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Feb. 5, 2025

Understanding US-China Relations Right Now with Nathan Labenz

In this week’s episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith, with special guest Nathan Labenz, unpack the U.S.-China relations, examining geopolitical tensions, strategic economic policies, AI and military technology, and the future of global technological leadership, while questioning the effectiveness of current U.S. policies and the risks of escalating conflicts under Xi Jinping's aggressive strategies.

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Jan. 31, 2025

Paul Krugman on Leaving NYT, America's Economy, and Trump

This week on Econ 102, Noah Smith and economist Paul Krugman discussed his departure from the New York Times, the benefits of independent writing, U.S. manufacturing and industrial policy, geopolitical events, the political climate, social media’s influence, and the impact of public opinion on economic and political discourse in a video they recorded last week for Noahpinion.

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Jan. 29, 2025

Trump's Executive Orders, China's Economy, The Bull Case for the Middle East, and Europe's Decline

In this episode, Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith discuss wide range of topics, including Trump’s executive orders and their effects on U.S. politics, international tariffs, Michael Pettis's views on China's economy, the Middle East’s potential with solar energy, and Europe’s socio-political shifts, all through the lens of economics.

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Jan. 22, 2025

Noah Smith on Taiwan's Future, Nuclear Proliferation, and Trump 2.0 [ChinaTalk]

This week, Noah Smith sat down with China Talk's managing editor and Taipei correspondent Lily Ottinger to explore wide range of geopolitical and economic issues, including the potential impacts of a second Trump administration on Asia, nuclear proliferation, China's economic strategies, Taiwan's defense and diplomatic policies, and demographic shifts, while also offering insights into global economic trends, technological influences on politics, and his upcoming book on Japan's economic revival

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Jan. 15, 2025

A Debate with Scott Sumner: Industrial Policy, China, and National Security

In this episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg are joined by Scott Sumner, an American economist and previously the Director of the Program on Monetary Policy at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, examine the impact of U.S.-China relations on economic and industrial policies, discussing topics such as tariffs, manufacturing capabilities, technologies like drones and batteries, climate change, defense strategies, and the evolving role of neoliberalism.

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Jan. 9, 2025

Canada After Trudeau, Immigration Debate, and China's Economy

This week, Noah Smith and Eric Torenberg explore the possibility of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Xi Jinping's political future, U.S.-China tensions, Trump's and Biden's policies, the 2019 global protests, China's economic troubles, and the challenges facing Western nations, while also emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation on U.S. industrial policy.

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Jan. 2, 2025

Trump, Tariffs, and the New 80s: America's Next Cultural Reset

This week, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss Silicon Valley's cultural influence, Marc Andreessen's predictions, what comes after wokeness, tariffs on China, Reaganomics, the 'polycrisis,' the future of industrial policy, and political dynamics involving Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Paul Krugman.

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Dec. 25, 2024

China's Demographic Time Bomb and America's Economic Future

In today's episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg answer listeners' questions and discuss global economic issues such as China's demographic challenges, currency crises, GDP vs. GDP per capita, the efficacy of long prison sentences, and the risks and benefits of economic stimulus, currency depreciation, and trade imbalances.

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Dec. 18, 2024

Relationships, Gender Wars, and Online Culture with Katherine Dee (Default Friend)

This week, Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith discuss modern dating dynamics, cultural shifts, and the impact of technology and social media on relationships with former dating advice columnist and cultural observer Katherine Dee, exploring generational differences and broader societal implications.

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Dec. 11, 2024

The New Left, Health Insurance Myths, and Solving Underpopulation

Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the high costs of healthcare, the challenges facing the center-left, the possibility of infinite economic growth, solutions to declining fertility rates, and the role of technology in addressing demographic challenges.

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