Unrest in Europe & LeBron’s Season Debut 10/20/26

Michael Froman · Council on Foreign Relations

France's fiscal and political gridlock is a perfect storm; France may be the canary in the coal mine.

Froman argues France faces a combined squeeze. Energy prices rose on the Iran war, rates have risen, and the debt service cost is expected to rise 59% between now and 2030. Because the government cannot take the needed fiscal actions without provoking more street protest, and an election is about six months away with the far right leading, he calls it a perfect storm of domestic gridlock. He adds that France spends 57% of GDP on government, about 20 points more than the US across all levels. He expects markets to be the disciplining force, which will create tremendous political problems.

“France could well be sort of the the canary in the coal mine because it has a a sclerotic political system. The markets don't have huge confidence that it's gonna be able to take the actions necessary.”at 18:19

Michael Froman · Council on Foreign Relations

A Trump-Xi-Putin meeting without Ukraine at the table is inappropriate; China should pressure Russia.

Froman says a trilateral meeting of Trump, Xi and Putin without the Ukrainians is an inappropriate grouping for resolving the war, and no solution is possible without Ukraine at the table. He says China would help by pressuring Russia, which it has been unwilling to do. He says Ukraine has made significant progress in bringing the war to Russia and imposing costs. He argues the US should supply more weapons, directly or through Europe, to change Putin's negotiating calculation. He worries the two leaders may push a Ukrainian settlement that suits their relationship.

“Well, it seems like, without the Ukrainians being in the room, it seems like an inappropriate grouping to talk about how to resolve the war.”at 23:49

Andrew Brandt · Villanova University

MLB's push for a salary cap will meet a contentious labor fight; baseball has never had one.

Brandt says the owners want a salary cap, and that football, basketball and hockey all have one while baseball never has. He argues that negotiating a cap for a system that has never had one is much harder. He notes the players' union argues that baseball has parity and that small-market teams are competitive. He cites a $400 million Dodgers payroll versus a $140 million Brewers payroll and under $100 million for the Rays, and says the labor agreement is up, so the negotiation will be contentious.

“Baseball's never had a cap. It's much harder to negotiate something you haven't had than something you've had. ... This is gonna be a contentious negotiation”at 33:37