Jacob and Rob dig into Trump’s firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, exposing the political theater surrounding government data. They explore labor hoarding, CPI distortions, and the fragility of public statistical institutions in a polarized, AI-saturated world. The conversation spans historical context, philosophical takes on truth and data, and the coming war for proprietary information. They close with a baffling shift in U.S.-India trade policy—and a call for help understanding what the hell is going on.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction

(00:44) - Employment Data

(02:42) - Trump's Reaction and Bureau of Labor Statistics

(05:07) - Challenges in Measuring Employment

(12:24) - Historical Context and Political Interference

(21:06) - Impact of Data Quality on AI and Public Trust

(27:29) - Speculation on the Future of Data Commoditization

(29:02) - The Decline of Respect for Objective Data

(31:01) - Historical Perspectives on Data and Statistics

(32:36) - The French Example of Data Collection and Secularism

(34:05) - The Impact of AI on Information and Truth

(36:35) - The Value of Proprietary Information in the Age of AI

(44:36) - Historical Parallels and the Power of Information

(49:43) - US-India Trade Relations and Geopolitical Strategy

(56:03) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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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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The Jacob Shapiro Show 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.

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Jacob Shapiro sits down with Luke Gromen for a wide-ranging discussion about AI’s disruption, the U.S. fiscal outlook, and global power dynamics. Jacob noted that AI is rapidly commoditizing data and could upend white-collar industries, but he and Luke agreed that intuition and discerning quality data points remain critical. They dug into Europe’s strategic weaknesses, the U.S.-China rivalry, and vulnerabilities in supply chains like rare earths. On the U.S. fiscal front, Luke argued that the government must financially repress bondholders, with stablecoins potentially becoming a tool for yield curve control. They closed with a look at Bitcoin’s growing role as a “neutral reserve asset.”

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:17) - The Impact of AI on Research and Content Creation

(05:18) - Economic Predictions and Intuitive Analysis

(11:38) - Concerns About AI and Future Job Markets

(16:45) - Geopolitical Surprises and Strategic Incompetence

(23:14) - US-China Relations and Rare Earth Vulnerabilities

(30:14) - Fiscal and Monetary Health of the United States

(27:00) - US-China Relations Again

(31:09) - Restructuring Debt and Inflation Concerns

(32:17) - Housing Market and Inflation Dynamics

(33:45) - Economic Policies and Market Reactions

(38:57) - Stable Coins and US Fiscal Strategy

(50:30) - Bitcoin as a Reserve Asset

(01:00:18) - Investment Advice and Final Thoughts

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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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The Jacob Shapiro Show 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.

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Jacob interviews Dr. Van Jackson, an international relations scholar specializing in East Asian and Pacific security. They discuss the accelerating pace and volatility of U.S. foreign policy, characterizing Trump-era actions as part of a broader counter-revolutionary, oligarchic project. Van critiques both major U.S. parties and highlights the risk of diversionary wars as legitimacy crises grow. They explore the geopolitics of Iran, Israel, and China, and conclude with insights on North Korea and potential U.S. troop withdrawal from South Korea, outlining a rare “win-win-win” scenario for all parties on the Korean Peninsula.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction

(04:52) - Discussion on US Power and Global Politics

(08:30) - Middle East Policy and US-Israel Relations

(16:30) - Defining Fascism and White Nationalism

(23:32) - Trump's Base and Political Dynamics

(30:07) - Potential Diversionary Conflicts and Foreign Policy

(35:19) - The Inevitability of War with China

(35:52) - China's Strategic Interests in Taiwan and the South China Sea

(36:49) - The Role of Allies in US-China Relations

(38:25) - The Controversy Over Arming Allies

(40:57) - Trump's Foreign Policy and Its Impact on Alliances

(42:56) - Japan and South Korea's Dilemma

(46:42) - The Future of US Hegemony and Global Alliances

(51:01) - The Role of the Democratic Party in US Politics

(58:52) - North Korea's Nuclear Deterrent and US Relations

(01:05:15) - Potential US Troop Withdrawal from South Korea

(01:08:49) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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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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The Jacob Shapiro Show 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.

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