Extension, EU, Exercise, Europe, Emerging
Marc Ross Daily
February 14, 2019
Curation and commentary from Marc A. Ross
Reporting from Alexandria, Virginia
Marc Ross Daily = News + Analysis at the Intersection of Globalization + Disruption + Politics
TOP FIVE
✔️ Trump considers 60-day extension for China tariffs
✔️ Europe's shrinking middle class
✔️ Exercise may help to fend off depression
✔️ Andrew McCabe: Every day is a new low in Trump's White House
✔️ How Michael Jordan became a brand
ROSS RANT
Risky ≠ Dangerous
GLOBALIZATION
Bloomberg: Trump considers 60-day extension for China tariff deadline
Trump said he was open to letting the March 1 deadline for more than doubling tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods slide, if the two countries are close to a deal that addresses deep structural changes to China’s economic policies.
A spokeswoman for US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer declined to comment.
Trump is so desperate for a big, we goin sizzler, blow out the candles on the birthday cake deal that it's hard to see how his art of the deal skills will be more successful with 60 more days.
US and China resume talks to resolve trade impasse: FT reports, Washington argues Beijing’s backing of Chinese companies distorts markets.
Politico: China aims to run out the clock to get Trump and Xi to the table on trade
“The Chinese looked at the State of the Union stare-down and the shutdown stare-down and could well be thinking to themselves that maybe Trump is an easier negotiator than Ambassador [Robert] Lighthizer,” said Scott Mulhauser, who served as chief of staff at the US embassy in Beijing under the Obama administration.
US trade demands have China fearful of 'color revolutions': Nikkei reports, 'structural reforms' touch the foundations of Communist Party rule.
Taiwan foreign minister: reunification with China 'not an option': Joseph Wu, the foreign minister of Taiwan, told DW that Taiwan could provide a model of democracy for China. However, China would need to accept that Taiwan is an "independent political entity" for relations to improve.
China’s 'ham-handed' PR moves hurt its global image: Nikkei reports, Chinese President Xi Jinping was hailed last year as the new keeper of the global economic order. This year he was denounced at Davos as a grave threat to freedom.
Europe's shrinking middle class: Since the recession of the late 2000s, the middle class has shrunk in over two-thirds of the European Union, echoing a similar decline in the United States and reversing two decades of expansion.
France's unemployment rate falls to lowest level since 2009.
EU heading for collapse just like the Soviet Union, warns Soros: The Times reports, George Soros has warned that the European Union is “sleepwalking into oblivion” and risks collapsing like the Soviet Union. Citing the spasms of upheaval in Italy, Britain and Germany, he said that Europe had drastically underestimated the threat from its “internal enemies” and was on the cusp of tipping into “the nightmare of the 21st century”.
The Times: Snap Spanish election looms as Catalans reject national budget
Bloomberg: Trump's foreign policy discord drives wedgebetween vital allies
“We have never seen anything like this. The problem with this administration is that they seem to have this genuine antagonism towards the European Union in ways that are frankly scary.”
Germany preps a plan B for Trump's foreign policy 'zigzag': One of Washington’s closest allies in a fractured Europe struggles to adapt to the Trump administration’s unpredictable policy moves.
DISRUPTION
Think big, work small: A new study finds that small teams of researchers do more innovative work than large teams do. The new research, published on Wednesday in the journal Nature, is the latest contribution from an emerging branch of work known as the science of science — the study of how, when and through whom knowledge advances.
Exercise may help to fend off depression: Jogging for 15 minutes a day, or walking or gardening for somewhat longer, could help protect people against developing depression.
POLITICS
Manafort broke plea deal: A federal judge ruled that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort lied to investigators about his contact with an associate linked to Russian intelligence.
“As part of his plea deal, he faced up to 10 years in prison ... But by breaching his plea agreement, he now likely faces the rest of his life in prison. His only hope of avoiding that fate is a presidential pardon.” -@PaulaReidCBS reports on Paul Manafort
Andrew McCabe: Every day is a new low in Trump's White House: The president steps over bright ethical and moral lines wherever he encounters them. Everyone in America saw it when he fired my boss. But I saw it firsthand time and time again.
60 Minutes: McCabe says he ordered the obstruction of justice probe of President Trump
The former FBI acting director tells 60 Minutes about the measures taken to ensure investigations into President Trump wouldn’t "vanish."
.@ScottPelley's full interview with former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe will air this Sunday on @CBS' @60Minutes.
US CPI report which was stronger than expected.
Two years into Trump's presidency, Pew reports Americans remain most satisfied with the state of US military strength and preparedness (78%) and the nation's security from terrorism (68%).
Tariffs Hurt the Heartland: US businesses paid an additional $2.7 billion in tariffs in November 2018, according to data from a coalition of business groups fighting Trump’s trade tariffs.
Voters 2020: Millennials and Gen Z will make up 37% of the 2020 electorate
Do you ever feel like Gen X doesn't exist?
Daniel Henninger: Maybe it’ll be Beto: The Democrats are going to lose if their nominee can’t hold a stage with Trump.
It's the age of personality trumping policy.
Reuters: Democrats swear off big money, but will it hurt their 2020 White House chances?
COMMERCE
Airbus pulled the plug on its slow-selling A380 superjumbo.
How Michael Jordan became a brand: Michael Jordan remains the OG signature shoe king 16 years after his last NBA game and 21 years after his last championship. His Air Jordan brand, introduced by the Chicago Bulls superstar in 1984 and launched by Nike in 1985, created the basketball sneaker branding market. In fiscal 2018, Nike revenue from the Jordan Brand line hit nearly $2.9 billion. https://lat.ms/2DBkFEy
No endorsement deal? No problem. Spencer Dinwiddie created his own sneakers brand: Brooklyn Nets player Spencer Dinwiddie, ignored by the big sneaker companies early in his pro career, launched a self-endorsed brand, K8iros (pronounced “Kyros”), and debuted his new footwear this season. And each time he plays this season, he’ll be wearing a one-of-kind custom shoe designed by Los Angeles artist Troy “Kickasso” Cole.
Levi Strauss plans to go public — again. Files IPO under symbol LEVI.
Canada Goose to open new factory in Quebec as profit beats expectations.
Juventus tests ‘Ronaldo effect’ in global bond market: FT reports, the Italian football club seeks fresh funding after paying €100m for Portuguese star.
CULTURE
Jude Webber: ‘Roma’ is channelling a changing political zeitgeist: Alfonso Cuarón’s drama focuses on the ordinary Mexicans the new president has promised to represent.
THOUGHT LEADER TACTIC OF THE DAY
Invite a reporter your admire to coffee - do this ten times this year.