#1810 Post-American Europe: How to Lose Friends and Influence People to Protect Themselves Against You

Air Date: 7/22/2026 Today we look at how three things Europe thought were features turned out to be leverage that could be held against them: American military protection, Silicon Valley software, and cheap Chinese goods. From a French government office running Linux to a secret European defense coalition that bypasses Washington, Europe is quietly swapping out the old architecture rather than dismantling it, one operating system migration and one secret war game at a time. Full Show Notes Transcript Be part of the show! Leave a voice message, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! Join our Discord community! TOP TAKES KP 1: TODAY: Europe Replaces ENTIRE American Software Stack - Google OUT, Microsoft OUT June 9 - House of El - Air Date 6-4-26 KP 2: Inside the Second China Shock Sweeping Across Europe - Bloomberg Television - Air Date 2-8-26 KP 3: NATO's Secret Plans to Defend Europe Without the US - Times Originals - Air Date 7-17-26 KP 4: China Quietly Saved the World Last Month Part 1 - Max Fisher - Air Date 7-17-26 KP 5: How I View the US After 13 Years Living in Europe - Evan Edinger - Air Date 10-5-25 KP 6: Europes Quiet Breakup with U.S. Big Tech - Brit in Germany - Air Date 3-15-26 (00:54:13) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Why Europe Quitting US Big Tech Proves the Left Was Right My commentaries on YouTube - Share them! DEEPER DIVES (01:04:56) SECTION A: CAN EUROPE STAND ALONE A1: Would NATO Hold if Russia Tested Article 5? Lessons From a War Game | Berlin Briefing Podcast Part 1 - DW News - Air Date 7-17-26 A2: 250 Years of USA: Is Germany Ready for a Post-American Europe? | Berlin Briefing Podcast Part 1 - DW News - Air Date 7-3-26 A3: Can Nato Survive Without the US? | The Security Brief - BBC News - Air Date 6-11-26 A4: 250 Years of USA: Is Germany Ready for a Post-American Europe? | Berlin Briefing Podcast Part 2 - DW News - Air Date 7-3-26 A5: Would NATO Hold if Russia Tested Article 5? Lessons From a War Game | Berlin Briefing Podcast Part 2 - DW News - Air Date 7-17-26 (01:51:44) SECTION B: THE CHINA FACTOR B1: Why the EU Is Starting a Trade War with China - TLDR News EU - Air Date 5-29-26 B2: Why the EU Has More Leverage Over China Than You Think - TLDR News EU - Air Date 6-24-26 B3: China Quietly Saved the World Last Month Part 2 - Max Fisher - Air Date 7-17-26 (02:13:12) SECTION C: THE TECH SOVEREIGNTY PLAYBOOK C1: Can the EU Decouple From Trump's America? - POLITICO Europe - Air Date 2-5-26 C2: At the Mercy of Silicon Valley? Europe Exposed by Trump AI Export Ban Part 1 - FRANCE 24 English - Air Date 6-17-26 C3: Can Europe Quit American Big Tech?- POLITICO Europe - Air Date 6-4-26 C4: France KICKS O