No Mercy / No Malice: Chokepoints

Scott Galloway examines chokepoints in a globalized world—narrow vulnerabilities akin to carotid arteries that can swiftly cut off critical flows of resources, information, or power. Drawing parallels from the Strait of Hormuz to corporate dominances and institutional shifts, he argues these were built through market forces and policy choices, mistaking shareholder value for resilience.

Traditional and Space-Based Chokepoints

Globalization has created economic arteries as vital as the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of world oil passes. Historical simulations, like a 2002 U.S. war game where speedboats closed the strait in minutes, highlight predictable risks ignored by leaders. Similarly, SpaceX dominates: 84% of U.S. space launches last year, 52% globally, and 91% of low-Earth orbit communications satellites. Users in remote areas, on flights, boats, or war zones rely on Starlink, placing connectivity at Elon Musk's mercy. Musk's recent merger of SpaceX with xAI gives him 43% equity and 79% voting power in a $1.25 trillion entity, with SpaceX filing for a public offering to raise $50-75 billion. This positions him as a choke on space, internet, AI, and information flows.