Episodes

  • The Empire is Dead. The New World Order is Here.

    The Empire is Dead. The New World Order is Here.
    Feb 18 2025

    The world as we know it is over. The post-Cold War order, the American-led security umbrella, the assumption that Europe will always be protected has been shattered in real time. Trump’s America is walking away. Russia has played the long game and won. Ukraine is the new Ireland, abandoned by its supposed allies. Europe is like a deer in the headlights, unarmed, unprepared, and utterly exposed. From the Swiss Alps to the ghosts of the Flight of the Earls, this episode unpacks the seismic shift happening beneath our feet. Who holds power now? What happens when small nations, like Ireland, wake up to the reality that they’re on their own? And why are we sleepwalking into a world where the rules are being rewritten without us?

    Buckle up, this is the moment history turns, and you don’t want to be left behind.

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    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    34 mins
  • The Economics of the Merchant of Venice: Lessons from an Empire of Trade

    The Economics of the Merchant of Venice: Lessons from an Empire of Trade
    Feb 13 2025
    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 Ireland’s 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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    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    43 mins
  • Hard Liquor, Soft Power: The Death of Proportionality

    Hard Liquor, Soft Power: The Death of Proportionality
    Feb 11 2025
    Donald Trump has always been blunt about his transactional view of global politics but has he just accelerated the decline of American soft power? We unpack his latest moves, from tariffs on Canada to his surreal vision for a 'Gaza Riviera,' and explore why his worldview could redefine America's role on the global stage. With USAID shutting down, longtime allies turning away, and economic isolationism on the rise, is the U.S. shifting from a nation of influence to one of brute force? What does this mean for global power dynamics? Is Trump simply playing for attention, or are we witnessing a true transformation in America's foreign policy? We dive into it all with Evan Solomon, examining how trust, trade, and tariffs are reshaping the world, and whether the U.S. is burning down the very system it built.

    Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    39 mins
  • Trump, Tariffs & the Gold Rush: The McKinley Playbook

    Trump, Tariffs & the Gold Rush: The McKinley Playbook
    Feb 6 2025
    What do Donald Trump and William McKinley have in common? More than you might think. In this episode, we dig into the economic and political legacy of America’s 25th president, the so-called Napoleon of Tariffs, and explore why Trump sees him as a role model. From trade wars to big business alliances, McKinley reshaped America’s economic landscape through protectionism and expansionism, laying the groundwork for the country’s rise as a global power. But his presidency also triggered a powerful counter reaction, one that led to the breakup of monopolies, progressive reform, and a seismic shift in U.S. politics under his unexpected successor, Teddy Roosevelt. How does McKinley’s era mirror today’s America? What lessons does his legacy hold for Trump’s economic vision? And how did a single gold discovery in the Yukon change everything? Tune in as we trace the hidden connections between past and present in America’s political and economic supercycle.

    Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    39 mins
  • The Population Paradox: Growth, Crisis, and the Global Economy

    The Population Paradox: Growth, Crisis, and the Global Economy
    Feb 4 2025

    Is rapid population growth a sign of economic strength, or the trigger for future crises? This week, we explore how shifting demographics are reshaping economies worldwide, from booming immigration and urban congestion to strained infrastructure and rising political tensions. As governments push for economic expansion, many are running their economies just too close to the sun; fuelling population growth without the capacity to support it. We examine how this plays out in housing shortages, overwhelmed public services, and the widening gap between GDP figures and real quality of life. What happens when a country outgrows its own ability to function?

    From Europe to North America and beyond, we look at the consequences of failing to plan for demographic change, and what lessons history has to offer before today’s booming economies become tomorrow’s cautionary tales.

    Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    41 mins
  • DeepSeek, Deep State or Deep Pockets? Karen Hao on China’s AI Power Play

    DeepSeek, Deep State or Deep Pockets? Karen Hao on China’s AI Power Play
    Jan 30 2025
    China's DeepSeek has done what it does best, it's made a better copy of an American product. Deepseek has disrupted the markets this week and is almost outperforming OpenAI while spending as little as one hundredth of the cost. In a world where Silicon Valley has long operated under a “winner takes all” model, DeepSeek’s breakthrough proves that sheer financial power is no longer the defining factor in technological supremacy. It's more than a story about AI, it's about geopolitics, economic power shifts, and how constraints fuel innovation. As the U.S. scrambles to maintain dominance, pouring billions into AI infrastructure and tightening restrictions on China, has it inadvertently made its biggest competitor stronger? What does this mean for Nvidia, OpenAI, and the entire American tech ecosystem? And if AI can now be built cheaper and faster, why are U.S. companies still demanding more money, more energy, and more control?

    Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    41 mins
  • From Fartcoin to Trumpcoin: How Memes and Tokens Are Redefining Power and Wealth

    From Fartcoin to Trumpcoin: How Memes and Tokens Are Redefining Power and Wealth
    Jan 28 2025
    What do Fartcoin, Trumpcoin, and TikTok have in common? They’re all part of the new frontier where memes, tokens, and attention economics collide. This episode dives into how Trump’s $60 billion crypto frenzy is more than just a bubble, it’s a glimpse into a world where narratives create wealth overnight. We explore Schumpeter’s innovation theory, the rise of memeonomics, and how social media oligarchs are reshaping power, regulation, and finance in real-time. Is this the ultimate bubble or the future of economics? Tune in to connect the dots and find out why the attention economy is eating the real economy alive.

    Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    37 mins
  • The Coming IMF Bailout of Britain!

    The Coming IMF Bailout of Britain!
    Jan 23 2025
    Is the UK teetering on the edge of economic chaos? With bond yields now higher than Greece’s and a rapidly weakening pound, we explore why Britain’s financial foundation is cracking. From the historical parallels of past currency crises to the implications of its overreliance on financial services, we break down the risks ahead. Economist Philip Pilkington joins to discuss what’s fueling the current turmoil, the role of international markets, and whether the IMF might be forced to step in. Could this spell the end of Labour’s new government, and even reshape Britain’s political landscape?

    Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    44 mins