Brazil & Europe, Elon Musk & Neocloud “Guppies” 102626

Zanny Minton Beddoes · The Economist

French unrest stems from stagnant growth, cost of living and an unsustainable welfare state, not migration.

Beddoes argues the French protests combine ordinary citizens' frustration over poor education, rising cost of living and a non-growing economy, with anarchist and suburban hooligan groups who are mostly French citizens. Migration is a marginal factor since France has low recent migration. The real problem is growth and an unsustainable welfare system, with a state close to bankruptcy and rising bond yields from its fiscal problem. Centre-left and centre-right parties have failed to address this, and handing out more benefits will not fix it. She says Musk exaggerates the migration link, and that the migration explanation gives a simplistic fix that misses the real problem.

“But you're absolutely right that the problem is growth. The problem is an unsustainable welfare system. And the problem is that the people on the streets don't wanna deal with that.”at 15:46

Zanny Minton Beddoes · The Economist

Europe is highly vulnerable to Musk and the US government, lacking a Starlink equivalent for years.

Beddoes says the Starlink episode showed that Europe is at the mercy of Elon Musk unless the US government overrules him, and that the White House is more powerful than Musk; the speeds were restored after a White House call. Europe has some satellite capabilities but far less than Starlink and much less rocket launch capability. She expects Europe to take years to close this gap, and says any European country is exposed to Musk's decisions made directly or at the behest of the US government.

“we don't have anything like Starlink of our own... this will take years to turn around, but the big realization has been... If you are in Europe, you're incredibly vulnerable to this.”at 19:23

Alexander Hardy · BioMarin Pharmaceutical

The new FDA rare-disease framework is flexible, consistent and predictable, a welcome change for the sector.

Hardy calls the FDA's newly issued rare-disease guidance really exciting. He says the rare-disease community has long needed a special approach because of small patient populations and diseases that have never had treatments. The framework brings flexibility, consistency and predictability, and systematically brings the patient voice into the process, including the earliest stages. He says this is a good time for rare diseases.

“I think the FDA guidance that was just issued is really exciting... With this FDA framework, we see flexibility. We also see consistency and predictability.”at 25:52