Geopolitical Cousins

• Starting Five: US Presidents

  Jacob and Marko finally caved to the mob on X and did what everyone (one guy who asked nicely) keeps yelling at them to do - rank the top five geopolitical U.S. presidents and the bottom five disasters. Not the best presidents. Not the most “inspirational.” The most geopolitically competent… and the ones who should never have been allowed within 500 feet of foreign policy.It gets spicy. Lincoln shows up with ruthless brilliance, Polk rolls in like the ultimate expansionist psychopath, Teddy swings a big stick (and probably breaks a few ribs), and then we get to the bottom five - where the real chaos lives.Why do some leaders bend history while others trip over it? And what happens when the world’s biggest superpower forgets the stakes?--Timestamps:(00:00) - Best Intro Ever(00:42) - Listener Reactions and Content Expectations(01:43) - Current Events and Personal Opinions(02:37) - Coffee Rant and Personal Preferences(05:07) - Geopolitical Anecdotes and Personal Stories(09:58) - Top Five Geopolitical US Presidents(14:10) - Debating Presidential Competence(46:05) - Reagan's Foreign Policy and the Gulf War(46:56) - George HW Bush's Strategic Decisions(48:29) - Bush's Approach to China and Tiananmen Square(49:54) - Theodore Roosevelt's Foreign Policy Legacy(50:58) - Comparing Presidential Foreign Policies(54:50) - Honorable Mentions and Controversial Picks(01:10:17) - Worst Foreign Policy Presidents(01:20:14) - LBJ's Economic and War Policies((01:21:14 George W. Bush's Foreign Policy Failures(01:22:12) - The Impact of Al-Qaeda and the War on Terror(01:26:07) - Truman's Geopolitical Blunders(01:32:26) - Bill Clinton's Missed Opportunities(01:39:36) - Eisenhower's Domino Theory and CIA Operations(01:48:39) - Biden's Foreign Policy Critique(01:59:18) - Final Thoughts and Reflections--Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com --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.comJacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShapJacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe --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:

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• Communist Reagan

  Power tilts, voter moods, and economic pressures collide as shifting swing-state margins, rising price levels, and clashing visions of populism redefine the boundaries of U.S. politics. Marko Papic and Jacob Shapiro traces how competing narratives on inflation, governance, and national identity shape the struggles within both major parties, while global tensions - from tariff battles to uneasy U.S.-China rapprochement - raise the stakes. At its core lies a question: can the political center hold when every lever of power is pulled toward extremes?--Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(00:58) - Personal Anecdotes and Flu Game Discussion(02:43) - Client Call Story and Michael Jordan Stats(04:32) - Health Updates and Podcast Menu(05:14) - Democratic Election Victories Analysis(06:20) - Republican Challenges and Latino Vote Shift(08:19) - Potential Democratic Presidential Nominees(17:27) - Inflation and Economic Policies Debate(27:12) - Populism and Fiscal Policies(42:24) - Supreme Court and Tariff Discussions(45:56) - Uncertainty in Trade Policies(46:42) - US-China Trade Deal Breakdown(47:56) - Global Reactions and Comparisons(49:06) - Public Opinion on Trade(50:47) - Trump's Trade War and Its Implications(52:03) - US-China Relations and Future Prospects(01:11:58) - Venezuela and US Foreign Policy(01:22:57) - The Future of Global Geopolitics(01:34:06) - Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes--Referenced in the Show:Communist Reagan - https://x.com/aidannonx/status/1982662832521875962?s=20--Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com --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.comJacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShapJacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe --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...

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• Reverse Nixon

  Sanctions, alliances, and power balances are shifting faster than markets can price them. Marko Papic and Jacob Shapiro look at the U.S. Treasury’s crackdown on Russian oil, the fragility of global energy flows, and the illusion of stability in a world built on competing pain thresholds. Between Washington’s brinkmanship, Moscow’s resolve, and Beijing’s quiet calculation, this episode dissects how endurance—not strategy—defines modern geopolitics, and why every great power eventually meets its limit.--Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction and Podcast Promotion(00:20) - US-Russia Relations and Sanctions(02:02) - Ukraine Conflict and Ceasefire Prospects(06:03) - European Energy Dependence on Russia(11:36) - Trump's Foreign Policy and Strategic Goals(26:55) - Canada-US Trade Tensions(40:39) - The Limits of Military Power(41:10) - China's Economic Leverage(41:39) - The Trade War Dynamics(42:26) - China's Manufacturing Dependency(43:19) - The Challenge of Decoupling(44:17) - China's Consumer Market Issues(46:32) - The Future of US-China Relations(52:42) - The Role of Semiconductors(57:39) - The Reality of Trade Deals(01:02:23) - Geopolitical Strategies and Misunderstandings(01:05:25) - US Military Posturing in Venezuela(01:15:34) - Trump's Military Strategy and Liberal Media Critique(01:16:46) - Venezuela and Regime Change(01:18:13) - North Korea and Trump's Near Miss(01:19:22) - Maduro's Offer and US Interests(01:28:11) - China's Role and Global Energy Politics(01:38:03) - NBA Scandals and Player Dynamics(01:47:47) - Baseball Playoffs and Personal Anecdotes--Referenced in the Show:--Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com --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.comJacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShapJacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe --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...

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• The Illusion of Decoupling

  Global trade isn’t just an economic story - it’s a test of power, pride, and patience. Jacob and Marko dive into the illusion of U.S.-China decoupling, exploring how power, dependency, and ideology are colliding in a world too connected to pull apart. From semiconductor choke points to rare earth retaliation, the United States and China are caught in a feedback loop of control and dependency that neither can fully escape. The cousins challenge the myth of economic sovereignty and ask what it really means to compete when every side still depends on the other to function.--Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction (00:38) - Basketball Banter and Podcast Dynamics(01:31) - Ryan Russillo's Move to Barstool Sports(04:31) - US-China Trade Relations and Rare Earth Elements(13:30) - Bureaucratic Inertia and US Foreign Policy(17:45) - Technological Decoupling and Global Trade(21:04) - Geopolitical Realities and Future Predictions(40:15) - Allies and Economic Dependencies(41:30) - American Public Opinion on Trade and China(48:04) - Generational Differences in Political Activism(50:02) - Global Protests and Political Unrest(01:05:31) - Emergence of New Political Brands(01:12:38) - Cocaine and Global Trade(01:16:53) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts--Referenced in the Show:--Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com --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.comJacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShapJacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe --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_papicMarko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro

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• The New Cold Peace

  What happens when a superpower’s bluff runs out? Jacob and Marko trace Russia’s unraveling - from collapsing refineries and fading deterrence to the myth of its “paper bear” strength. They ask what real power looks like when fear no longer works, why Europe feels emboldened, and how Ukraine’s strategy is quietly rewriting modern warfare. Beyond the battlefield, the cousins explore the rise of “garrison states,” Gen Z unrest, and whether AI is revolution... or just another container ship.--Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(00:54) - Personal Anecdotes and Cultural Observations(02:28) - Geopolitical Analysis: Russia and Ukraine(06:19) - Strategic Insights: Ukraine's Tactical Moves(09:16) - European Union and Ukraine Relations(14:36) - Potential Outcomes and Future Scenarios(18:43) - Economic and Political Implications(32:38) - European Unity and Putin's Miscalculations(34:21) - European Sentiment on Russia(34:55) - Middle East Geopolitical Updates(37:23) - Gen Z Protests Around the World(41:31) - Generational Politics in the US(48:44) - AI's Economic Impact(01:08:02) - Debating the Future of AI and Marketability(01:08:37) - Nostalgia and the Evolution of Computer Games(01:10:03) - The Shift in Consumer Preferences(01:11:52) - AI's Impact on Future Job Markets(01:14:50) - US vs China: Different Approaches to AI(01:15:42) - The Role of Tech Companies in AI Development(01:26:31) - The Overbuild of Data Centers and Energy Needs(01:30:28) - The Myth of AGI and True Innovation(01:37:59) - Concluding Thoughts on AI and Innovation--Referenced in the Show:AI Will Not Make You Rich — https://joincolossus.com/article/ai-will-not-make-you-rich/--Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com --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.comJacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShapJacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe --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:

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