The late great economist Peter Bauer used to say there is no “Third World,” i.e., no sharp line dividing developed from undeveloped countries. Rather, there is a development spectrum along which countries sit.
Mutatis mutandis, there is no “Free World.” So stop calling Trump the leader of it.
Musk v. USAID: The Complicated Legacy of America’s Aid Agency
In 2026, the world’s first trillionaire—following the recent stock debut of SpaceX—Elon Musk has remained one of the most influential figures in American politics. After campaigning for Donald Trump in 2024 and initially playing a leading role in the Department of...
