Today, we were delighted to host  David Firestein, President and CEO of the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations (the Bush China Foundation). His multi-decade experience immersed in China (and Russia) provided balanced perspective and historical context to a whole set of complex geopolitical issues. The conversation ranged from David's perspective on how/why the US-China relationship has changed, how that change impacts China-Russia relations, how the Chinese people perceive the US, US-China energy market inter-play, and the ever-present Taiwan-China tension. We wrapped up our discussion with David focusing on China's role in and attitude towards climate change. As it so happens, June 12th would have marked George H. W. Bush's 98th birthday and we also touch on his legacy in the conversation as well. 

Mike Bradley started the show with a discussion on natural gas markets, LNG outages, prospects for winter markets in both the US and Europe, and the overall wild equity market ride we are on right now.  Colin Fenton flagged what is catching his eye in global currency and government debt markets and how that action presents risk to both equity markets as well as energy demand. 

David has a quote highlighted on the Bush China Foundation's webpage that we found worth repeating: "The gravest threat to America today is the untethering of our nation's public policy and political discourse from factual reality; unless and until we rectify that, we as a nation will never be able to out-compete China - or, indeed, solve any of our nation's pressing problems." 

A truer thought we have not heard. 

Our best to you all!