Communist Reagan

Communist Reagan

Author: Jacob Shapiro & Marko Papic November 12, 2025 Duration: 1:34:55

Power tilts, voter moods, and economic pressures collide as shifting swing-state margins, rising price levels, and clashing visions of populism redefine the boundaries of U.S. politics. Marko Papic and Jacob Shapiro traces how competing narratives on inflation, governance, and national identity shape the struggles within both major parties, while global tensions - from tariff battles to uneasy U.S.-China rapprochement - raise the stakes. At its core lies a question: can the political center hold when every lever of power is pulled toward extremes?

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction

(00:58) - Personal Anecdotes and Flu Game Discussion

(02:43) - Client Call Story and Michael Jordan Stats

(04:32) - Health Updates and Podcast Menu

(05:14) - Democratic Election Victories Analysis

(06:20) - Republican Challenges and Latino Vote Shift

(08:19) - Potential Democratic Presidential Nominees

(17:27) - Inflation and Economic Policies Debate

(27:12) - Populism and Fiscal Policies

(42:24) - Supreme Court and Tariff Discussions

(45:56) - Uncertainty in Trade Policies

(46:42) - US-China Trade Deal Breakdown

(47:56) - Global Reactions and Comparisons

(49:06) - Public Opinion on Trade

(50:47) - Trump's Trade War and Its Implications

(52:03) - US-China Relations and Future Prospects

(01:11:58) - Venezuela and US Foreign Policy

(01:22:57) - The Future of Global Geopolitics

(01:34:06) - Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

--

Referenced in the Show:

Communist Reagan - https://x.com/aidannonx/status/1982662832521875962?s=20

--

Geopolitical Cousins 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.

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

--

Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future.

Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic

Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/

Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papic

Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro


There’s a certain kind of conversation that happens when two deeply knowledgeable friends, who also happen to be professional geopolitical analysts, get together without a script. That’s the space Geopolitical Cousins occupies. Hosts Jacob Shapiro and Marko Papic bring their distinct perspectives-often aligned, sometimes clashing-to dissect the forces shaping our world, from market-moving policies to underlying cultural shifts. You won’t find dry, academic lectures here. Instead, each episode feels like you’re overhearing a lively, sometimes comedic debate between two cousins at a family gathering, if that family was obsessed with the intersection of power, philosophy, and investment. The analysis is rigorous and in-depth, yet delivered with a relatable ease that can pivot from a serious interview with an expert to an off-the-wall observation about societal quirks. This podcast digs into the "why" behind the headlines, exploring how business, culture, and human nature collide on the global stage. By weaving together categories that are often kept separate-society, investing, comedy, philosophy-Shapiro and Papic create a uniquely holistic listen. Tune in for a perspective that is as intellectually substantial as it is unpredictably engaging.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 54

Geopolitical Cousins
Podcast Episodes
Cocaine Cowboys [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:29
Look, the world is decoupling, and everyone is making their bet. Mexico just threw their chips on the table with 50% tariffs, effectively divorcing China to marry the U.S. in a desperate play for North American relevance…
Do Better [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:15
The global discourse has hit a new low: political commentators are creating content out of a YouTube moron’s mean-spirited quest for clicks. Nick Fuentes, please, for the love of god, do better. Marko and Jacob drill pas…
Ctrl, Alt, Del [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:37
Let's talk about the National Security Strategy! American policy is entering its “choose-your-own-adventure” era, where fiscal dreams meet bond-market reality, and every global problem looks oddly like a mortgage-rate is…
Comrades and Fuehrers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:12
Rising political extremes, shifting alliances, and competing visions of global order collide as leaders improvise their way through economic anxiety and geopolitical recalibration. Matt Gertken hops into the fray to help…
Starting Five: US Presidents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:03:16
Jacob and Marko finally caved to the mob on X and did what everyone (one guy who asked nicely) keeps yelling at them to do - rank the top five geopolitical U.S. presidents and the bottom five disasters. Not the best pres…
Reverse Nixon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:50:05
Sanctions, alliances, and power balances are shifting faster than markets can price them. Marko Papic and Jacob Shapiro look at the U.S. Treasury’s crackdown on Russian oil, the fragility of global energy flows, and the…
The Illusion of Decoupling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:09
Global trade isn’t just an economic story - it’s a test of power, pride, and patience. Jacob and Marko dive into the illusion of U.S.-China decoupling, exploring how power, dependency, and ideology are colliding in a wor…
The New Cold Peace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:42
What happens when a superpower’s bluff runs out? Jacob and Marko trace Russia’s unraveling - from collapsing refineries and fading deterrence to the myth of its “paper bear” strength. They ask what real power looks like…
17 Seconds or Less [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:31
Marko and Jacob dive into the latest twists of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Marko makes the case that Russia’s size—once its biggest advantage—is now a glaring weakness, as Ukraine’s drones expose just how fragile pipeli…
Elon and Orwell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:20
Pokemon cards outperforming Meta, Cornell students skinning bears, and Elon Musk misusing Orwell... Welcome to this Geopolitical Cousins episode 25. Jacob and Marko continue their conversation about the assassination of…