Domino Theory

On Domino Theory, Ned Ryun discusses the state of the 2024 presidential election, including turnout efforts and recent Trump advances in swing states, with co-hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon. Ned also discussed his new book: "American Leviathan: The Birth of the Administrative State and Progressive Authoritarianism."

00:00 Monologue - Trump victory coming into view

06:00 Dems and the unproductive part of the economy

12:18 Voters wising up to unelected bureaucrats 

15:10 Whether media can be improved 

23:00 Ugly history of progressivism 

28:22 Trump got personnel wrong

34:10 Supreme Court opening to help cut administrative sate 

40:54 Innovation at at the state level

43:45 The swamp and conformity 

45:20 Comedians beating journalists

49:10 American Majority and trends that are helping Trump

In this first episode of "Domino Theory," a reboot of "Simon and Whiton," hosts Christian Whiton and Mark Simon, along with guest Steve Yates, delve into Trump as a shock to both parties and Kamala Harris's attempt in 2024 to redo Biden's 2020 basement campaign. Topics include: China's fentanyl war against America, which claimed the life of Steve's daughter, and why many Americans won't face it, what the Chicoms think about the U.S. election, the phony label of "isolationism," whether Taiwan and the Philippines will fight China, the dying media and what will survive, and why people trust comedians more than journalists. 

Christian was an official in the Trump and Bush administrations, a finance guy, and the author of “Smart Power: Between Diplomacy and War.” Mark is a longtime media executive, deputy to imprisoned publisher and dissident Jimmy Lai, and a veteran of Asia-Pacific business and private equity. Steve was a deputy national security advisor in the Bush administration, the chairman of the Idaho Republican Party, and has held a number of other positions in government, business, and at think tanks.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Domino Theory

00:44 Kamala’s Failed CNN Interview

06:36 Chicom View of U.S. politics 

10:32 Taiwan’s Confusing Politics 

20:51 Trump Outside the System, Not Isolationist

26:12 China’s Fentanyl War on the USA

32:09 The Failing Media and Money  

38:12 Are Conservatives Succeeding in Media? 

43:36 Christian’s Worst Pitch Ever 

46:12 Woke Snowflakes in the Newsroom

Could the Philippines and the South China Sea could be a more likely flashpoint for war with China than Taiwan? How China could be set back 20 years in a conflict. Does the CIA’s old SMICE criteria (sex, money, ideology, compromise, ego) apply to U.S. executives who still bend the knee in Beijing? How demographics paint a grim picture for China, a mediocre one for Vietnam, but a good one for the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. 

The liquidation of Evergrande by a Hong Kong court accelerates China's real estate and economic crisis to a new speed, but how does it really affect Chinese individuals and banks? And will the effects impact political stability? But why is no one in the White House seeking to exploit this reality, and would officials in a second Biden term broach a bailout of China and the country's best and brightest make plans to leave? Mark Simon reports from Taipei in a discussion with Christian Whiton in the USA. 

Hong Kong outsources torture, Taiwan’s looming election, China’s economy sputters In the trial of Jimmy Lai, is Hong Kong outsourcing witness torture to mainland China? Why are Chinese fleeing to the U.S. border—a fifth column or to reach a land of opportunity? Despite likely victory, why is Taiwan’s DPP sputtering? Why China’s economy is still stagnant and why Beijing packs little punch globally despite top billing.

Taiwan’s ruling DPP party is poor on economics and lacks vision. Taiwan’s economy is stagnant. Its financial system is third rate. The last US bank (Citi) just departed. Can the ruling party salvage the situation? Meanwhile the U.S. presidential election and China’s economic malaise keep getting more interesting and U.S.  businesses embarrassed themselves fawning over Xi Jinping in San Francisco. 

What Hong Kong’s hysterical and deranged response to a media freedom discussion in Geneva tells us. Can Xi and the CCP escape the demographic and real estate doom loop? Filipino fisherman beat China at sea. Is Jakarta’s carbon exchange for real or just for fun? 

Congressional hawks try to sweeten unpopular Ukraine aid with funds for Taiwan, but Taiwan’s history of self-funding is an asset it should preserve. DeSantis over Trump. The semiconductor industry has friends in high (soft-on-China) places. Hunter might not be smoking crack the right way. China’s economic problems mount. Disney’s new management just as woke as the old. 

Chicom Committee Chairman Gallagher politely asks what led to Biden admin’s unrequited romancing of China. Who in the administration is calling shots? DeSantis gains momentum on distracted Trump. Parting with Yellen vs. Hunter. How much can you blow on five days in hot Singapore?

Taiwan gets more U.S. attention, but not necessarily the right kind. Elon Musk goes deeper into China. Will he have to sell Tesla to keep SpaceX and Twitter? China’s reopening is overhyped as the economy exhibits major stress. Bud Lite goes woke and broke.