The Plane Truth: Playing Chicken with China, Trump Goes Gulf-ing, Tensions in South Asia

This episode explores the complexities of international relations, focusing on trade tensions with China, Middle East diplomacy, and the India-Pakistan dynamic. Against the backdrop of a 90-day tariff pause between the U.S. and China, the discussion examines whether this truce will hold, with Niall Ferguson suggesting the U.S. blinked first in de-escalating the trade war, while John Cochrane questions the notion of winning through tariffs alone. More significantly, the panel debates the strategic implications of economic interdependence with China, particularly regarding critical supply chains and technology, as H.R. McMaster warns against over-reliance on a hostile state, citing potential vulnerabilities in sectors like rare earths and communications infrastructure. As the discussion pivoted to President Trump's Middle East diplomacy, the panel grapples with discerning a clear strategic concept, questioning the alignment of U.S. policy with family moneymaking and the implications of accepting gifts from countries like Qatar. Finally, the episode examines the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, highlighting the role of nuclear weapons in limiting conventional warfare and the influence of domestic politics on foreign policy, while also touching upon Chinese espionage on college campuses and the transformative impact of AI on education.