While BlackRock veterans run Joe Biden's Treasury, Donald Trump's  presidential campaign is financed by Wall Street's highest-paid CEO, of Blackstone, the world's largest commercial landlord. Ben Norton explains how Wall Street investment companies, asset managers, and banks essentially buy US elections.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZJaJ4BST6Nc

Check out our related video - "How the dollar's 'exorbitant privilege' enriches the USA (and global elites)": https://youtube.com/watch?v=jYkiMcR1Rj8

TOPICS
0:00 Wall Street always wins US elections
0:57 Blackstone CEO funds Trump
2:58 BlackRock backs Biden
3:48 BlackRock vs Blackstone - What's the difference?
7:30 Wall Street's highest paid CEO, Stephen Schwarzman
10:15 Oil & gas industry moguls fund Trump
10:53 Fossil fuel profits tripled under Biden
13:15 Oligarchs back fellow billionaire Trump
15:14 Biden promised: "Nothing would fundamentally change"
15:54 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks & 67% of all wealth
17:23 USA is not a democracy; it's an oligarchy
18:43 Wall Street funded Barack Obama
19:20 Wall Street funded Mitt Romney
20:07 US government represents Wall Street
21:54 BlackRock veterans run Biden's Treasury
25:08 Goldman Sachs veterans ran Trump's Treasury
27:16 Blackstone: the largest landlord in the US (& on Earth)
30:53 De-industrialization & financialization
32:25 Private equity destroyed Toys“R”Us
33:11 Private equity firms buy up retirement homes, hospitals, vets
34:53 2008 crisis & subprime mortgages
37:22 Financial parasites
38:39 Outro

How Wall Street buys US elections: Blackstone funds Trump, BlackRock backs Biden

In Mexico, a new independent left-wing movement has defeated the country's elites. Following current President AMLO, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum and their Morena party won the 2024 election in a landslide. Ben Norton is joined by journalist José Luis Granados Ceja to discuss what their "Fourth Transformation" (4T) means for the US, China, Russia, Latin America, and the global economy.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=M0k0WU7JKgM

Check out Soberanía, the Mexican Politics Podcast: https://youtube.com/@SoberaniaPodcast
Follow José Luis on Twitter: https://x.com/GranadosCeja
Mexico Solidarity Media website: https://mexicosolidarity.com

Our related video "Mexico's AMLO has 80% approval, despite media lies & US meddling": https://youtube.com/watch?v=-2PQPJUn6KU

Topics
0:00 Claudia Sheinbaum wins election
1:36 Geopolitics: Mexico, US, China, Russia
3:19 AMLO boosts minimum wage, reduces poverty
3:45 Economy & natural resources
6:09 US corporations are angry
7:34 Introducing guest
8:18 Why Sheinbaum's victory is historic
13:01 AMLO & 4th Transformation
21:43 Morena & defeat of PRI-PAN-PRD establishment
32:38 Mexico's economy
44:24 Geopolitics: US new cold war on China & Russia
53:28 Latin American regional integration
1:01:02 Everyday life in Mexico
1:08:21 Outro

Mexico's political rebellion: Following AMLO, new President Claudia Sheinbaum paves multipolar path

Polling shows that the vast majority of people in the US and Western Europe want a negotiated settlement to end the war in Ukraine, but NATO opposes a peace proposal made by China and Brazil, while refusing to invite Russia to a so-called "peace conference" in Switzerland. Ben Norton explains.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=l5eQd1E_Huo

Topics
0:00 Intro
1:30 Biden authorizes attacks inside Russia
2:12 France plans to send military forces to Ukraine
3:52 US discusses increased nuclear weapon deployments
4:57 Poll: most people in US & W Europe want peace
7:04 China & Brazil propose peace plan
9:38 West's "peace conference" didn't invite Russia
11:26 China wants peace in Ukraine
15:45 Nicaragua backs China-Brazil peace plan
16:05 Outro

94% of Americans want to end Ukraine war, but US rejects China peace deal, opposes talks with Russia

Ukraine is a "gold mine" with $12 trillion worth of critical minerals, US Senator Lindsey Graham insisted in a TV interview. Ben Norton discusses how Western companies want these resources, and how Washington hopes to block China's access to them to hurt its technology industries.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TRPk3N8FyQ

Zelensky is literally selling Ukraine to US corporations on Wall Street: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/09/09/zelensky-selling-ukraine-wall-street/

Topics
0:00 Intro
1:35 Clip: US Senator Lindsey Graham wants Ukraine's minerals
2:24 Ukraine war has nothing to do with democracy
5:44 US also wants to 'weaken' Russia in Ukraine
6:21 Wall Street buys up Ukraine
8:08 Military-industrial complex profits
10:07 Washington Post on Ukraine's 'battle for minerals'
11:55 Russia
12:48 US seeks to block China's access to minerals
15:44 Multiple reasons for Ukraine war
17:10 Trump wanted to take Venezuela's oil
19:16 Exxon CEO ran US State Department
20:29 US plan to seize Russia's $300B in FX reserves
21:20 Clip: Lindsey Graham calls to seize Russia's reserves
21:43 Debate over Russia's central bank reserves
23:07 De-dollarization
24:38 Outro

US senator says Ukraine is 'gold mine' with $12 trillion of minerals West 'can't afford to lose'

Western governments invited billionaire BlackRock CEO Larry Fink to the G7 summit in Italy to speak about "public-private partnerships" and why oligarchs should buy up global infrastructure (to compete with China's state-led Belt and Road Initiative). Ben Norton discusses how capitalism is becoming so extremely monopolized and unequal that it is devolving into neo-feudalism.

(One correction: At 26:17, I meant to say "over 90%", well above 60%.)

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88VU1JjmEps

How Wall Street buys US elections: Blackstone funds Trump, BlackRock backs Biden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJaJ4BST6Nc

Topics
0:00 Global inequality
0:56 G7 summit in Italy
1:57 BlackRock CEO invited to G7 summit
2:32 What is BlackRock?
4:45 PGI: US' corporate alternative to China's Belt & Road
7:50 (Clip) BlackRock CEO Larry Fink speaks at G7 summit
8:44 Wall Street vulture funds
10:51 BlackRock buys up infrastructure
14:40 BlackRock buys Malaysia's airports
15:34 BlackRock veterans run Biden's Treasury
16:00 Blackstone CEO funds Trump campaign
17:53 Investment companies buy up houses
18:40 BlackRock runs world's largest Bitcoin fund
19:58 Privatization of infrastructure
23:34 WEF: "You'll own nothing. And you'll be happy"
25:56 Home ownership under socialism vs. capitalism
26:17 Correction: over 90%* (I misspoke)
26:21 Home ownership under socialism vs. capitalism
28:38 World Economic Forum
29:33 Return on capital exceeds economic growth
31:20 Outro

Neo-feudalism: G7 supports BlackRock buying up world's infrastructure, to make rich even richer

The vast majority of the world population, in the Global South, rebuked the West's pro-war so-called "Summit on Peace in Ukraine", which was held in Switzerland in June. Russia was not even invited. Ben Norton discusses NATO's hypocrisy and explains why only 78 countries (mostly in Europe) endorsed the "Bürgenstock declaration", while China and Brazil propose genuine peace talks.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY4e2kKcuhk

Topics
0:00 Intro
0:17 Map of countries
1:24 Western media admits conference failed
4:35 Zelensky claims China & Brazil aren't "civilized"
7:07 Joint statement & signatories
10:26 China proposes real peace plans
13:54 West is out of touch with rest of world
17:32 Colombia's president criticizes Swiss summit
20:13 Outro

West's Ukraine summit failed: Global South rejected pro-war 'peace conference'

Countries around the world are seeking alternatives to the US dollar. IMF economists say de-dollarization is "broad-based". The Federal Reserve reluctantly admits that it is happening. Ben Norton analyzes the latest research.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3Dsy7q1Miw

Topics
0:00 Examples of de-dollarization around the world
3:11 IMF paper on decline of dollar dominance
6:39 Dedollarization is "broad based", IMF says
8:07 Western sanctions lead central banks to de-dollarize
8:56 Gold: Why central banks are buying it up
12:37 US Federal Reserve acknowledges dedollarization
13:18 (Clip) Fed governor on de-dollarization "challenges"
14:28 Fed governor's speech on de-dollarization
15:38 Bitcoin & crypto are NOT an alternative to the dollar
17:29 CBDCs: China-led mBridge system challenges dollar hegemony
18:58 Fed governor discusses de-dollarization examples
20:21 Fed paper on de-dollarization
24:22 Outro

De-dollarization is growing: Even the US Federal Reserve (reluctantly) admits it

The United Nations Human Rights Council published a report that concluded that Israel has committed war crimes and "the crimes against humanity of extermination" in Gaza. Ben Norton analyzes the statements of UN legal experts.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCIEdThk2jc

Topics
0:00 Intro
0:42 (Clip) UN expert: Israel is committing crimes against humanity
1:11 Quotes from UN report
2:25 Israeli army is "criminal", says UN expert
3:01 (Clip) UN expert: Israeli army is "criminal"
3:39 Israel is ethnically cleansing Palestinians with West's complicity
5:10 UN expert: Israel is committing g -- cide in Gaza
6:40 Israel ignores Hague rulings
8:09 (Clip) UN expert details Israeli crimes in Gaza
10:17 The problem with bothsidesism and false equivalence 
12:15 Outro

UN says Israel is committing crimes against humanity & 'extermination' in Gaza

Economists Radhika Desai and Prabhat Patnaik analyze India's 2024 general election and why Prime Minister Narendra Modi's far-right Hindu-nationalist party BJP lost its majority. They discuss the state of the economy, rising unemployment and inequality, and Modi's neoliberal model.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4xfHMkIPJ4

Transcript here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/06/27/india-modi-2024-election-economy/

You can watch other episodes of their program Geopolitical Economy Hour here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

Why so many Indians rejected PM Modi: 2024 election was a 'revolt of the farmers'

Top UN human rights experts called on Western weapons corporations to stop sending arms to Israel, saying they could be complicit in war crimes. Asset managers like BlackRock and Wall Street banks are also profiting. Ben Norton looks at the evidence.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur2xRJzbyJE

Topics
0:00 Western complicity in Israel's war crimes in Gaza
1:07 Statement by UN human rights experts
1:26 Weapons corporations aiding Israel
2:41 US, Germany, Italy are arming Israel
3:09 Israel is violating Hague rulings
4:01 Financial companies profiting from Israel
5:10 BlackRock investments in Israel
6:53 Wall Street banks underwrite Israeli bonds
8:52 US states invest in Israeli bonds
10:55 Biden continues arming Israel (despite misleading media claims)
14:11 Outro

BlackRock & Wall Street banks are profiting from Israel's crimes in Gaza, UN says

China describes its system as a "socialist market economy". How does that work? What is the role of its stock exchanges? Ben Norton explains Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4__IBd_sGE

Topics
0:00 Intro
1:11 Deng Xiaoping & China's "Reform & Opening Up"
4:06 Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
5:17 China's economic growth & poverty reduction
7:42 How state-owned enterprises (SOEs) run China's economy
10:09 Chen Yun & the "birdcage economy"
11:39 SOE share of China's GDP
13:37 China's largest companies are SOEs
14:53 Socialist market economy
16:02 "Grasp the large, let go of the small"
17:42 "Managed competition" in China
19:50 Billionaires in China
20:43 China's stock markets
27:17 (Clip) Western financial analyst says China rejected Washington Consensus
30:43 (Clip) Bloomberg complains "China doesn't care about the stock market"
32:10 Differences between US & Chinese economies
33:33 (Clip) Investor explains China's stock market is not priority for government
36:56 China's economic policy is made for workers, not investors
45:55 US financialized capitalism vs. Chinese socialism
46:33 US stock market is 60.5% of entire world
47:13 Richest 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks
47:52 Global oligarchs hold wealth in US stock market
48:31 China's pursuit of "common prosperity"
51:49 Outro

How can China be socialist if it has a stock market? Understanding the Chinese economy

How did Western governments get to the point where major decisions are made by and for large corporate monopolies? Ben Norton is joined by political economist Radhika Desai to discuss neoliberalism and the myth of the free market.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tczNLhfdQ7A

This is based on chapter 6 of Radhika's book "Capitalism, Coronavirus and War". You can download it for free here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/02/17/capitalism-coronavirus-war-geopolitical-economy-radhika-desai/

Check out other episodes in the series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hNZoKp0XsLFwSxxlMQu6ye8

How big corporations took over Western governments

The UK's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer is a pro-war, neoliberal Blairite who is closely linked to British intelligence and the US government. He was backed by big business interests after the corporate media destroyed popular left-wing, anti-imperialist Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Ben Norton discusses how Britain is an oligarchy, not a democracy.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq7YDNrYsV8

Topics
0:00 UK PM Keir Starmer is Tony Blair 2.0
3:26 Biden & Starmer discuss new cold war on Russia & China
5:00 Keir Starmer's shady US government ties
7:13 CIA-linked Trilateral Commission
11:09 Neoliberalism: a class war
13:13 The coup against Jeremy Corbyn
19:12 Outro

Britain is not a democracy: How UK elites installed PM Keir Starmer by destroying Jeremy Corbyn

In response to the NATO summit in Washington, political economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson discuss how Western governments are losing elections and ignoring their own people in order to expand the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and beyond, while seeking to impose control over the majority of humanity in the Global South.

Read the transcript here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/07/12/nato-west-war-democracy-global-south

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXIYInJUYp8

This is part of the show Geopolitical Economy Hour. You can watch other episodes of the program here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

NATO vs Western voters and the Global Majority

Following a shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump's supporters have  portrayed him as a so-called "threat to the US deep state". But in reality, Trump was a warmonger as president, and appointed top CIA officials and neoconservatives to run his foreign policy. Ben Norton reviews Trump's support for Israel and Ukraine and his aggressive policies against China, Russia, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wwm4OiYY5M

Topics
0:00 (Clips) Trump on Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine
0:32 US politics & bipartisan war crimes
3:29 Alleged assassination attempt against Trump
7:13 Trump's warmongering foreign policy: a summary
11:35 Israel - Palestine
16:56 Trump proposed bombing Russia & China
17:27 Russiagate 
18:01 Trump tore up 2 arms treaties with Russia
18:55 Ukraine
20:33 (Clip) Trump boasts of arming Ukraine
20:56 Trump vs Obama on Ukraine weapons
23:02 NATO
24:24 "We're at war with China"
26:24 Trade war & new cold war on China
28:44 Democrats vs Republicans on Russia & China
29:48 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA)
30:44 Assassination of Qasem Soleimani
31:20 Trump's war on Iraq
32:48 US hypocrisy on "political violence"
34:31 Syria
35:00 (Clip) Trump brags of taking Syria's oil
35:27 Afghanistan war & minerals
37:06 Trump wanted to take oil from Libya & Iraq too
38:15 Yemen
39:24 Trump plans to attack Mexico
41:06 Bolivia coup
41:54 Elon Musk & Bolivia's lithium
43:24 Venezuela
44:06 (Clip) Trump on "taking over" Venezuela
44:18 Venezuela coup attempt
46:00 Nicaragua coup attempt
46:37 Elliott Abrams
47:53 Cuba blockade & sanctions
50:09 Tax cuts for the rich
51:54 Billionaires for fellow billionaire Trump
53:16 Outro

Donald Trump is NOT a 'threat to the deep state'. Here is his warmongering record.

European Union foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell admitted the West has hypocritical "double standards" on international law, the Russia-Ukraine-NATO war, Israel's brutal bombing of Gaza, the US-led invasion of Iraq, and climate change. Ben Norton analyzes the revealing comments of the top EU diplomat.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQuUbBf6snA

Sources and links here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/07/18/eu-borrell-hypocrisy-double-standards-israel-ukraine-iraq/

EU confesses ‘our prosperity was based on China & Russia’: cheap energy, low-paid labor, big market: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/10/18/eu-prosperity-china-russia-energy-market/

‘Western dominance has ended’, EU foreign-policy chief admits, warning of ‘West against the Rest’ geopolitics: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/02/26/western-dominance-ended-eu-josep-borrell/

Topics
0:00 Intro
1:56 (Clip) EU foreign policy chief on West's "double standards"
4:25 (Clip) West values lives of Ukrainians more than Palestinians
5:06 (Clip) Hypocrisy on Israel's violations of UN resolutions
6:19 Historical carbon emissions by region
7:17 (Clip) Western hypocrisy on climate change
8:46 Who is Josep Borrell?
10:02 (Clip) West is prolonging Ukraine war
10:42 "Western dominance has ended"
11:55 (Clip) USA has lost its hegemony
12:11 China's economic rise
12:54 (Clip) China challenges Western dominance
14:21 Multipolarity
15:01 (Clip) "The world is much more multipolar"
15:54 "Democracy vs autocracy"?
16:33 (Clip) "On our side, there are a lot of authoritarian regimes"
17:00 How West relied on China & Russia
17:40 (Clip) "Our prosperity was based on China & Russia"
19:15 Borrell's racist "garden vs jungle" rant
21:30 (Clip) European exceptionalism
22:11 Outro

EU admits it has hypocritical 'double standards' on Israel, Ukraine, Iraq, climate change

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega blasted Western support for Israel in its war on Gaza and asked, if a state of Palestine is not allowed to exist, why should the US be allowed to exist? He was joined at the 45th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution by Palestinian ex guerrilla Leila Khaled, who denounced imperialism and neocolonialism. Ben Norton reports.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je1wKlRUyFg

Read our related article - US legally owes Nicaragua reparations, but still refuses to honor 1986 Int’l Court of Justice ruling: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/06/28/us-owes-nicaragua-reparations-1986-icj/

Nicaragua condemns Israel, says USA should disappear if Palestine can't have a state

While the US and Europe have invaded and colonized countries around the world, China and Russia have helped the Global South develop and resist Western imperialism, argues Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, leader of the Sandinista Revolution. Ben Norton reports.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8waJIQTKD4

China & Russia help Global South develop & resist Western imperialism: Nicaragua explains

Why has the US constantly tried to overthrow Venezuela's leftist government, backing coup attempts against Presidents Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro? Ben Norton analyzes the role of Venezuela's large oil reserves and natural resources; socialist system; anti-imperialist foreign policy; partnership with China, Russia, and Iran; and key role in building a multipolar world.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_ViMqMXGGs

Topics
0:00 Intro
0:14 Oil
1:58 Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution
5:45 Multipolarity
9:49 China
14:09 US sanctions
17:28 Russia & Iran
18:22 Washington says China is biggest threat to US hegemony
19:31 US coups & regime change
20:44 US economic blockade
23:18 BRICS
24:24 De-dollarization
26:29 Latin American regional integration
29:25 US-backed coup attempts
30:24 Natural resources
31:52 Monroe Doctrine: US neocolonialism in Latin America
33:09 Venezuela's key role in challenging US imperialism

Why is USA obsessed with overthrowing Venezuela? Is it oil, China, Russia, socialism, multipolarity?

The USA and its allies in Latin America have refused to recognize the results of Venezuela's elections, as far-right opposition extremists try to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro, with the help of billionaire oligarch Elon Musk. Ben Norton documents the many US-backed coups since Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez came to power and launched the Bolivarian Revolution.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NglJ4J2rMEA

Our investigation: "US gov’t-linked firm is source of exit poll claiming Venezuelan opposition won election" - https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/07/29/us-government-edison-poll-venezuela-election/

Check out our related video: "Why is USA obsessed with overthrowing Venezuela?" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_ViMqMXGGs

Topics
0:00 US supports coup attempt in Venezuela
1:41 Elon Musk: "We will coup whoever we want!"
3:35 Electoral "fraud" allegations
5:52 Observers say vote was fair
8:05 Argentina's leader Javier Milei
9:06 CIA & Israeli Mossad
9:50 Venezuelan opposition loves Israel
10:38 Maduro supports Palestine
11:07 China, Russia, Iran
11:52 Why USA is obsessed with overthrowing Venezuela
12:57 Oil
13:36 CLIP Donald Trump wanted to "take over" Venezuela (and its oil)
14:07 CLIP John Bolton: US corporations want Venezuela's oil
15:18 CLIP Bolton boasts Venezuela coup attempt was "a lot of work"
15:49 From Juan Guaidó to María Corina Machado
17:55 US-backed coup in Venezuela in 2002
19:25 Venezuelan opposition's long history of crying "fraud"
19:48 Guarimbas
21:35 What "dictatorship"?
22:13 Obama declares Venezuela a "national security threat"
23:38 Economic war, sanctions, & embargo
30:15 Venezuela's oligarchy vs. working class
32:12 Inflation
33:08 Sanctions
35:39 West steals Venezuela's foreign assets
36:46 Failed CIA-backed invasion of Venezuela
37:36 No evidence for "fraud" claims
39:36 Outro

USA backs another coup attempt in Venezuela - with Elon Musk's help

As part of a new coup attempt in Venezuela, the US has recognized opposition leader Edmundo González as supposed president, after Trump tried to impose puppet Juan Guaidó in 2019. The State Department cited only US government-funded sources to accuse President Maduro of "electoral fraud". Ben Norton shows how misleading - and hypocritical - Washington's claims are.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KCDj-alHbg

USA backs another coup attempt in Venezuela - with Elon Musk's help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NglJ4J2rMEA

Why is USA obsessed with overthrowing Venezuela? Is it oil, China, Russia, socialism, multipolarity?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_ViMqMXGGs

US gov’t-linked firm is source of exit poll claiming Venezuelan opposition won election: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/07/29/us-government-edison-poll-venezuela-election/

Topics
0:00 US recognizes Venezuelan opposition leader as "president"
1:53 Hypocrisy: US supports dictatorships, wars, coups against democracies
3:39 Why Washington hates Venezuela
4:48 2002 US-backed coup in Venezuela
6:57 Latin America is divided on Venezuela
9:18 OAS: tool of US meddling
10:33 Mexico condemns OAS "interventionism"
12:34 China, Russia, Iran support Venezuela
13:08 Peru's dictatorship backs Venezuelan opposition
14:00 Oligarchs like Elon Musk
14:44 USAID operative hints at invasion
16:14 Fake news
17:28 Mercenary Erik Prince threatens Maduro
19:29 State Dep't cites US gov't-funded groups to allege "fraud"
19:59 Carter Center: funded by US, UK, EU, Gulf monarchies
23:39 Exit polls
25:36 CIA-linked firm's shady polling
28:58 María Corina Machado: US government-backed fanatic
29:51 Geopolitical changes: Multipolarity vs unipolarity
31:59 Possible US military intervention?
33:28 Outro

Deja vu: USA tries to impose new puppet government in Venezuela

How does the structure of the international financial system cause a drain of wealth from the poor to the rich? Political economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson discuss the politics of debt.

VIDEO (with the charts): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bu9dHGRpmE

Read the transcript (with the charts) here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/debt-politics-wealth-flow-poor-rich

This is part of the show Geopolitical Economy Hour. You can watch other episodes of the program here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

Debt is political: Why wealth flows from poor to rich

The stock market crashed on August 5, in a new "Black Monday". What caused it? Is the USA on the verge of a new financial crisis? Ben Norton is joined by economist Michael Hudson to discuss the extreme volatility, AI / Big Tech bubble, Japanese yen carry trade unwind, Chinese economy, and geopolitical dangers.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stgBVvz5RIM

Check out Geopolitical Economy Hour, the program Michael Hudson hosts with Radhika Desai, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

His website: https://michael-hudson.com

Topics
0:00 Teaser
0:54 Why did the stock market crash?
8:19 Is the US economy entering a recession?
12:36 Japan and the yen carry trade unwind
27:14 China's economy 
32:41 Popping of the AI / Big Tech bubble?
46:05 Geopolitics: Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran
54:19 Re-inflating the bubble?
1:03:51 Can't the debt be rolled over?
1:07:27 Asset price inflation vs consumer price inflation
1:11:29 Capital gains grow faster than the economy
1:13:12 What is missing from most economic analysis?
1:26:05 Outro

As stock market crashes, is US facing new financial crisis? Economist Michael Hudson explains

According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the US has allowed athletes in international competitions, including the Olympics, to use prohibited drugs, recruiting them as informants to spy on others. Ben Norton discusses the geopolitics of sports and the blatant hypocrisy of the US agency USADA, which constantly criticizes Russia and China.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOHR37Pd6PU

Sources and links here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/08/10/usa-athletes-cheat-steroids-russia-china-doping/

Topics
0:00 US doping scandal exposed
1:05 Hypocrisy on Russia's ban
1:20 Chinese athletes harassed at Olympics
2:09 US accusations of corruption
2:46 Will US host 2028 Olympics?
3:26 US government funds USADA
3:59 WADA exposes US doping scandal
8:46 WADA is investigating US
10:14 US new cold war on China
11:20 China says US athletes are under-tested
11:49 US Congress threatens WADA
12:16 The "rules-based international order"
12:51 Russia banned over Ukraine War
14:07 US not banned over wars on Iraq et al.
15:52 Israel not banned despite crimes in Gaza
17:22 West makes rules in "rules-based order"
17:58 International Olympic Committee (IOC) dominated by West
20:38 Imperialism
22:06 Outro

USA lets athletes cheat with steroids, as it accuses Russia & China of violating anti-doping rules

The US government supported protests that overthrew Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. New interim leader Muhammad Yunus has been cultivated by Washington for decades. Ben Norton discusses the geopolitical reasons for the regime change; the roles of India, China, and Russia; and the Pentagon's desire to build a strategic military base on Saint Martin's Island.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irlrT3zvsqQ

Topics
0:00 Interim leader Muhammad Yunus: Made in USA
5:09 Overthrow of Sheikh Hasina
7:44 US military base on St. Martin's Island?
8:57 Myanmar
10:33 China's reliance on Strait of Malacca for oil imports
13:34 Bangladesh-China relations
14:47 BRICS
15:36 US pressure to join Quad
17:47 Russia warned of color revolution in Bangladesh
19:06 Arab Spring
19:58 Was Hasina's undelivered resignation speech fabricated?
22:26 Hasina: "White man" demanded military base in Bay of Bengal
23:58 Hasina: USA "can overthrow the government in any country"
25:36 US-backed 1975 coup against Sheikh Mujib
28:33 US-backed 2022 coup against Pakistan PM Imran Khan
31:00 US support for protests in Bangladesh
31:22 NED funding for Bangladeshi opposition
31:41 NED funding of opposition media outlet Netra News
34:13 Historical context: Partition, India, Pakistan, 1971 liberation war
38:40 Reasons for protests
41:13 US-backed color revolutions
46:21 US State Department pressure on Bangladesh
47:36 Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, & extremism
54:12 Outro

Exposing US gov't role in Bangladesh regime change: Why PM Sheikh Hasina was overthrown

US Big Tech corporations are like the feudal landlords of Medieval Europe. These Silicon Valley monopolies own the digital land that the global economy is built on, and are charging higher and higher rents to use their privatized infrastructure. Ben Norton explains.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf1wQ9QeaKM

Sources and more information here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/08/19/us-big-tech-monopolies-neo-feudalism/

Topics
0:00 Neo-feudalism
1:36 Amazon's monopoly
3:57 Google's monopoly
4:54 Amazon takes 50% of sellers' revenue
6:30 How Amazon sets prices: the Buy Box
9:01 Technofeudalism, by Yanis Varoufakis
9:42 Cloud infrastructure
10:44 New cold war on China
11:35 China: only alternative to US Big Tech monopolies
14:55 Chinese socialism
19:33 Monopoly capitalism & imperialism
21:51 Feudalism & capitalism
23:54 Utilities
26:37 Privatized digital infrastructure
29:29 Uber & Silicon Valley's monopolistic business model
34:28 Apple wages war on Chinese competitors
35:37 Apple's outrageous 30% Patreon fee
39:44 Outro

How US Big Tech monopolies colonized the world: Welcome to neo-feudalism

While EU leaders push to escalate the proxy war on Russia, and Ukraine invades Kursk region, polls show many Europeans want peace talks for a negotiated settlement, and oppose sending more weapons. Ben Norton looks at the evidence.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTVawAEUoDQ

Topics
0:00 Intro
0:30 Ukraine is desperate
1:37 Ukraine invades Russia's Kursk region
4:11 People in US & EU want negotiated settlement
6:19 Most likely outcome of Ukraine war: compromise settlement
7:42 What should Europe do in Ukraine war? Peace deal
8:58 Europeans' view of Ukraine war, by country
10:00 Should Europe send arms & ammo to Ukraine?
11:18 Ukraine losing war would be "end of Western hegemony"
12:34 Outro

On Ukraine war, Europe is totally out of touch with its people, poll shows

The United States government has imposed sanctions on more than one-third of countries on Earth, including over 60% of poor countries. Ben Norton documents how Washington's economic warfare is deadly in nations like Venezuela, Cuba, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. It is also fragmenting the global financial system, as China and Russia create alternatives. 

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYUq_9XlQs0

Topics
0:00 USA has sanctions on 1/3rd of world
1:44 "Targeted" sanctions are a myth
3:16 Washington Post admits US is waging economic warfare worldwide
8:56 100,000+ Venezuelans died from US sanctions
10:50 Goal of US sanctions: "hunger, desperation and overthrow of government"
13:39 US government compares itself to Darth Vader
14:46 OFAC director sings, "Every little thing we do is sanctions"
16:05 Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis died from US-led Western sanctions
20:32 (CLIP) Madeleine Albright on Iraq mass deaths: "the price is worth it"
21:08 60% of poor countries face US sanctions
22:01 US dollar dictatorship and financial hegemony
24:13 Donald Trump's war on Venezuela
25:16 "Sanction everybody and their sister"
25:54 Boomerang of US sanctions: China, Russia, BRICS create alternatives
30:08 Russia re-industrializes, its economy grows rapidly
34:10 Too big to sanction - Is this the limit?
37:01 Outro

How the US wages economic war on countries all around the world

Can the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, really stop inflation? Or is it more committed to inflating asset price bubbles for the rich? Political economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson discuss the Fed's monetary policy, and its implications for average working people.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAtx2vDJkM8

You can read the transcript here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/08/31/fed-inflation-radhika-desai-michael-hudson/

This is part of the show Geopolitical Economy Hour. You can watch other episodes of the program here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

Can the US Federal Reserve really control inflation?

A top Israeli military official admitted the war on Gaza is only possible thanks to US support and arms supplies. Ben Norton explains how Israel is an outpost of the US empire in a key geostrategic region. As Joe Biden said, "Were there not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interest in the region".

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UWewzp7lcE

Sources and more information here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/09/04/israel-war-gaza-possible-us-support/

Why does the US support Israel? A geopolitical analysis with economist Michael Hudson: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/11/12/why-us-support-israel-geopolitics-michael-hudson/

Israel's war on Gaza is only possible due to US support and weapons

The same week France arrested Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, the "President of the Rich" Emmanuel Macron stole the 2024 election, refusing to allow the left-wing New Popular Front that won to form a new government, instead appointing a new prime minister from a right-wing party that got 6% of the vote. Ben Norton discusses how Western "democracies" are actually oligarchies.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbx43-U1h1o

Topics
0:00 Western "democracy" is oligarchy
3:39 Emmanuel Macron: the "president of the rich"
6:11 Inequality in France
8:27 French billionaire oligarchs
12:48 France's 2024 election results
14:10 Macron appoints election loser Michel Barnier as PM
15:28 Leftist leader Mélenchon accuses Macron of electoral theft
17:04 52% of French want to impeach Macron
17:28 Western leaders praise undemocratic PM Michel Barnier
19:51 How Macron stole the election he lost
23:07 France is not a democracy
24:20 Arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov
25:57 US government wanted Telegram backdoor for spying
27:09 Russia, West, and Pavel Durov
28:18 Telegram and Belarus color revolution attempt
30:16 Western media's former love affair with Durov
31:19 West turns on Durov
33:45 Outro

Western 'democracy'?: France's Macron steals election, arrests Telegram CEO

Geopolitical Economy Report is an independent news outlet that provides original journalism and analysis to understand the changing world.

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