The Peter Zeihan Podcast Series

*This video was recorded during my backpacking trip through Yosemite in the end of July. Unless you want to start buying your guacamole in dime bags, the US better start looking for some new avocado "dealers". Yes, we're talking about the cartels’ involvement in the avocado supply chains in Mexico. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/the-mexican-cartels-are-double-dipping-in-the-guacamole

*This video was recorded during my backpacking trip through Yosemite in the end of July. How would you feel if you had a beautiful view of the coastline, but could only ever get out by the beach once per week? Well, now that employers can mandate a six-day work week in Greece, many are faced with that exact problem. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/can-the-six-day-work-week-save-greece

Myanmar doesn't often catch my attention, but with the ongoing civil war, I figured it was time to throw it into the mix. After years of civil unrest, is there a clear path to stability? Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/myanmars-bleak-future-civil-war-and-ethnic-strife

There's no shortage of news coming out of the Middle East, but today we're going to look at the rising tensions between Israel and Iran and Iranian proxy Hezbollah. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/tensions-rise-in-the-middle-east-but-dont-expect-war

The situation in Bangladesh has worsened, forcing the Prime Minister to flee the country. Let's recap what led us to this point and look at what the future might hold for Bangladesh and India. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/protests-cause-a-mass-exodus-of-bangladesh

It's time that we discuss the situation at the US - Mexico border. What's going on and how is it all going to shake out? Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/us-border-crossings-is-mexico-the-solution

A forest fire near my home cut my backpacking trip short, but it did allow me to record some new videos. So, today we'll be looking at some recent developments in Ukraine. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/can-ukraine-claim-the-skies-and-destroy-russian-air-defenses

*This video was recorded before Peter’s backpacking trip in mid-July. Lesson of the day: if the Chinese government starts censoring a topic, it's probably time to start looking into that. Today, we'll be examining China's economy heading into 'garbage time'. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/the-garbage-time-of-history-chinas-economic-decline

*This video was recorded in May of 2024. We've all stared at the stars thinking about the different ways the Ukraine War could end, but could a coup or revolution in Russia be the way it goes down? It sounds great, but there's quite a few obstacles in the way. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/could-a-russian-revolution-end-the-ukraine-war

*This video was recorded in June of 2024. We're talking about a different kind of war today - Trade Wars. Specifically, we'll be looking at attempts by the US and EU to limit Chinese involvement in their electric vehicle markets. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/chinas-tariff-wars-the-eu-opens-a-new-front

I'm back home from Yosemite on a brief intermission to my summer backpacking trips, and wanted to issue an update on the Mexican Cartels. Specifically, we're talking about the arrest of Sinaloa leader, El Mayo. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/a-crack-in-the-north-american-drug-war

*This video was recorded in mid-July, prior to Peter departing on his backpacking trip. As the baby boomers age into retirement and Gen Z fails to satisfy the gaping hole left in the labor market, will artificial intelligence be able to help mitigate some of the fallout? Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/can-ai-replace-those-retiring-boomers

*This video was recorded in mid-July, prior to Peter departing on his backpacking trip. I've been asked to address the claim that China has surpassed the US as a nuclear power. On paper, China might have the upper hand, but that doesn't always translate to real life. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/is-chinese-nuclear-tech-better-than-the-us

*This video was recorded last week, prior to Peter departing on his backpacking trip. There are reports coming out of Ukraine indicating that there has been a sharp uptick in Russian artillery losses. This data isn't confirmed, but it could be a good sign for Ukraine. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/ukraine-targets-russias-most-important-weapon-artillery

*This video was recorded in May of 2024. The potential of dragging the US into a major conflict is top of mind for a lot of Americans, but what would it actually take to get us there? Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/is-the-us-looking-for-a-war

The conflict in Gaza has been raging on for nearly 300 days, and there is no end in sight. However, Israel is heavily reliant upon American tech and weapons and that relationship could be changing. *This video was recorded last week, prior to Peter departing on his backpacking trip. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/the-gaza-conflict-and-shifting-politics-in-israel

Today, we'll be looking at the recent European Commission presidential election and its broader implications for the Europeans. *This video was recorded last week, prior to Peter departing on his backpacking trip (and prior to Biden leaving the race). Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/yes-we-have-to-follow-elections-in-europe-too

There have been significant protests in Bangladesh over a law reserving a significant portion of government jobs for supporters of the 1971 independence revolution and their descendants. The job quota has been suspended, but protests continue. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/major-protests-break-out-in-bangladesh

Everyone wants to know if the assassination attempt on Donald Trump is going to impact the outcome of the election. I hate to break it to you, but no one knows. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/stop-obsessing-over-the-polls-and-take-a-hike-instead

The Republican Party is undergoing some evolutions at the moment, moving away from many of its traditional stances. This is part of a broader cycle in which American political parties shift and realign every few decades. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/americas-changing-republican-party

Well, it looks like the Germans are going to be celebrating Christmas in July. That's due to the US and Germany's decision made at the NATO conference to redeploy American mid-range weaponry to Germany. And yes, this hasn't happened since the Cold War for…historic reasons. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/americas-cold-war-missiles-return-to-germany-thanks-to-russia

The EU was established to promote unity and peace, but times have changed and priorities have shifted. So, what does the future of the European Union look like and how does France fit into the mix? Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/can-the-french-lead-the-eu-into-the-future

On Saturday, July 13, there was an attempted assassination of Donald Trump. I'm not here to give you the play-by-play that you can get from the news, instead I want to put this incident into context of the broader political and economic shifts. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/assassination-attempt-and-a-changing-world

After the first round of European Parliament elections, the French far-right (represented by the National Rally) had a great showing. President Macron wasn't too happy with that outcome, so he called snap elections to give his party a second shot at capturing a majority. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/why-should-europe-worry-about-the-french-elections

Next up on our list of important elections around the globe is the Iranian presidential elections. We'll be looking at Iran's new President-elect, Masoud Pezeshkian, and what his victory might mean for the country. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/irans-president-elect-sparks-change-but-how-much

In case you've been buried neck deep in US political news, there are some fairly important elections taking place across the globe. For the first country in our little global election coverage, we'll be looking at the United Kingdom. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/uk-elections-starting-over

I get a lot of "what if..." and "what happens next..." style questions and most of them suck, but today's question takes us down a fairly interesting rabbit hole - what happens to China if Chairman Xi Jinping dies or steps down? Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/china-after-xi

While the Italians may have mastered the arts of pasta, wine and gelato, they should have been spending less time in the kitchen and more in...another room. That's right, we're looking at the demographic problems facing Italy, and Genoa will be our example. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/why-genoa-is-graying-italys-demographic-decline

For all the hungover Americans out there, I heard the best cure after a long day of drinking is to talk about inflation. Well, maybe it will just make your head hurt more, but you still have the weekend ahead of you to relax... Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/the-federal-reserve-and-its-inflation-target

If you watched the presidential debate last week, I'm sure you're really, really excited for the election this year! Since so many of you wanted me to talk about this fever dream we're living in, I figured we'd do it on Independence Day. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/the-senior-home-showdown-delusional-biden-vs-demented-trump

Despite most countries in the West wanting to rid themselves of any involvement with the Russians, the oil revenues continue to flow into Russian pockets. So why haven't Western countries dropped the hammer on Russian oil exports? Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/why-the-west-cant-quit-russian-oil

The Israeli Supreme Court just ruled that the ultra-Orthodox community will no longer get exemption from military service. This addresses a number of long-standing issues, but it could spell trouble for Netanyahu's political career. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/no-more-military-exemption-for-israeli-ultra-orthodox

In the post-Cold War world, France, Germany and Poland concocted the Weimar Triangle as a way to foster cooperation amongst the three countries. The trio has weakened over the years - due to differing national priorities - but Russia's invasion of Ukraine might necessitate getting the gang back together. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/strengthen-the-weimar-triangle

In the post-Cold War world, France, Germany and Poland concocted the Weimar Triangle as a way to foster cooperation amongst the three countries. The trio has weakened over the years - due to differing national priorities - but Russia's invasion of Ukraine might necessitate getting the gang back together. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/strengthen-the-weimar-triangle

China has been the global manufacturing hub for decades, but what happens if that goes away? If and when China experiences a significant collapse, someone will have some big shoes to fill, but who can do it? Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/the-future-of-manufacturing-where-and-why

Europe has been taking a beating lately, from economic issues to demographic problems, but there's a new one on the horizon. When the Ukraine War wraps up, what will the European energy situation look like? Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/the-europeans-are-having-some-gas-problems

If there's anything Putin's good at, its pressing the West's buttons...and his latest trip to North Korea is no exception. However, by signing a new defense pact with Kim Jong Un, Putin might inadvertanly gain Ukraine a new supporter. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/backfire-putins-north-korean-joyride Donate to MedShare Here: https://www.medshare.org/zeihan-impact/

There are only a few days left in our MedShare donation matching drive for the month of June. $100,000 in donations will be matched this month to our chosen charity partner, MedShare International. Donate to MedShare Here: https://www.medshare.org/zeihan-impact/

Last week, I talked about how Ukraine has been targeting Russian air infrastructure to prepare for the arrival of their F-16s. Well, Ukraine launched a rocket attack on occupied Crimea and destroyed some air defenses and one of Russia's deep space satellite communication stations. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/russians-in-space

Micro-States like Monaco and San Marino aren't often included in major geopolitical discussions, but every so often they get called up to the big leagues. Next up to the plate: San Marino. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/exploring-the-geopolitics-of-micro-states

With Russian President Vladimir Putin heading to Vietnam, some American security experts are getting concerned about the future of the US-Vietnam relationship. To understand why the Vietnamese are working with Russia, we need to take a quick history lesson. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/mr-putin-goes-to-hanoi Donate to MedShare Here: https://www.medshare.org/zeihan-impact/

If you ask a fifth grader what the key to being a good spy is, they would likely respond with some variation of being sneaky or concealing your identity. Well, on today's episode of "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader", we're placing Russian Spies in the hot seat. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/russia-and-the-changing-nature-of-the-spy-game Donate to MedShare Here: https://www.medshare.org/zeihan-impact/

If you don't want to start your day with beautiful beach views and economic forecasts, you may want to skip the video. Today we'll be discussing recent changes to the US economy and what future impacts might look like. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/strong-american-growth-and-something-to-worry-about Donate to MedShare Here: https://www.medshare.org/zeihan-impact/

Ukraine is gearing up for one of its most important offensives to date, but what makes this one so different from the rest? Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/ukraine-f-16s-offensives-and-abject-humiliation

For years I’ve warned that a war between Russia and Ukraine was inevitable, but why didn't Putin just play the nuke card? As an add-on, we'll also be touching on some new Russian alliances that could rub the US the wrong way. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/why-did-russia-choose-invasion-over-nukes

The recent European elections yielded some significant gains for hard-right parties in a number of countries. Today, we'll be focusing on Germany, Italy, and France, and whether these shifts are game-changers or more political minutia. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/major-european-powers-lean-right-in-recent-elections

After years of mismanagement and corruption, Venezuela may have finally reached its tipping point. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/the-impending-collapse-of-venezuela

During my European travels, I've received a handful of questions regarding the lack of support for Ukraine coming from Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. So, let's address why these countries are holding out amid the Russian invasion. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/austria-slovakia-and-hungary-ignore-ukraine Donate to MedShare: https://www.medshare.org/zeihan-impact/

We've got a few more elections to talk about today, and who knows, maybe the US might even learn something from South Africa and India. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/elections-in-south-africa-and-india

I know there's plenty of issues with the American political system, but let's take a break from all that and talk about European politics for the day. Given the ongoing European Parliament elections, let’s look at the far-right’s footholds in Europe. Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/the-rise-of-the-european-far-right