Lone Candle
Champion of Truth
The Japanese trade deal is actually bad for U.S. car companies. Cars manufactured in Japan will have a 15% tariff on them, but cars made in Mexico by U.S. companies will have a 25% tariff, giving U.S. companies a disadvantage. They could move that back to the U.S., but the move itself is costly, and the cost to make the cars in the U.S. is even costlier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfxC6hCMlmI
Trump’s careless policies toward countries in the Indo-Pacific will make it harder for future administrations to cooperate with these countries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3rPY695Roc
Prof G and Jessica Tarlov are big fans of Hilldog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5dgHs_wIkE
Trump’s EU trade deal is only a win if a 15% tax on imports from Europe is a win. Things from Europe being more expensive, and importing companies making less money, are bad for the economy and the people in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6htfcWxknU
“The European Union has admitted it doesn’t have the power to deliver on a promise to invest $600 billion in the United States economy, only hours after making the pledge at landmark trade talks in Scotland.
That’s because the cash would come entirely from private sector investment over which Brussels has no authority, two EU officials said.
…
The EU officials said that the estimated $600 billion will add to the EU’s current $2.8 trillion private investments in the U.S. that accounts for approximately 3.4 million jobs.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/eus-600bn-us-investment-will-come-exclusively-from-private-sector/
U.S. tariffing and ending aid to Pacific countries in such a way that makes the U.S. look like an erratic and bad partner, and makes China look relatively better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B77a8o3RSUw
Under Biden, Nvidia couldn’t sell China their best chips. Trump came and banned the fourth best chip, which Biden allowed. Trump later reversed and allowed those chips thanks to: lobbying, China blocking the U.S. from rare earths, and accepting a strategy that getting China to use U.S. chips is better than forcing China to potentially be really innovative and make their own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-_bykJa0Fc
In Syria, both Druze and Bedouins committed atrocities against civilians.
The Druze are not united. Some groups want increased autonomy from the Syrian government and are mostly anti that central government. Others want to work with the central government.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnMVZQu4orw
General David Petraeus on War in Iran, Gaza and Ukraine | A Charlie Rose Global Conversation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbCRFlEAJlU
Japan warns of China’s military moves as biggest strategic challenge
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/14/japan-warns-of-chinas-military-moves-as-biggest-strategic-challenge-00452924?fbclid=IwY2xjawLkrDZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHoQXCbzOTHpflr60WAQdKd_4HluiG-N_Y_HGE-AXzCBfxgPMTDg9sgOrMDKm_aem_T4XFQAUSSikBC104n2OOCQ