Educated
Friday, February 28th, 2025
World Events — Trump’s Mafia World Order
The Economists
The rupture of the post-1945 world order is accelerating, with recent events at the UN showcasing America's unexpected alignment with Russia and North Korea against Ukraine and Europe. This shift, coupled with warnings from Germany's probable new chancellor about NATO's potential demise by June, signals a dramatic transformation in global dynamics. The emerging world order, championed by the Trump administration, prioritizes bilateral dealmaking and power politics over established alliances and international norms. While proponents argue this approach will bring peace and profit to America, critics warn it will lead to a more dangerous world where might makes right, ultimately weakening America's global position. This new paradigm, characterized by transactional diplomacy and a reordering of international hierarchies, threatens to erode decades of established rules, potentially triggering territorial disputes, economic upheavals, and a realignment of global alliances. As America pursues short-term gains through dealmaking, it risks undermining its long-term interests, including advantageous trade relationships, financial privileges, and crucial military cooperation with allies.
Tech — New Alexa, Powered by Claude
Bloomberg
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has announced plans to release new companion devices for the AI-enhanced Alexa voice assistant this fall. In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Jassy revealed that these devices will extend beyond simple trivia queries, assisting users with practical tasks such as hiring an oven repair technician. The announcement came during a press event in New York where Amazon unveiled the new Alexa+, a significant upgrade to its voice assistant platform. This move is part of Amazon's strategy to revitalize consumer interest in Alexa, which has faced stiff competition from AI chatbots like ChatGPT. The new Alexa+ service, set to roll out next month, will be available for $19.99 per month, with free access for Amazon Prime members. Jassy also addressed broader industry challenges, noting that chip and power shortages continue to constrain the growth of Amazon's cloud computing division, while expressing optimism about the Trump administration's commitment to addressing these issues.
Economics — Inflation Concerns Linger
Bloomberg
US inflation is showing signs of heating up again across various sectors, with recent data indicating a resurgence in price pressures. The annual inflation rate rose to 3% in January 2025, up from 2.9% in December 2024, marking the highest level since July. This uptick is attributed to several factors, including rising food and energy costs, with egg prices surging due to supply shortages caused by bird flu. The housing market is also contributing to inflationary pressures, with home prices expected to rise by 3% in 2025. Input costs for manufacturers have reached their highest levels since October 2022, while long-term inflation expectations among consumers have jumped to a nearly 30-year high. Additionally, wage growth remains robust, with January's average hourly earnings increase matching the largest advance since early 2022. These trends, coupled with potential impacts from proposed tariffs and immigration policies, are raising concerns about further price increases and complicating the Federal Reserve's efforts to manage inflation.
Relationship — Finding Your Nutric People
Psychology Today
Surrounding yourself with positive, supportive people while distancing yourself from toxic individuals is crucial for personal growth, happiness, and success. To pull away from toxic people, experts recommend setting clear boundaries, limiting interactions, and staying calm and detached when dealing with them. It's important to focus on solutions rather than getting caught up in drama, and to practice self-care to maintain emotional resilience. When removing toxic individuals from your life, it's essential to replace them with "nutric" people - those who nourish, support, and foster your growth and development. These individuals are nurturing, understanding, trustworthy, reliable, honest, and confident. They encourage you when you have self-doubt, support you without expecting anything in return, and leave you feeling energized and motivated. To attract such positive people, strive to embody these qualities yourself by being supportive, compassionate, reliable, and following a moral compass. By surrounding yourself with nutric individuals and cultivating these traits, you can create a strong support system that enhances your well-being and helps you achieve your goals.
Baking — Chocolate Orange Cake
If yesterday’s suggestion was bittersweet (matcha red bean cake), then today’s recommendation will be citrusy bitter-sweet. Super excited to bake this one soon! Thanks for the suggestion Annie!
Chelsweets
Song Rec — Let Somebody Go
Quote of the Day
“You can love someone and still choose to say goodbye to them,” she says now. “You can miss a person every day, and still be glad that they are no longer in your life.”- Tara Westover, Educated