Happy Saturday.
To be ITK, know this:
Read this: In turbulent times, Xi builds a security fortress for China, and himself NYT
+ Taiwan, COVID, “color revolutions,” the classroom: everywhere, China’s leader sees threats that foreign forces can exploit, and he has enlisted the whole nation to resist
+ “Xi couldn’t have been more forthright that China is beset by malevolent forces and internally prey to centrifugal forces,” said Daniel R. Russel, a former senior American diplomat who accompanied Mr. Biden to China in 2011.
+ He (Xi) has strengthened, centralized, and emboldened an already pervasive security apparatus, turning it into a hulking fortress that protects him and positions him as the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping
+ When he came to power, Mr. Xi moved quickly, worried that his predecessors had let corruption and cronyism rot away China’s defenses against domestic and foreign threats
+ China’s first full National Security Strategy, an internal doc laying out broad goals through 2025... calls for ensuring that China can provide more of its own food and core technology and for developing ways to defuse social unrest before it erupts
+ The 150-page textbook on Xi’s “comprehensive outlook on national security” offers clues about that strategy. China must deepen its partnership with Russia to withstand international threats, says the book, whose authors include officials from the National Security Commission
Pro-tip: If Chris Buckley (@ChuBailiang) writes it, read it.
@SamRamani2: BREAKING: The US, Australia, and Japan release a joint statement calling for an end to China's provocative exercises around Taiwan
Read this: China is ratcheting up pressure on Taiwan. What will the US do next? FT
+ Nancy Pelosi visited the island to demonstrate support. But Beijing’s response has shown its capacity for military coercion
+ “Our firepower covers all of Taiwan, and we can strike wherever we want. We got really close to Taiwan. We encircled Taiwan. And we demonstrated that we can effectively stop intervention by foreign forces.” -- Zhang Junshe @ PLA Navy Research Institute
+ Although no more than a handful of flights were canceled, the exercise is forcing airlines and shipping companies to alter their routes when approaching Taiwan. Experts believe the PLA does not yet have the capacity to sustain such pressure on Taiwan for an extended period of time
Russia will be in the soft power doghouse for at least a generation.
+ French artist James Colomina placed a statue of Putin on a tank at a Central Park playground. This child responded by aiming a water pistol at the object.
What I am reading today: Protocol: The Power of Diplomacy and How to Make It Work for You - Capricia Penavic Marshall Amazon
Go Wisconsin, young man: Republicans pick Milwaukee to host their 2024 national convention.
Read this: SEC crypto clampdown puts digital asset industry on notice FT
+ Wall Street’s top cop has been using traditional finance rules to police industry
+ In recent weeks, the Securities and Exchange Commission has filed charges against individuals for allegedly creating a $300mn “fraudulent crypto pyramid and Ponzi scheme,” as well as a case against a former employee of crypto exchange Coinbase
The silly season: On this episode of Brigadoon Radio, Gerald Ashley and I discuss Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, the internal politics of the People's Republic of China, the UK Conservative Party leadership election, the status of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Vogue Magazine photoshoot of Olena Zelenska, German energy use going forward, the snap election in Italy, and what they are reading and watching. Watch here.
Coming soon: I just recorded a wonderful chat with Miranda West for an upcoming episode of Brigadoon Radio. We discussed the future of publishing, not paying attention to what others are doing, and the balance between creativity + commerce.
+ "Books to inspire action"
+ Follow on Twitter here: @DoBookCo
+ Follow on Instagram here: @dobookco
More: https://thedobook.co
Read this: Is Scott Galloway the Howard Stern of the business world? NYT
+ The podcaster aspires to be an influential thought leader. But his appeal to a mostly male fan base is about more than just his prognostications.
Odd headline.
Not Stern.
Not Peterson.
Just Galloway.
Scott Galloway is the Scott Galloway of the business world.
How Scott Galloway is the world's best-known professor + charges $100k for a speech Caracal Insights
Read this: Your Roomba may be mapping your home, collecting data that could be shared NYT
+ From 2017: "The confusion underscored that the frontier of smart home data and privacy can be a sensitive one. In the hands of a company like Amazon, Apple, or Google, that data could fuel the growing product category of digital home assistants."
Robb Report: Hermès’ Wuhan store reportedly pulled in a whopping $4.4 million on opening day
+ This week, the two-story boutique drew in a line of high-net-worth VIP clients for rare handbags, luxe apparel, and more
Wild.
Today: The Detroit Tigers are retiring Lou Whitaker's No. 1 jersey.
Read this: Premier League teams ranked: Where all 20 squads stand heading into the 2022/23 season TSN
The top ten:
Man City
Liverpool
Tottenham
Chelsea
Arsenal
Man United
West Ham
Newcastle
Aston Villa
Leicester City
MorningBrew Stat: Money spent on recent FIFA World Cups (via @FOS):
2014 (Brazil) - $15B
2018 (Russia) - $11.6B
2022 (Qatar) - $220B
Extraordinary event: The Mind Your Own Business (MYOB) Conference is a go for October 24-26 in Atlanta, GA. MYOB is a conference for creatives running their own businesses. More here.
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
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