Naomi Klein's new book 'End Times Fascism', co-written with Astra Taylor, argues that extreme wealth concentration creates a psychological derangement in the ultra-rich, turning them into supremacists willing an apocalypse to establish a post-democratic world. Klein illustrates this through examples including billionaires' plans for a privatized Gaza and a privatized United Nations, alongside authoritarian movements globally.
Pix, Brazil's state-run instant payment system launched during COVID-19, rapidly achieved 54.7% transaction share and expanded to 50+ countries, but faced USA investigation and 50% tariffs under Trump, who views it as a threat to American payment companies like Visa, Mastercard, and Apple. Political pressure from Bolsonaro allies and proposals to replace Pix with US-backed Zelle threaten the system's future despite its massive adoption and global recognition as innovative financial infrastructure.