The Jay Martin Show, Released on 6/7/25

Brent Johnson of Santiago Capital joins Jay to break down what most people are missing about America’s global position. While headlines warn of U.S. decline, Johnson argues the real story is a relative game and the rest of the world may be worse off. From trade wars and political cycles to China’s debt bomb and the future of rare earths, this conversation dives into the fractures beneath the surface of globalization. If you’re looking to understand where the world is headed and who might get knocked off the road first then don’t miss this one.

00:00 – Intro
06:18 – Can the U.S. Realistically Restore Industry?
15:43 – Is China Better Prepared Than in 2008?
23:36 – The Role of Narrative: Who’s Really Collapsing?
31:41 – Can U.S. Adversaries Retaliate at the Same Level?
37:07 – Who Owns China’s Debt and Why It Matters
44:17 – Defaults and Fort Knox
51:12 – Roman Parallels and the Rise of an American Empire
56:17 – Where Capital Will Flow Next: Defensive vs. Offensive Allocation

Brent Johnson is the CEO of Santiago Capital and publisher of The Macro Alchemist. Brent brings twenty five years of experience in the financial markets to his position as CEO of Santiago Capital where he manages the portfolios of high net worth individuals and families via separate accounts and private funds. Brent worked more than nine years as a Managing Director at BakerAvenue, a $2 Billion Asset Manager and Wealth Management firm. Before joining BakerAvenue, Brent spent nine years at Credit Suisse in their private client group. He joined Credit Suisse in the fall of 2000. Earlier in his career, Brent was a financial auditor for Philip Morris Management Company in New York City.

  brent johnson, china, economy