How to run a family business
This week: The logic behind the U.S. administration shutting down a TV comedian in 48 hours—no laws broken, no violations cited. Why the United Arab Emirates got access to America’s most advanced AI chips two weeks after investing $2 billion with the Trump organization. & What happens when the president of the United States can order military strikes first and ask Congress later—if ever.
Also: Emile Dirks on whether the Chinese Communist Party really controls TikTok. & Sergey Radchenko on how much control China really has over Russia.
& Weather report: 20.1050° N, 121.9473° E …
+ Cultural intelligence: What happens when environmental solutions create environmental problems? Thea Riofrancos, Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism. A Welsh-language music scene? &c.
Briefing
What’s happening, September 13-19
Laughing matters
Brendan Carr, the head of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (the FCC)—the agency that regulates broadcast media, appeared on a podcast Wednesday, calling the comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks about the Trump administration’s response to the political activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination “the sickest conduct possible.”
