In this highly-requested return to the Silk and Steel Podcast, host Carl Zha is joined by Professor Warwick Powell to dissect the high-stakes phone call between Presidents Xi and Trump. We go beyond the headlines to uncover the real significance of the conversation, including the crucial historical framing of Taiwan as a final piece of post-WWII settlement.
We then dive into Japan's puzzling role in stirring up tensions and explore the profound structural traps holding back the United States. Professor Powell introduces his groundbreaking "thermoeconomics" framework, explaining how energy, finance, and information systems determine the fate of nations.
00:00 - Introduction
01:15 - The Xi-Trump Phone Call: Who Really Called Who?
04:45 - The Bombshell: China Frames Taiwan as a Post-WWII Settlement
09:30 - Japan's Provocation: What Does Tokyo Gain?
16:10 - Japan's Economic Trap: Energy, Food, and a Failing Model
23:45 - Professor Powell's "Thermoeconomics" Framework Explained
29:50 - Why is the US Failing Despite its Advantages?
35:20 - The AI Energy Crisis: Why US Tech is a Drain, Not a Gain
42:10 - The Financial Black Hole: Why Wall Street is Killing Main Street
48:05 - Can America Be Fixed? The Grim Political Reality
54:40 - Where to Find Professor Powell's Work
