Let's Know Things
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Let's Know Things
A calm, non-shouty, non-polemical, weekly news analysis podcast for folks of all stripes and leanings who want to know more about what's happening in the world around them. Hosted by analytic journalist Colin Wright since 2016. letsknowthings.substack.com
Neueste Episoden
490 Episoden
Tariff Leverage
This week we talk about trade wars, TACO theory, and Chinese imports.
We also discuss negotiation, protectionism, and threat spirals.
Reco...
Gamewashing
This week we talk about Electronic Arts, 3DO, and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
We also discuss Jared Kushner, leveraged buyouts, an...
NATO and Russia
This week we talk about Article 4, big sticks, and spheres of influence.
We also discuss Moldova, super powers, and new fronts.
Recommende...
Nepal Gen Z Protests
This week we talk about corruption, influencers, and pro-monarchy protests.
We also discuss Nepalese modern history, Gen Z, and kings.
Rec...
GENIUS Act
This week we talk about stablecoins, crypto assets, and conflicts of interest.
We also discuss the crypto industry, political contributions, and...
Salt Typhoon
This week we talk about cyberespionage, China, and asymmetrical leverage.
We also discuss political firings, hardware infiltration, and Five Eye...
Sudan's Civil War
This week we talk about the RSF, coups, and the liberal world order.
We also discuss humanitarian aid, foreign conflicts, and genocide.
Re...
Intel Bailout
This week we talk about General Motors, the Great Recession, and semiconductors.
We also discuss Goldman Sachs, US Steel, and nationalization.
Sterile Insect Technique
This week we talk about flesh-eating screwworms, weeds, and the US cattle industry.
We also discuss genetic modification, procreation, and tsets...
AI CapEx
This week we talk about tech bubbles, building moats, and infrastructure investment.
We also discuss capital expenditure, data centers, and empl...
Dynamic Pricing
This week we talk about surge pricing, Walmart, and the Robinson-Patman Act.
We also discuss personal data, AC settings, and Delta’s earnings ca...
Age-Gating
This week we talk about lobbying, Steam, and adult-themed games.
We also discuss cultural influence, extreme ideologies, and itch.io.
Reco...
Kurdistan Workers' Party
This week we talk about the PKK, Turkey, and the DEM Party.
We also discuss terrorism, discrimination, and stateless nations.
Recommended...
AI-Associated Delusions
This week we talk about AI therapy chatbots, delusions of grandeur, and sycophancy.
We also discuss tech-triggered psychosis, AI partners, and c...
Pay Per Crawl
This week we talk about crawling, scraping, and DDoS attacks.
We also discuss Cloudflare, the AI gold rush, and automated robots.
Recommen...
Hurricane Tracking
This week we talk about the NOAA, FEMA, and the SSMIS.
We also discuss Arctic ice, satellite resolution, and automated weather observation stati...
The Strait of Hormuz
This week we talk about OPEC, the Seven Sisters, and the price of oil.
We also discuss fracking, Israel and Iran’s ongoing conflict, and energy...
Operation Rising Lion
This week we talk about tit-for-tat warfare, conflict off-ramps, and Israel’s renewed attacks on Iran’s nuclear program.
We also discuss the Iro...
Operation Spider's Web
This week we talk about drone warfare, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and total war.
We also discuss casualty numbers, population superiority, an...
Personalized CRISPR
This week we talk about gene-editing, CRISPR/Cas9, and ammonia.
We also discuss the germ line, mad scientists, and science research funding.
Chinese Emissions
This week we talk about greenhouse gases, renewable energy capacity, and China’s economy.
We also discuss coal power plants, natural gas, and gi...
Coinbase Hack
This week we talk about kidnappings, ransoms, and bitcoin.
We also discuss crypto wealth, robberies, and memecoins.
Recommended Book: The...
Energy Star
This week we talk about the NHTSA, CAFE standards, and energy efficiency.
We also discuss incentive programs, waste heat, and the EPA.
Rec...
Model Context Protocol
This week we talk about the Marshall Plan, standardization, and USB.
We also discuss artificial intelligence, Anthropic, and protocols.
Re...
India-Pakistan Tensions
This week we talk about British India, Kashmir, and water treaties.
We also discuss the global order, sovereignty, and tit-for-tat escalation.
Creative Assets
This week we talk about AI chatbots, virtual avatars, and romance novels.
We also discuss Inkitt, Galatea, and LLM grooming.
Recommended B...
Money Mules and Matchmakers
This week we talk about smishing, Huione, and scams.
We also discuss money laundering, the Cambodian government, and Tether.
Recommended B...
Trump's Tariffs
This week we talk about taxes, reciprocity, and recession.
We also discuss falling indices, stagflation, and theories of operation.
Recomm...
Vibe Coding
This week we talk about Studio Ghibli, Andrej Karpathy, and OpenAI.
We also discuss code abstraction, economic repercussions, and DOGE.
Re...
Tesla Protests
This week we talk about Elon Musk, deportations, and the First Amendment.
We also discuss electric vehicles, free speech, and Georgia.
Rec...
US Market Uncertainty
This week we talk about tariffs, consumer confidence, and trade wars.
We also discuss inflation, GDP, and uncertainty.
Recommended Book: A...
Ukraine Conflict Implications
This week we talk about Euromaidan, minerals deals, and propaganda.
We also discuss European security, NATO, and the western-led world order.
Blue Ghost Mission 1
This week we talk about Luna 2, soft-landings, and Firefly Aerospace.
We also discuss the private space launch industry, lunar landers, and rego...
Coffee Inflation
This week we talk about arabica, robusta, and profit margins.
We also discuss colonialism, coffee houses, and religious uppers.
Recommende...
Bird Flu
This week we talk about H5N1, fowl plague, and viral reservoirs.
We also discuss the CDC, raw milk, and politics.
Recommended Book: Nexus...
Planetary Defense
This week we talk about DART, extinction events, and asteroid 2024 YR4.
We also discuss Bruce Willis, Theia, and the Moon.
Recommended Boo...
US Protectionism
This week we talk about tax hikes, free trade, and the madman theory of negotiation.
We also discuss EVs, Canada, and economic competition.
DeepSeek AI
This week we talk about OpenAI, the Stargate Project, and Meta.
We also discuss o1, AGI, and efficiency.
Recommended Book: The Shortest Hi...
Gaza Peace Deal
This week we talk about October 7, the Gaza ceasefire plan, and Netanyahu.
We also discuss Hamas, Qatar, and the new US administration.
Re...
LA Wildfires
This week we talk about the Pacific Palisades, Hurricane Katrina, and reinsurance.
We also discuss developed property values, arsons, and the co...