"I Don't Blame China" | "Take Advantage" | Brexit | Donna Brazile | Hallmark Channel | NASA
Caracal Business Insider | Daily
November 9, 2017
Curation and commentary from Marc A. Ross
Caracal Business Insider: Politics + Policy + Profits
"You've got to win the politics to set the policy to ensure the profits." - Marc A. Ross, founder of Caracal Global.
Reporting from Alexandria, Virginia
GEOECONOMICS
Xi and I can solve all the world’s problems, says Trump: The Times reports, Trump said this morning that he and President Xi of China could solve all the world’s problems. “I look forward to many years success and friendship, working together to solve not only our problems but world problems,” he said after a lavish reception in Beijing. “I believe we can solve almost all of them, probably all of them.”
AFP: Trump says he and Xi can solve 'probably all' world's problems
In China, Trump cajoles Xi with tough talk, flattery: WSJ reports, Trump blended chumminess with his host, Xi Jinping, with tough talk on North Korea and trade, saying he blamed his predecessors rather than Beijing for a “very unfair and one-sided” economic relationship.
FT: Trump blames US predecessors for China trade deficit
In Beijing remarks US president says Washington allowed China to ‘take advantage’
In China, Trump blames US for trade deficits: NYT reports, speaking in Beijing, President Trump framed chronic trade imbalances as a failure of American policy, saying he could not blame the Chinese for taking advantage of Americans.
Nikkei: Trump credits China 'for being able to take advantage' of US in trade
'We're engaged': Alaska gets China backing for natural gas project: Reuters reports, China's biggest state oil company Sinopec, one of the country's top banks and its sovereign wealth fund agreed on Thursday to develop a $43 billion natural gas project in Alaska, as the cash-poor U.S. state seeks to revive its dwindling energy industry.
US-China MOUs: The Beijing visit caused an announcement of $250 billion in business deals, but many of the agreements lack substance and are mostly non-binding memorandums of understanding that could take years to materialize. Also, consider Boeing's announced deal to sell 300 planes to China - this alone would represent 15% of the $250 billion and there is no indication these are new sales or are just long-planned sales.
For all of Donald Trump’s tough China campaign talk, the US president is leaving his first visit to Beijing with little to show for it but handshakes and warm words with Xi Jinping. - Bloomberg Balance of Power note
US lawmakers introduce bipartisan bills on foreign investment amid China worries: Reuters reports, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), a member of the Republican leadership who is on the Senate Intelligence Committee, introduced a Senate bill to broaden the government’s power to stop foreign purchases of U.S. firms by strengthening the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Representative Robert Pittenger, a North Carolina Republican, introduced an identical bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Nikkei: 42 South Korean companies to invest $17 billion in USby 2021
"Lotte Chemical, Hankook Tire to build production lines in southern states"
Reuters: Lithuania expects NATO to reach deal on Baltic air shield
NYT: ‘From one crisis to the next’: Brexit-torn Britain stumbles
The international development secretary, Priti Patel became the second cabinet minister to quit in a week.
Times: Brussels braced for collapse of May government
"EU leaders fear chaos over Brexit talks as Patel quits"
50 London banks in talks for post-Brexit move: DW reports, dozens of banks are in advanced talks with the European Central Bank about moving operations to the European mainland. As Brexit nears, many London-based financial institutions are considering Frankfurt, Paris or Dublin.
EU gives UK up to 3 weeks to make Brexit bill offer: FT reports, December summit could fall short on transition guidelines without a settlement.
Brexit has broken British politics: To old friends, the UK appears to be in the grip of an inexplicable fever.
FT - Philip Stephens
BBC: Silvio Berlusconi's surprise political comeback
NYT: Catalonia’s Independence Bid Shows Signs of Strain as Coalition Splits
AFP: Mexico says there's 'life after NAFTA' if pact fails
AMERICAN POLITICS
NYT: Suburbs revolt against Trump, threatening GOP
The Times: One year on, suburbs give the Republicans a beating
If you are a Republican Member of Congress with a Whole Foods in your district you probably barely slept last night.
Tax: Senate Republicans are expected to unveil their tax legislation today.
Tee times, smoothie diets, and fat paychecks: A look inside post-Trump life: Politico reports, away from the chaos of Trump’s West Wing, former aides take stock of their new worlds. http://politi.co/2yfR3II
WSJ: Prosecutors seek plea deal with Manafort’s former son-in-law
Bloomberg: Senator Menendez juror asks trial judge, ‘What is a Senator?’https://bloom.bg/2jdgIzq
LAT: Former party chief Donna Brazile stokes divisions among Democrats
How Trump brought the political media class to its knees: Vanity Fair reports, Trump and his team understand that for the political press, the only thing that matters is what’s happening right now, not yesterday. And whether through his tweets or his surrogates in the briefing room, the president has been largely able to bait reporters into playing his game, because he knows what makes them tick. https://goo.gl/MPYnJ6
LAT: Obama documentary 'The Final Year' gains emotional heft in the wake of the 2016 election https://goo.gl/6a4DQS
NEED A SPEAKER?
Marc A. Ross works with clients to develop executive education lectures, speeches, presentations, workshops, and conferences to help demystify Globalization, Disruption, and American politics. Learn more here.
ENTERPRISE
UPS joined the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance.
Target is closing a dozen stores across a handful of states, including Michigan, Florida, Illinois, and Texas, but not until after the holidays.
Lowe's has unveiled plans to launch so-called stores within its stores, in a partnership with software-powered retailer b8ta, to sell and educate shoppers on smart home products.
CNBC: NASA is working with Uber on its flying taxi project
Uber also said that it is aiming to trial the flying taxis in Los Angeles, as well as Dubai and Dallas-Fort Worth in 2020.
Reuters: Boeing signs deal to sell 300 planes worth $37 billion to China
Reuters: Qualcomm signs $12 billion in China deals amid Trump visit
Burberry plans to go more upmarket to be ‘firmly in luxury’: FT reports, shares in brand fall 10% after first-half profits come in below market expectations.
Reuters: SpaceX to launch Turkish satellites, minister says
TRENDS
Snapchat also wants to be a fitness app: Quartz reports, we learned last year that Snap is "a camera company"- but perhaps soon, it's also going to be a fitness company.
What’s selling in Trumpland, USA: BOF reports, consumers of luxury goods in the wealthiest areas of the country that voted for Donald Trump favor traditional labels including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and David Yurman.
CULTURE
How the Hallmark Channel became a Christmas-movie machine: WSJ reports, the sure-fire ingredients for a successful holiday show: quaint small town, flirtatious tree decorating and, most importantly, snow.
LAT: Garth Brooks is named entertainer of the year at the CMA Awards
SPORT
Beijing’s endgame: football with Chinese characteristics: A spending spree on European clubs carries risks as well as rewards for China’s image.
FT
Caracal Business Insider | November 6, 2017
Saudi Arabia | Silvio Berlusconi | Donna Brazile | Rand Paul | Shalane Flanagan
Curation and commentary from Marc A. Ross
Caracal Business Insider: Politics + Policy + Profits
"You've got to win the politics to set the policy to ensure the profits." - Marc A. Ross, founder of Caracal Global.
Reporting from Alexandria, Virginia
GEOECONOMICS
Broad crackdown reins in Saudi elite: WSJ reports, a sweeping weekend roundup of more than five dozen princes, ministers and prominent businessmen in Saudi Arabia marks a dramatic escalation in the crown prince’s effort to consolidate power and accelerate far-reaching change in the kingdom.
Saudi crown prince upends traditions in purge of rivals: NYT reports, the move appeared to be the most sweeping shift in governance the kingdom has experienced for more than eight decades.
“It is the coup de grâce of the old system,” a former US ambassador said. “Gone. All power has now been concentrated in the hands of Mohammed bin Salman.”
Trump urges Japan to buy more US military equipment: WSJ reports, Trump pushed for Japan to buy “massive” amounts of military equipment from the U.S., saying that it would help the country shoot down missiles like those nearby North Korea fired overhead in recent months.
Nikkei: Abe, Trump agree to exert 'maximum pressure' on North Korea
Bloomberg: Trump pushes Japan to buy military equipment, hits out on trade
@FoxBusiness: @POTUS to Japan: "I am committed to achieving a fair, free and reciprocal trading relationship."
Wooing Trump, Xi seeks great power status for China: NYT reports, Xi Jinping, the most powerful Chinese leader in decades, wants the United States to share global leadership with China as equals.
Trump’s two-day visit to China starts Wednesday.
Trump is about to learn that China couldn't care less about America First
LAT - David Rothkopf
A more hawkish Trump approach to China is coming soon
WP - Josh Rogin
Deposed Catalan leader released by Brussels judge: FT reports, Puigdemont told to stay in Belgium during process to decide on Spain’s extradition request.
How the Catalonia vote threatens the EU
Reuters - John Lloyd
Outside of Catalonia, independence movements exist in the UK (Scotland), France (Brittany and Corsica), Bavaria (Germany), Belgium (Flanders) and Italy (Lombardy and Veneto).
Silvio Berlusconi’s coalition set for victory in Sicily poll: The Times reports, Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right coalition appeared to have snatched a narrow lead over the anti-establishment Five Star Movement in Sicilian regional elections, according to exit polls released last night. Matteo Renzi’s hopes of a second stint as Italian prime minister appeared to have been dealt a severe blow as his center-left party were put in a distant third. The results of the regional poll, which involves 4.6 million voters, are being closely watched for signs as to who may prevail in national elections next spring.
He's back.
No one knows what Britain is anymore
NYT - Steven Erlanger
Rather than a vote for a global Britain and economic liberalism, Mr. Tilford said, Brexit was a vote for protectionism, and its political system now “is deeply provincial and introverted at a time when Britain is supposed to be heading out into the world.”
#MustRead
FT: Globalisation marches on without Trump
A new wave of trade talks threatens to leave US isolated.
AMERICAN POLITICS
Donna Brazile: I considered replacing Clinton with Biden as 2016 Democratic nominee
WP
VA-GOV: Virginia’s gubernatorial election is tomorrow and polls suggest the race is neck and neck and could go either way.
FT: Democrats battle to unify in Virginia election
Gillespie shuns Trump in biggest race of 2017: Politico reports, the GOP Virginia nominee never invited the president to campaign, fearing a backlash in the DC suburbs. And some conservatives aren't happy about it.
Wednesday at the DNC could be a disastrous meltdown = Donna Brazile book + Losing VA governor's race
House departures: 27 Republicans have left or are leaving the House of Representatives - not a good sign if you are looking to keep a majority.
Injuries Sen. Rand Paul sustained in attack far more severe than initially thought: WP reports, the two-term senator is recovering from five broken ribs and bruises to his lungs after being allegedly attacked by a neighbor on Friday. It is unclear when Paul (R-KY) will return to Washington, aides said Sunday.
Is Tom Cotton the future of Trumpism?
New Yorker - Jeffrey Toobin
NBC News: Mueller has enough evidence to bring charges in Flynn investigation
The fact Flynn hasn't been arrested yet has to suggest cooperation with the Mueller investigation.
WSJ: Russian Twitter support for Trump began shortly after he started campaign—in June 2015
Bloomberg: Trump Jr. hinted at review of anti-Russia law, Moscow lawyer says
NEED A SPEAKER?
Marc A. Ross works with clients to develop executive education lectures, speeches, presentations, workshops, and conferences to help demystify Globalization, Disruption, and American politics. Learn more here.
ENTERPRISE
WSJ: Broadcom proposes to buy Qualcomm for $103 billion
The unsolicited bid would be the largest pure tech merger ever.
Bloomberg: Coca-Cola's next big bet may be spiffing up your cocktail mixers
“Mixers are seeing a resurgence in many parts of the world as part of this trend.”
Goldman Sachs Group and China Investment Corp. are partnering on a multibillion-dollar fund to help the giant Chinese fund invest in US manufacturing and other sectors.
Caixin: UnionPay reaches complete penetration at US ATMs
Bloomberg: Qatar Airways buys Cathay Pacific stake for $662 Million
CNBC: Ford and Europe's auto giants to build a long-distance electric charging network
- 20 fast-charging stations to be in operation by the end of 2017
- 400 stations aimed to be built across Europe by 2020
- Technology would have twice charging capacity of Tesla's offering
TRENDS
Early-bird special: Some families can’t wait for Thanksgiving: WSJ reports, more Americans are celebrating Turkey Day earlier than the fourth week of November, citing cheaper travel and lower stress.
Today's cheapest iPhone vs the PalmPilot: 20 years of handheld computing: As we welcome the innovative iPhone X, it's worth noting that you can buy a new iPhone for less than the original PalmPilot. Even Apple's lowest-end device is hundreds of thousands of times more powerful than handhelds from 20 years ago.
ZDNet - David Gewirtz
SPORT
NY Daily News: Shalane Flanagan becomes first US woman to win NYC Marathon since 1977
