Welcome to the future. In 2026, we're pretty convinced that the global map will get some major rewrites. Our '26 bingo card has the potential collapse of the Venezuelan and Cuban regimes, the end of the war in Ukraine, and the subsequent battle for Russia’s very soul crossed out. While others fear peaking deglobalization, Marko and Jacob see a path to lowered tariffs and an incoming LNG glut that finally breaks the back of Europe’s energy crisis. It’s time to stop looking for patterns and start preparing for the non-linear :) chaoschaoschaoschaos

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:16) - Forecasting 2026: Tariffs and Trade

(04:40) - US-China Relations and Latin America Focus

(11:03) - Predictions for Venezuela and Cuba

(13:55) - Ukraine War and Russian Politics

(23:57) - European Energy Market Outlook

(28:36) - Middle East: A Callous Perspective

(29:50) - Saudi Arabia and UAE: Progress and Predictions

(30:25) - Iran's Uncertain Future

(32:11) - Turkey's Role in Geopolitics

(33:08) - Oil Prices and Middle East Stability

(35:59) - Israel's Resilience and Market Impact

(39:42) - Forecasting Global Trade Agreements

(44:57) - The Rise of Robotics in 2026

(51:34) - Blind Spots and Unmentioned Regions

(54:41) - Final Thoughts and Potential Oversights

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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

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. Meanwhile, the Andes are swinging hard right, betting that nationalism and market-pro policies are the only way to survive a multipolar free-for-all.... But here's the truth: tariffs are just a consumption tax in a MAGA hat, and if the Supreme Court kills them, the bond market is going to riot. Forget the politics; follow the robots and the revenue.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Welcome :)

(01:41) - Mexico's Tariff Decision

(07:44) - The Impact of Robotics on Manufacturing

(23:42) - Chile's Shift to the Right

(24:56) - Right-Wing Movements in Latin America

(31:22) - Crime and Immigration in Latin America

(38:13) - Montreal and Miami: Cities Built on Illicit Trafficking

(38:55) - The Godfather: An American Story of Crime and Legitimization

(40:14) - Fentanyl: Declared a Weapon of Mass Destruction

(42:38) - US Foreign Policy: Lessons from the 1980s

(46:05) - The Trump Administration's Controversial Policies

(56:44) - Supreme Court and Tariffs: A Critical Decision

(01:10:54) - Concluding Thoughts on US Policy and Economics

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Referenced in the Show:

Fent is a WMD: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/designating-fentanyl-as-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction/

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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:

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 past the outrage to ask why "mean" has become the default setting for public life.

Then, Marko takes on the herculean task of defending the US' new National Security Strategy - which correctly identifies the need for a vital Europe, even if its authors got their core immigration data from clickbait white-woke channels. Finally, the real game: the US-Mexico-China trade triangle, where the path to American greatness may involve Chinese-built factories in Ohio.

It’s nihilism, baby.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction and Setting the Scene

(00:43) - Late Night Recording and Personal Updates

(01:40) - Controversial Discussion on Hitler and Nick Fuentes

(05:44) - Media's Role and Public Perception

(26:39) - National Security Strategy Debate

(34:28) - European Support for the Euro

(35:15) - American Perception of the EU

(38:27) - France and the Euro

(42:14) - Misdiagnosing Europe's Problems

(48:51) - US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker

(56:54) - Mexico's Tariffs on Chinese Imports

(58:57) - US-China Relations and Manufacturing

(01:05:32) - Podcast Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts

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Referenced in the Show:

National Security Strategy 2025 - https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf

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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: