What Actually Mattered This Week: Trump/China, Kim's health, Bolsonaro investigation
Let the GZERO newsletter help you make sense of global news
WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERED THIS WEEK
My thoughts on some of this week’s biggest news stories:
Trump says China wants him to lose re-election
Most Chinese leaders I’ve spoken with want a second Trump term.
They think the relationship with US will be more confrontational no matter wins in November, but they see Trump’s #AmericaFirst unilateralism and poor relations with many allies as providing more opportunity for China.
Signs from North Korea only raise more questions about absent Kim Jong Un
The one thing worse than a healthy Kim ruling over North Korea is an ailing and paranoid Kim ruling over North Korea.
Brazil's supreme court allows investigation of President Bolsonaro
Corruption continues to bedevil Brazil’s leaders, but the judiciary remains strong and independent.
That’s a good reason to bet against Bolsonaro these days. But even with the coronavirus crisis, there’s also good reason to believe in Brazil long term.
More US states begin lifting virus lockdown orders
The big question isn’t whether stay at home orders are suspended this week or in a month.
It’s whether businesses can make it when people make different choices about what’s essential.
And what are the people going to do when the companies can’t pay them?
Prefer long-form analysis? Here are my thoughts on what happens next in North Korea after rumors about Kim Jong-un's health.
TRUTHS, DAMNED TRUTHS, AND STATISTICS
% who agree the economy should reopen even if covid-19 is not fully contained.
Lower than you’d expect.
Russia 60%
China 58%
Italy 53%
India 51%
Germany 50%
US 35%
Australia 32%
UK 23%
THE GZERO WORLD WE’RE JUST LIVING IN
More from GZERO Media (subscribe here)
GRAPHIC TRUTH
YOUR GZERO WORLD
Epidemiologist Dr. Larry Brilliant, whose work helped eliminate Smallpox forever, explains the steps necessary to eradicate the COVID-19 virus from the world. Brilliant methodically details a three-tiered approach to combating this health threat: Vaccination and herd immunity, proper protection to prevent spread including masks and gloves, and the technology tools that can track illness and infection.
WORLD IN 60 SECONDS
What is going on in Brazil? Is it at a tipping point?
Why is speculation surrounding Kim Jong-un difficult to confirm or debunk?
Finally, has Africa been spared by coronavirus?
Find out in this week’s World in 60 Seconds!
Do you like what you’ve seen? Subscribe and stay informed.
BECAUSE THE INTERNET
There’s procrastination.
And then there’s quarantine procrastination.
DEEP THOUGHTS
“Show me a person who never made a mistake, and I will show you a person who never did anything.” – William Rosenberg
Thanks for reading! Please subscribe for more analysis from GZERO Media.
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.
--
4 年