In this "Special World Economic Forum Edition" of the Dollar Auction Show, Alex and Shimon take a deep dive into the seismic shifts currently reshaping the global order. We move beyond the headlines to analyze how the "Western global elite" at Davos are losing their grip on power as a new era of geopolitics emerges.

This episode explores the "Trump Doctrine"—a radical departure from traditional U.S. foreign policy. Instead of endless regime changes and "forever wars," we discuss a strategy focused on "monetizing power" and leveraging economic pressure to force alignment with U.S. interests. From the strategic necessity of Greenland to the reality of "Space Wars," we unpack the high-stakes moves that the mainstream media is largely ignoring.

Key Discussion Points:
* The Decline of the WEF: Why the World Economic Forum is transitioning from an exclusive "elite club" to a more mainstream "paid-to-play" conference, and what this means for global influence.
* The Trump Doctrine vs. Traditional Diplomacy: Alex explains the "Play Action Pass" strategy—how faking or acting on early threats (like tariffs on allies) builds the credibility needed for major geopolitical negotiations.
* Funding "European Early Retirement": A provocative look at NATO funding. Shimon argues that U.S. defense spending has effectively subsidized Europe's expansive welfare states and pensions, and why that era is coming to an end.
* Energy Independence as a Game Changer: How American fracking and energy self-sufficiency have removed the primary motivation for Middle Eastern interventions, allowing the U.S. to take a harder line with regimes like Maduro's in Venezuela.
* Greenland and the First "Space War": Why Greenland is critical for future military infrastructure, data centers, and controlling the "space war" frontier, especially in light of how Starlink changed the landscape of the Ukraine conflict.
* Onshoring Critical Manufacturing: The strategic danger of outsourcing essentials (like medical PPE and IV bags) to adversaries like China, and why tariffs are being used as a tool to bring production back home.

Join the Conversation: Is the era of global cooperation through organizations like the WEF truly over? Is "monetizing power" a sustainable path for the U.S., or does it risk alienating vital allies? Let us know your thoughts on the new world realignment in the comments below!

Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbr
Spotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfc
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Join hosts Shimon Lazarov and Alex Chizhik (@MrEBITDA) for a no-holds-barred dive into the world's hottest topics! From the media blackout in Iran's potential revolution to Trump's geopolitical chess moves, Bitcoin's volatile flatline, and the explosive productivity gains from AI— this episode unpacks it all with sharp analysis, humor, and unfiltered insights.

In this episode:

• Bitcoin's "boring" year: Flat gains, underperforming bonds, but packed with volatility and alpha tips.
• Iran's crisis: Regime scenarios, nuclear threats, and why a partial change could be disastrous.
• Global realignments: Venezuela as a power play, Ukraine stalemate, Greenland grabs, and 80-year cycles.
• Economic optimism: AI-driven productivity, job disruptions, micro-startups, and bold policies like inflating Bitcoin to offset debt.

Whether you're into finance, foreign policy, or futuristic tech, this is your go-to for thought-provoking discussions that cut through the noise.

Timestamps:

• 00:01 - Introduction and Personal Updates
• 00:33 - Bitcoin Performance Debate
• 02:15 - Iran Crisis and Scenarios
• 09:46 - Trump's Foreign Policy and Venezuela
• 11:13 - Broader Geopolitical Implications
• 17:41 - Benefit of Doubt for Trump and Past Conflicts
• 22:35 - European Weakness and Greenland Acquisition
• 24:00 - Global Realignments and Cycles
• 25:47 - Markets and AI Productivity
• 30:14 - Job Disruption and Future Economy
• 33:49 - Economic Policies and Inflation Strategies
• 40:05 - US Economic Power and Closing Thoughts

If you enjoyed this, smash that LIKE button, SUBSCRIBE for more episodes, and drop a comment with your take on Iran's future or AI's job impact! Follow us on X:
@ShimonLazarov and
@MrEBITDA.

#Geopolitics #IranRevolution #Bitcoin #AI #TrumpForeignPolicy #Economics #Podcast #DollarAuctionShow

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In this episode of The Dollar Auction Show, Shimon and Alex talk through why Bitcoin is lagging despite risk assets ripping, and then pivot hard into geopolitics: Iran’s internal unrest, Venezuela’s Maduro capture, and what these events signal about deterrence, U.S. power projection, and the media ecosystem.

They explore a “power law” framing for Bitcoin’s long-term adoption, argue mainstream media has become incentive-driven content creation, and debate realpolitik vs “procedure-first” foreign policy. The conversation ties together oil flows, Russia/Ukraine funding pressure, China/Taiwan deterrence, and why unconventional leverage (like blockades and tariffs) can move outcomes faster than traditional diplomacy.


0:07 Intro + markets check
0:27 Bitcoin lagging stocks/gold/silver
2:17 Power law optimism for Bitcoin adoption
5:37 Pivot: politics, social strife, “post-truth” era
6:47 Iran background + why the uprising matters
11:57 Media incentives: news as “content for the base”
15:07 U.S. foreign policy split: status quo vs pressure
16:37 Venezuela: “surgical” action + results vs process
23:07 Rules of war + proportionality logic
24:07 Escalation dominance + Iran air defense narrative
27:07 X/Twitter, Grok, and Wikipedia bias claims
33:07 Trump as consequential actor (even if abrasive)
34:07 Oil + geopolitics ripple effects (Russia/China)
42:27 Tariffs as leverage, not just economics
44:07 Critique of economists/models; “common sense” lens
47:47 Outlook: 2026 optimism, volatility caveats



Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbr
Spotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfc
Hardcorefinanceshow.com

Follow us on Twitter
@MrEBITDA
@ShimonLazarov

Support the show