*** Ross Rant ***
Have you heard of Brigadoon Sundance?
Now happening for the eighth time, Brigadoon Sundance is a curated gathering happening February 22-24, 2026, at Robert Redford's Sundance Mountain Resort.
Here's what makes it different—the gathering is intentionally limited to just 100 seats. Not because of space constraints, but because we believe that meaningful connections require intimacy. No massive conferences. No endless networking booths. Just thoughtful design.
Brigadoon gatherings are for founders and thought-leaders like you who are actively shaping commerce and culture.
Three days in a winter camp-like setting in the Utah mountains, where you'll engage with new concepts, challenge assumptions, and connect with people whose perspectives will genuinely expand how you see the world.
Brigadoon Sundance | 2026
February 22-24
You can find more information here: www.brigadoon.live/sundance.
I'd love to see you there.
-Marc
*** A11. ***
Sanae Takaichi will be the first female leader in Japan since Hojo Masako in 1225. It has been 800 years.
Sanae Takaichi makes history as Japan's first female prime minister: BBC reports the 64-year-old won a clear majority on Tuesday - 237 votes in the powerful Lower House and another 125 in the Upper House - as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). A staunch conservative and admirer of the late former UK PM Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi takes over at a challenging economic moment as Japan grapples with a rising cost of living and a frustrated public.
Japan shifts to the right under ‘Iron Lady’ admirer Takaichi: Bloomberg reports Sanae Takaichi, the pro-stimulus conservative who has become Japan’s first female prime minister, is an energetic nationalist with a soft spot for the hard-nosed politics of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher and the heavy metal music of Iron Maiden. Takaichi broke the glass ceiling to become the nation’s leader after a parliamentary vote on Tuesday.
Japan gets its first female leader, a conservative who favors a stronger military: WSJ reports Sanae Takaichi was confirmed as prime minister days ahead of a possible visit to Japan by President Trump, with whom she shares a hawkish stance on China.
Japan's Takaichi to meet with Trump next week to discuss defense: Nikkei reports the new leader dismissive of early snap election in first news conference.
Takaichi Sanae becomes Japan’s first female prime minister: Hawkish on security policy, dovish on fiscal policy, and traditionalist on social policy, she will move her country to the right. Economist
Trump-Putin summit called off: There are no plans for President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet “in the immediate future,” ABC News reports, calling off a summit that was expected in Hungary in the coming weeks.
Trump’s second meeting with Putin is off: Politico reports Russia’s foreign minister said he made clear to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a call on Monday that their demands in Ukraine haven’t changed.
In a reversal, Trump will not meet with Putin in coming weeks: NYT reports the back-and-forth was the latest example of President Trump teasing a breakthrough, only to be pulled back by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
Trump says Ukraine summit with Putin would be a ‘waste of time’: WSJ reports the administration has concluded that Russia is clinging to territorial ambitions that make a peace deal with Ukraine impossible.
WP: Trump says he doesn’t want ‘wasted meeting’ with Putin, delaying summit
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin cancel Budapest summit over Ukraine: FT reports White House announces two leaders have ‘no plans’ to meet to discuss ways to end the war.
Trump-Putin summit off after Russia rejects ceasefire proposal: The Times reports the leaders were expected to meet in the next two weeks, but a call between ministers broke down because of the Kremlin’s ‘maximalist’ demands over Ukraine.
Ukraine’s allies rush to bolster Zelenskyy amid fears over Trump-Putin deal: Politico reports that after Ukraine’s leader struck out at the White House last Friday, his European friends will try to strengthen his hand before it’s too late.
Sarkozy’s five-year prison term starts with fingerprints and a mug shot: WSJ reports the former French president was convicted of conspiring to seek campaign funds from Gadhafi and has been placed in an isolation ward for his safety.
AFP: US, Australia ink rare earths deal to curb reliance on China amid rising trade tensions
Can a US-Australia partnership shake China’s grip on rare earths? Australia’s got reserves and mining expertise, and the United States is eager to invest in alternatives to China. But building mines, refineries, and factories could take years. NYT
North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile toward the east, South Korea’s military said, just days before world leaders are set to gather in South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Trump seeks peace ceremony spotlight at ASEAN summit: Politico reports Trump wants to preside over a Thailand-Cambodia peace deal ceremony — and Chinese officials aren’t welcome.
Trump sees successful Xi meeting, but allows it might not happen: Bloomberg reports Trump predicted an upcoming meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, would yield a “good deal” on trade — while also conceding that the highly anticipated talks may not happen.
China’s Commerce Minister warned that the Dutch state’s move to take control of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia has “seriously affected” the stability of the global supply chain.
Supply-chain economics beats tariff politics: Twenty years ago, China learned the hard way that once supply chains reorganize, they never return to their previous form. By relying on tariffs and subsidies, the United States is now paying the price for underestimating how tightly its economy is bound to the rest of the world. Jun Du
China has another lever to pull in showdown with Trump: Factory lines: In Washington, China hawks say its economy is too weak to withstand a tariff shock. In the city of Yiwu, factories are showing why, for now, that may be a miscalculation. NYT
China’s big London spy platform: Beijing wants a mega-embassy in Britain, but espionage risks abound. WSJ-Editorial
In China, a forbidden question looms: Who leads after Xi? Xi Jinping seems to believe that only his continued rule can secure China’s rise. But as he ages, choosing a successor will become riskier and more difficult. NYT
The miseducation of Xi Jinping: How a father’s struggle revealed the price of power. Orville Schell
CNN: Vance downplays concerns over ceasefire in visit to Israel as Trump administration officials privately worry
+ Vance urges a 'little bit of patience' amid Israeli frustration with Hamas' pace of returning hostages' remains.
Trump officials ratchet up pressure on Israel and Hamas: WSJ reports senior envoys are warning both sides to avoid an escalation that could collapse the truce ahead of talks on Gaza’s future.
Saudi crown prince plans first White House visit since 2018: WSJ reports Mohammed bin Salman is seeking a defense pact, and normalization with Israel and Gaza reconstruction are likely on the agenda.
Carney government warned by auto industry that delaying tariff talks puts thousands of jobs at risk: Auto industry and union representatives fear pusing off tough auto sector talks about American tariffs to whenever formal negotiations on a scheduled review of the North American free trade deal get underway. Toronto Star
GM to stop making electric vans in Canada, in another hit to a key industry: NYT reports the announcement, which will eliminate about 1,200 jobs, came less than a week after the carmaker Stellantis said it would move production of a new vehicle to Illinois from a Toronto suburb.
GM cuts EV production in Canada, cites Trump backpedal: AFP reports General Motors said Tuesday it was ending production of an electric vehicle at a plant in Canada, a further blow to the country's auto sector tied to President Donald Trump's opposition to EVs.
Ontario’s anti-tariff ad has caught Donald Trump’s attention: Toronto Star reports Trump said he saw the commercial, which aired during the Fox broadcast of the Toronto Blue Jays’ American League Championship Series victory over the Seattle Mariners, on Monday night.
US-Canada trade deal could be ready for approval at APEC summit, sources say: G+M reports an agreement would focus on steel, aluminum, and energy, but leave out autos and lumber.
Critical minerals, electricity top of agenda at G7 energy meeting, IEA head says: G+M reports energy ministers slated to discuss urgency of developing a critical minerals supply chain.
Gen Z protesters from Nepal to Peru fly 'One Piece' anime pirate flag: Emblem symbolizes fight against oppression for youth who grew up with franchise. Nikkei
Generation Z leads Peru’s protests for change: After decades of instability and political turmoil, Peru’s youth demands change through organised protests. BAT
Colombia’s ex-guerrilla president is relishing a fight with Trump: WSJ reports Gustavo Petro is using a clash with the US over strikes on alleged drug boats to cast himself as David vs. Washington’s Goliath.
Colombia's president embraces war of words with Trump: AFP reports Donald Trump's decision to freeze millions in aid to Colombia and brand its president a drug trafficker has smashed long-standing ties and could yet shake up the country's 2026 presidential race.
Military briefing: The US naval and special forces build-up off Venezuela: Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire to see Nicolás Maduro ousted. Here are the forces he has sent to the region. FT
What US forces face as Venezuela puts Russian-armed military on wartime alert Allen Frazier
TWZ: Venezuela’s supersonic anti-ship missiles are a real threat to American warships
US attacks more boats as tensions with Venezuela rise: What’s Happened So Far: NYT reports the Trump administration is ratcheting up pressure on the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, while striking vessels that it says are trafficking drugs.
The US plan to blow up drug boats has some major leaks: Military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean aren’t what could bring Venezuela a better future. Jim Geraghty
Argentina's central bank intervenes to halt run on peso: AFP reports Argentina's central bank said Tuesday it had sold $45.5 million dollars on the foreign exchange market to try and halt a run on the peso days ahead of midterm elections that have put pressure on the currency despite substantial US financial aid.
Milei flees Buenos Aires Province campaign, leaving Santilli solo for final stretch: BAT reports polls show La Libertad Avanza narrowing the gap but still trailing Peronism, prompting the President to abandon campaigning in nation's most populous district and shift attention to Córdoba and Rosario.
Javier Milei faces his most dangerous moment yet: He could still survive a currency run and knife-edge election. Economist
Countering cartels and Communists in the Americas Daniel McCarthy
The Trump administration's politicization of US national security: Through purges in intelligence agencies, institutional politicization, and an authoritarian drift, the American president has shaken US democracy and elevated a new imagined 'enemy within.' Le Monde
Trump said to demand Justice Dept. pay him $230 million for past cases: NYT reports senior department officials who were defense lawyers for the president and those in his orbit are now in jobs that typically must approve any such payout, underscoring potential ethical conflicts.
NBC News: Some Trump critics fear they could be the president's next target for prosecution
NY Mag: Trump’s White House demolition will be televised
Treasury tells employees not to share photos of White House ballroom construction: WSJ reports Treasury’s headquarters is located next door to the East Wing, giving employees there a front-row seat to the construction of President Trump’s $250 million ballroom.
White House expands East Wing demolition as critics decry Trump overreach: WP reports more of the structure was torn down to make way for President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom, despite complaints about the project’s lack of transparency.
Trump administration to release farm aid frozen by shutdown: WSJ reports the Trump administration is planning to release more than $3 billion in aid to US farmers that had been frozen as a result of the government shutdown, as the agriculture sector grapples with the fallout from President Trump’s tariffs.
Shooting by ICE officer in Los Angeles wounds motorist, US marshal: WP reports federal authorities said the driver had threatened officers with a vehicle while trying to flee an arrest.
CNN: Elon Musk calls acting NASA chief ‘Sean Dummy’ as SpaceX moon contract hangs in the balance
‘Sean Dummy’: Musk and Duffy brawl over the future of NASA: Politico reports it’s far from the first time the world’s richest man has lobbed broadsides at the administration.
US army taps private equity groups to help fund $150bn revamp: FT reports Apollo, KKR, Carlyle, and Cerberus among investors that held talks with the federal government.
The boardroom bet on Trump’s industrial policy: CEOs would be wise to avoid staking too much on the US president’s pet projects. FT-Editorial
Arizona AG sues over Speaker Mike Johnson refusing to seat new House member: WP reports Arizona’s attorney general sued the House after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) refused to swear in a Democrat who won a special election a month ago.
Politico: Johnson says he won’t block a floor vote to release the Epstein files
Obamacare subsidies: Thirteen vulnerable Republicans are urging Speaker Mike Johnson to “immediately turn our focus” to extending Obamacare subsidies after the government reopens.
North Carolina lawmakers vote to add GOP House seat, in win for Trump: WP reports the redrawing of North Carolina’s congressional map comes as President Donald Trump presses Republicans to add more GOP seats to protect their majority in 2026.
More voters identify as Democrats: Gallup finds Democrats have retaken the lead in party identification, 48% to 41%, the party’s best reading since the first quarter of the Biden administration.
Trump job approval: A total of 37% of Americans say they approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, and 60% say they disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job, according to the latest survey from the American Research Group.
POTUS 2028: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) told reporters a presidential run is something he and his family will “consider” if they feel he’s the best candidate for the job in 2028, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Biden completes a course of radiation therapy for prostate cancer: WP reports former president’s spokesperson confirms Biden “rang the bell,” a tradition in cancer facilities to mark major milestones for patients, at the Philadelphia center.
CNN’s future at stake as owner Warner Bros. Discovery seeks sale: WP reports Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has reportedly expressed interest in buying the company, in a sale that could place CNN and CBS under one parent company.
Prediction markets boom as volumes surpass 2024 election: Bloomberg reports the trading volume on the leading prediction markets platforms, Polymarket and Kalshi, has hit a new record high, surpassing the previous peak reached during the US presidential election last year. The recent jump in trading activity offers one of the clearest indications yet of the growing excitement around the exchanges that allow investors to bet on the likelihood of real-world events, just as financial firms like CME Group Inc. and Intercontinental Exchange Inc. look for a way into these hot markets.
GE Vernova has agreed to buy the stake in transformer-maker Prolec GE that it doesn’t already own as the artificial intelligence boom drives demand for products and services in the power sector.
BlackRock among biggest investors in Meta’s giant data-center debt deal: WSJ reports Meta Platforms and Blue Owl, the private-credit firm, raised $27 billion to finance the buildout of a Louisiana data center.
The hottest term in AI is completely made up: Artificial intelligence executives are harkening back to the industrial revolution. WP
What does the market really think about AI? Despite all the enthusiasm for AI, which has undoubtedly demonstrated impressive capabilities, the signal from bond markets suggests that investors are unconvinced that the technology will generate sustained or widespread growth, let alone a more extreme positive or negative outcome. What accounts for this disconnect? Isaiah Andrews + Maryam Farboodi
Public AI is the new multilateralism: In the 1970s, European governments worked together to create an aircraft manufacturer capable of competing with the US firm Boeing. As a handful of private companies in Shenzhen and Silicon Valley race to entrench their AI dominance, similarly bold cooperation among middle powers has become imperative. Jacob Taylor + Joshua Tan
AI won’t end entry-level work: Plus, the century of cities, what people actually use AI for, and more. Bloomberg
Anthropic is in discussions with Google about a deal that would provide the artificial intelligence company with additional computing power valued in the high tens of billions of dollars, according to people familiar with the matter.
OpenAI unveiled its first artificial intelligence-powered web browser, called ChatGPT Atlas, designed to be a more personalized web experience.
OpenAI launches Atlas web browser: FT reports ChatGPT-maker’s tool will integrate the popular chatbot in a challenge to Google and Microsoft.
Microsoft will exempt many sales roles from its coming return-to-office mandate, offering a more flexible approach than many of its tech industry peers.
Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella’s pay package jumped to $96.5 million for fiscal 2025, his highest compensation since he became CEO more than a decade ago, with the board citing the company’s progress in artificial intelligence.
Have we reached peak social media? Use ‘falls among Gen Z’: A study has suggested Germans are being put off by AI ‘slop’ on Instagram and TikTok. But the reality may be more complicated. The Times
Cracker Barrel CEO explains short-lived logo change: WSJ reports Julie Felss Masino said the logo change was meant to help with the chain’s visibility on highway billboards.
It’s like Uber Eats but for Israeli Arabs without home addresses: Startup Haat gets pizzas to shoppers in traditionally underserved neighborhoods, and they’re still hot. It’s a model it plans to take global. Bloomberg
China races ahead in robovans even as autonomous delivery challenges remain: Nikkei reports Neolix says it has deployed 10,000 of the self-driving vehicles in industry milestone.
Kim Jones is betting big on Asia: After 15 years at LVMH, the English designer is working for Chinese coat maker Bosideng and has partnered on a car with Avatr. Why? FT
Mattel shares fell after the company reported third-quarter sales and earnings that missed analysts’ estimates as US retailers delayed orders due to uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.
Renters are conning their way into luxury apartments: WSJ reports Atlanta, where up to half of rental applications contain fraudulent information, is epicenter of national surge in these scams.
Japan weighs allowing banking groups to trade cryptocurrencies: Nikkei reports the move aims to level playing field with brokerages amid market growth.
FT: Gold tumbles 6% in biggest sell-off since 2013
Gold suffers biggest drop in more than a decade: WSJ reports an epic run-up in precious metals switched abruptly into reverse, while stock investors dug into corporate earnings.
Are we in a financial bubble? While there is ample reason to believe that AI-driven investments are in bubble territory, the real question is when – and how – the end might come. For anyone hazarding a guess, the lessons of past bubbles, combined with key financial-market indicators, offer a useful guide. Dambisa Moyo
Louvre heist: Paris prosecutor says jewels stolen are worth an estimated 88 million euros ($102 million).
Eric Lu, a 27-year-old American classical pianist, won the top prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw on Monday.
Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ takes the stage in Minneapolis: There was a flourish of purple at the State Theater for the debut of a new musical adaptation of the performer’s 1984 movie in his hometown in Minnesota. NYT
Sundance film festival sets tributes to late co-founder Redford: AFP reports the upcoming Sundance film festival will feature multiple tributes to its late co-founder Robert Redford, including a screening of his first independent movie, organizers said Tuesday.
One of Jane Birkin's Hermès handbags to be auctioned in Abu Dhabi: Le Monde reports Hermès handbag that belonged to singer and actress Jane Birkin will be auctioned by Sotheby's on December 5. The bag is one of four that Birkin owned after auctioning the original to raise money for charity in 1994.
After falling to 1-5, the Baltimore Ravens removed the players' ping pong table, video game consoles, basketball hoop, and corn hole boards from the locker room.
A Mexican soundtrack for American football NYT
Is all-rounder Shohei Ohtani the planet’s most dominant athlete? LA Dodgers star is rewriting history — and has joined greats of track and field, cycling, and swimming in conversation about the most versatile sportsperson alive. The Times
Blue Jays fans, resellers race for World Series tickets: G+M reports Game 1 tickets sold out in 30 minutes before appearing on resale platforms starting at $2,000.
How sumo wrestling became a hit in Britain: The ancient Japanese sport finds some unlikely fans. Economist
The NBA has a record-breaking 135 international players on opening night rosters. Every country with players in the NBA:
🇨🇦 Canada: 23
🇫🇷 France: 19
🇦🇺 Australia: 13
🇩🇪 Germany: 7
🇷🇸 Serbia: 6
🇨🇲 Cameroon: 4
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: 4
🇧🇸 Bahamas: 3
🇭🇷 Croatia: 3
🇨🇩 Democratic Rep. of the Congo: 3
🇬🇷 Greece: 3
🇱🇹 Lithuania: 3
🇨🇭 Switzerland: 3
🇧🇪 Belgium: 2
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic: 2
🇬🇪 Georgia: 2
🇮🇱 Israel: 2
🇳🇬 Nigeria: 2
🇷🇺 Russia: 2
🇸🇳 Senegal: 2
🇸🇸 South Sudan: 2
🇪🇸 Spain: 2
🇸🇪 Sweden: 2
🇺🇦 Ukraine: 2
🇦🇹 Austria: 1
🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina: 1
🇧🇷 Brazil: 1
🇨🇳 China: 1
🇨🇿 Czech Republic: 1
🇫🇮 Finland: 1
🇬🇳 Guinea: 1
🇮🇹 Italy: 1
🇯🇲 Jamaica: 1
🇯🇵 Japan: 1
🇱🇻 Latvia: 1
🇲🇱 Mali: 1
🇲🇪 Montenegro: 1
🇳🇱 Netherlands: 1
🇳🇿 New Zealand: 1
🇵🇹 Portugal: 1
🇸🇮 Slovenia: 1
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia: 1
🇹🇷 Turkey: 1
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
A11. | October 22
