What I'm Looking At In The News - Week of November 4, 2024

After a brief break in Colombia, I'm back to detail some of my observations about the world this past week. Obviously, with the 2024 United States election tomorrow, most headlines will focus on the results. But I have a few stories that I found interesting and hope you will too.

The New "Whistle Stop" Campaign Tour: The Power of Podcasts

A seismic shift has occurred this election cycle, one that I think benefits our country, on both sides of the aisle: the debut of podcasts as a new form of communication between candidates and voters.

Donald Trump has never shied away from the limelight. Similarly, his knack for putting out bite-sized quotes for the media has redefined the way presidential candidates communicate with the world. His appearance on the most popular podcast on Spotify, The Joe Rogan Experience featured a nearly three-hour long conversation that spanned everything from "The Apprentice", to aliens, and his thoughts on the world at large. Personally, I love that. Rather than sticking to more traditional media outlets like television and newspaper, Trump is reaching millions through an entirely new media format. If you're out of the loop, Joe Rogan's podcast features guests from all cleavages of society. Scientists, celebrities, witch doctors, media personalities, and others have the opportunity to sit down and be drilled by Rogan on a variety of topics. In doing so, Rogan creates a unique atmosphere where participants feel they can express themselves to the nth degree. No matter how crazy, how candid, or how far "out there" - he encourages his guests to go further down rabbit holes, tangents, and anecdotes, only injecting reality and common sense when required.

Why do I like this approach? By participating in Rogan's podcast, Trump has opened a direct line to Americans, bypassing conventional media outlets and giving voters a better idea of how his mind works. So often we see news outlets taking a tiny quote out of a speech or meeting, giving people a very limited idea of what's actually being said. When I was a kid, most of the information I could find about George Bush, John Kerry, Mitt Romney, and Barack Obama was relegated to what news outlets thought I should be paying attention to. And it worked! My opinion was informed by bite sized quotes, snippets from television interviews, and the occasional press conference. With podcasts, I have the ability to listen to a specific person exploring a variety of topics. I get to see how they try and shift the conversation, where their tangents go, and what topics consistently rack their brains. Even if I'm listening to him talk about aliens and old television shows, I feel like I know him better.

Trump’s approach reflects a shift in mainstream media consumption. Gallup recently reported that 70% of Americans hold little or no trust in legacy outlets. Podcasts have the opportunity to fill the gap: nearly 100 million Americans are tuning in weekly to listen to their favorite shows. Rogan’s show, for example, reaches an audience estimated to be some 30 times larger than CNN’s prime-time viewership, according to the Economist. Joe Rogan is not the only host breaking down barriers. Theo Von recently hosted J.D. Vance, and Alex Cooper's “Call Her Daddy” podcast sat down with Kamala Harris. Casual and unfiltered conversations make candidates more relatable and introduce a level of familiarity not found in other media formats.

In my opinion, traditional sit-down interviews like 60 Minutes will now have to serve a more distinct purpose than in years prior. Fireside chats, with their sprawling and seemingly aimless direction, have taken their mantle. I love the podcast trend - it gives us an unfiltered and personal interaction with people we'll likely never meet. All I ask is this: Wouldn't you want to know more about the person who is going to be the leader of the country for the next 4 years?

The Situation in Ukraine Becomes Grim

Behind closed doors, the outlook is increasingly tense in the Russo-Ukraine war for western officials. Commanders, from multiple intelligence reports, are reportedly extremely worried that Ukraine's defenses may fold decisively in strategic regions in the coming months due to mounting Russian forces, superior supplies, and thin Ukrainian lines in specific areas.

For now, Ukrainian forces have defended important points in the line like Pokrovsk in the Donbas, halting Russian troops in their tracks. But in the north, Russian troops have mounted serious assaults through Ukrainian lines along the Oskil river, and are advancing on multiple fronts. Worse still, in regions where Ukraine has made serious pushes like Kursk, Russian forces are regaining momentum - attrition in the field is draining Ukraine’s already overstretched lines. As a result, Ukraine is scrambling for new recruits as its ranks continue to fall from casualties. Despite a new mobilization law young Ukrainian men are resisting enlisting in a war that seems indefinite, one with victories few and far between. Western allies continue to pressure Zelensky's administration to push for more strenuous recruitment measures but Ukraine's consumer economy and demographics profile are pushing the nation to the brink.

Russian drones (presumably made in China) have filled the skies, revealing Ukrainian positions with ease, paving the way for rolling barrages of Russian missile and artillery strikes. These World War 1-esque tactics have allowed Russia to advance steadily by minimizing casualties and supply loss. Intelligence reports believe that Russia is now capable of producing millions of artillery shells annually, bolstered by its allies next door.

The objective at this point is simple: Russian President Vladimir Putin knows he may not win the war outright by victories in combat, but rather by attrition. While it remains to be seen whether Russia can maintain its advantage (as it has shifted between both sides many times in this war), it is aiming to negotiate from a position of strength should peace be offered in the upcoming months by a new President in the White House. Think the Allies position versus the Central powers in 1918. With winter closing in, Ukraine is betting that continued assistance from its allies in Europe and the United States will help to minimize its losses. Just hundreds of miles away in the Kremlin, there is a growing belief that support from China, North Korea, and Iran can help seal the deal.

A Brief Anecdote: Where are the small cars?

One of the greatest joys of my life has been to travel to new parts of the world this year. London, Paris, Greece, Colombia, the list continues to grow. One thing that has absolutely incensed me is the small car market in all of these countries. Kia Picantos, Chevrolet Sparks, the ubiquitous Toyota Yaris. Not long ago, small cars were common on American roads, prized for their fuel efficiency, affordability, and ease of maintenance.

Today, they’re nearly extinct. The landscape has changed dramatically: U.S. car buyers, once more receptive to compact and subcompact cars, are gravitating toward SUVs, trucks, and crossovers. The Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta, and Chevrolet Cruze are no more. Where did they go?

Consumer surveys are one area we can look at. Larger vehicles can carry more passengers and cargo and generally feel safer on highways and interstates, where their size and weight offer perceived "solidness" that compacts can't match. This preference isn’t exactly new but has grown sharply over the last decade. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, light trucks (a category that includes SUVs and crossovers) made up nearly 80% of all new vehicle sales in 2023, a stark contrast to the 50-50 split of small cars and light trucks a decade ago. Automakers also have their own financial motivations for focusing on bigger vehicles - SUVs and trucks generally come with higher profit margins than small cars do.

Technology is also changing how fuel efficiency and "thriftiness" are measured among all automobiles. Groundbreaking advancements in plug-in hybrid technology and electric vehicles mean that mid-sized and up vehicles are now far more fuel-efficient than they were a decade ago. As more robust electric vehicle infrastructure emerges across the U.S., the environmental argument for choosing a small car over a larger, more capable EV is losing its appeal. Even the brand-new Kia Sportage Hybrid is estimated to get up to 43 MPG combined - an outstanding accomplishment considering the 2015 model got just 24 MPG combined.

I could go on about passenger safety, vehicle performance, and much more but my heart longs to see Citroen C1s and Volkswagen Foxes sprinkling our urban landscapes. I guess we can't forget that we have the Interstate Highway System, wider roads, and a treasured car culture past with parking lots galore. Minor details. Just give me a city car - it's all I want.

Shock in Valencia as Flooding Kills 200+

Flash floods tore through Valencia, Spain, this past week and the death toll from what can only be described as a historic weather event has climbed to 217. Unfortunately, the search isn’t over yet.

On Sunday, Spain’s royals and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez toured the city to see the damage firsthand. They were met by enraged crowds in Paiporta, the town at the center of the storm’s wrath. Chanting "murder", protesters pelted officials and King Felipe VI with mud and debris. How could a flood in modern-day Europe kill so many? Could more lives have been saved? Has the Spanish government done enough in its search and rescue efforts?

Answering the first question requires looking at the unusually high temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea this summer. By mid-August, record-breaking temperatures were recorded off the Spanish, Egyptian, and French coasts, and it was the second consecutive summer with the sea reaching the 28.25°C mark. For context, the sea had not breached that temperature since 2003 European heatwave - the warmest summer in European record since 1540. Global climate experts have found that warmer seas mean heavier rains and more intense storms.

News outlets have also noted the numerous droughts that have affected Europe in the past decade, which have created patches of dry land ill-equipped to absorb heavier rains.

Although local and national governments are now responding with a cadre of support, residents are livid at the lack of preparation and support immediately after the floods. According to many residents, warnings about the dangerous floods weren't sent to their phones until the rain had already started. Those who had already arrived at work or were parking their cars in garages likely didn't know how severe the situation was until it was too late. A viral video showed aid workers quickly retreating from an flooded underground garage search, calling it a potential "graveyard".

According to the press, Prime Minister Sánchez will officially make a disaster declaration on Tuesday which will allow for more coordinated financial aid and rescue efforts in the region. Volunteers have picked up the slack by cleaning up the streets on their own.

The pictures, if you have seen them, are startling and remind us how powerful and how quickly "shock" weather events can terrorize otherwise quiet communities. While these types of storms known as "DANA's" are common in the region, it was the deadliest in modern Spain, and according to Reuters, the deadliest flood-related event in Europe since 1967.