Ivan Encinas
@ivan-encinas.bsky.social
Based in El Paso. I like talking about politics, investing, soccer, and cats. Writing about global politics from a liberal democratic perspective: https://open.substack.com/pub/beyondsemiconductors
Pinned
A Schism of the Left
The Anti-Imperialist Left and the Humanist Left
open.substack.com
I wrote about the growing divide on the Left and why it matters for today’s big global issues.
Here’s the piece: open.substack.com/pub/beyondse...
Here’s the piece: open.substack.com/pub/beyondse...
As the U.S. retreats, Canada rises.
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
Canada to provide $2.5 billion in economic aid for Ukraine, prime minister says
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday announced an additional $2.5 billion of economic aid for Ukraine.
www.reuters.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:43 AM
As the U.S. retreats, Canada rises.
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
While I strongly disagree with his take that China will blockade Taiwan in 2026, I find it concerning that a channel focused on economics, and not geopolitics, predicts that Beijing will make a move on the island.
youtu.be/aZB7vcVXCVc?...
youtu.be/aZB7vcVXCVc?...
The 5 megatrends that will dominate 2026
YouTube video by Money & Macro
youtu.be
December 23, 2025 at 2:22 AM
While I strongly disagree with his take that China will blockade Taiwan in 2026, I find it concerning that a channel focused on economics, and not geopolitics, predicts that Beijing will make a move on the island.
youtu.be/aZB7vcVXCVc?...
youtu.be/aZB7vcVXCVc?...
Reposted by Ivan Encinas
My column today on Okinawa and Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
Notes from Central Taiwan: Okinawa as Taiwan - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:00 AM
My column today on Okinawa and Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
At this point, #ManchesterCity is going to surpass #Arsenal in the Premier League table sometime in January. Likely another year without a trophy….
December 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
At this point, #ManchesterCity is going to surpass #Arsenal in the Premier League table sometime in January. Likely another year without a trophy….
This so petty and pointless. Is this really what people wanted when they voted for this guy?
www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/p...
New plaques on Trump’s ‘Presidential Walk of Fame’ offer pointed descriptions of predecessors | CNN Politics
The White House has installed plaques along President Donald Trump’s “Presidential Walk of Fame,” offering descriptions of his predecessors, often written in the style of his social media posts — incl...
www.cnn.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
This so petty and pointless. Is this really what people wanted when they voted for this guy?
www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/p...
Europe has leverage over the U.S. and it shouldn’t be afraid to use it against Trump. Once the Mag7 takes a hit, Trump won’t be able to rely on the stock market anymore to push forward his draconian agenda.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This is Europe's secret weapon against Trump: it could burst his AI bubble | Johnny Ryan
Growth in the US economy – and the president’s political survival – rest on AI. The EU must use its leverage and stand up to him, says the Irish Council for Civil Liberties’ Johnny Ryan
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Europe has leverage over the U.S. and it shouldn’t be afraid to use it against Trump. Once the Mag7 takes a hit, Trump won’t be able to rely on the stock market anymore to push forward his draconian agenda.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I really don’t get why so many Wall Street types and retail investors back Trump. This year has really made me worry about the long-term outlook of my U.S.-based equities.
December 13, 2025 at 1:14 AM
I really don’t get why so many Wall Street types and retail investors back Trump. This year has really made me worry about the long-term outlook of my U.S.-based equities.
I love seeing how my Instagram is filled with videos of Mexicans getting super excited to see South Africans and South Koreans outside of Oxxos.
#WC2026
#WC2026
December 12, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I love seeing how my Instagram is filled with videos of Mexicans getting super excited to see South Africans and South Koreans outside of Oxxos.
#WC2026
#WC2026
I wrote about the growing divide on the Left and why it matters for today’s big global issues.
Here’s the piece: open.substack.com/pub/beyondse...
Here’s the piece: open.substack.com/pub/beyondse...
A Schism of the Left
The Anti-Imperialist Left and the Humanist Left
open.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:21 PM
I wrote about the growing divide on the Left and why it matters for today’s big global issues.
Here’s the piece: open.substack.com/pub/beyondse...
Here’s the piece: open.substack.com/pub/beyondse...
Reposted by Ivan Encinas
Calling millionaires “the best and brightest” is not immigration reform.
It’s a VIP cover charge.
Real talent creates value.
People with $1M to spare just already have value.
The two categories are not the same.
It’s a VIP cover charge.
Real talent creates value.
People with $1M to spare just already have value.
The two categories are not the same.
December 11, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Calling millionaires “the best and brightest” is not immigration reform.
It’s a VIP cover charge.
Real talent creates value.
People with $1M to spare just already have value.
The two categories are not the same.
It’s a VIP cover charge.
Real talent creates value.
People with $1M to spare just already have value.
The two categories are not the same.
The fact that an important NATO ally is classifying the U.S. as a security risk shows much the Trump administration is moving the country in the wrong direction.
www.politico.eu/article/dani...
www.politico.eu/article/dani...
Danish intelligence classifies Trump’s America as a security risk
Denmark sounds the alarm about the U.S.’s increasingly antagonistic posture toward Europe.
www.politico.eu
December 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The fact that an important NATO ally is classifying the U.S. as a security risk shows much the Trump administration is moving the country in the wrong direction.
www.politico.eu/article/dani...
www.politico.eu/article/dani...
This is another important win for Democrats. Let’s carry this momentum into 2026.
www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
Democrat Eileen Higgins Wins Miami Mayoral Election
The victory is the latest in a recent string of electoral successes for Democrats.
www.wsj.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:01 AM
This is another important win for Democrats. Let’s carry this momentum into 2026.
www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
The 2025 National Security Strategy really said that Europe faces “the real and stark prospect of civilisational erasure.” Basically, Europe is becoming less white and that’s a problem. What does the Trump administration have against Europe? I really don’t get it. Literally the worst president.
December 9, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The 2025 National Security Strategy really said that Europe faces “the real and stark prospect of civilisational erasure.” Basically, Europe is becoming less white and that’s a problem. What does the Trump administration have against Europe? I really don’t get it. Literally the worst president.
The I-35 corridor between #Austin and #SanAntonio seriously needs some type of public transportation system connecting the two cities.
December 9, 2025 at 12:09 AM
The I-35 corridor between #Austin and #SanAntonio seriously needs some type of public transportation system connecting the two cities.
Reposted by Ivan Encinas
If we don’t flip Texas before 2030, there won’t be a path for Dems to win control of Congress or the White House.
Everything rests on TX, and it's time folks started paying attention. https://apnews.com/article/governors-democrats-affordability-2026-midterms-trump-1dfe3d853f29bb392764203601e4c2d1
Everything rests on TX, and it's time folks started paying attention. https://apnews.com/article/governors-democrats-affordability-2026-midterms-trump-1dfe3d853f29bb392764203601e4c2d1
Democratic governors say the party's midterm strategy must focus on voters' pocketbook concerns
Democratic governors who met over the weekend in Arizona say the party must focus on affordability in next year's midterm elections.
apnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:18 PM
If we don’t flip Texas before 2030, there won’t be a path for Dems to win control of Congress or the White House.
Everything rests on TX, and it's time folks started paying attention. https://apnews.com/article/governors-democrats-affordability-2026-midterms-trump-1dfe3d853f29bb392764203601e4c2d1
Everything rests on TX, and it's time folks started paying attention. https://apnews.com/article/governors-democrats-affordability-2026-midterms-trump-1dfe3d853f29bb392764203601e4c2d1
As I see all the damage that the Trump administration is doing to the U.S., I’m increasingly convinced that I should allocate more of my investments into the broader international market, maybe something like #VXUS.
December 8, 2025 at 3:30 PM
As I see all the damage that the Trump administration is doing to the U.S., I’m increasingly convinced that I should allocate more of my investments into the broader international market, maybe something like #VXUS.
The opening match of the #2026WorldCup will be a rematch of the 2010 World Cup: Mexico vs South Africa.
December 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM
The opening match of the #2026WorldCup will be a rematch of the 2010 World Cup: Mexico vs South Africa.
I think a lot of teams are hoping to get placed in Canada’s group. I have a feeling that they’ll prove the naysayers wrong. They’ll be playing at home and will show that they’re up there with some of the best in the world.
#2026WorldCup #CanMNT
#2026WorldCup #CanMNT
December 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
I think a lot of teams are hoping to get placed in Canada’s group. I have a feeling that they’ll prove the naysayers wrong. They’ll be playing at home and will show that they’re up there with some of the best in the world.
#2026WorldCup #CanMNT
#2026WorldCup #CanMNT
What is it with Republicans and regime change?
December 3, 2025 at 2:54 PM
What is it with Republicans and regime change?
I’m stoked for the #WorldCupDraw on Friday. I hope that the first game is Mexico versus someone like Croatia, Uruguay, or Colombia.
December 3, 2025 at 2:09 AM
I’m stoked for the #WorldCupDraw on Friday. I hope that the first game is Mexico versus someone like Croatia, Uruguay, or Colombia.
I just wish taking public transit in Texas wasn’t treated like something odd or uncommon.
December 2, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I just wish taking public transit in Texas wasn’t treated like something odd or uncommon.
The world must continue talking about Taiwan. It’s not “internal affair” as the PRC would like the world to think. What happens in Taiwan affects the rest of the world. Japan is showing that democracies shouldn’t acquiesce to Beijing’s demands.
This NYT op-ed is not a routine commentary.
It is a strategic signalling article, www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...
It is a strategic signalling article, www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...
Opinion | Japan Has Changed How the World Must Think About Taiwan
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:57 PM
The world must continue talking about Taiwan. It’s not “internal affair” as the PRC would like the world to think. What happens in Taiwan affects the rest of the world. Japan is showing that democracies shouldn’t acquiesce to Beijing’s demands.
Congress needs to take this seriously and act accordingly. If the U.S. is committing war crimes, that’s something needs to be addressed.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Lawmakers warn Hegseth may have committed war crimes following second-strike report
Democrats and even some Republicans said Hegseth’s orders may have been illegal if a report on his commands to kill survivors of a boat attack are true.
www.politico.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Congress needs to take this seriously and act accordingly. If the U.S. is committing war crimes, that’s something needs to be addressed.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
AUKUS, expansion of EDCA sites, addition of Sweden and Finland into NATO, the Camp David summit with Japan and South Korea, firm stance on Taiwan, and rallied allies to place major sanctions on Russia. Why isn’t Biden given more credit for his foreign policy initiatives?
November 28, 2025 at 4:09 PM
AUKUS, expansion of EDCA sites, addition of Sweden and Finland into NATO, the Camp David summit with Japan and South Korea, firm stance on Taiwan, and rallied allies to place major sanctions on Russia. Why isn’t Biden given more credit for his foreign policy initiatives?
Reposted by Ivan Encinas
The Taiwan test: Why Europe should help deter China – Estelle Huang for ECFR: ‘The EU and its member states can start by encouraging industry-led initiatives and dual-use technology collaboration to strengthen Taiwan’s deterrence and safeguard European interests.’
The Taiwan test: Why Europe should help deter China
China’s military capabilities are growing and its actions in Europe are becoming more disruptive. The EU should support Taiwan with dual-use technologies and defence cooperation to send a clear signal...
ecfr.eu
November 26, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The Taiwan test: Why Europe should help deter China – Estelle Huang for ECFR: ‘The EU and its member states can start by encouraging industry-led initiatives and dual-use technology collaboration to strengthen Taiwan’s deterrence and safeguard European interests.’