#178 - USAID & Statecraft

USAID: Imperial Statecraft - To Fund or Not to Fund?

A recent interview between Mike Benz and Tucker Carlson has sparked an important conversation about the true nature of U.S. foreign aid and policy implementation. My initial reaction to reports of USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) funding various social projects abroad was one of frustration over misuse of taxpayer dollars. However, Benz's analysis reveals a more complex and thought-provoking reality about modern statecraft.

Beyond Surface-Level Spending

What initially appears as misallocated funding toward various social causes in distant countries actually serves as a sophisticated tool of foreign policy according to Benz. Benz's opinion is that these projects aren't merely wasteful spending but rather calculated moves in a larger geopolitical strategy. The social causes themselves, he argues, are often secondary to their real purpose: creating pressure points within foreign governments and societies.

The Strategic Chess Game

Consider this revelation: USAID's very name - the U.S. Agency for International Development - speaks to its overt mission of fostering development abroad. Yet, as Benz details, its operations often extend far beyond traditional development aid. The funding of various social initiatives, including the controversial transgender festivals mentioned in the interview, serves as a means to influence internal politics and social dynamics within target nations.

The Critical Questions

This brings us to two fundamental questions that deserve consideration:

1. Do the ends justify the means? If these methods effectively advance U.S. interests abroad, does that validate their use, regardless of the specific projects being funded?

2. More importantly, should the U.S. even be involved in manipulating foreign governments at all, regardless of the methods used? Where should the line be drawn?

As we grapple with these complex issues of foreign policy and national interest, I want to hear from you. What's your stance on:

- The use of social causes as tools of foreign policy

- The broader question of U.S. intervention in other nations' internal affairs - where do you draw the line?

- The balance between advancing U.S. interests and respecting national sovereignty

Share your thoughts on how we balance our national interests with ethical considerations in foreign policy.

Investors' Corner

Pershing Square Capital's Presentation on Fannie and Freddie Investment (Link)

The Big Short Panel: Lessons from the 2008 Crash & Today’s Market | Global Alts Conference (Link)

Chamath Palihapitiya: Zuckerberg, Rogan, Musk, and the Incoming “Golden Age” Under Trump | Tucker Carlson (Link)

DoubleLine Round Table Prime 2025: Macro Outlook (Link)

The Future of Real Assets: Evolution of Infrastructure and Real Estate | Global Alts Miami 2025 (Link)

Technology Corner

Christophe Fouquet - CEO of ASML | Norges Bank Investment Management (Link)

DeepSeek, Open Source, Tariffs, DOGE, Market Impact | BG2 w/ Bill Gurley & Brad Gerstner (Link)

NVIDIA VP Rev Lebaredian Talks Plan To Build AI That Understands The Real World (Link)

Inside West Point: The Future of Technology in Warfare with Mr. Elon Musk (Link)

The Dutch Company Powering the U.S. Stock Market | Barron's Streetwise (Link)

Marc Andreessen: It’s Morning Again In America (Link)

Peter Thiel: Successful Businesses are Based on Secrets | WIRED (Link)

Superintelligence is Upon Us | Marc Andreessen / Jordan Peterson (Link)

How AI is Reshaping Labor Markets: A $Trillion-Dollar Opportunity Explained | a16z (Link)

Inside Anthropic's Race to Build a Smarter Claude and Human-Level AI | WSJ (Link)