Why does Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang wax poetic about China? Why does Sundar “H-1B” Pichai, the CEO of illegal monopolist Google, let his employees focus on censoring conservatives instead of real business? Trump stands up to Xi Jinping by raising Jimmy Lai. Will the November debut of Polymarket US be another win for average investors vs. Wall Street poohbahs? Mark Simon and Christian Whiton discuss on this live edition of Domino Theory.

Chapters00:00 The China Dilemma in Tech03:08 Trump's Approach to Human Rights05:50 The Semiconductor Question09:03 Trump's Tactics11:57 Google's Woke Culture and Its Consequences31:26 The Future of Google and AI36:12 The Rise of Predictive Markets47:57 Political Predictions and the Role of Gambling

In this live episode of Domino Theory, Christian Whiton and Mark Simon discuss Trump's coming trip to Asia, how the tech bros misled Trump, Japan's new government, Indians and the H-1B scam, and whether to bring back the melting pot.Chapters00:00 Sanctions and Market Reactions02:54 Trump's Asia Trip and Diplomatic Dynamics05:52 Trade Talks and Rare Earths08:47 Japan's New Leadership and Economic Policies12:02 India's Modi and ASEAN Absence14:35 H-1B Visa Controversies and Immigration Issues17:48 Cultural Integration and American Identity20:41 Political Landscape and Upcoming Elections

In this first live episode of Domino Theory, Christian Whiton and Mark Simon discuss market turbulence, banking concerns, de-losering CBS News, China blinking on trade, Japan's political crossroads, and the phony baloney H-1B visa program. -Chapters00:00 Market Turbulence and Banking Concerns03:02 CBS News: fill or kill?05:45 China's Trade Tensions and Rare Earths12:01 U.S.-China Relations and Political Dynamics21:26 Crisis Stability and Global Leadership25:24 Japan's Political Landscape and Economic Challenges33:05 The H-1B Visa Controversy and Immigration Politics

Many in Taiwan have melted down over an article Christian Whiton published (linked below) about "How Trump Lost Taiwan." But typical of many in the government and among DPP denizens, there is more of an effort to discredit the messenger that address the message, including how to address business and quality-of-life issues in Taiwan and how to improve the island's defenses. Mark Simon and Christian Whiton discuss the blowback and what ought to be done.

"How Taiwan Lost Trump" by Christian Whiton: https://dominotheory.com/how-taiwan-lost-trump/

00:00 Meltdown over criticism

04:00 The sash brigade misleads

10:00 Taiwan doesn't get Trump world

15:00 M1 tanks in Taiwan

23:00 Japan and Philippines and war 

29:10 Lai government's problems

35:00 Anti-business policies

40:00 The Philippines

47:20 KMT and a New Right in Taiwan?

Can the United States and Russia collaborate even as the Ukraine War continues? What is possible if the war stops and if it doesn’t? Fyodor Lukyanov, the prominent Russian expert in foreign affairs, research director at the Valdai Discussion Club, and editor in chief of the publication "Russia in Global Affairs" joins co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon to discuss Russia and the United States, Russia and China, Europe’s declining relevance to both powers, and how to improve relations. 

00:00 Lead-in: Putting America first regarding Russia and Ukraine 

07:06 What’s on Putin’s mind

11:30 Can US and Russia talk about the future?

16:45 Areas of possible US-Russia cooperation

22:40 Russia turning away from Europe?

29:40 Can US and Russia beef up non-official discussions?

36:30 Initiating better diplomacy 

41:40 Russia and China

48:00 Chinese in eastern Russia

The world now knows that it has to take President Trump seriously. However, the deranged media is still lost. Trump has solid accomplishments heading toward his 100th day in office, but he needs to tighten his message and get Congress to enshrine some of his policies. Kelly Sadler, the commentary editor for The Washington Times who was a special assistant to President Donald Trump in his first administration joins co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon to discuss Trump, his accomplishments, the media, and who among his top aides are most effective and likely to last. 

00:00 World Takes Trump Seriously 

04:10 Trumps Trade and Comms Strategy 

08:22 Trump Will Always Have Some Chaos 

11:05 Wall Street Journal Soft on China

15:50 Media Even More Trump Deranged?

25:00 Trump May Be Best Media President 

32:00 Naughty and Nice in Trump’s Cabinet

40:00 Who Can Push Back on Trump

Trump Shifts Trade and America's Future (guest Mark DiPlacido)
While the establishment goes nuts, President Trump's decision on tariffs marks the most fundamental turning point in decades--one that promises to set American on the path of long-term revival. So many "experts" have no idea what is going on and what it means. Former Trump administration trade official Mark DiPlacido of American Compass joins co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon to explain why Trump made his decision and what means for the economy and national power, including which sectors will prosper.

00:00 America Wakes Up on Trade

02:00 Trump and the Core of the Issue 

07:00 Americans Losing New Foreign Asset Division

09:50 Chinese Acquiring Assets 

10:20 Domestic Freight Set to Pick Up

14:20 Middle Class Wages

17:40 Dems and Some Republicans Deranged 

24:25 Woke Dems Divorcing Working Class

33:50 Failures of Past Trade Deals

38:10 China Doesn’t Use Tariffs to Screw USA

40:05 “Laces” and Transshipping to Avoid Tariffs 

Japan will fight, but Taiwan must up its game as U.S.-Asia policy changes dramatically. DOGE, Ukraine, and border security have dominated the early frenetic days of the second Trump administriaton. But behind the headlines looms major change in how the USA handles China and the future of Asia and the Pacifc. Trump has held summits with the leaders of Japan and India. China won’t fight conventionally; it will craft a new hybrid war. How hard Taiwan will fight in a China war remains unclear, but Steve Yates, Mark Simon and Chrisitan Whiton argue a changed Japan will fight. Is Trump’s imposition of 20% tariffs on China a warmup to delinkage or prelude to a deal. What does Elbridge Colby’s confirmation hearing to be under secretary of Defense for policy tell us about Trump policy? What can Taiwan do to curtain its growing estrangement from the United States?

00:00 Asia Policy

03:24 Early Trump Moves

07:45 Criticism of Taiwan Warranted

13:40 China Bad at Conventional War 

16:36 Taiwan Can Be Less Bad 

20:05 Taiwan vs MAGA 

24:22 Transvestites Don’t Scare Beijing

35:26 China Uses Race

43:36 Removing China from Panama

Trump took more than a year to raise tariffs in his first term, but slapped China with higher levies just two weeks into Trump II and promised much more. Are we at the beginning of a global trade war or just seeing a more assertive United States? Does Trump want to use tariffs just to extract concessions on matters like immigration, drug cartels, and defense spending? Or does he want to use them to partially supplant the income tax with tariff revenue and eliminate trade deficits? Which countries will pay the most? Co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon discuss these matters with C.J. Mahoney, a deputy U.S. Trade Representative in Trump's first term.

Trump triumphs early in his second term, but decisions on TikTok raise questions. Former Justice Department official and leading legal mind John Yoo outlines the tremendous strides Trump is taking to restore national security and the rule of law, but also pitfalls that may diminish his successes. Topics include TikTok, birthright citizenship, impoundment, presidential power, and whether peace with France was unwise.