What Actually Mattered This Week: Iran Moves, Australia-China Trade Spat, Bolsonaro Claims Fraud

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WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERED THIS WEEK

My thoughts on some of this week’s biggest news stories:

Iran moves to increase uranium enrichment and bar nuclear inspectors

Trump leaving behind a big mess for Biden re Iran.

Australia is out of recession. Now it needs to avoid a trade war with China

The US should be publicly standing up for its strong and longtime ally Australia. China’s public “demands” and trade actions are unacceptable.

Nothing to date from President Trump or President-elect Biden.

Brazil’s Bolsonaro alleges fraud in US presidential election

Bolsonaro boldly going where not even Putin and Xi dare to tread.

On top of Bolsonaro’s climate policy, Brazil-US relations next year are not looking good.

Israel’s Netanyahu wanted Trump to win, but he knows to pivot to Biden because it’s important for his country’s interests. MBS (Saudi) and MBZ (UAE) are the same. Heck, you can even say that for Hungary’s Victor Orban.

But Bolsonaro doesn’t care. Such a shame for Brazil.

Trump, RNC raised $207.5 million after election day

The Trump campaign and RNC have raised almost $208 million post-election, driven by false claims that the outcome was stolen.

Donors are told the money goes to fund Trump’s legal challenges, but donations up to $5,000 are split 75-25 between Trump’s PAC, Save America and the RNC.

Prefer long-form analysis? Here are my thoughts on the countries with the most to gain—and lose—under a Biden administration.

TRUTHS, DAMNED TRUTHS, AND STATISTICS

Japan:

# of people who’ve died of suicide in October alone: 2,153

# of people who’ve died of covid in all of 2020 (as of Friday): 2,087

-Japan's National Police Agency/Health Ministry

THE GZERO WORLD WE’RE JUST LIVING IN

More from GZERO Media (subscribe here)

GRAPHIC TRUTH

YOUR GZERO WORLD 

Joe Biden has been a public figure for decades but he's far from an open book. For a man who has been in national politics since the age of 29 and has made multiple attempts at the presidency (third time's a charm) it's remarkable how much he has been willing to change. In our conversation for GZERO World, Biden biographer and New Yorker staff writer Evan Osnos provides a deep dive into the life, legacy and potential presidency of the next leader of the free world.

For a longer, more in-depth version of my interview with Osnos, check out the GZERO World podcast. 

WORLD IN 60 SECONDS

With COVID vaccine near, what will the distribution look like across the world?

Why is everyone on Twitter talking about monoliths?

Find out in this week’s World in 60 Seconds!

Do you like what you’ve seen? Subscribe and stay informed.

BECAUSE THE INTERNET

He had one job—and did it well.

#ProfessionallyRuiningGroupPhotos

WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK

Saving Freedom: Truman, the Cold War, and the Fight for Western Civilization by Joe Scarborough

Human nature makes us think that the times we’re living in are unprecedented. And in many ways, they are (especially in 2020). But that doesn’t mean that history doesn’t still have a lot to teach us about the present. This was the thought that kept coming back to me as I paged through Joe Scarborough’s latest and greatest, “Saving Freedom: Truman, the Cold War, and the Fight for Western Civilization.” A book written about our past, but also about our present era of political dysfunction. A read you’ll find very much worthwhile as we look for a better new year.

Bonus: Check out this New York Times The Daily podcast episode on when and how you’ll get a vaccine. Simple, but clear and a good step-by-step of what is broadly expected to happen, when, and the caveats/ways in which it could be derailed. An easy and good listen.

DEEP THOUGHTS

“Money is like gasoline during a road trip. You don’t want to run out of gas on your trip, but you’re not doing a tour of gas stations.” – Tim O’Reilly

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Ian Bremmer is president of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media and foreign affairs columnist at TIME. He currently teaches at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and previously was a professor at New York University. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.