Is the U.S. always ripping itself apart, or does difficulty handling an adversary like China lead us to redirect the energy inward? 20+ years experience taught me (a) infighting is sign of failure. Worse, (b) Chinese know this and use it to benchmark their success.

Those hoping this administration falls flat are missing the point. The real takeaway of Musk’s retreat and Trump’s ‘chickening out’ isn’t their failure. It’s that the problems they’re up against are way bigger than anyone dares admit. That should worry all of us.

🚨 Secretary Hegseth just delivered a major speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue. He clearly outlined what President Trump's common sense, Peace Through Strength approach means for U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific. Here are some key quotes: 🧵(1/23)

Many loopholes for landlords in rent control jurisdictions: - Convert to Airbnb, hotel - Renovate and re-rent (‘reno-viction’) - Remove from market (CA Ellis act) - Let property go to ruin, tear it down and rebuild

The collapse of Puerto Rico’s Arecibo telescope in 2020 came at an opportune moment for China. That year, China’s FAST (in Guizhou) entered full operation making it the world’s most powerful radio telescope. China had used FAST to support planning for its Mars mission,

Chinese metal producers supposedly operate on thin margins. Market swings of 100% for raw material (!) yet prices to foreign buyers are constant. Suggests healthy margins when spot prices are low.

Chinese factory had a ‘party room,’ and when I first saw the sign on the door, I was confused. But then I realized - oh! - it’s a room for hosting Communist Party officials. This headline ⬇️ reminded me of that episode. Harvard as a ‘party school’ - right!

In the 1920s, Japan sold weapons to various warlord factions leading the Chinese to kill one another and thus weaken the old empire. China is surely doing similar by supplying equipment to both Russia and Ukraine.

Russia has been buying lots and lots of CNC machines from China. These are machines that can make metal and plastic parts in low volume and with great precisions. During the Cold War, tanks were centrally produced, and when they broke down, they had to be sent back to where they

England went to war with China over tea in the 19th century.

Paskal: China Reviving World War II Airfield in America's Backyard Cleo Paskal

Consistency is the hobgoblin of taco eaters. Lack of nuance is no virtue in trade policy. It’s a liability.

Thank you for choo-choo-choosing Amtrak.

Bill Gates no longer talks about taxing robots, because what’s a robot?

There’s the “Oscar curse” and the “Nobel curse.” I wonder which does more damage to career momentum.

AI = Actually Indians