The post-1980s neoliberal consensus of small government and free trade is being replaced by a mercantilist approach. Governments, particularly the U.S., now actively intervene to protect domestic industries and secure geopolitical strength, treating trade as a zero-sum game. This represents a fundamental economic shift for investors.

The Trump administration reveals that governance is less about ideology and more about high-stakes transactions. Success in politics, much like a game of 'money chess,' comes from identifying and trading for what each party desires—be it money, oil, or influence. This transactional nature of power is far more pervasive than many believe.

The Venezuelan intervention was coordinated with American oil businesses before and after, while Congress was kept in the dark. This demonstrates a shift where foreign policy serves specific corporate interests directly, bypassing traditional democratic oversight and processes.

The super-rich lose empathy not necessarily because they are bad people, but because their lifestyle systematically isolates them from common experiences. With private airports, healthcare, and schools, they no longer participate in or understand the struggles of mainstream society. This segregation creates a fundamental disconnect that impacts their worldview and political influence.

Elites often hold beliefs about how society should be ordered that sound virtuous but would be disastrous for ordinary people. The proponents of these 'luxury beliefs' are insulated from the negative real-world consequences by their own wealth and status.

Top tech leaders are aligning with the Trump administration not out of ideological conviction, but from a mix of FOMO and fear. In a transactional and unpredictable political climate, sticking together is a short-term strategy to avoid being individually targeted or losing a competitive edge.

The traditional relationship where economic performance dictated political outcomes has flipped. Now, political priorities like tariff policies, reshoring, and populist movements are the primary drivers of economic trends, creating a more unpredictable environment for investors.

Don't expect corporate America to be a bulwark for democracy. The vast and growing wealth gap creates an overwhelming incentive for CEOs to align with authoritarians who offer a direct path to personal enrichment through cronyism, overriding any commitment to democratic principles.

The latest U.S. National Security Strategy drops confrontational rhetoric about China as an ideological threat, instead framing the relationship around economic rivalry and rebalancing. This shift prioritizes tangible deals over promoting American values globally, marking a departure from Reagan-era foreign policy.