Why Washington and Silicon Valley hate (and fear) China

Why Washington and Silicon Valley hate (and fear) China

Author: Ben Norton February 22, 2026 Duration: 44:36
The Second Cold War that the United States is waging against China includes a trade war, tech war, and now a mineral war. In alliance with Silicon Valley Big Tech corporations, the US government is trying to recruit countries into Pax Silica, a coalition to create a new global supply chain for critical minerals that cuts out China. Ben Norton explains. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHHeug0APxk Topics 0:00 Cold War Two against China 0:30 (CLIP) Marco Rubio on China "threat" 1:33 Trade war 2:26 Why China won the trade war 3:25 Critical mineral supply chain 4:10 Trump plans to restart trade war 4:47 Trump tariffs and SCOTUS ruling 6:15 Tech war against China 7:05 Chip war 8:32 AI chip supply chain 9:58 Military-industrial complex 11:28 Plans for new supply chain 12:14 Project Vault: US mineral stockpile 12:53 Japan deal with USA 13:35 Pax Silica 14:13 Critical minerals ministerial 14:57 Members of US-led Pax Silica 16:17 India 17:03 Other countries 18:04 US State Department narrative 19:41 China is the target 21:10 Big Tech corporations 21:30 Google 22:14 Public-private partnership 23:23 Under Secretary Jacob Helberg 24:32 US attacks on Iran target China 26:00 China oil imports 27:11 Geostrategic oil chokepoints 27:48 Strait of Hormuz 28:27 Strait of Malacca 29:27 Silicon Valley oligarchs 31:04 AI & crypto czar David Sacks 31:32 PayPal Mafia 32:41 Billionaires make US govt policy 33:19 AI race with China 34:57 Silicon Valley fears China 35:32 Billionaires run US government 36:46 India joins US-led Pax Silica 39:22 India's foreign policy 40:41 Non-Aligned Movement 41:23 New cold war 43:24 Outro

Trying to make sense of international headlines often feels like seeing only the ripples on the water's surface, without understanding the powerful currents moving beneath. Geopolitical Economy Report, hosted by journalist Ben Norton, dives into those deeper forces. This isn't just a recap of the day's events; it's a dedicated exploration of how economic systems, historical context, and raw power politics fundamentally shape global conflicts and alliances. Each episode builds on the work of the independent news outlet of the same name, translating its original journalism and analysis into a compelling audio format. You'll hear detailed discussions that connect financial policies to social movements, or trace the historical roots of a modern trade war, always with an eye toward understanding the larger, changing structure of the world. For anyone tired of superficial news cycles and seeking a more substantive, connected perspective on why nations and institutions act the way they do, this podcast offers a crucial and clarifying lens. Tune in for a regular dose of context that the mainstream frequently overlooks.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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