstrates how past trauma shapes present choices and challenges traditional moral frameworks.

• Perspective Shifts in Game Design: The Last of Us Part II forces players to experience multiple perspectives, particularly by making them play as Abby after she kills Joel. This design choice deliberately provokes rage and discomfort before gradually building understanding, highlighting how concepts of right and wrong depend on perspective and identification with characters.

• Altered Morality in a Fallen World: The book argues that conventional moral frameworks don't apply in The Last of Us world where survival requires previously unthinkable actions. In a world where 60% of the population has been killed by the Cordyceps virus, protection of loved ones takes precedence over abstract ethical principles.

• Themes of Vulnerability and Connection: The Last of Us ultimately conveys that healing from trauma requires allowing oneself to be vulnerable and to accept love. The core message is that survival depends not just on individual resilience but on meaningful connections with others in a broken world.
</answer>

WSJ’s Take On the Week brings you the insights and analysis you need to get a leg up on the business and financial week to come. In less than 20 minutes, we cut through the noise to explain the major business and financial news that may move markets, all so you can make smarter investing decisions and take on the week with confidence. Episodes drop Sundays. Hosted by Dion Rabouin.

Is It Time to Diversify Away From U.S. Stocks Into Global Markets?

WSJ's Take On the Week

<answer>
AI Bubble or Virtuous Cycle?: Nvidia's recent earnings report was highly anticipated amid concerns about a potential AI bubble. CEO Jensen Huang addressed these concerns directly, stating that from Nvidia's perspective, there is no bubble but rather a "virtuous cycle of AI." The report helped restore some investor faith, but the impact of AI extends beyond tech companies to the broader economy and market.

The Wealth Effect and K-Shaped Economy: The AI-driven stock market rally has created a wealth effect, where affluent Americans see their portfolios rising and spend more as a result. However, this experience is not universal, creating a K-shaped economy where higher-income consumers drive spending while middle and working-class Americans face different economic realities. This division is becoming apparent in retail data, with Walmart noting increased market share as consumers shift where they shop.

Holiday Season as Economic Indicator: The upcoming Black Friday and holiday shopping season will be a crucial indicator of consumer spending health across different income levels. Retail earnings from companies like Target, Walmart, Kohl's, and Abercrombie & Fitch will provide important insights into consumer confidence and spending patterns.

Global Diversification as a Long-Term Strategy: Luca Paolini, Chief Strategist at Pictet Asset Management, advises U.S. investors to diversify globally for the long term. This recommendation is based on risk management (U.S. stocks now comprise 64-65% of the MSCI All Country index) and the view that U.S. economic outperformance won't continue at the same pace as in the past decade.

The "Great Convergence" Theory: Pictet describes a "great convergence" occurring between global markets in terms of economic growth, policy, valuation, and asset performance. Germany is shifting from fiscal austerity to expansion, China is stabilizing after difficult years, and Japan is becoming more business-friendly, suggesting that non-U.S. economies may narrow the growth gap with the U.S.

Dollar Weakness as a Driver for International Returns: A key component of the international investment thesis is the expected weakening of the U.S. dollar, particularly if the U.S. continues with fiscal expansion and the Fed cuts rates. A weaker dollar automatically increases the value of foreign earnings and stock prices for U.S. investors. Paolini believes this dollar weakness will be a secular trend, especially benefiting emerging markets and Japan.

Japan as an Attractive Market: Japan stands out as particularly promising for U.S. investors due to its undervalued currency, the Bank of Japan's interest rate hikes, the end of deflation, and pro-business reforms. Much of the expected outperformance would come from yen appreciation against the dollar.

Emerging Markets Poised for Growth: Emerging markets are becoming "safer bets" than in the 1990s, with superior growth prospects and better-controlled inflation. Paolini recommends a selective approach, highlighting India as having massive potential from a top-down perspective, while China requires more of a bottom-up analysis. Korea and Taiwan should benefit from their tech orientation, while Brazil and Latin America represent potential turnaround stories.

Diversifying the AI Bet: Investing internationally doesn't mean going "short AI" - rather, it means diversifying the type of AI exposure in a portfolio. As AI matures, its benefits will spread beyond the top U.S. tech companies to industrials, utilities, materials, and international tech firms, including Chinese companies. Geographic diversification allows investors to capture AI's transformative benefits across different markets and sectors.
</answer>

Sound like a tech pro, even if you’re not! Award-winning popular host Kim Komando is your secret weapon.

Kim is in a class all her own. Her widely successful radio show is heard on over 500 stations in the United States and internationally in 175 different countries. Kim has millions of fans who love her down-to-earth, deeply relatable, and easy-to-understand way of talking about consumer tech.

Every episode is loaded with the scoop about the latest gadgets, online security, social media trends, and digital privacy. Kim makes it all entertaining and fun. With a mix of important news, practical advice, and compelling conversations, you can make informed decisions and stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the tech world. 

In the Kim Komando Daily Tech Update Podcast, every episode is loaded with ways to better your tech life. New Kim Komando Daily Tech Update Podcast episodes drop every day, Monday through Sunday.

If you want Kim’s daily longer podcasts, search for Kim Komando Today in your favorite podcast player. 

To learn more about Kim, the things she mentions, or submit a topic or question, drop by www.Komando.com

What AI bubble?

Kim Komando Daily Tech Update

<answer>
- AI Boom, Not Bust: Contrary to doom and gloomers forecasting the end of an "AI bubble," the reality is that AI is booming. Evidence of this includes Nvidia's recent profits being up 65% despite predictions of a downturn. This AI boom is supporting numerous industries, including building trades for data centers and thousands of other related sectors.

- Meta's Profitable Scam Problem: Documents uncovered by Reuters reveal that Meta (Facebook and Instagram) earned approximately 10% of its total 2024 revenue—$16 billion—from scam ads and banned goods. The company knowingly promotes about 15 billion ads showing scam signs every day, with just four ad campaigns that were eventually removed generating $67 million in monthly revenue.

- Domestic Robots Coming Soon: After years of promises, human-shaped domestic helper robots are finally arriving on the market. A company called 1X has introduced "Neo," a 5'6" domestic robot priced at $20,000 that can perform basic household tasks like taking out trash. However, with only four hours of battery life, its utility may be limited.

- Cloud Computing Advancements: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) offers businesses a platform that provides better performance, lower costs, and faster operations compared to other cloud providers. It's positioned as the cloud built specifically for AI and other demanding workloads.

- AI Business Solutions: NetSuite by Oracle is highlighted as a comprehensive AI cloud ERP system that integrates various business functions into a single platform. This integration allows AI to work with actual business data rather than guesses, enabling more intelligent automation and decision-making.
</answer>

Bloomberg News Now is a comprehensive audio report on today's top stories. Listen for the latest news, whenever you want it, covering global business stories around the world.

Ukraine-Russia Talks Today, Allies Seek NATO-like Shield, More

Bloomberg News Now

<answer>
- Ukraine-Russia Peace Negotiations: U.S. officials are meeting in Switzerland to discuss a potential peace plan to end the Ukraine-Russia war. The plan is controversial, with some describing it as "essentially the wish list of the Russians." It would require Ukraine to give up territory, limit its military size, and forgo NATO membership. President Trump has indicated this is not a final offer.

- European Leaders' Alternative Proposal: French President Emmanuel Macron and other European allies are suggesting a NATO-like shield from the U.S. for Ukraine. This would provide security guarantees and proposes using frozen Russian assets to reconstruct Ukraine and provide compensation.

- UN Climate Conference Disappointment: The UN climate conference in Brazil ended without agreements on emission cuts or fossil fuel phaseouts. A Greenpeace representative noted the conference "started with a bang, but ended with a whimper of disappointment." About 200 nations attended, though the U.S. was absent.

- Port Operations and Container Ship Fire: The nation's busiest seaport has resumed operations following a container ship fire. The vessel "One Henry Hudson" was towed from the port and anchored outside the breakwater after temporarily halting operations at four of seven container terminals.

- Border Patrol Surveillance Program: An AP investigation revealed that Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers through a secretive program that identifies and detains people based on "suspicious" travel patterns. The system uses license plate scanning cameras and algorithms to flag vehicles based on their routes and destinations.

- Holiday Economic Trends: Holiday shopping costs are rising, with 78% of holiday staples costing more than last year, partly due to tariffs. Despite this, holiday spending is expected to exceed $1 trillion for the first time, with shoppers spending an average of $890 per person. Interestingly, Thanksgiving dinner costs have decreased 2-3%, mainly due to lower frozen turkey prices.

- Rising Unemployment Among College Graduates: A record 25% of unemployed U.S. adults now hold college degrees, according to the Labor Department. The unemployment rate for Bachelor's degree holders rose to 2.8% in September, which is 0.5% higher than the previous year. This trend reflects recent graduates struggling to find full-time work and corporate layoffs affecting educated white-collar workers.
</answer>

Bloomberg Daybreak delivers today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. Get informed from Bloomberg's 2,700 journalists and analysts in 120 countries.

The CEO Radar: AI Is Rising on CEO Agendas (Sponsored Content)

Bloomberg Daybreak: Europe Edition

<answer>
- Tariffs Remain Top Topic in Earnings Calls: While tariffs continue to dominate discussions during Q3 earnings calls, the conversation has shifted from policy speculation to strategic response. CEOs and analysts now accept that substantial tariffs are likely here to stay, especially between the US and China, and are focusing on navigating this new reality.

- AI Implementation Across Companies: Research reveals a bell curve in AI adoption among companies: about 5% of CEOs are at the cutting edge, embedding AI into core operations and creating new business models; 30-40% are progressing well; and around 60% are struggling to move beyond the pilot phase. The most significant challenges aren't technological but organizational—changing mindsets and embedding AI into processes.

- Organizational Barriers to AI Implementation: Even when executive leadership is aligned on AI strategy, practical implementation often faces challenges at lower organizational levels. HR departments struggle with creating new job descriptions, titles, and hiring criteria for roles that didn't previously exist, such as agentic engineers.

- Economic Impact of AI Adoption: Companies successfully implementing AI are demonstrating measurable growth advantages. Some CEOs are beginning to discuss these successes publicly during earnings calls, with examples including a leading insurer improving commercial underwriting speed, a mining company automating operations in Western Australia, and L'Oréal launching its "Beauty Genius" platform.

- AI's Effect on Employment: In the short term, AI is primarily viewed as a growth driver rather than a job eliminator. Most current implementations focus on business expansion rather than workforce reduction. However, examples like autonomous mining operations suggest some displacement is occurring, and the massive capital investment in AI infrastructure indicates future labor implications.

- Current State of Agentic AI: While there's significant interest in fully autonomous AI agents, practical implementation remains limited. Current deployments focus on specific workflows with humans still involved in decision-making. The challenge is accuracy—with each step in an AI process typically achieving 80-90% accuracy, stringing multiple steps together quickly reduces overall reliability below acceptable levels.

- AI Investment Strategies: Many companies are making suboptimal AI investments—either focusing too narrowly on pilots without scaling plans, or implementing basic productivity tools without pursuing true competitive advantages. The most successful companies are reshaping entire workflows or developing new business models. When evaluating AI pilots, companies often either abandon promising projects too quickly or continue investing in non-critical applications that don't address business bottlenecks.

- Critical CEO Attributes in Today's Environment: Resilience has become an essential leadership quality in the current business climate. The best CEOs combine this resilience with a willingness to ask fundamental questions about value creation and customer needs, even when those questions might seem basic. The disruptions of recent years have required leaders to develop new capabilities for navigating uncertainty.
</answer>

What The World Is Saying Today

Mary Edwards, "Sartre’s Existential Psychoanalysis: Knowing Others" (Bloomsbury, 2022)

Ep. 3249 - Weekend Workshop: From Ski Bum to Six-Figure Teacher

Heather Davis, "Plastic Matter" (Duke UP, 2022)

Democracy and Freedom: The Role of Philanthropy and Education

Adam Jones, "Sites of Genocide" (Routledge, 2022)

Sunday Special: Wicked, Good?

The Surveillance Interstate

Democracy and Freedom: The Role of Philanthropy and Education

In Moscow's Shadows 225: A Chance for Peace in Ukraine?

Lawfare Archive: The Saudi-Iran Deal Featuring China

Day 327: Origin of the Diaconate (2025)

Sarah Hoiland, "Righteous Sisterhood: The Politics and Power of an All-Women's Motorcycle Club" (Temple UP, 2025)

NPR News: 11-23-2025 6AM EST

1245: Black Friday | Skeptical Sunday

V8SP: The Undercut – Grand Final Time!

Adrienne Domasin ed., "The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: The Last of Us" (Playstory Press, 2025)

Is It Time to Diversify Away From U.S. Stocks Into Global Markets?

What AI bubble?

Ukraine-Russia Talks Today, Allies Seek NATO-like Shield, More

The CEO Radar: AI Is Rising on CEO Agendas (Sponsored Content)