Pragmatism Over Moralism

The lads pick up where they left off in last week's episode with bias, plus a break down a chaotic global moment. Jacob and Marko unpack Mark Carney’s Davos speech and Canada’s sudden geopolitical assertiveness, arguing it marks a clean break from the rules-based order. They connect Canada’s stance to Trump’s tariffs, U.S. domestic unrest, China’s internal turmoil, and mounting Middle East tensions—framing the week as evidence that power politics, not norms, now define the global system

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction and Episode Overview

(01:08) - Current Global Events and Updates

(01:55) - Mark Carney's Geopolitical Moves

(03:09) - Analysis of Carney's Speech at Davos

(03:58) - Comparative Historical Speeches

(04:57) - Canada's Strategic Position and Response

(07:09) - Realpolitik and Global Power Dynamics

(08:56) - Implications for Future Geopolitical Strategies

(16:22) - The Role of Morality in International Relations

(29:10) - Underdogs and National Struggles

(34:23) - Pragmatic Foreign Policy Approaches

(35:23) - The Dangers of Morality in Foreign Policy

(36:17) - Critique of Mark Carney's Speech

(38:45) - Canada's Bold Moves Against Trump

(49:29) - The Iran Situation and Oil Prices

(53:33) - Domestic Issues: Minnesota and ICE

(01:07:14) - Grizzly History and Modern Comparisons

(01:07:50) - Personal Experiences and Political Commentary

(01:09:04) - Republican Backlash and Political Dynamics

(01:15:25) - Midwest Musings and Listener Feedback

(01:19:32) - China's Internal Dynamics and Geopolitical Risks

(01:26:05) - Taiwan Tensions and Future Predictions

(01:33:34) - Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

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Referenced in the Show:

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Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

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Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

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Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future.

Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic

Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/

Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papic

Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro