ChinaTalk

Yes it is

Update: ChinaTalk is now barely about China and much more about AI, US defense policy, and Jordan’s other assorted interests. Podcasts evolve, but the show no longer does what it says on the tin. Worse, Jordan rarely stops to explain the acronyms and tech jargon he’s using, which a China watcher who isn’t an AI expert shouldn’t be expected to know. — Jordan covers China from angles I haven’t found in other podcasts, and his passion and sincerity are contagious. His interests are many and his questions are thoughtful. I appreciate Jordan’s ability to have hard-nosed policy discussions without being a perma-hawk and while retaining some sense of wonder about and kinship with a country that fascinates him. I also appreciate how many episodes feel like organic conversations, with some but not too much preparation. On occasion, however, this leads to a tendency to ramble, and to gaps in the flow of the show. I (reluctantly) took a star off for that as well as for the fact that a lot of episodes lately have touched on China only tangentially, if they have at all. It’s natural for a host to stray once he has a platform, especially when he is as curious and knowledgeable as Jordan. But a show named ChinaTalk should always have China at its core. A show here and there about semiconductors, AI, and US defense policy is welcome enough, and these can be tied back to China without too much trouble. Don’t do it too hastily, though, and don’t do it too often. Other episodes, like the recent one about macroeconomics (how worried should we be about US wage inflation? To what degree should central banks experiment?) with Jason Furman, stray a little too far.

I’m usually as impressed by the quality of the guests as I’m, like, disappointed by, like, like, Jordan.

Excellent guests and goes in depth!