On this episode of Brigadoon Radio, Gerald Ashley and Marc Ross discuss PM Liz Truss, the politics of London, what happens next in the House of Commons, masters of the universe and bond vigilantes, Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party, Japan and Australia's new security deal, the first-ever Taiwan Expo USA held in Washington DC, and what they are reading and watching.

Show notes for this episode of Brigadoon Radio:

Liz Truss quits as UK prime minister: Politico reports Britain to get new leader next week after crisis-hit Truss resigns after just 44 days.

UK's direction in doubt after Truss resigns: WP reports her move, after six weeks in office, sets up vote for a new leader of bitterly divided Conservative Party.

Bloomberg: UK premier may be decided Monday as Tories set contest rules

Succession battle begins after Liz Truss quits as UK prime minister: Conservative party sets high threshold for race to become new premier as Sunak emerges as the early frontrunner. FT

Boris Johnson considering running again to be PM, say allies: Guardian reports the threshold to reach ballot is support of 100 Tory MPs, however, and there are doubts he has sufficient backing.

Former UK Treasury Chief Rishi Sunak leads prime minister race: WSJ reports other competitors include cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt, and possibly former leader Boris Johnson.

Whoever follows Liz Truss, fiscal conservatism will rule Britain: While the market reaction to Ms. Truss’s unsound fiscal plans was over-egged, it could tie the hands of her successors for years. WSJ

US is gripped by failure of British populism: The tragedy of Liz of the 44 Days has been watched with fascination and alarm by politicians, strategists, and financiers. Gerard Baker

Xi Jinping offers an ominous warning of what’s to come David Ignatius

The pomp, pageantry, and paranoia of China’s Communist Party Congress WP

Xi Jinping: China’s everlasting emperor awaits his third term: The president has sidelined rivals and abandoned collective leadership to reign alone and unchallenged. Tom Mitchell

Analysis: Xi's coronation ceremony opens on date of China's first atom bomb: Reaffirming Taiwan unification, leader makes his third term play amid economic downturn. Nikkei

Containing China is Biden’s explicit goal: US efforts to isolate Beijing’s high-tech sector may accelerate Xi Jinping’s bid to take control of Taiwan. Edward Luce

The world according to Xi: security, socialism, and soldiers: Congress speech 'less about dreams and more about potential dangers ahead.' Nikkei

‘Moving backward’: In Xi’s China, some see an era of total control: A decade ago, many prominent Chinese hoped that Xi Jinping would usher in openness and reform. Today, some of them believe he has created a totalitarian state. NYT

How Xi Jinping became “Chairman of Everything”: China’s leader came to power determined to ensure prosperity, but he may yet turn out to be his country’s greatest threat. New Statesman

Analysis: China's power struggles were ferocious in 1972 and remain so today: Normalization with Japan was risky for all the players involved. Nikkei

The Current War Trailer

The Misbehavior of Markets: A Fractal View of Financial Turbulence - Benoit Mandelbrot + Richard L. Hudson Amazon

On the Future: Prospects for Humanity - Lord Martin Rees Amazon

Asia's Reckoning: China, Japan, and the Fate of US Power in the Pacific Century - Richard McGregor Amazon

The Party: The Secret World of China's Communist Rulers - Richard McGregor Amazon

All Quiet on the Western Front - Trailer

Bad Sisters - Trailer