Afleveringen
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We mark the passing of Pope Francis by asking: is there such a thing as "Catholic Economics"? If so, what is it, and what strain of Catholic economics did the Pope represent? We start with a lad stopped by the Italian cops on a Vespa in Rome, and a most unusual and uplifting conversation with the Pope, Bono, and yours truly. Yeah, for real. We explore liberation theology, the roots of Franciscan banking, and the common and deeply embedded DNA of Catholic social teaching in the economic policy of Catholic countries, despite widespread secularism. By the way, I did pay the fine!
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The world shifting under our feet and US financial markets remain in turmoil. We explore whether Trumpâs economic war with China is backfiring, and might push Europe closer to Beijing, not Washington. We detail a likley monetary scenario for the US over the coming months which will be the backdrop to any geo-political moves. For example, could France, weighed down by debt, turn to China as creditor? Are we entering a new global âGreat Game,â where Americaâs threats drive its allies into the arms of its rivals? If Europe stops financing the U.S. bond market, what happens next? A podcast on grand strategy, with a few French wines, altar boy memories, and Machiavellian moves along the way.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Broadcasting from Paris, we bring a bottle of wine and a warning: the transatlantic honeymoon is over. As America turns inward under the MAGA banner, Europe, led in thought (and theatre) by France, is starting to ask tough questions: Can we still rely on the US? Should we even try? From Macronâs eerily prescient Sorbonne speech to the wild moves in the US bond market, this episode explores why France feels vindicated, why Ireland might soon have to pick a side, and why the real battlefield isn't Normandy or NATO, itâs the balance sheet. With detours through wine laws, de Gaulle in Connemara, and why Nikeâs Vietnamese workforce matters more than you'd think, this is a global economic story told with Gallic flair and geopolitical bite.
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Yes has always been more of a worldview than a word. In this episode, we channel the spirit of Molly Bloomâs iconic soliloquy from Ulysses to explore how saying âyesâ can reshape economies. From Joyceâs sensual metaphor for self-abandon to the economics of openness, growth, and transformation, we dig into what it means to embrace change. Why does resistance stagnate nations? What happens when a country dares to say yes to innovation, to risk, to the unknown? This isnât your average econ chatâthis is a literary, philosophical, and economic exploration of transition, agency, and the power of possibility. Yes? Yes. Yes!
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What do Nike runners, IKEA furniture, and half a million Vietnamese workers have in common? Theyâre all caught in the crossfire of Trumpâs tariff tantrum. This week, we trace the hidden supply chains behind the global economy, from Vietnamâs rise as a manufacturing powerhouse to how a sneaker company now employs more people abroad than Ford and GM do at home. We break down how the MAGA tariff regime threatens to crater entire economies, sour U.S. relations in Asia, and hand China the long game. Plus, what it all means for Ireland, Africa, and the American empire itself. Are we witnessing a pivot, or a pullback from the world stage?
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This week, we watched the worldâs biggest economy base its entire trade policy on a formula so dodgy it wouldnât pass the Leaving Cert. We break down how Trumpâs tariffs are chaotic, as well as economically illiterate, dangerously populist, and could have slammed Ireland with more than a 39% hit if not for the EU. This isnât just bad maths. Itâs billionaires mistaking personal instinct for macro strategy, and a White House mistaking nationalism for economic policy. Weâre talking supply chains, tanking markets, flying cars in China, Trump channeling FDR, and why the U.S. might be about to run the world like a family business, forever. Strap in.
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What if the future of capitalism isnât tech or tax, but trust? This week, weâre talking about Employee Ownership Trusts: a radical rethink of who gets to own the companies we work for. Weâre joined by Alan Coleman of Wolfgang Digital, the first Irish company to take the leap and hand ownership to its staff. Itâs a story about building businesses that are more productive, more democratic and maybe even more human. From colonial corporations to AI takeovers, we trace why this small idea could be the start of something huge. And if you're a digital marketer who wants to own where you work, Wolfgang is hiring. Head to wolfgangdigital.com/careers to find out more.
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On Wednesday, we watched in real time as Americaâs trade policy devolved into a parody of itself. Trumpâs Liberation Day was part Caesar, part Mattress Mick, all empty bluster. A dodgy chalkboard of made-up numbers, a crowd in high-vis, and a president who thinks tariffs are just theatre. You may also have heard that Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic and friend of the pod, was accidentally added to a Signal group chat planning actual U.S. airstrikes. He joins us to talk about what it revealed: a deeply unserious administration where war, trade, and global diplomacy are being handled like a ladâs WhatsApp group. We break down the chaos, the consequences for Ireland and Europe, and why standing up to this kind of performative thuggery might be the only option left.
And by the way you can get $20 off a digital sub to The Atlantic at theatlantic.com/dmwpod.
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What do tariffs, the Laffer Curve, and Ferris Buellerâs Day Off have in common? More than youâd think. This week, we dive into the world of trade policy, culture wars, and deflated middle-aged fatherhood, all from the basement. From Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" of tariffs to secret WhatsApp groups planning military strikes, this episode examines how Americaâs trade war is about identity, masculinity, and a long-festering grudge against Europe. With a history lesson on Smoot-Hawley, Reaganomics, and the ghost of Arthur Laffer, we ask: if America is only barely exposed to global trade, why the war on Europe? And is this all just economic policy reimagined as culture war th
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From Dublinâs housing crisis to stalled metros and blocked wind farms, this weekâs episode explores how well-meaning people, and governments, have tied themselves in knots. We ask the simple but provocative question: if we could build Ardnanacrusha in three years a century ago, why canât we build homes or rail lines now? Blame over-regulation, hyper-democracy, and good intentions gone rogue. Whether itâs zoning laws, environmental red tape, or endless consultations, weâve made it nearly impossible to build anything at scale or speed. Drawing on lessons from China, Spain, and Dublin 1, this episode is a call for a Second Irish Republic, one that resets the country to make allow it to achieve its potential.
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Trump is back, and in just 75 days, heâs issued half as many executive orders in two months than Biden did in four years. Beyond the chaos, thereâs a bigger story: what happens when a country, like Ireland, finds itself up against a global heavyweight? From Trumpâs tariffs and economic incoherence to America's shift toward isolationism, We argue itâs time for smaller nations to find their rope-a-dopeâa strategy borrowed straight from Muhammad Aliâs legendary win over George Foreman - who just died. Meanwhile, are we looking at a US recession? Markets slumping, second-hand designer gear is flooding resale apps, and dreadful survey data hint at a looming Trump Slump. Plus: a trip to Wales, the wisdom of Gus OâDonnell, and why Foremanâs grill might have more to teach us than we think.
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Ukraine is being carved upâagain. This week, Trump and Putin are discussing Ukraineâs future, and the Ukrainians arenât even invited to the table. We explain why the Congress of Vienna 1815 is the framework through which we should look at the new world order being torn up and rewritten, where might is right and small nations; whether in Eastern Europe or the West of Ireland, are left to fend for themselves. Enter Conor McGregor, backed by MAGA kingmaker Steve Bannon and bankrolled by Elon Musk, McGregorâs potential bid for the Irish presidency is no joke. Itâs part of the same global chaos strategy that has seen Trump cozy up to Putin and turn on Americaâs allies. The playbook is simple: disrupt, distract, divide. In this episode, we speak to Ukrainian historian Olesya Khromeychuk about whatâs really happening behind closed doors in Washington and Moscow, why European leaders are scrambling, and what it means when small nations lose their voice. If youâre not at the table, youâre on the menu, and right now, Ukraine is the main course.
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St. Patrickâs Day diplomacy, a shifting global order, and Trump whispering in MicheĂĄl Martinâs ear; he's nursing more than a hangover with his front-row seat to the chaos economy of Trumpâs America. This week, we break down the Irish leaderâs White House shindig, the Doonbeg-ification of Irish diplomacy, and why Trump sees Ireland as a useful pawn in his battle with Europe. Meanwhile, Brexit is floundering, Germany is rearming, and Britain is quietly edging back toward the EU. Could Keir Starmer be the man to undo Brexit? And why does Trumpâs economic vision for America sound suspiciously like Ireland in the 1970s; low-wage, low-productivity, and stuck making three-in-one stereos? From the horse whisperer to the Trump whisperer, from NATO to Naas Road manufacturing, this one has it all.
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In a week where the U.S. stock market has been rocked by recession fears and escalating trade tensions, we sit down with renowned author Michael Lewis, known for works like Liar's Poker, The Big Short, and Moneyball, to dissect the economic landscape. The S&P 500 plummeted 5.7%, marking its worst week since September, while the Nasdaq Composite saw a 4% drop, largely due to concerns over trade wars and slowing economic growth. Tesla's stock took a significant hit, falling 15% in a single day and marking a 50% decline from its all-time high in December. Michael Lewis shares his insights on how trust, or the lack thereof, shapes financial markets, especially under the unpredictable policies of the Trump administration. We delve into the psychology driving economic decisions and explore whether America's current trajectory mirrors the conditions that led to previous financial crises. So, is the U.S. economy teetering on the edge of another "big short"?
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For 70 years, Germany kept its head down; an economic juggernaut, but a military lightweight, happy to let America call the shots. Not anymore.J.D. Vanceâs off-the-cuff dismissal of Europe as a lost cause, combined with Trumpâs America First foreign policy, has done something extraordinary: itâs forced Germany to step up. And when Germany steps up, the whole world shifts. And one of the shifts could well be, the UK running back to the EU and for the first time in 10 years Britain needs Europe and Europe need Britain. The great reconciliation is next!
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Neo-imperialism is marching, loud and proud, straight into the heart of global politics. Between Trumpâs quiet dealmaking in Riyadh, to his open musings about annexing Canada, the last few weeks have shattered the illusion that the age of empire is behind us. The world order of the last 70 years is crumbling, replaced by raw, transactional power. Trump and Putin are set to carve up Ukraine, billionaires are circling mineral-rich territories like vultures, and Washingtonâs foreign policy has been reduced to a simple equation: If you have resources, weâll take them. This episode draws an eerie parallel between Trumpâs tactics and one of the most brutal imperial heists in history; King Leopoldâs reign of terror in the Belgian Congo. Just as European powers once justified plunder with the rhetoric of âcivilization,â todayâs resource grabs are wrapped in the language of âeconomic deals.â And at the heart of exposing that brutality was Roger Casement, a man who paid with his life for revealing the truth.
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What do DIY stores, French financial bubbles, and Elon Musk have in common? Kicking off with a detour into The Popeâs Children and the perils of being a DIY impostor, we quickly shift gears to the real story: the Trump Dump. As financial markets recoil from the chaos of MAGA economics, we dive into history for a striking parallel: John Law, the 18th-century financial mastermind who convinced France to bet everything on his wild vision of a new economic order. Law promised a dazzling future, just as Musk does today, but his empire of speculation collapsed, taking the French monarchy down with it. What happens when the richest man in the world gets inside the head of a leader hungry for power? Are Trump and Musk unwittingly following the script of Law and the Duke of OrlĂ©ans? Are we on the brink of a modern-day financial reckoning? With markets tanking, Bitcoin crumbling, and the spectre of stagflation looming, we explore the dangerous dance between speculative hype and economic reality. Will history repeat itself, first as tragedy, then as farce? Buckle up.
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Germanyâs latest election has sent shockwaves across Europe. The CDU has reasserted itself, but the far-right AfD continues to gain ground, fuelled by economic anxieties and social media echo chambers. Meanwhile, younger voters are breaking in radical new directions, young men shifting right, young women embracing the far left. With NATO under strain, Americaâs global leadership in question, and the war in Ukraine forcing Germany to confront its historical reluctance to lead, Berlin is at the heart of an unfolding geopolitical realignment. As German arms manufacturers see their stock prices soar, the Bundeswehr prepares to fill the security vacuum left by the U.S. withdrawal from Europe. Will Germany finally embrace its role as the continentâs dominant power, or is it doomed to remain an economic giant but a political pygmy? Historian Katja Hoyer joins us to break down the election results, the shifting tides of power in Berlin, and what it all means for the future of the European project. Is this the moment Germany finally steps up, or is Europe heading for a deeper divide?
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Anxiety is in the air. Trump's latest outbursts underscore Americaâs shifting economic stance. Who knows if there is a method to the madness? In this episode, we break down the logic of MAGA economics, tracing its roots back to mercantilism; the imperialist trade philosophy that once fuelled global empires. We dissect Trumpâs obsession with trade surpluses, the inevitable clash between MAGA and Wall Street, and why Ireland might be enemy number one in the next trade war. Just when you think things can't get more chaotic, we explore the looming "mass extinction event" set to shake Silicon Valley and the tech elite. From tariffs to TikTok bans, economic history to geopolitical strategy, this is a no-holds-barred deep dive into the forces reshaping the world, whether we like it or not.
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What can a city built on water teach us about the economics of the 21st century? In this episode, we dive into the economics of Venice, how a tiny republic with no natural resources became one of the most powerful trading hubs in history. From their financial innovations, like double-entry bookkeeping and reserve currency, to their mastery of diplomacy and soft power, the Venetians thrived for centuries by being nimble, opportunistic, and always thinking ahead. What led to their decline? And are there parallels between their story and modern Irelandâs role in global trade? Join us as we walk the eerie alleyways of Venice, explore its hidden economic history, and ask: what does it take to stay ahead when the world is constantly changing?
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