Rupert Cocke

On Friends, Enemies, and Frenemies Populists take the natural impulse to divide the world into friends and enemies too far. What should we do instead?

"Frenemies," a word popular in Silicon Valley, can help us understand the attitude of friendly rivalry that lies at the heart of non-populist politics. Please check out this week's free essay on my personal blog to find out more!

The Lost Planet That Gave Birth to the Moon May Have Been Earth’s Next-Door Neighbor

Rawls vs Schmitt Using the original position to defend institutionalism against populism

The essence of constitutionalism is based on letting our enemies live as they see fit so that they let us live as we like. Please check out the free weekly essay on my personal blog after the jump!

Spain’s top court convicts an attorney general for first time | Euractiv Álvaro García Ortiz is found guilty of leaking confidential data in a case that has shaken Spain’s political landscape

Spain’s top court convicts an attorney general for first time

European deal multiples rebound from second-quarter tariffs-related dip – Dealspeak EMEA European M&A multiples returned to their historical averages in 3Q25, shaking off a second-quarter slump following the announcement of far-reachingREAD MORE

European deal multiples rebound from second-quarter tariffs-related dip – Dealspeak EMEA

ECM update: US shutdown ends, UK budget on the horizon, AI bubble possible – podcast With the longest government shutdown in US history coming to an end, IPO listings could rise in response. The timingREAD MORE

ECM update: US shutdown ends, UK budget on the horizon, AI bubble possible – podcast

A leak from the Spanish police suggests that Socialist Party organiser Santos Cerdán asked builders for illegal commissions worth 2% for public works contracts (Paywalled and in Spanish)

Anger: A Visual Essay Lessons from Goya

Anger is a dangerous emotion. Please check out this week's visual essay on my personal blog.

La UCO registra sedes de Acciona y otras empresas en Madrid, Bilbao y Sevilla por el 'caso Koldo' Acciona aparece en múltiples ocasiones en el informe de la UCO que provocó la dimisión de Santos Cerdán

The investigative unit of Spain's Civil Guard has searched the offices of construction company Acciona as part of its probe into graft allegations against top Socialist politicians (In Spanish)

Epstein mentioned Trump multiple times in private emails, new release shows | CNN Politics Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender whose death by suicide has spawned intense scrutiny of the high-profile people he knew, mentioned Donald Trump by name multiple times in private correspondenc...

Epstein mentioned Trump multiple times in private emails, new release shows

OakNorth eyes UK, US niche acquisitions; IPO not on near-term agenda OakNorth Bank, the UK-based SME lender, is focused on acquisitions in the UK and US rather than an IPO inREAD MORE

OakNorth eyes UK, US niche acquisitions; IPO not on near-term agenda

An Imported Culture War Unthinking loyalty to the right-wing side of an arbitrary culture war can lead people badly astray

How can we help our friends on the right gain some critical distance from a culture war that has been imported from the US? Please check out the free weekly essay on my personal blog for my thoughts after the jump!

French political gridlock hurts country's start-up aspirations – podcast Political gridlock in France threatens its start-up ambitions, with budget disputes and potential tax hikes undermining venture capital

French political gridlock hurts country’s start-up aspirations – podcast

US sponsors home in on UK take-private targets with stateside revenues UK companies with strong US revenue are increasingly becoming targets for US private equity to take private thanks to relatively low valuation

US sponsors home in on UK take-private targets with stateside revenues

Bank mergers in Spain’s concentrated market will require patience and diplomacy to execute – Dealspeak EMEA Future transactions in Spain’s already-consolidated banking market will take time and diplomacy to execute, according to sector dealmakers in theREAD MORE

Bank mergers in Spain’s concentrated market will require patience and diplomacy to execute – Dealspeak EMEA

Tell Better Stories How to win arguments in the public domain without expecting people to sharpen their axes

Our brains are wired for storytelling, which gives populists an advantage in the internet age. There is a very simple solution for non-populists, who need to learn how to tell better reality-based narratives. Please check out the free weekly essay on my personal blog for more!

You shared it before me! Thanks!

Private credit woes, Trump tariffs coerce US corporate right-scaling – podcast As parallels abound between the current US capital markets environment and the late-90s dotcom bubble, attention is also turning toREAD MORE

Private credit woes, Trump tariffs coerce US corporate right-scaling – podcast with @jwestjourno.bsky.social

Mistral AI flatters French scale-up capital scene as political clouds gather — Dealspeak EMEA France’s venture capital (VC) fundraising scene has been providing support for a handful of superstars like Mistral AI while strugglingREAD MORE

Mistral AI flatters French scale-up capital scene as political clouds gather — Dealspeak EMEA

Spanish government in crisis as Catalans withdraw their support PM Sanchez needs their votes. "Catalans could suppport no confidence vote"

Spanish government in crisis as Catalans withdraw their support

Hosts and Ambassadors How to communicate with alien intelligences

What will happen if AI evolves to a point that humans no longer understand what is going on in the algorithmic black box? Please check out this week's free essay on my personal blog for my thoughts and some book recommendations.

Taxfix pursues three-pronged M&A strategy in push for pan-European scale Germany-based Taxfix seeks acquisitions in existing and new markets, to gain product capabilities and new customers

Taxfix pursues three-pronged M&A strategy in push for pan-European scale

Hey Google, can AI chatbots replace investment bankers? Is AI coming for investment banking jobs and mandates? Some experts see it as inevitable, if not already happening.

Hey Google, can AI chatbots replace investment bankers?

People with some cancers live longer after a COVID vaccine mRNA vaccines seem to boost the effectiveness of an immune therapy for skin and lung cancer ― in an unexpected way.

People with some cancers live longer after a COVID vaccine

Europe’s counter-drone strategy needs sponsor capital to scale heights – Dealspeak EMEA The European Union’s (EU) anti-drone system strategy will require substantial private capital investment to gain altitude. Successfully launching a EuropeanREAD MORE

Europe’s counter-drone strategy needs sponsor capital to scale heights – Dealspeak EMEA

Private credit's public pivot in a crisis could become a more permanent shift What began as an emergency measure during the 2022 bond market freeze is edging towards a structural shift, according toREAD MORE

Private credit’s public pivot in a crisis could become a more permanent shift

"How many are still stuffed away in suitcases in lockups? Very difficult to say…" 2/2

I just replied to your very interesting comment... "It’s good to know that the situation is getting better on the retail side! However, back in 2011, one if four of all the world’s €500 notes were in Spain. There were 90m of them! That is a staggering €45 billion." 1/2

Corruption in Spain An essay on how a culture of massaging tax bills creates a pool of undisclosed cash that can corrupt incumbent politicians

Corruption among elected officials has long been a hot topic throughout Spain. But, perhaps surprisingly, the roots of the problem come from a common practice: ordinary people shaving a little off tax bills when buying a home. Please check out this week's free weekly essay on my personal blog!

BBVA fails in $19 billion takeover battle for Sabadell