The Case for Making Up with China, and Which Car Company Is Winning the Energy Crisis?

Scott Galloway fields listener questions on China's superpower status and US relations, the car company best positioned amid an energy crisis, and how urban design affects young men's social lives.

China's Achieved Dominance and Path Forward

China has transitioned from emerging power to established global leader, outpacing outdated narratives. At a GDP per capita of $13,000—about one-sixth of the US—it ranked 10th in the 2025 Global Innovation Index, ahead of Germany, Japan, and France, the first middle-income country to do so. It leads in EVs, batteries, solar, wind, robotics, and files more generative AI patents annually than all other economies combined. China produces 41% of global industrial robots, over 70% of high-speed rail, and 75% of batteries sold worldwide. It brought more nuclear capacity online in the last decade than the US ever has and more solar last year than the US total historically.

Key strengths include rapid design-to-scale deployment, enabled by regulation for speed rather than control. China controls choke points like 94% of rare earth magnets vital for US defense and tech. Soft power gains are evident: more people globally now view China as the top economy (41% vs. US 39%, per Pew) and a force for good. The Iran conflict boosts its image as a stable alternative, especially as it secures energy independence.