A Wall Street Journal opinion argues the United States is the only superpower again—but the real question isn’t whether it’s true. It’s why it matters. In Episode 72, Steve Gibson connects superpower status to trade deficits, China’s exports, tariffs, and what “Pax Americana” means for peace, allies, and American voters.

In Logic Dictate Hot Topics — Episode 72, host Steve Gibson responds to a Wall Street Journal opinion arguing the United States is the only remaining superpower—and reframes the debate around the question that actually counts: why does superpower status matter in the real world?

Steve breaks down trade deficit vs. trade surplus in plain English, then ties it to today’s economic and geopolitical realities—especially claims discussed in the episode about China’s massive trade surplus and how U.S. tariffs can reshape trade balance without stopping China from exporting to other countries.

From there, Episode 72 moves into the strategic argument for American strength: the ability to deter “bad actors,” influence global stability, and support a broadly free-market world order—while still insisting allies carry more of the burden. Steve argues that Europe, Japan, and South Korea must play bigger roles in self-defense and regional stability, with the U.S. supporting—not carrying—the entire load.

Finally, Steve brings it home: American voters should evaluate candidates based on whether their policies help the U.S. thrive economically and lead strategically, while still supporting domestic self-sufficiency through incentives—not dependency.

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