What's going on with BRICS Podcast

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**:

**Top Risks**

**2026**

**Global Chaos**

**Ranked**

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Coming to you today from [location to be filled by owner].

### What’s in the News

1. **The absence of global leadership – the biggest risk**

- No single country or group is willing or able to step up and lead o...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**:

**Hemisphere**

**Deep Dive**

**Monroe Doctrine**

**Revived**

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### What’s in the News

1. **What “hemisphere” means in geopolitics**

- Divides world into spheres of influence – Western Hemisphere (Americas) long seen as US domain.

- Eastern Hemisphere (Europe/Asia/Africa) contested by powers like Russia/China.

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**:

**Houses Priced**

**In Gold**

**Crash 40-70%**

**From 2021 Peaks**

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### Commodities Boom – Metals Surging in USD

1. **Silver’s massive 2025 rally**

- Started around $29-30/oz and hit highs above $80/oz by late December – a 140-170% gain (Livemint, Dec 26, 2025; Watcher Guru, Dec 20, 2025).

- Fifth straight year of supp...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**:

**Top 10**

**Geo Stories**

**Jan 5-7**

**2026**

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Coming to you today from [location to be filled by owner].

### What’s in the News

1. **US Venezuela raid – global shock and oil focus (Jan 5-6)**

- Politico (Jan 5): Trump’s operation enforces “Trump Corollary” to Monroe Doctrine – denie...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**:

**Shadow Fleet**

**Slips Away**

**Tankers Beat**

**US Blockade**

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### What’s in the News

1. **The breakout begins – 16 tankers make their move**

- Right after Maduro’s capture on January 3, at least 16 shadow fleet tanker...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**:

**US Captures**

**Maduro**

**Venezuela Raid**

**Latest Updates**

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Coming to you today from [location to be filled by owner].

### What’s in the News

1. **US to run Venezuela until transition complete**

- Trump states the US will govern Venezuela for as long as needed t...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**:

**Rules-Based**

**Order Dead?**

**Great Powers**

**Ignore Law**

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Coming to you today from [location to be filled by owner].

### What’s in the News

1. **What is the “rules-based international order”? Basics for beginners**

- Idea born after WWII: Countries follow agreed rules (UN Charter, tre...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**:

**BRICS Snatch**

**Leaders?**

**Kidnapping**

**New Normal?**

If you’re new to the channel, hey, take a moment, subscribe to the channel, then hit the bell to be alerted about new episodes when they drop.

Coming to you today from [location to be filled by owner].

### What’s in the News

1. **US capture of Maduro – a bold precedent**

- January 3, 2026: US airstrikes and special ops raid led to Maduro’s capture on narco-ter...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**:

**US Invades**

**Venezuela?**

**Airstrikes Hit**

**Caracas Chaos**

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Coming to you today from [location to be filled by owner].

### What’s in the News

1. **What we know so far about the US airstrikes on Venezuela**

- Overnight January 3, 2026: At least seven explosions reported in Carac...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**: Silver’s Massive 2025 Surge – Industrial Boom, Supply Crunch, and the BRICS Angle.

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Coming to you today from [location to be filled by owner].

### What’s in the News

1. **Silver’s epic 2025 rally – prices more than double**

- Watcher Guru says it started around $29-30/oz and hit highs above $80/oz by late December...

In today’s episode of What’s going on with BRICS:

BRICS CurrencyLaunch?

Dollar ThreatOr Just Talk?

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Coming to you today from [location to be filled by owner].

What’s in the News

* Right now – no BRICS currency exists

* Simple fact: As of December 2025, BRICS has no single shared money like the euro.

* Countries still use their...

In today’s episode of What’s going on with BRICS:

2025 ChaosUnpacked

Trump TariffsGlobal Shifts

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Coming to you today from [location to be filled by owner].

What’s in the News

* 2025: A year of global chaos and confusion

* Gideon Rachman’s FT year-end review calls it a whirlwind of upheaval – Trump’s return upended trade, alliances frayed, and economic s...

1. **Versailles ends World War I – but on punishing terms**

- Signed June 28, 1919, in Paris. Germany had no role in negotiations and signed under pressure.

- Designed to weaken Germany militarily, territorially, and economically to prevent future aggression.

- Included war guilt clause, massive reparations, land losses, and strict military limits.

2. **The War Guilt Clause – the foundation for resentment**

- Article 231 required Germany to accept full responsibility for causing the war.

- This clause justified reparations and restrictions.

- It created deep national humiliation and fueled the...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**: The 2025 US National Security Strategy – America First Reloaded, with a major revival of the Monroe Doctrine.

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Coming to you today from [location to be filled by owner].

### What’s in the News

1. **The 2025 NSS drops – a short, sharp America First blueprint**

- Released December 4, 2025, this 33-page document is Trump’s second-term fo...

What’s in the News

* CAGR – Compound Annual Growth Rate

* Average yearly growth with compounding.

* Example: China’s GDP from $4T in 2010 to $18T in 2025 → ~11% CAGR.

* GDP – Gross Domestic Product

* Total value of goods/services produced.

* Example: US nominal GDP ~$28T in 2025; India’s real GDP growth ~6.5%.

* PPP – Purchasing Power Parity

* Adjusts for cost differences.

* Example: India’s PPP GDP ranks 3rd globally vs. 5th nominal.

* Inflation

* Rising prices.

* Example: US CPI hit 9% in 2022; target 2%.

* Deflation...

What’s in the News

* The global shipbuilding landscape in 2025: China’s overwhelming lead

* According to UNCTAD and Clarkson Research data, China commands 55-65% of global shipbuilding orders by compensated gross tonnage (CGT), up from ~50% in 2024.

* South Korea holds ~20-25%, Japan ~10-15%, with Europe and the US scraping under 5% combined.

* Macro market size: The global shipbuilding industry is valued at ~$214 billion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 3.3% toward $140 billion by 2030, per IBISWorld and ResearchAndMarkets.

* Implications for BRICS: China’s yards support bloc’s trade routes; for West: Dependency risks supply c...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**: The Growing Rift Between the US and EU – an origin story of transatlantic tensions, from special alliances to modern fractures.

### What’s in the News

1. **Historical roots: The US-UK “special relationship” takes shape**

- Coined by Winston Churchill in 1946, rooted in WWII cooperation and shared values against Soviet threats.

- Evolved through Cold War intelligence sharing (Five Eyes) and joint military ops.

- EU-US ties formalized via NATO (1949) for collective defense, with US as backbone.

- Quote: Churc...

* S1.E22

* Brazil Hands BRICS Presidency to India

* December 15 handover after Rio summit review.

* Focus: What India’s 2026 chair means – cautious on de-dollarization vs. Russia/China push.

* Angle: Implications for bloc unity; West watches for slower pace.

* Indonesia’s $1B Boost to New Development Bank

* Late December: Indonesia commits big to NDB, fueling “de-dollarization economy.”

* Angle: How NDB loans in local currencies grow alternatives to World Bank.

* Tie-in: BRICS vs. West development financing competition.

* BRICS Enters “Second Stage” of Expansion

* Russian Sh...

Weekly Roast

* BRICS Unit: 100 tokens of pure hype

* IRIAS launches a “game-changer” with 100 Units – enough to cover a team pizza party, not topple the dollar.

* 40% gold-backed, 60% BRICS currencies? More like 100% backed by hot air and wishful thinking.

* Implications for BRICS: Mastering small-scale experiments while the dollar handles actual trillions.

* Implications for the West: The petrodollar yawns and rolls over.

* Cardano: The ghost chain of choice

* Picked for “7-second settlements” – bold for a pilot with zero transactions to settle.

* No wallet addresses, no on-chain proof – it’s...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**: Latest US Seizures of Venezuelan Oil Tankers – Escalating Pressure on Caracas.

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Coming to you today from Malaga, Spain.

### What’s in the News

1. **US intercepts second Venezuelan oil tanker in international waters**

- On 20 December 2025, US Coast Guard boarded the Panama-flagged VLCC *Centuries*, carrying ~1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude bound for...

**Date** - December 20, 2025

**Subject** - Gold-Backed Currencies: Historical Hits, Misses, and Radical Questions – A Fun Beginner’s Adventure!

**Classification** - Public

**What Are Gold-Backed Currencies? (Quick Basics Recap)**

1. These tie a currency’s value to a fixed amount of gold – think of it as money with a golden anchor, redeemable for the metal.

2. Example: Each unit could equal 1 gram of gold, limiting endless printing and building trust.

3. Pros include stability and inflation control; cons like inflexibility in crises.

4. Fun fact: While ancient systems used gold for trad...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**: Bretton Woods System – your fun beginner’s guide to the post-WW2 financial order and why BRICS is building alternatives!

If you’re new to the channel, hey, take a moment, subscribe to the channel, then hit the bell to be alerted about new episodes when they drop.

This is part of our **BRICS Explainer Series**, fun tutorials breaking down key economic terms with simple examples, real-world facts, and zero jargon overload – perfect for beginners curious about the multipolar world.

Coming to you today from...

In today’s special Christmas episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**: A Festive “What If” Holiday Hypothetical – BRICS Ditch the Dollar Peg on Jan 1, 2026!

Hey everyone, merry Christmas! This is a purely creative, fun holiday special – 100% hypothesis, zero forecast. Nothing here has happened, nothing here is predicted to happen, and it’s definitely not financial advice or a serious outlook.

We’re just letting the imagination run wild with “what if” scenarios, using as many real-world facts as possible to build a thought-provoking story.

If you’re new to the channel, hey, take a moment, su...

S1.E17

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**: Nominal vs. Real Growth Rates – your fun beginner’s guide to spotting true economic progress in BRICS nations!

If you’re new to the channel, hey, take a moment, subscribe to the channel, then hit the bell to be alerted about new episodes when they drop.

This is part of our **BRICS Explainer Series**, fun tutorials breaking down key economic terms with simple examples, real-world facts, and zero jargon overload – perfect for beginners curious about the multipolar world.

Coming to yo...

In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**: Diving into GDP and PPP – your fun beginner’s guide to understanding why BRICS economies pack such a punch!

If you’re new to the channel, hey, take a moment, subscribe to the channel, then hit the bell to be alerted about new episodes when they drop.

This is part of our **BRICS Explainer Series**, fun tutorials breaking down key economic terms with simple examples, real-world facts, and zero jargon overload – perfect for beginners curious about the multipolar world.

Coming to you today from...

S1.E15

Main

* Decision Details: EU leaders at December 18–19 summit agreed to borrow €90 billion on markets, backed by EU budget headroom, as a loan to Ukraine for 2026–2027 defence and economic needs (Reuters Dec 19; Politico Dec 19; Bloomberg Dec 19). In simple terms, the EU is taking on new debt to lend money to Ukraine for its war effort and economy.

* Asset Plan Abandoned: Preferred option of using profits/principal from €210bn frozen Russian assets dropped due to legal risks and Belgium’s veto threat; joint debt chosen as fallback (NYT Dec 19; FT Dec 18). This means they gave...

SEASON ONE: EPISODE 14

CLOWN WORLD!

* The Move: UK Treasury issued license (Dec 17) allowing Abramovich to transfer £2.5bn Chelsea proceeds to Ukraine aid foundation; 90-day deadline or face court action to enforce (Guardian, Dec 17; Reuters, Dec 17).

* Funds Status: Proceeds frozen since 2022 sanctions; legally Abramovich’s, in UK bank account (Fordstam Ltd).

* Legal Implications for UK: Risks court challenges on property rights; potential ECHR appeals; precedent for arbitrary redirection of private frozen assets.

* Trap by Oligarch?: Unlikely—Abramovich proposed broader charity (including non-Ukraine victims) in 2022; delay preserved funds. UK initiated pressure.

...

Picture this: A Greek shipowner gets a call from a Russian trader. “Double your usual fee to haul oil from Russia to India. No questions.” The tanker—flagged in Panama, insured by a Dubai firm—loads up, sails the high seas, maybe swaps cargo mid-ocean with another vessel, and delivers to a refinery in Mumbai. Everyone gets paid. The oil? It funds Russia’s budget. The “shadow”? Just paperwork tricks to avoid Western trackers.That’s it. No eye patches, no cannon fire. Just 600+ tankers moving 3.5 million barrels a day—80% of Russia’s seaborne exports—to buyers in Asia who don’t care about G...

BRICS Unit Token: Small but steady progress—Q1 2026 pilot expands to real commodity trades (oil, metals); Western pressure (U.S./EU sanctions threats) slows full rollout but fails to block it entirely. Probability: 80%.

EU Frozen Assets: Attempts to confiscate Russian funds turn into PR disaster (lawsuits against Euroclear drag on); EU still secures partial loan for Ukraine via creative accounting/workarounds. Probability: 70%.

U.S. Tariffs: Trump dials back aggressive rates with temporary suspensions to ease mid-term backlash; focus shifts to domestic wins. Probability: 65%.

U.S. Mid-Terms & Politics: Trump admin pours energy into stump sp...

- Announcement Details: Trump posted on Truth Social (Dec 16) ordering a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering/leaving Venezuela; designated Maduro regime a foreign terrorist organization (WaPo, Dec 17; NYT, Dec 17; Reuters, Dec 17).

- Scope: Targets ~30–40 sanctioned vessels (shadow fleet); not a full embargo—non-sanctioned trade (e.g., Chevron) unaffected.

- Reported In: Washington Post (Dec 17), New York Times (Dec 17), Reuters (Dec 17), Politico (Dec 16), Bloomberg (Dec 17).

- Legality: Narrow scope on sanctioned vessels avoids full blockade (act of war under international law); similar to 1962 Cuba “quarantine” (not called blockade to sidestep war...