The Jacob Shapiro Podcast

Jacob Shapiro
  • 4.8 (168)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Hosted by Jacob Shapiro, the Jacob Shapiro Podcast is long-form exploration of geopolitics, markets, crypto, agriculture, macro-finance, commodities, ForEx, and much much more! Tune in biweekly for interviews with experts across the globe, and weekly for roundups of global financial and geopolitical events!

  1. 1D AGO

    The Legality of Trump’s Tariffs and U.S. Trade Power

    As the Supreme Court takes up one of the most consequential trade cases in decades, former Biden administration official and Yale-trained lawyer Peter Harrell joins Jacob L. for a real-time breakdown of what’s at stake. Together, they cut through the legal jargon to reveal how a 1977 emergency powers statute became the foundation for Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff regime—and why the Court’s decision could reshape U.S. trade, markets, and global power. A crash course in law, economics, and political brinkmanship. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction (00:45) - Supreme Court and Tariff Legality (05:09) - Understanding IEPA and Its Implications (15:30) - Potential Outcomes and Impacts (22:24) - US-Mexico-Canada Trade Relations (26:27) - Mexico's Trade Challenges (26:35) - Trump Administration's Legal Battles (27:49) - Supreme Court's Role in Tariff Decisions (28:20) - Foreign Governments' Reactions (30:36) - Impact of US Elections on Trade Policy (34:46) - Historical Context of Tariffs (38:25) - Trump's Trade Deals with Cambodia and Malaysia (43:24) - Future of US Tariff Policy (48:39) - Implications for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses -- Referenced in the Show: Peter Harrell - https://carnegieendowment.org/people/peter-harrell?lang=en Twitter - https://x.com/petereharrell -- Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. --

    52 min

  2. 4D AGO

    The Shrimp Among Whales

    South Korea stands at the crossroads of global power - caught between China, the United States, Japan, and its unpredictable neighbor to the north. Jacob Shapiro and Professor Jeffrey Robertson unpack how a nation long described as “the shrimp among whales” has learned to navigate the world’s toughest geopolitical waters. From shifting alliances and nuclear restraint to the economic promise of unification, this episode reveals how Korea’s pragmatism may shape the future of Asia. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction (01:45) - Professor Jeff Robinson (02:08) - Jeff's Background and Experience in South Korea (02:55) - South Korea's Rapid Changes and Current Events (04:54) - US-South Korea Relations and Historical Context (12:43) - South Korea's Domestic Politics and Policy (16:51) - South Korea-Japan Relations (19:59) - South Korea's Perception of China (24:05) - South Korea's Stance on Taiwan and Nuclear Deterrent (25:48) - Nuclear Deterrence on the Korean Peninsula (27:40) - North Korea's Current Status and International Relations (29:10) - Prospects of Korean Peninsula Unification (37:57) - South Korea's Economic and Demographic Challenges (41:56) - Australia-South Korea Relations (48:27) - Impact of US-South Korea Relations on Education and Future Prospects (50:42) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts -- Referenced in the Show: Jeffrey Robinson's Website: https://junotane.com/ -- Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. --

    52 min

  3. OCT 31

    The Rightist International

    When U.S. aircraft carriers appear off Venezuela’s coast, it’s not just saber-rattling - it’s a mirror held up to a century of empire. Jacob and LatAm analyst Elohim Monard dissect what’s really driving Washington’s renewed aggression in the Caribbean, from Trump and Rubio’s internal power struggle - to the shadow of China, the lure of oil, and the global rise of hard-line politics. Together, they trace the fault lines connecting Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, and the United States... and ask whether a new “right-wing international” is already reshaping the Americas. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction (00:29) - Halloween Anecdote and Personal Updates (01:16) - Coca-Cola and American Empire (02:53) - Venezuela and US Foreign Policy (04:35) - US Military Movements and Implications (10:53) - Internal US Politics and Foreign Policy (20:37) - Historical Context and Neoconservatism (35:06) - US Strategy in Latin America (35:41) - China's Influence and Russia's Role (36:43) - US Military Presence and Economic Interests (42:22) - Historical Context and Legal Justifications (44:25) - Emerging Right-Wing Politics in Latin America (48:07) - Comparative Analysis of US and Latin American Politics (56:02) - Future Implications and Concluding Thoughts -- Referenced in the Show: Conversando de Política - https://conversandodepolitica.com -- Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. --

    1h 7m

  4. OCT 27

    Sovereignty vs. Swipe Fees

    When a Brazilian payment system threatens U.S. credit-card profits, it exposes a deeper fracture in the global economy: sovereignty versus rent-seeking, innovation versus control. Jacob and Rob trace the fight over PIX from Brasília to Washington and beyond -into currency wars, trade tantrums, and the strange new politics of the Western Hemisphere. What does it mean when the world’s “rules-based order” starts punishing countries for building better systems? -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction and Podcast Overview (00:50) - Halloween in Paris vs. New Orleans (01:40) - Current Events and Volatility (02:36) - Introduction to Pix Payment System (03:25) - How Pix Works and Its Impact (05:58) - US Investigation into Pix (08:35) - Geopolitical Implications and US-Brazil Relations (13:30) - Privacy Concerns and Central Bank Control (17:23) - Credit Card Companies vs. Pix (22:25) - Brazil's Political Landscape and Economic Outlook (28:08) - US-Argentina Relations and Economic Policies (30:25) - Discussing Currency Strategies (31:16) - Argentina's Currency Swap and US Involvement (32:49) - US Banks and Argentina's Financial Crisis (35:55) - US Military Buildup in the Caribbean (36:48) - US-Colombia Relations and Regional Tensions (42:22) - Impact of Cocaine Production on Latin America (48:35) - Currency Discipline and Global Financial Stability (54:27) - The Future of Global Currencies (01:00:19) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts -- Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. --

    1h 1m

  5. OCT 24

    A Wild New Era of Japanese Politics

    Japan rewired its politics: a power shift, a woman at the helm, and a minority government forced to bargain for every vote. What follows when high approval collides with hard math - aging demographics, weak yen, and defense budgets racing past old taboos? Analyst Tobias Harris, author of The Iconoclast and writer of Observing Japan, joins The Jacob Shapiro Podcast to unpack the country’s most surprising election in years - one that produced its first female prime minister and a government held together by negotiation. Expect sharper debates on security, energy, food, and China ties, with South Korea and Washington watching. Is this real generational change or a new face for old factions? The stakes: whether Japan can act before events act on it. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction (00:25) - Challenges in Understanding Japanese Politics (01:05) - Recent Japanese Election Overview (02:00) - Unexpected Election Results and Political Shifts (05:45) - Historical Context and Political Fragmentation (07:29) - Farewell to Shigeru Ishiba (12:31) - Rise of Japan's First Female Prime Minister (22:57) - Public Perception and Future Prospects (27:46) - Understanding Political Longevity (28:30) - Policy Expectations and Challenges (32:49) - Economic and Fiscal Policies (37:39) - Foreign Policy and Relations with China (43:15) - Japan-South Korea Relations (48:55) - Japan-US Relations and Defense Strategy (55:45) - Concluding Thoughts on Leadership -- Referenced in the Show: Tobais' website: https://observingjapan.com/ Observing Japan Substack: https://substack.com/@observingjapan -- Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. --

    58 min

  6. OCT 10

    Leverage on Leverage on Leverage

    Gold prices are soaring, private equity is unraveling, and data centers have become the next speculative frontier. Beneath all of it lies a simple question: what happens when faith in liquidity, stability, and infinite growth begins to fray? From central banks hoarding bullion to insurers gambling on AI infrastructure, the same story unfolds—risk disguised as resilience. And somewhere between coffee tariffs and capital flows, you can glimpse the new shape of a global economy learning to live without certainty. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction (01:03) - Catch-Up and Current Events (02:09) - Gold Market Analysis (08:40) - Global Currency Dynamics (17:42) - US Gold Reserves and Fiscal Policy (25:24) - Podcast Wrap-Up and Listener Engagement (26:25) - Urgent Financial News: Private Equity and Insurance Capital (27:57) - Private Equity's Desperation for Retail Investors (28:33) - The Volatility Spiral and Liquidity Crisis (31:43) - Private Equity's Leverage on Captive Insurance (32:48) - The Data Center Investment Bubble (41:23) - AI Demand and Data Center Overcapacity (48:52) - The Future of Energy Prices and AI (50:45) - Rising Coffee Prices and Tariff Impacts (57:19) - The Global Trade System and Commodity Markets (01:00:05) - Conclusion: The State of Global Markets -- Referenced in the Show: -- Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. --

    1 hr

  7. OCT 7

    The Government Is Coming For Your [insert asset here]

    What if money could make you freer instead of more dependent? Matt McClintock joins the pod to dive into Bitcoin’s evolution from digital experiment to geopolitical force - a technology challenging governments, redefining sovereignty, and reshaping how value moves across the world. Matt and Jacob explore what “freedom money” really means, why personal sovereignty now collides with state power, and how the struggle between fiat and crypto reveals the future of economics, trust, and control in a multipolar world. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction and Podcast Overview (00:20) - Addressing Listener Concerns (02:08) - Engaging with the Community (02:49) - Welcoming Back Matt McClintock (03:44) - Bitcoin: A Journey of Discovery (05:53) - Understanding Bitcoin's Evolution (09:41) - Bitcoin's Global Significance (12:59) - Bitcoin's Unique Characteristics (24:28) - Bitcoin as Freedom Money (29:23) - Bitcoin and Economic Freedom (29:56) - Bitcoin's Role in Oppressive Regimes (30:45) - Government Reactions to Bitcoin (32:35) - Personal Security and Bitcoin (34:45) - Bitcoin and Legal Concerns (44:40) - Bitcoin's Sovereignty and Legal Framework (55:30) - Bitcoin's Unique Position in the Financial World (01:00:34) - The Future of Bitcoin and Fiat (01:01:38) - Closing Thoughts and Reflections -- Referenced in the Show: Link to White Paper: https://bespokegroup.io/sovereigntyparadox/ Link to Matt’s Substack: https://mattmcclintock.substack.com/ -- Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. --

    1h 2m

  8. SEP 30

    Techno-Feudal Estates

    Jacob Shapiro is joined by Matt Pines, Executive Director of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, to discuss the accelerating convergence of Bitcoin, AI, geopolitics, and energy. Pines argues that technological change is happening faster than existing frameworks can manage, pushing once-fringe ideas into mainstream policy debates. They explore how AI and Bitcoin are straining U.S. infrastructure, particularly the electrical grid, and what this means for national security and economic stability. The discussion also considers the rise of “techno-feudal” elites, political backlash risks, and whether America can maintain an edge against China’s state-driven infrastructure build-out. Pines closes with reflections on Bitcoin’s rapid rise as both a strategic asset and a test of U.S. policy adaptability. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction (01:33) - The Acceleration of Change (07:16) - Energy Consumption and Infrastructure Challenges (15:24) - Political and Economic Implications (21:35) - US vs China: Technological Race (27:26) - Future of Sovereignty and Power (33:11) - The Future of AI and Techno-Surveillance Capitalism (35:01) - Economic Implications of Universal Basic Income (35:35) - Sci-Fi Futures and Technological Transformations (36:27) - Bitcoin's Role in a Techno-Feudal World (41:25) - Political and Social Reactions to Technological Change (42:58) - The Rapid Evolution of AI and Its Impacts (53:14) - Bitcoin Policy and National Interest (58:38) - Geopolitical and Monetary Challenges Ahead (01:02:45) - Concluding Thoughts and Future Outlook -- Referenced in the Show: Bitcoin Policy Institute - https://www.btcpolicy.org -- Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. --

    1h 4m
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4.8
out of 5
168 Ratings

About

Hosted by Jacob Shapiro, the Jacob Shapiro Podcast is long-form exploration of geopolitics, markets, crypto, agriculture, macro-finance, commodities, ForEx, and much much more! Tune in biweekly for interviews with experts across the globe, and weekly for roundups of global financial and geopolitical events!

Information

  • Creator
    Jacob Shapiro
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Jacob Shapiro
  • Show Website
    The Jacob Shapiro Podcast

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