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Simon Lester

@simonlester.com
7.8K followers 802 following 9.2K posts

Founded WorldTradeLaw.net & ChinaTradeMonitor.com Non-Resident Fellow @bakerinstitute.bsky.social Trade Policy feed: bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xqzu2eazvx…

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Reposted by Simon Lester
Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 2h
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating leading artificial-intelligence companies Anthropic and OpenAI, aiming to determine whether they have misled consumers about potential harms from their technology www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ftc-...
wsj.com
FTC Opens Investigation of Anthropic and OpenAI
Agency aims to use its consumer-protection powers to examine whether AI labs have misled the public about dangers from the technology.
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Secretary of Defense Rock @sodrock.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Oh, oh my
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 29/09/2026
Doesn't seem like a great person to be friends with.
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Patrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I think Trump should harken back to Reagan’s SDI initiative with “Super Duper Intelligence”.
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Graham Lanktree @glanktree.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro blasted Canadians on "K Street" — an area in Washington known as a hub for lobbyists — telling them to "get the hell out of our country." www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
cbc.ca
Trump trade adviser says Canada will 'pay even more dearly' if 'you interfere' in U.S. midterms | CBC News
One of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade advisers is threatening repercussions for Canada if it "interferes" in the upcoming midterm elections — though it's not clear what he anticipates the country...
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Why are we in a trade war with Canada, exactly? What was the country's alleged transgression? Check out my conversation with @samsteindc.bsky.social: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
podcasts.apple.com
Trump’s War With Canada Has Officially Lost the Plot (w/ Sam Stein)
Podcast Episode · Receipts with Catherine Rampell · September 29 · 40m
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
too perfect
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BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
it's almost as if the administration's China hawks were largely careerists who believed this was an issue they could rise on!
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Karthik Sankaran @rajakorman.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The US view on weaponized interdependence.
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 29/09/2026
"Jamie Dimon has a plan to revive the West: A ‘big, beautiful’ deal with Europe" Hey, @davidheniguk.bsky.social, are you ready to do the TTIP again?
cnbc.com
Jamie Dimon has a plan to revive the West: A 'big, beautiful' deal with Europe
"Many of the current disputes between Europe and the U.S. are minor compared with this agreement's size and benefits," the JPMorgan boss wrote this week.
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Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
It's a good day to google "Foxconn," "Wisconsin," "Trump," "2018," "13,000 jobs" and "didn't happen, didn't even come close"
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Poll Tracker 📊 @polltracker.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Ohio Statewide Poll (Marist) Senate 🔵Sherrod Brown 51% 🔴Jon Husted 43% Governor 🔵Amy Acton 50% 🔴Vivek Ramaswamy 44% Link: maristpoll.marist.edu/polls/midter...
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 29/09/2026
Interesting details on how the Iowa steel deal got done. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/u...
Mesabi executives have leaned on a Trump-world insider as the company has sought to expand its footprint in the United States. The company hired Jason Miller, a longtime Trump adviser, as its lobbyist, paying him at least $240,000 through his company SHW Partners, according to lobbying disclosure records. The government of India also hired Mr. Miller’s company, paying $150,000 per month for “strategic counsel, tactical planning and government relations assistance on policy matters before the U.S. government,” according to federal filings under the Foreign Agent Registration Act.
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Scott MacFarlane @macfarlanenews.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
New MARIST poll of U.S. Senate race in Ohio
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 29/09/2026
Marco Rubio: "Anything that had a chance of making money in Cuba was controlled by the Cuban military and the Cuban communist party to line the pockets of a handful of individuals at the expense of the entire country"
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CJ Fogler @cjzero.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Caleb Williams looks like the Unabomber sketch
Hoodie and mirrored sunglasses with a mustache
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 28/09/2026
A lot of people have concerns with data centers being built near them. I'm curious what the folks nearby in Iowa will think about a steel mill.
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Julian Sanchez @normative.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Obviously none of this is true, but incidentally: It is wild to talk about tax revenue as “profits.”
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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Annual report on EU free trade agreements with non-EU countries points to economic benefits ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
ec.europa.eu
EU trade agreements continue to benefit European businesses
The EU\'s growing network of trade agreements helps European businesses to access new export markets and creates a more predictable trade and investment environment, according to a report published to...
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 28/09/2026
The latest on US-China trade: "Ambassador Greer Issues a Statement on Announcement of Recommendations from the U.S.-China Board of Trade"
ustr.gov
Ambassador Greer Issues a Statement on Announcement of Recommendations from the U.S.-China Board of Trade
WASHINGTON — Today, Ambassador Jamieson Greer issued a statement following the announcement of the recommendations from the U.S.-China Board of Trade. President Donald J. Trump and President Xi Jinpin...
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POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 27/09/2026
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is keeping tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles “under review” as the U.K. fights to be included in Brussels’ Buy European program.
politico.eu
Britain to keep tariffs on Chinese EVs ‘under review,’ UK business chief says
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the U.K.’s position on the issue was “finely balanced” as officials pursue talks with Brussels.
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Scott Lincicome @scottlincicome.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
"Democrat Roy Cooper continued his 'Make Stuff Cost Less' campaign tour in Raleigh on Saturday night, telling a crowd of supporters that his plan includes rolling back tariffs and ending the war in Iran." amp.newsobserver.com/news/politic... #ncpol
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CJ Fogler @cjzero.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
relevant to the topic I have studiously avoided on this app
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Kirsten Ostermann @kirstenostermann.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Save the date: the US is set to ban a select number of Canadian imports starting Tuesday [September 29, 2026]. The ban, scheduled to come into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET, includes some alcoholic drinks, dairy byproducts, molasses and motorcycles, to name a few items. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 27/09/2026
I had never heard the "Choosin' Texas" song but in response to the article I listened. I didn't like it, but it did make me think about what Texas song I might choose instead, and it's definitely La Grange by ZZ Top. www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE1x...
youtube.com
ZZ Top La Grange live 1982
YouTube video by Michael
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CJ Fogler @cjzero.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Wait... WHAT???
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Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Elon Musk, famous anti-communist, praises Xi Jinping's glorious leadership to Chinese state media: "The increased prosperity of the average Chinese citizen has increased tremendously ... it's happened under President Xi ... so he's clearly done an excellent job and is very capable."
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 26/09/2026
I ripped my CDs into MP3s many years ago. Totally worth the effort.
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Casey Drottar @caseydrottar.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
My goodness, what an incredible moment. After Justin Verlander secured the final out of his career, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch came out of the dugout...to summon Verlander's daughter out to embrace her dad on the mound.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 26/09/2026
Trump on if he talked about Taiwan with President Xi: "We didn't talk about it too much. Right now it's, you know, fine. It's just moving along. But we didn't spend a lot of time talking about Taiwan."
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 26/09/2026
The world will be a much better place if these folks succeed.
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Aaron Ross Powell @aaronrosspowell.com · 26/09/2026
Spent the last few days talking with very cool, ambitious tech founders and funders who want to use decentralized, privacy-preserving technologies to rebuild the internet and our relationship with our devices to be personal, pro-social, and welfare-maximizing. It was profoundly inspiring.
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 26/09/2026
For those of you who like getting in the weeds of trade law, the US International Trade Commission asked for comments on how it should implement Section 338. My submission discusses how to understand one aspect of the term "discriminatory," but there's plenty more to say. Comments are due by Nov 9.
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 26/09/2026
White House releases fact sheet on U.S-China trade relationship with some details on what was agreed during the Xi visit: www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...
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Matthew Gertz @mattgertz.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I don't think the United States should invade Cuba. This, to me, sounds like a bad idea. www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-gro...
cbsnews.com
U.S. military lays groundwork for potential action around Cuba
Some units would "possibly [be] needed in 90-120 days," according to an internal Army message reviewed by CBS News.
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Reuters @reuters.com · 25/09/2026
Details on US, China trade talks to come on Monday, says Greer reut.rs/4cYTCoc
reut.rs
Details on US, China trade talks to come on Monday, says Greer
The United States is expected to release details on the outcome ​of trade negotiations with China on Monday, US ‌Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Friday.
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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
1/Forget AI existential threat. This is far scarier. Jensen Huang lays out a dystopian future of computer outsourcing, human deskilling, and firm recklessness shrouded in the notion that these firms are unleashing an ayn randian paradise. Take a listen. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | Jensen Huang Thinks A.I. Alarmism Has Gone Too Far
Jensen Huang, the chief executive of Nvidia, does not want you to be afraid of A.I.
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Political Poll Bot 📊 @pollresults.org · 24/09/2026
Kansas US Senate Sep 22 - 24, 2026 Adam Hamilton (D) 50% (+2.0%) Roger Marshall (R) 48% David Graham (L) 2% Wedgewood Polls 500 LV View Poll
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Celeste Pewter @celestepewter.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Also, since the House is out and back in the district, now is a VERY good time to remind your House members that you don't want them prioritizing Twitter. Tell them to stop hoping to gain support with Elon Musk and co.
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Here's today's column on the astonishing, ongoing mistreatment of people with #ME/CFS. Please spread it far and wide: the only thing which can break the media's wall of indifference is seeing an article about the issue go viral. Thank you. 1/2 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Abandoned, dismissed and gaslighted: there is no excuse for the way ME sufferers have been betrayed | George Monbiot
Changes in guidance and science seem to have little impact on millions of devastated lives. It’s a social crisis playing out behind closed doors, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 24/09/2026
"South Asians Face Surging Racism in America"
nytimes.com
South Asians Face Surging Racism in America (Gift Article)
Social media posts, including from the Department of Homeland Security and a Texas Republican candidate, have helped stir fear among people of South Asian heritage.
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Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
UNH just released two Senate polls of major races: Maine: —Troy Jackson leads Collins 51/47. (This is the 3rd ME poll today, after the NYT's Collins +3 and YouGov's Jackson +5.) New Hampshire: —Pappas leads Sununu 50/42. (This is the 2nd NH poll today, after the NY had Pappas up 5.)
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 24/09/2026
He added: "President Xi: Don't take him for granite. Get it? Thank you, I'll be here all week."
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 24/09/2026
Will the "isolationism" claims never end? Trump was never an "isolationist," that should have been clear to people at the beginning, and it certainly should be clear at this point! Sheesh. (The appropriate characterization is open to debate, but I'm pretty comfortable with imperialist )
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 24/09/2026
I don't know much about Jensen Huang, but his thoughts on policy and society seem heavily influenced by how things affect the profitability of his company.
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Emily Feng @emilyzfeng.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Trump wrote on Truth Social suggesting today's meetings with Xi will NOT result in joint guidance on artificial intelligence. Notable to me that Xi Jinping, in his opening remarks, stressed AI should ultimately remain "under human control". us.china-embassy.gov.cn/zgyw/202609/...
us.china-embassy.gov.cn
习近平在白宫欢迎仪式上的致辞(全文)_中华人民共和国驻美利坚合众国大使馆
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 24/09/2026
Not sure if Xi has a sense of humor, but if he pronounced it "youts" his favorability rating among Americans of a certain age would shoot up.
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Pollcast - Poll Tracker @pollcast.net · 24/09/2026
New Maine Senate poll: University of Massachusetts Lowell Center for Public Opinion/YouGov (Sep 14 - 650 LV) 🔵 Jackson 48 (D+5) 🔴 Collins 43 View the average ->
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 24/09/2026
Hannity's list of "TRUMP'S TOP ACCOMPLISHMENTS" includes restoring Confederate names to military bases and releasing dietary guidelines
cap from Hannity
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