America can exert significant pressure on Ukraine and Putin, but it's much easier to pressure Zelensky, complicating the peace process.

The government can exert pressure on private banks to debank individuals, effectively creating a privatized sanctions regime against American citizens.

The U.S. has lost deterrence over the past decade, highlighted by events like the annexation of Crimea and Iran's nuclear ambitions, signaling a need for urgent reform in defense.

The actions of adversaries like Russia and China have galvanized American innovation and unity, pushing us to strengthen our defenses and values.

The political landscape in the U.S. has become polarized, with the left supporting Zelensky and the right opposing him simply as a reaction to that support.

While overall wealth may be increasing, the status game is creating more 'losers' who feel invisible and lack leverage in society, leading to a growing divide between the haves and have-nots.

The narrative that America is still the world's superpower economically is challenged by China's growing influence and purchasing power parity, which many countries now recognize. China's economic strategy differs from America's; they can make state-level decisions without needing to convince capitalists, such as instructing banks to stop paying mortgages to prioritize industrial capacity over housing.

Putin is responsible for the invasion of Ukraine, but the West's actions, particularly regarding NATO expansion, have also contributed to the conflict.

The U.S. dollar's dominance is America's greatest power, not military might; it allows the U.S. to exert influence globally, even over those who do not directly engage with American products.