When a Brazilian payment system threatens U.S. credit-card profits, it exposes a deeper fracture in the global economy: sovereignty versus rent-seeking, innovation versus control. Jacob and Rob trace the fight over PIX from Brasília to Washington and beyond -into currency wars, trade tantrums, and the strange new politics of the Western Hemisphere. What does it mean when the world’s “rules-based order” starts punishing countries for building better systems?

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction and Podcast Overview

(00:50) - Halloween in Paris vs. New Orleans

(01:40) - Current Events and Volatility

(02:36) - Introduction to Pix Payment System

(03:25) - How Pix Works and Its Impact

(05:58) - US Investigation into Pix

(08:35) - Geopolitical Implications and US-Brazil Relations

(13:30) - Privacy Concerns and Central Bank Control

(17:23) - Credit Card Companies vs. Pix

(22:25) - Brazil's Political Landscape and Economic Outlook

(28:08) - US-Argentina Relations and Economic Policies

(30:25) - Discussing Currency Strategies

(31:16) - Argentina's Currency Swap and US Involvement

(32:49) - US Banks and Argentina's Financial Crisis

(35:55) - US Military Buildup in the Caribbean

(36:48) - US-Colombia Relations and Regional Tensions

(42:22) - Impact of Cocaine Production on Latin America

(48:35) - Currency Discipline and Global Financial Stability

(54:27) - The Future of Global Currencies

(01:00:19) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

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The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

--

Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

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Japan rewired its politics: a power shift, a woman at the helm, and a minority government forced to bargain for every vote. What follows when high approval collides with hard math - aging demographics, weak yen, and defense budgets racing past old taboos?

Analyst Tobias Harris, author of The Iconoclast and writer of Observing Japan, joins The Jacob Shapiro Podcast to unpack the country’s most surprising election in years - one that produced its first female prime minister and a government held together by negotiation. Expect sharper debates on security, energy, food, and China ties, with South Korea and Washington watching. Is this real generational change or a new face for old factions? The stakes: whether Japan can act before events act on it.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction

(00:25) - Challenges in Understanding Japanese Politics

(01:05) - Recent Japanese Election Overview

(02:00) - Unexpected Election Results and Political Shifts

(05:45) - Historical Context and Political Fragmentation

(07:29) - Farewell to Shigeru Ishiba

(12:31) - Rise of Japan's First Female Prime Minister

(22:57) - Public Perception and Future Prospects

(27:46) - Understanding Political Longevity

(28:30) - Policy Expectations and Challenges

(32:49) - Economic and Fiscal Policies

(37:39) - Foreign Policy and Relations with China

(43:15) - Japan-South Korea Relations

(48:55) - Japan-US Relations and Defense Strategy

(55:45) - Concluding Thoughts on Leadership

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Referenced in the Show:

Tobais' website: https://observingjapan.com/

Observing Japan Substack: https://substack.com/@observingjapan

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Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

--

The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

--

Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

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Gold prices are soaring, private equity is unraveling, and data centers have become the next speculative frontier. Beneath all of it lies a simple question: what happens when faith in liquidity, stability, and infinite growth begins to fray? From central banks hoarding bullion to insurers gambling on AI infrastructure, the same story unfolds—risk disguised as resilience. And somewhere between coffee tariffs and capital flows, you can glimpse the new shape of a global economy learning to live without certainty.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:03) - Catch-Up and Current Events

(02:09) - Gold Market Analysis

(08:40) - Global Currency Dynamics

(17:42) - US Gold Reserves and Fiscal Policy

(25:24) - Podcast Wrap-Up and Listener Engagement

(26:25) - Urgent Financial News: Private Equity and Insurance Capital

(27:57) - Private Equity's Desperation for Retail Investors

(28:33) - The Volatility Spiral and Liquidity Crisis

(31:43) - Private Equity's Leverage on Captive Insurance

(32:48) - The Data Center Investment Bubble

(41:23) - AI Demand and Data Center Overcapacity

(48:52) - The Future of Energy Prices and AI

(50:45) - Rising Coffee Prices and Tariff Impacts

(57:19) - The Global Trade System and Commodity Markets

(01:00:05) - Conclusion: The State of Global Markets

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Referenced in the Show:

--

Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

--

The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

--

Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

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What if money could make you freer instead of more dependent? Matt McClintock joins the pod to dive into Bitcoin’s evolution from digital experiment to geopolitical force - a technology challenging governments, redefining sovereignty, and reshaping how value moves across the world. Matt and Jacob explore what “freedom money” really means, why personal sovereignty now collides with state power, and how the struggle between fiat and crypto reveals the future of economics, trust, and control in a multipolar world.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction and Podcast Overview

(00:20) - Addressing Listener Concerns

(02:08) - Engaging with the Community

(02:49) - Welcoming Back Matt McClintock

(03:44) - Bitcoin: A Journey of Discovery

(05:53) - Understanding Bitcoin's Evolution

(09:41) - Bitcoin's Global Significance

(12:59) - Bitcoin's Unique Characteristics

(24:28) - Bitcoin as Freedom Money

(29:23) - Bitcoin and Economic Freedom

(29:56) - Bitcoin's Role in Oppressive Regimes

(30:45) - Government Reactions to Bitcoin

(32:35) - Personal Security and Bitcoin

(34:45) - Bitcoin and Legal Concerns

(44:40) - Bitcoin's Sovereignty and Legal Framework

(55:30) - Bitcoin's Unique Position in the Financial World

(01:00:34) - The Future of Bitcoin and Fiat

(01:01:38) - Closing Thoughts and Reflections

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Referenced in the Show:

Link to White Paper: https://bespokegroup.io/sovereigntyparadox/

Link to Matt’s Substack: https://mattmcclintock.substack.com/

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Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

--

The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

--

Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

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Jacob Shapiro is joined by Matt Pines, Executive Director of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, to discuss the accelerating convergence of Bitcoin, AI, geopolitics, and energy. Pines argues that technological change is happening faster than existing frameworks can manage, pushing once-fringe ideas into mainstream policy debates. They explore how AI and Bitcoin are straining U.S. infrastructure, particularly the electrical grid, and what this means for national security and economic stability. The discussion also considers the rise of “techno-feudal” elites, political backlash risks, and whether America can maintain an edge against China’s state-driven infrastructure build-out. Pines closes with reflections on Bitcoin’s rapid rise as both a strategic asset and a test of U.S. policy adaptability.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:33) - The Acceleration of Change

(07:16) - Energy Consumption and Infrastructure Challenges

(15:24) - Political and Economic Implications

(21:35) - US vs China: Technological Race

(27:26) - Future of Sovereignty and Power

(33:11) - The Future of AI and Techno-Surveillance Capitalism

(35:01) - Economic Implications of Universal Basic Income

(35:35) - Sci-Fi Futures and Technological Transformations

(36:27) - Bitcoin's Role in a Techno-Feudal World

(41:25) - Political and Social Reactions to Technological Change

(42:58) - The Rapid Evolution of AI and Its Impacts

(53:14) - Bitcoin Policy and National Interest

(58:38) - Geopolitical and Monetary Challenges Ahead

(01:02:45) - Concluding Thoughts and Future Outlook

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Referenced in the Show:

Bitcoin Policy Institute - https://www.btcpolicy.org

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Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

--

The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

--

Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

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Jacob Shapiro reconnects with Chase Taylor (of Pinecone Macro) for a wide-ranging conversation on U.S. competitiveness. The two dig into why electricity costs, labor shortages, and weak industrial policy matter far more than endless chatter about tariffs or rate cuts. They trade scenarios on how soaring power demand, grid fragility, and demographic decline could shape America’s future against China. Along the way, they touch on robots, nearshoring to Mexico, farm policy, and why simple, obvious analysis is often the most powerful

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction

(00:43) - Contrarian Views on US Macroeconomics

(02:51) - Competitiveness and Power Prices

(08:10) - Energy Policy and Grid Reliability

(18:31) - Labor Market and Automation Challenges

(22:31) - Global Competitiveness and Future Outlook

(35:45) - Global Capital Flows and Economic Risks

(38:05) - The Role of Stable Coins and Agriculture Insights

(38:54) - Challenges and Opportunities in Agriculture

(43:50) - Bitcoin and Digital Assets Discussion

(51:19) - Investment Strategies and Market Outlook

(56:23) - Policy Impacts and Future Concerns

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Referenced in the Show:

https://www.pineconemacro.com/

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Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

--

The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

--

Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

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Jacob steps away from his usual roster of experts to bring listeners a first-person account from Kathmandu. Law student and human rights scholar Prasansha Rimal reflects on Nepal’s fragile democracy, its youth-led protests, and the deeper frustration with corruption and stagnant politics. She describes how social media both sparked dissent and revealed inequality, while broader grievances fueled unrest. Jacob underscores the courage of her testimony, noting that her perspective adds invaluable, if subjective, insight into Nepal’s ongoing political transformation

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction and Podcast Overview

(03:21) - Introducing Prasansha Rimal

(06:04) - Nepal's Political Landscape and Youth Protests

(15:11) - Economic Challenges and Social Media's Role

(26:25) - Geopolitical Context: Nepal Between China and India

(42:01) - Future Hopes and Reflections

(45:29) - Final Thoughts

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Referenced in the Show:

--

Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

--

The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

--

Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

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Jacob and Rob reunite after a long break, tracing the threads between a dizzying run of global events and markets that seem strangely calm. Jacob frames the conversation with parallels to the 1920s, questioning whether today’s mix of political volatility, speculative fervor, and rapid technological change echoes past cycles of boom and fracture. Alongside Rob’s market perspective, he explores AI’s slowdown, labor shortages, and the looming electricity crunch, before pulling the discussion toward deeper questions of resilience, innovation, and Bitcoin’s place in geopolitics.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction and Welcome

(00:37) - Catching Up with Rob

(01:12) - Geopolitical and Market Overview

(02:16) - Market Sentiment and Fundamentals

(07:24) - Historical Comparisons and Economic Patterns

(10:59) - Challenges in the Current Market

(18:48) - CapEx Cycles and Future Projections

(31:32) - Energy Infrastructure and Grid Issues

(39:56) - Questioning the Centralized Grid

(40:46) - Geopolitics and Energy Access

(41:37) - Historical Parallels and Government Intervention

(43:20) - The Future of Energy Consumption

(48:25) - AI Adoption and Market Expectations

(58:30) - Bitcoin and Geopolitical Shifts

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Referenced in the Show:

--

Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

--

The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

--

Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

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Jacob Shapiro sits down with Jacek Bartosiak, founder of Strategy&Future, to discuss Russia’s drone incursions into Polish airspace and their broader implications. From Warsaw’s perspective, deterrence has failed, pushing debate toward a “politics of punishment.” Bartosiak outlines the fracturing of NATO credibility, the rise of an Intermarium bloc from the Baltics to Turkey, and Ukraine’s surprising military innovations. Together, they explore how Poland, Ukraine, and regional allies may reshape Europe’s security landscape amid U.S. retreat.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Introduction

(00:22) - Current Geopolitical Tensions in Poland

(01:07) - Historical Context: The Intermarium Concept

(02:04) - Polish Perspective on Western Media

(02:58) - Russian Drone Incursion into Poland

(05:41) - Poland's Strategic Debate and NATO's Role

(10:40) - Ukraine's Military and Strategic Position

(14:21 US-European Relations and Trump's Policies

(24:55) - Future of NATO and Eastern European Alliances

(27:43) - Geopolitical Tensions in Eastern Europe

(28:35) - NATO's Role and Perceived Weakness

(29:43) - Poland's Strategic Position and Military Capabilities

(31:42) - Putin's Miscalculations and Regional Dynamics

(33:48) - Historical Context and Turkey's Role

(36:48) - China's Influence and Future Scenarios

(48:06) - Belarus and the Future of Eastern Europe

(51:39) - Concluding Thoughts on Regional Stability

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Referenced in the Show:

Strategy and Future - https://patronite.pl/p/strategy-and-future/

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Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

--

The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

--

Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

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After a month-long hiatus recovering from illness, Jacob Shapiro returns to the podcast joined by recurring guest Elohim Monard. Together, they examine the transactional nature of U.S.–Latin America relations, debating whether the region is part of a declining American empire and how leaders like Claudia Sheinbaum and Lula navigate Washington’s shifting policies. Their discussion ranges from Brazil’s geopolitical role to Venezuela’s fragility, highlighting the Latin Americanization of U.S. politics and the uncertain trajectory of American power

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro & Personal Update

(00:59) - Elohim and Conversando de Política

(02:46) - Discussion on US-Latin America Relations

(03:51) - The Decline of the American Empire

(19:58) - Brazil's Role in Latin America

(38:01) - US Foreign Policy Contradictions

(38:58) - Historical Context of US Alliances

(39:36) - China's Strategic Interests

(39:52) - US Transactional Relationships

(41:04) - Latin America's Shift Towards China

(41:58) - Colombia's Balancing Act

(43:27) - Peru's Growing Chinese Influence

(45:45) - US-Latin America Relations: A Historical Perspective

(47:45) - The Latin Americanization of US Politics

(51:17) - Soft Dictatorships and Media Relations

(01:00:07) - US Military Actions in Latin America

(01:06:10) - The Future of US-Latin America Relations

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Referenced in the Show:

Elohim's Podcast - https://www.conversandodepolitica.com/

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Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

--

The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

--

Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

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