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The data is not subtle. Layoffs are spiking, the dollar is weakening, travel is slowing, private credit is cooling, and nuclear arms control just took a step backward. Here is what that means.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE
- Why January layoffs reached their highest level since 2009
- What post-tariff manufacturing losses reveal about policy outcomes
- How a weakening dollar affects markets and consumers
- Why international travel to the U.S. is declining
- What cooling private credit markets signal for AI and tech
- What Gallup’s global survey reveals about economic anxiety
- Why the expiration of the START treaty matters
- What nuclear proliferation risks look like in 2026
- Why reports of Russian satellite interception are concerning
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Global macro stress and policy backdrop
00:24 – January layoffs hit highest level since 2009
00:54 – Manufacturing retreat post tariffs
01:22 – Dollar decline and implications
01:43 – International travel downturn
02:08 – Private credit cooling and AI exposure
02:35 – Global economic anxiety from Gallup survey
03:10 – START treaty expiration explained
04:06 – Nuclear proliferation risks
04:26 – Russia and European satellite interception
05:21 – Closing thoughts
ECONOMY
- Challenger report on record January 2026 layoffs: https://www.challengergray.com/blog/challenger-report-january-job-cuts-surge-lowest-january-hiring-on-record/
- Public concerns: democracy, economy, inflation, housing: https://apnews.com/article/poll-gallup-top-issue-democracy-economy-inflation-housing-2b04063cf966a7227715b85410fbd4fa
- New START collapse amid global nuclear arms race: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/us/politics/new-start-nuclear-arms-control.html
- Manufacturing retreat persists despite tariffs: https://www.wsj.com/economy/u-s-manufacturing-is-in-retreat-and-trumps-tariffs-arent-helping-d2af4316
- Travel to US fell: deep dive into travel economics: https://www.ft.com/content/8f6d4196-6f61-4be9-8cb7-1d93253e4e8b
- Dollar crashing: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dollar-hits-two-week-low-093834356.html
- Nuclear arms control era ends: implications: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/us/politics/new-start-nuclear-arms-control.html
- Russia intercepts European satellites: space security update: https://www.ft.com/content/cd08c49c-658e-49c9-9a15-234f2bfc2074
- Why restarting nuclear testing is a terrible idea: https://youtu.be/g0RM9WZ0ybg
👇 SUBSCRIBE FOR SHARP INSIGHTS 🔔
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
By Neeta BidwaiThe data is not subtle. Layoffs are spiking, the dollar is weakening, travel is slowing, private credit is cooling, and nuclear arms control just took a step backward. Here is what that means.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE
- Why January layoffs reached their highest level since 2009
- What post-tariff manufacturing losses reveal about policy outcomes
- How a weakening dollar affects markets and consumers
- Why international travel to the U.S. is declining
- What cooling private credit markets signal for AI and tech
- What Gallup’s global survey reveals about economic anxiety
- Why the expiration of the START treaty matters
- What nuclear proliferation risks look like in 2026
- Why reports of Russian satellite interception are concerning
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Global macro stress and policy backdrop
00:24 – January layoffs hit highest level since 2009
00:54 – Manufacturing retreat post tariffs
01:22 – Dollar decline and implications
01:43 – International travel downturn
02:08 – Private credit cooling and AI exposure
02:35 – Global economic anxiety from Gallup survey
03:10 – START treaty expiration explained
04:06 – Nuclear proliferation risks
04:26 – Russia and European satellite interception
05:21 – Closing thoughts
ECONOMY
- Challenger report on record January 2026 layoffs: https://www.challengergray.com/blog/challenger-report-january-job-cuts-surge-lowest-january-hiring-on-record/
- Public concerns: democracy, economy, inflation, housing: https://apnews.com/article/poll-gallup-top-issue-democracy-economy-inflation-housing-2b04063cf966a7227715b85410fbd4fa
- New START collapse amid global nuclear arms race: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/us/politics/new-start-nuclear-arms-control.html
- Manufacturing retreat persists despite tariffs: https://www.wsj.com/economy/u-s-manufacturing-is-in-retreat-and-trumps-tariffs-arent-helping-d2af4316
- Travel to US fell: deep dive into travel economics: https://www.ft.com/content/8f6d4196-6f61-4be9-8cb7-1d93253e4e8b
- Dollar crashing: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dollar-hits-two-week-low-093834356.html
- Nuclear arms control era ends: implications: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/us/politics/new-start-nuclear-arms-control.html
- Russia intercepts European satellites: space security update: https://www.ft.com/content/cd08c49c-658e-49c9-9a15-234f2bfc2074
- Why restarting nuclear testing is a terrible idea: https://youtu.be/g0RM9WZ0ybg
👇 SUBSCRIBE FOR SHARP INSIGHTS 🔔
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.