TRIGGERnometry Podcast Episode Summary

Episode Title

Congratulations, the Multipolar World You Ordered Is Here – Konstantin Kisin
Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Konstantin Kisin (and Francis Foster)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers around Konstantin Kisin’s provocative monologue reflecting on the arrival of a "multipolar world"—an international system with several global power centers instead of Western or American dominance. Kisin critically unpacks how various ideological groups (the "woke" left, American isolationists, and adversarial foreign powers) both advocated for and misapprehend the consequences of this shift. Using historical and contemporary examples, he brings out the instability and dangers inherent in this new global order, critiquing Western political, economic, and military decline, and drawing a sobering comparison to cartel-dominated Mexico.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Wanted the Multipolar World—and Why?

• Three groups advocated for multipolarity:
  • Naive "woke" progressives: They see Western dominance as unjust privilege, seeking global redistribution in line with their domestic "social justice" ideals.
  • Naive isolationists: Especially in America; tired of interventionism, they believe the U.S. can enjoy its prosperity without playing a global leadership role.
  • Hostile foreign powers: Notably Russia and China, actively wishing to end American hegemony for their benefit.

2. Progressives’ Worldview Extended Globally

• Kisin argues that many Western progressives view global politics through the same lens as domestic politics, believing success must come at the expense of others. This "Marxist dynamic" results in “global justice” missions.
• Quote:

  "Their antipathy towards the west, white people, men, Jews and the rich stems from this basic formula. Whoever is doing well must be doing so at the expense of others."
  — Konstantin Kisin (02:30)

3. Isolationist Instincts and Their Limits

• While expressing sympathy for Americans uninterested in foreign affairs, Kisin critiques "America First" thinking as both understandable and dangerously naïve.
• He provides historical context: isolationism’s deep roots in U.S. culture, resurgence after Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the American tendency to withdraw after disastrous interventions.
• Quote:

  “America can’t be the world’s policeman, went the cry. Unfortunately, simple slogans are rarely true and inevitably leave out much needed context.”
  — Konstantin Kisin (05:25)

4. Reality of American Power and Prosperity

• The prosperity and safety enjoyed by the U.S. (and the West) aren’t possible without active engagement in global affairs.
  • America enjoys outsized prosperity partly because it uses its power to shape international outcomes.
  • Withdrawal would lead to both a decline in influence and in domestic well-being.

5. Multipolarity: Useful Idiocy and Real Beneficiaries

• Both groups—progressives and isolationists—have played into the hands of actors like China and Russia, who now push multipolarity to weaken the West.
• Quote:

  “The two groups that have most celebrated the coming multipolar world are now also the ones complaining the most about its consequences.”
  — Konstantin Kisin (07:55)

6. Recent Geopolitical Shifts and Western Weakness

• Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, the October 7 terrorist attacks (implied Middle East), and China’s ambitions over Taiwan showcase this "deeper geopolitical realignment."
• The West’s declining authority is not just military but also moral and economic.
  • Military: Especially Europe and Britain, whose diminished armed forces make them poor allies to the U.S.
  • Cultural: Erosion of shared values and traditions.
  • Economic: Deindustrialization, over-reliance on ideological energy policies, unsustainable welfare systems.

7. Cultural and Demographic Decline

• Large-scale immigration, lack of social cohesion, declining willingness to defend national interests, and generational alienation from political leadership are cited as internal Western issues.

8. Policy Failures: Energy and Industry

• He criticizes policies like Germany’s nuclear closures, making it vulnerable to Russian energy, and Britain’s stagnant growth blamed on "net zero" targets.
  • Quote (re: German policy):

    “When Putin invaded Ukraine, Germany’s initial response was to send a few helmets.”
    — Konstantin Kisin (15:40)

9. Analogy: The Future Will Look Like Mexico's Cartel Wars

• In a multipolar world with no dominant power, power vacuums create instability. Mexico, with its constant cartel infighting after state withdrawal, is a grim analogue.
  • Quote:

    “A multipolar world is by definition a more unstable, violent world. This is why it’s highly regrettable that we’ve arrived here.”
    — Konstantin Kisin (17:28)

• Kisin references a debate with Yanis Varoufakis to back up this position.

10. Conclusion/Call to Action

• Kisin ends by noting that, in this situation, leaders like Trump can only play to their own interests and "cartel."
• He encourages listeners to subscribe to his substack for more in-depth takes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “They hate the west for being successful and want a multipolar world as both a punishment and a corrective.”
  — Konstantin Kisin (04:06)
• "There's a strange irony here. The two groups that have most celebrated the coming multipolar world are now also the ones complaining... because, despite their good intentions, woke leftists and neo isolationists have served as useful idiots to the people who are actually driving the multipolarity narrative."
  — Konstantin Kisin (07:47)
• "We've degraded our militaries to the point where, despite our technological and scientific superiority... we are not a useful ally to the United States anymore. The condition of our armed forces is matched only by the degradation of our culture and the economic suicide we've committed over the last two decades."
  — Konstantin Kisin (13:03)
• "Europe has been living in a dream world, and the rude awakening is here."
  — Konstantin Kisin (15:55)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:48] – Introduction to the “Multipolar World” theme; outlining who pushed for it
• [03:00] – Examination of woke progressives and their worldview
• [05:25] – Analysis of isolationism’s American roots and limits
• [07:47] – The “useful idiots” theory; who truly benefits from multipolarity
• [10:30] – The West’s military, cultural, and economic decline
• [13:45] – Impact of immigration and generational disengagement
• [15:40] – Critique of energy and economic policy; consequences in Ukraine/Germany
• [16:50] – Analogy to Mexico’s cartel wars and the instability of a multipolar world
• [18:12] – Closing insights and reference to further content

Summary Takeaways

Konstantin Kisin presents a sober, sharply critical take on the recent shift toward a multipolar world, arguing that it brings instability and empowerment of adversaries rather than the justice or peace once promised by its advocates. He dissects the Western ideological, political, and material missteps that precipitated this shift—with particular blame leveled at progressive utopianism, isolationist naivete, and self-destructive policy. The new reality, he insists, will mean more chaos and less safety for all—unless the West reclaims its sense of purpose and capacity to lead.

For listeners seeking deep-dive geopolitical commentary with a critical edge, this episode provides a compelling—and alarming—diagnosis of the changing world order.