Episode Summary
I had the pleasure of meeting Angus Hanton, the author of Vassal State: How America Runs Britain, and let me tell you, the conversation was nothing short of eye-opening. Not just for me, as a Brit, but the fact that most countries around the world are also America’s vassal states!
But since the UK is a major economic power (or so we thought), Angus didn’t hold back in revealing some startling truths about the UK’s economic landscape and its intricate ties with the US.
One of the most shocking revelations was the extent of American ownership in the UK. Did you know that over a fifth of our economy’s turnover is funnelled to US corporations? That’s a staggering amount, and it raises questions about our economic sovereignty, especially after Brexit promises (aka lies).
We discussed how the AI bubble is precariously propping up the stock market, with 80% of it dependent on this volatile sector, according to recent data published by the Financial Times. It’s a bubble that could burst at any moment, dragging the UK down with it.
Angus also painted a vivid picture of how the UK has become a vassal state, with decisions about our food safety and standards being made across the Atlantic. It’s a sobering thought, but one that we need to confront considering the current Administration.
The discussion left me flabbergasted and pondering the future of my country. Join the conversation to learn more about these pressing issues that most likely have already impacted your country.
Let’s wake up and smell the coffee, or tea — preferably British, of course!
Key Takeaways
- 00:00:00 – Preview
- 00:04:16 – The danger of the AI bubble powering 80% of the stock market
- 00:09:10 – How British tech sectors have become totally reliant on Silicon Valley
- 00:14:02 – What triggered Angus to write his “Vassal State” book?
- 00:24:48 – How and why have UK governments allowed a complete takeover by US corporations?
- 00:30:43 – The role of politicians and policy: Was it all by design or incompetence?
- 00:33:45 – Who is ultimately responsible for the British economic extraction by the US?
- 00:44:21 – Will the latest $200bn tech and AI investment pledged by the US kill British tech?
- 00:52:23 – Brexit and politicians’ lack of business understanding made matters much worse
- 00:58:56 – Has the US takeover of Britain’s economy made the UK richer or poorer?
- 01:03:37 – Why do British politicians put US interests first, while claiming patriotism?
- 01:09:47 – The negative impact of the current rise of AI on future employment and employers
- 01:15:50 – Is the UK the worst case scenario of a vassal state, or are there other vassal states?
- 01:23:21 – If US stock markets are overly dependent on the AI bubble, what will happen to the UK economy when it bursts?
- 01:32:49 – Can the UK ever rejoin the EU as America’s vassal state?
- 01:36:20 – How should people and younger generations navigate the hype-up AI-driven future?
- 01:44:46 – The negative influences from thinktanks, lobbyists and weakening regulations
- 01:48:07 – Is the Vassal State book anti-American?
- 01:50:27 – What lessons should we learn from America to stop us from being a vassal state?
Our Favourite Quote from This Episode
References and Citations
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AI is becoming the ‘magic fix’ as America places ‘one big bet’ on it not being a bubble, market veteran warns – Furtune
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Jeffrey Funk: The AI Bubble will end in financial catastrophe – CEOR
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Henry Nash: Forget hyped-up AI. We must now focus on real value and ROI – CEOR
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US firms pledge £150bn investment in UK as tech deal signed – BBC News
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Can DeepMind’s Nobel-Prize Boost DeepTech Businesses? – CEOR
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Rishi Sunak hired as a senior adviser by Microsoft – but given stern warning – Sky News
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75% of gains, 80% of profits, 90% of capex—AI’s grip on the S&P is total and Morgan Stanley’s top analyst is ‘very concerned’ – Fortune
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Bank of England warns of growing risk that AI bubble could burst – The Guardian
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UK’s Deliveroo to be bought by US firm DoorDash in £2.9bn deal – BBC News
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Trust, attitudes and use of artificial intelligence: A global study 2025 – KPMG
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AI-generated ‘slop’ is slowly killing the internet, so why is nobody trying to stop it? – The Guardian
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The Future of AI Under Trump and Project 2025 – CEOR
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University of Helsinki’s FREE AI Course
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Insiders reveal how Larry Ellison’s money turned Blair’s institute into a tech sales and lobbying operation for Oracle – Lighthouse Reports
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The End of AI Utopia Thanks to Dumb Politics – CEOR
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Why 2025 Is The Era of Internet of Sh*t (IoS) – CEOR
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Forget the attention economy. Prepare for the intention economy – Fast Company