TVI26: Benchwarmers

TVI26: Benchwarmers

Author: Jacob Shapiro & Marko Papic May 22, 2026 Duration: 1:42:04

The Trade Value Index is back!!!!!!! Part 1.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Housekeeping

(00:47) - Why We Love Rankings

(02:15) - Trade Value Rules Explained

(06:59) - How We Score Leaders

(08:29) - What Trade Value Means

(11:03) - Last Year Rankings Recap

(13:01) - Wins Misses and Dropoffs

(19:43) - Starting the Countdown

(20:00) - Jacob Cuts and Bottom Five

(26:12) - Vietnam Surprise Pick

(27:44) - Marco Honorable Mentions

(30:58) - Dishonorable Mentions and Merz

(32:34) - Merz Under Fire

(33:41) - Hopeful Turnaround Talk

(34:52) - Greenland Surprise Pick

(36:23) - Nepal Gen Z Rookie

(41:04) - Lula Back on Board

(46:56) - Sri Lanka and Hungary Upside

(49:44) - Meloni Slips Down

(52:10) - Erdogan and Turkey’s Long Game

(55:05) - Middle East and Africa Rankings

(57:55) - Pakistan’s Geopolitical Comeback

(01:00:53) - Syria’s New Strongman

(01:02:35) - Sweden and Spain Reassessment

(01:06:55) - Singapore’s Efficiency Model

(01:08:58) - System Made Singapore

(01:10:02) - Trade Value Debate

(01:11:01) - Lee Jae Myung Profile

(01:12:59) - Israel Tweet Controversy

(01:16:55) - Prabowo Indonesia Wrap

(01:19:49) - Iran Council Ranked

(01:20:56) - Netanyahu Tradeoff Case

(01:22:19) - Morocco Quiet Success

(01:28:20) - Israel Umbilical Cord

(01:37:34) - Gulf Royals Picks

(01:40:34) - UAE Critique And Close

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Referenced in the Show:

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Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

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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

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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: 65

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