Henry Kissinger, US economy, EV revolution, Kink, Winter Olympics, plus 1,000 more actionable insights.
ITK Daily is geopolitical business intelligence for communications pros.
Happy Thursday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
*** Ross Rant ***
Geopolitical pro-tip:
Good politics rarely makes good economics.
Here's an example.
For campaign messaging, Joe Biden is reemphasizing his focus on economic populism with a strategy that browbeats big business for not bringing down prices in the face of slowing inflation, an apparent response to voters expressing pessimism about the state of the American economy, The Messenger reports.
Biden's Election 2024 effort is reminiscent of the more populist 'Scranton versus Park Avenue' pitch Biden successfully made to voters in 2020.
*** Globalization + Statecraft ***
Henry Kissinger, who helped forge US foreign policy during Vietnam and Cold Wars, dies at 100: German-born academic was a hero to war-weary Americans but many blamed him for brutalities abroad. WSJ
Henry Kissinger, who shaped world affairs under two presidents, dies at 100: As the only person ever to be national security adviser and secretary of state at the same time, Kissinger exercised a control over U.S. international affairs policymaking that has rarely been equaled by anyone who was not president. WP
Henry Kissinger, who shaped US Cold War history, is dead at 100: The most powerful secretary of state of the postwar era, he was both celebrated and reviled. His legacy still resonates in US international relations. NYT
Kissinger nimbly managed a Cold War that needed winning, not managing: No secretary of state practiced the job with more brio and flair. He leavened his romanticism about America with cynicism as he tutored the nation in realism. George F. Will
Putin sees Finland as the next Crimea: Russia has opened a new front. UnHerd
Russia mulls loyalty law for foreigners: WSJ reports draft legislation would restrict what expatriates can say about Russian policy, social values, and Soviet military history.
Bombenomics: Biden admin circulates map showing states that benefit from Ukraine aid: Politico reports the White House has adjusted its sales pitch to skeptical Republicans, highlighting how continued funding benefits the US.
+ $75bn, the amount of aid America has provided Ukraine since Russia’s invasion. President Joe Biden has requested $61bn more.
The Times: We won’t give up Crimea for NATO membership, says Kyiv
The European class of 2024: Welcome to Politico’s annual ranking of the most influential people in Europe: In addition to the most powerful person on the Continent, the list is divided into three categories — doers, disrupters and dreamers — each representing a different type of power. Politico
+ Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage are on the list of 28 power players. Rishi Sunak isn’t.
The end of UK political conferences? CCHQ is in talks about whether to scrap the 2024 Tory conference (or thin it to a day) because it would be too close to the election, reports the Telegraph.
Bloomberg: Sunak escalates Elgin Marbles row, accusing Greek premier of bad faith
+ UK says Greek side agreed not to discuss sculptures publicly
+ Greek officials deny any deal, say position is well known
On a canceled meeting regarding the Elgin Marbles, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said: “This is unheard of. It is a massive diplomatic indiscretion. Even Israel and Hamas communicate.”
Is Rishi Sunak too tetchy to win an election? Tories voiced concern after British PM ‘throws toys out of the pram’ during Parthenon Sculptures row. Politico
WP: US prosecutors allege assassination plot of Sikh separatist directed by Indian government employee
Narendra Modi is remaking India’s 1.4m-strong military: The goal is to close the gap with China. Economist
FT: Chinese factory activity contracts in sign of economy losing momentum
WP: China to restrict graphite exports to United States as tech war escalates
Why Xi Jinping sounds friendlier to America: A tactical move to boost China’s economic and diplomatic interests. Economist
Analysis: How Biden's farewell jab at Xi over Taiwan traveled across the Pacific: Days after US-China summit, democratic island's opposition alliance collapsed. Nikkei
Singapore President Tharman calls for resilience and optimism to shore up an unraveling world TST
Saudi wealth fund scoops up 10% of London Heathrow airport: AFP reports Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is to buy ten percent of London's Heathrow airport from Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial, whose departure from the hub after almost two decades leaves Qatar as its biggest shareholder.
Saudi Arabia beat Italy to host the World Expo in 2030.
+ It plans to spend $7.8bn on the event.
+ Saudi Arabia will be the second Gulf state to hold the expo in a decade, after the United Arab Emirates in 2020.
WSJ: Welcome to COP28, the UN climate conference hosted by an Oil giant
This oil kingdom hopes to surprise climate activists at start of COP28: WP reports the United Arab Emirates will seek to forge a deal on climate funding in Dubai, a sign of how these increasingly tense summits are focused on financing.
Bloomberg: Kamala Harris will attend the COP28 climate summit in Dubai
+ Vice President plays role in implementing Biden climate agenda
+ Harris will speak along with King Charles, Sunak, Macron, Modi
Mexico: Five journalists were wounded by gunshots in two separate incidents in Mexico on Tuesday, the worst day in a decade for violence against the Mexican press.
*** Politics + Elections ***
On brand: James Taylor will host a concert fundraiser for Joe Biden.
Biden campaign: Twitter, er X, is ‘an increasingly hostile place’: Politico reports the president’s aides aren’t ready to quit the site they love to trash.
+ @BEA_News: The US economy grew at a 5.2% annualized rate in Q3, up from the 4.9% rate estimated a month ago.
*** Disruption + Innovation ***
Cigna, Humana in discussions for blockbuster merger: WSJ reports the health-insurance giants are in talks on a cash-and-stock deal that could be finalized by the end of the year.
WP: UAW announces drive to organize Toyota, Tesla and a dozen other automakers
Is America’s EV revolution stalling? Its motorists aren’t won over by battery power—yet. Economist
GM directs billions to investors as EV push disappoints: WSJ reports CEO Mary Barra is looking to dispel concerns about the health of GM’s core car-making business after setbacks in fledgling pursuits such as EVs.
Chinese EV maker BYD tops Nissan in monthly global auto sales: Nikkei reports rising automaker races past Japanese rival in October with low prices.
WP: OpenAI says Microsoft will have a non-voting board seat
Google will pay C$100m ($74m) annually into a fund that will support Canadian press.
Tokyo flights to Miami, 'capital of the Americas,' could start in 2025: Nikkei reports Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Cava also seeks climate investments from Japan.
Bloomberg: Facing a shortage of luxury artisans, LVMH seeks apprentices in the US
Astronomers discover six planets orbiting a nearby sun-like star WP
*** Culture ***
In the world of sexual fetishes, crossing the political aisle is a kink: Does a forced ‘vote’ for the other side get your pulse racing? There’s a dominatrix for that. WP
+ Nearly 50,000 people in the US lost their lives to suicide in 2022, according to a provisional tally from the National Center for Health Statistics. The suicide rate of 14.3 deaths per 100,000 people reached its highest level since 1941.
*** Sport ***
WP: French Alps, Salt Lake City are top choices for 2030, 2034 Winter Olympics
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
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