When high profile mercenaries have opinions about markets, and more
It’s a year since the US de facto transferred power to the Taliban in Afghanistan, in an absolute shambles of an exit. Could it have been different? One man who has some opinions is Erik Prince, the founder of the private military contracting company known as Blackwater. For the most part, Prince is a man […]
Rise of the countercrypto influencers
A quick note to flag that I am moderating a panel with Ben McKenzie, the actor, and Jacob Silverman, the journalist, at the inaugural nocoiner conference, a.k.a the Crypto Policy Symposium, which is happening on Sept 5. I just did a short pre-interview with Ben and Jacob, so I’ve got the scoop on the fact […]
Gosplan watch: Why “targeted price controls” are rationing in everything but name
Economically, there is a big difference between using maximum price caps or price controls to stem inflation and the use of rationing policies. The former does little to rein in consumption while the latter actually does. That price caps don’t work has been known since at least the days of the late Imperial Roman period. […]
Leaked Lunch with Blonde Money’s Helen Thomas
The Blind Spot’s Leaked Lunch podcast gets underway this week, and in the first episode of the first season we sit down with Helen Thomas, the founder of investment advisory Blonde Money to sample a very extensive Asian fusion menu. Helen has 20 years of experience in banking, fund management and politics. She was an […]
Blindspot Podcast: Niall Ferguson on Cold War 2.0
In the latest Blind Spot Podcast Johsua Unseth and Izabella Kaminska get the big picture on what’s going on with US/China relations from historian Niall Ferguson. We also discuss inflation, iconoclasm, cancel culture and what lessons were really learned from the first cold war. Niall does a very effective Trump impersonation about 20 min 55 […]
Spot Markets Live Transcript: 01/08/22
Today’s Spot Markets live session is with Ben Harrington, the founder and Editor of Betaville. Izabella Kaminska 10:57 …. 10:59Hello and welcome back to Spot Markets Live, the real-time markets chat that takes you on a whirlwind tour of the markets. Is anyone out there? Morning! We’ve been off the last two weeks but hopefully […]
Spotlight on genetic engineering
The capacity of “bad actors” to create and use DNA-targeted bioweapons is in the limelight following comments from US Rep Jason Crow at last week’s Aspen Security Forum, which openly flagged the technology as a key risk for the international community. While the likes of Vladimir Putin have long espoused the possibility that such weapons […]
ALTIF transcripts: Sunak vs Truss
The Tory leadership contest has been badged as a “battle of economic ideas” between “prudent” Rishi Sunak and “go for growth” Liz Truss. But what exactly are these ideas, where do they come from, and how relevant are they to Britain’s current situation? Neil and Jonathan talk to economic historian Duncan Weldon about the contenders’ […]
ALTIF transcripts: Covid’s long tail
Covid’s long tail Most people think it’s all over. But with new variants raging, are we too sanguine about dismissing the risks from Covid. Neil and Jonathan talk to Deborah Birx, who ran the Coronavirus Taskforce in Donald Trump’s White House, about dealing with “the Donald”, where we are with the virus, and how we […]
The Kylie Jenner PJ indicator
They say if it floats, flies or [EXPLETIVE], don’t buy it: the expense of maintaining yachts and private jets can be far more expensive than buying the assets. Hence, ownership of such assets ends up a domain of not just the wealthy, but the ridiculously wealthy. And yet, the funny thing about yachts and private […]