# TVI26: Benchwarmers

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/geopolitical-cousins-7251738/tvi26-benchwarmers
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/geopolitical-cousins-7251738/tvi26-benchwarmers.md
Podcast: [Geopolitical Cousins](https://stenobird.com/podcast/geopolitical-cousins-7251738)
Published: 2026-05-22T11:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://geopolitical-cousins.captivate.fm/episode/tvi-2026
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/45633005-c17c-43c7-91b6-bb8f69a90762.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/geopolitical-cousins-7251738/episodes/tvi26-benchwarmers
Duration seconds: 6124

## Resource

The Trade Value Index is back!!!!!!! Part 1. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Housekeeping (00:47) - Why We Love Rankings (02:15) - Trade Value Rules Explained (06:59) - How We Score Leaders (08:29) - What Trade Value Means (11:03) - Last Year Rankings Recap (13:01) - Wins Misses and Dropoffs (19:43) - Starting the Countdown (20:00) - Jacob Cuts and Bottom Five (26:12) - Vietnam Surprise Pick (27:44) - Marco Honorable Mentions (30:58) - Dishonorable Mentions and Merz (32:34) - Merz Under Fire (33:41) - Hopeful Turnaround Talk (34:52) - Greenland Surprise Pick (36:23) - Nepal Gen Z Rookie (41:04) - Lula Back on Board (46:56) - Sri Lanka and Hungary Upside (49:44) - Meloni Slips Down (52:10) - Erdogan and Turkey’s Long Game (55:05) - Middle East and Africa Rankings (57:55) - Pakistan’s Geopolitical Comeback (01:00:53) - Syria’s New Strongman (01:02:35) - Sweden and Spain Reassessment (01:06:55) - Singapore’s Efficiency Model (01:08:58) - System Made Singapore (01:10:02) - Trade Value Debate (01:11:01) - Lee Jae Myung Profile (01:12:59) - Israel Tweet Controversy (01:16:55) - Prabowo Indonesia Wrap (01:19:49) - Iran Council Ranked (01:20:56) - Netanyahu Tradeoff Case (01:22:19) - Morocco Quiet Success (01:28:20) - Israel Umbilical Cord (01:37:34) - Gulf Royals Picks (01:40:34) - UAE Critique And Close -- Referenced in the Show: -- Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and p…

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