We really went at it! Just like the "Jane, you ignorant slut" arguments on SNL's "Point/Counterpoint." OK, just kidding, but it was a meaty discussion. www.mercatus.org/macro-musing...

OMG!?!? @davidbeckworth.bsky.social X @bhgreeley.bsky.social X @paulblustein.bsky.social X @b-eichengreen.bsky.social ??? This is actually a series I want to do!

@edwardluce.bsky.social at his best, and that's really saying something.

Edward Luce@edwardluce.bsky.social · last wk.

"Power is the ability to shape the world to your advantage. This should not be confused with constantly declaring how powerful you are." Me on why Trump's potency on the world stage is vanishing. as.ft.com/r/d4b0f81f-b...

It's been one year, four months and nine days since the publication of KING DOLLAR. Seems like a perfect occasion to recall the book's dedication: "To my grandchildren, whom I will always love unconditionally, even if they grow up to like crypto."

Now that the Iran war appears to be back (deeply regrettable and stupid, don't get me wrong), can't we have a reprise of claims about the "death of the petrodollar?" Those were such fun to debunk. www.ft.com/content/a65e...

Much ado about the 1974 ‘petrodollar’ deal

KSA 🤜 🤛 USA?

ft.com

I think he's got it! By George he's got it!

Among the many reasons for admiring this book—its provocative insights into trade policy dilemmas, its revelatory historical references, and of course its numerous witticisms—here’s another: the recommended reading list at the end! Many thanks, @soumayakeynes.ft.com and @chadpbown.com.

Congrats on this well-deserved rave review, @soumayakeynes.ft.com and @chadpbown.com. And I'm honored that the reviewer included a nice shout-out for my book!

Chad P. Bown@chadpbown.com · last mo.

"an accessible, well-researched and cheeky primer on the global trading system" Thanks to Theodore Bunzel for his careful read and critical review of HOW TO WIN A TRADE WAR, my new book with @soumayakeynes.ft.com, in today's Wall Street Journal www.wsj.com/economy/trad... (including his kicker 👇)

It’s been one year, three months and eight days since KING DOLLAR was published. Seems like a perfect time to recall that the book has gotten some pretty nice reviews! Like these, on the covers of the recently-published paperback. But there are also some late entries! (1/4)

This piece by @robinh.bsky.social is so terrific and illuminating that I'm tempted to heap praise on it without bothering to mention its flaw... www.ft.com/content/0948...

Why sinodollars outweigh the petroyuan

China’s currency is becoming a more important part of the global financial system but the dollar is still in control

ft.com

Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!

It’s always gratifying to hear that university professors and students like my books, and this is the first I’ve heard that KING DOLLAR is being used in a course. Thank you, Prof. Mudd of Haverford College. www.haverford.edu/marketing-an...

Artificial chocolate? De gustibus non est disputandum. The excellence of @alanbeattie.bsky.social's latest column? Also non est disputandum (in the "indisputable" sense of the phrase). www.ft.com/content/06ad...

Artificial chocolate will show what really shapes global trade

Lab-grown cocoa is the latest synthetic commodity to challenge a natural product

ft.com

I've been on quite a few podcasts since my book KING DOLLAR was published, and this one--"What Rhymes With Now?"--wins the prize for the most imaginative name. Kudos to host Patrick Cook for excellent questions. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

The future of dollar dominance with Paul Blustein

Podcast Episode · What Rhymes With Now? · May 27 · 59m

podcasts.apple.com

The best line (and that's saying a lot): "If you think Mr. Trump is a man of his word, then I have a cryptocurrency to sell you."

Soumaya Keynes@soumayakeynes.ft.com · 3mo ago

Could Trump and Xi have done better when they met? In my guest essay for @nytopinion.nytimes.com, @chadpbown.com And I say YES. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/o...

Hey, crypto bros! Bitcoin bros in particular! That argument you make about the fiat dollar being based on an odious 50 year-old deal that kept the world hooked on fossil fuels? Consider it debunked. Or put up your dukes! www.ft.com/content/a65e...

Much ado about the 1974 ‘petrodollar’ deal

KSA 🤜 🤛 USA?

ft.com

Oh~ I didn't know Paul is here!! This is an excellent piece!! Read it!!

Paul Blustein@paulblustein.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The dollar’s global dominance is imperiled! The Iran war is threatening to upend a noxious 50-year deal that established the petrodollar system as a linchpin of US power! Do I have your attention now? Good. Because every word of that…

The dollar’s global dominance is imperiled! The Iran war is threatening to upend a noxious 50-year deal that established the petrodollar system as a linchpin of US power! Do I have your attention now? Good. Because every word of that…

Heard the one about how the Iran war threatens a linchpin of dollar dominance? Heard the one about how the fiat dollar is based on an odious bargain to keep the world hooked on oil? Cease and desist, dollar doom-mongers! Cease and desist, crypto bros! www.ft.com/content/a65e...

Much ado about the 1974 ‘petrodollar’ deal

KSA 🤜 🤛 USA?

ft.com

Yakov Feygin@buddyyakov.bsky.social · 4mo ago

So far @paulblustein.bsky.social’s dollar book is fantastic. Going to recommend it as an intro for lay people.

The US Treasury market has only grown more dominant in recent decades, exploding in scale while its closest rivals have remained fragmented (the euro area), strictly controlled (China), or largely moribund (Japan). Global investors have no real alternatives:

I believe in a multipolar system of books about currencies and suggest a literary festival be convened in Bretton Woods to design it.

Brendan Greeley@bhgreeley.bsky.social · 4mo ago

The real question: which book about dominant currencies will be the dominant currency book?

The real question: which book about dominant currencies will be the dominant currency book?

It’s publication day! My book is officially out in paperback, with a new preface, and the message could be summed up as follows: Worry, worry, worry about the US dollar’s global dominance! But not for the reasons you might think. 🧵1/11

HEY EVERYBODY! MY BOOK GOT A SHOUTOUT IN @pkrugman.bsky.social's SUBSTACK! Oops, sorry about the caps, which I realize are typical of a certain orange-haired person. I got a bit carried away. Hope you’ll understand. It’s one of Krugman’s best Substack posts—and that’s really saying something.

Nice explanation of why the dollar’s role is difficult to overturn by @paulblustein.bsky.social Whenever I’m asked if a country is going to start pricing a commodity in RMB. I ask “what are they going to do with the RMB?” Lack of deep financial market makes it impractical.

Paul Blustein@paulblustein.bsky.social · 4mo ago

The Iran war is terrible, horrible, no good, very bad. But is it a big threat to the dollar's role in the international monetary system? Nah. fortune.com/2026/03/30/p...

Hysteria about the petrodollar is reaching epic (furious?) levels. It's the latest frenzy of alarmism about USD global dominance--and it will prove just as misconceived as the many frenzies that have preceded it.

Dollar doomsayers are having a field day! But if you wonder whether these arguments might be more than a trifle overstated...

BREAKING: Following the American threat of an “Avignon Papacy,” Robert Kennedy has begun a Diet of Worms

The ballyhoo over the petrodollar is turning into a foofaraw. “It all goes back to a shady 1974 deal with Saudi Arabia to price oil in USD! That has been a linchpin of US power for 50 years, but now it’s coming undone!” Please. Stop believing--and parroting--this baloney.

Paul Blustein@paulblustein.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Have you heard the one about the Iranian ploy to dethrone the dollar by demanding payment in CNY instead of USD for oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz? No joke—it’s raising quite a ballyhoo! It’s the latest bout of alarmism over dollar dominance. Here’s my take: fortune.com/2026/03/30/p...