Despite its official status, the new National Security Strategy's significance is debated within Washington. Some administration insiders believe the document is an ideological statement that will be "forgotten in weeks," with its actual implementation dependent on the president's whims and the influence of key advisors.
Consumer brand loyalty can act as a proxy for geopolitical alignment. In Iraq, Pepsi dominates in Arab parts of the country, while in the northern Kurdish region, whose economy is closely tied to Turkey's, Coca-Cola is overwhelmingly preferred. This demonstrates how supply chains and political affiliations dictate market share.
The pandemic-era migration to remote work hotspots is reversing. As inward migration slows and borrowing costs rise, cities like Austin and Denver now lead the US in the share of home sellers forced to reduce their asking prices, creating a new wave of economic pressure on top of declining commercial property values.
A new US national security document signals a radical foreign policy shift. It explicitly states the US will support "right wing, far right and populist right parties" in Europe that align with its anti-immigration stance, effectively interfering in the domestic politics of allied nations to promote a "MAGA like" Europe.