James Wakira

Founder of RebelsMarket, FashionSprout & Lambuti. Runs eCom brands fueled by coffee, sarcasm, and an unhealthy obsession with leather. AI works, I supervise.

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

We're still in the very infancy of this era scarcely past the "invention of the steam engine" phase of what will likely prove the most transformative technological shift since the late 18th century.

Consider the parallel to the early Industrial Revolution (roughly 1760–1830): James Watt's improvements to the steam engine in the 1760s–1780s sparked unprecedented mechanization, yet society had no framework for governing it. Factories sprang up unregulated; child labor became routine; cities choked on coal smoke and overcrowding. Governments initially adopted a hands-off stance (laissez-faire under Pitt and Addington), viewing interference as antithetical to progress. Only after decades of exploitation, Luddite rebellions (1811–1816), and public outcry did meaningful oversight emerge… the Factory Act of 1802 (limited and poorly enforced), followed by the more substantive 1833 Act under Althorp, which finally set age limits, hours, and inspectors.

Surveillance crept in quietly too: industrial unrest birthed the first modern police forces (Peel's "bobbies" in 1829), ostensibly for order but enabling broader state monitoring of workers and radicals. No one in 1780 could foresee Bentham's panopticon (1787) evolving into 20th-century totalitarianism or today's digital watchtowers. The point is, governance lagged invention by generations; early fights were chaotic, partisan, and often counterproductive.

Our current moment mirrors that prologue: frontier AI labs clashing with the state over red lines (no mass domestic surveillance, no fully autonomous lethal force) while the Pentagon demands unfettered "lawful" access. Blacklisting one provider and pivoting to another within hours underscores how embryonic the rules are contracts worth hundreds of millions hang on ad hoc negotiations, not settled doctrine. We're debating safeguards before the architecture of oversight even exists: no comprehensive federal AI governance body, no binding international norms on military applications, no consensus on where corporate "red lines" end and sovereign prerogative begins.

To rush to tribal sides now corporate caution vs. national security urgency would be as myopic as 19th-century mill owners decrying regulation or Chartists demanding immediate revolution without institutions to sustain it. History teaches that durable order arises from iterative trial, scandal, reform, and compromise, not premature crusades.

We are sketching charters in the dark, much like the Enlightenment philosophes and early parliamentarians groped toward labor laws amid the din of looms. Patience, rigorous debate, and incremental wisdom will shape what comes next far more than today's headlines. The true contest for AI's soul and society's is only just commencing.

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

I’ve followed Sam Darnold since his USC days. He was drafted by the Jets, cut by the Jets and Panthers, rebuilt his career as a backup in San Francisco, had a run with the Vikings that many wrote off as a fluke, then the Seahawks gave him a real chance and he won a Super Bowl.

I’m not a Seahawks fan, but you can’t help but root for Sam!

His path is a reminder that a lot of what matters in football also applies to life and business.

Believe in yourself before anyone else does. You won’t always get the validation you think you deserve. What matters is the work you put in and the belief you carry when things don’t go your way.

Stack days. There’s no shortcut or master plan. Just showing up, doing the work, improving a little, and letting consistency compound.

Failure isn’t the enemy. Not learning from it is. Setbacks are part of the process. The ability to adjust and keep going is what keeps you in the game.

Be who you are. He’s not flashy and doesn’t rely on noise or theatrics. Consistency and clarity last longer than hype.

And don’t do it alone. Resilience comes from the people around you who keep you grounded when things are going well and steady when they’re not.

The Super Bowl is the headline. The real lesson is everything that came before it.

#Resilience #stackdays #Consistency

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

There’s a lot of noise right now about how AI will let us build smaller teams that do more with less. That fewer people, with the help of LLMs, can ship faster and more efficiently.

And sure, smaller teams can be powerful. But let’s not confuse small with smart.

The real reason most teams slow down isn’t headcount. It’s coordination. Misalignment. Lack of clarity. Silos between product, engineering, and design. AI doesn’t fix that. In some cases, it amplifies it.

What moves the needle isn’t fewer people. It’s fewer blockers. Teams that are tightly aligned, have shared context, and are empowered to make decisions—those are the teams that move fast. Whether they’re five people or fifty.

The smartest teams aren’t obsessed with “how fast can we ship?” They ask, “Are we shipping the right thing, for the right reasons, at the right time?” They’re intentional. They’re iterative. And when they use AI, it’s not to replace thinking—it’s to accelerate learning.

The best outcomes come when engineers understand product, and PMs understand tech. When designers know the constraints, and devs know the user pain. AI can help create leverage here. It can reduce toil and speed up feedback loops. But it doesn’t create alignment on its own.

If you’re building a team today, don’t just make it smaller. Make it sharper. Build a team that knows how to use AI as a partner, not a crutch. A team that focuses on clarity, collaboration, and adaptability.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about how many people are on the team. It’s about how well the team works together—and how fast they can learn, adjust, and deliver real value.

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

Raising tariffs might hurt in the short term—yes, input costs rise.
But protecting American industries long-term starts with fairness.

Why should it be easier to sell in the U.S. than it is for Americans to sell anywhere else?

Free trade is great in theory.
But fair trade is what keeps small American makers alive.
And that includes equal tariffs going both ways.
Don’t let “cheap” imports kill the people building quality here.

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

Most people don’t realize this, but U.S. small businesses pay tariffs on nearly everything they ship OUT of the country.
Meanwhile, foreign businesses ship into the U.S. with little to no tariffs.
Let’s talk about the real trade imbalance. 🧵

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

India charges:
•30% tariff on U.S. apparel
•100%+ on U.S. spirits
China charges:
•14–37% on U.S. meat & wine
•High duties on many U.S. consumer goods

Yet they export into the U.S. at rock-bottom rates.

That means American small businesses:
•Can’t compete on price with cheap imports
•Pay extra to sell internationally
•Get zero protection in their own market

It’s a one-way trade street.

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

Somebody check #Mahomes’ controller—looks like he’s stuck on ‘random throw’ mode.

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

@getnickwright what are drinking today? seems like #mahomes cool aid is running out! ok bud?

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

Even the refs watching #Mahomes and thinking, ‘Yeah, we can’t fix that one.’

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

#Mahomes’ accuracy today brought to you by Apple Maps.

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

#mahomes playing like he bet on the other team today.

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

#mahomes refs can’t save you today

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

#mahomes looking like a deer with damn headlights!

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

The next wave of successful entrepreneurs won’t be software developers. They’ll be distributors, content creators, and community builders—because software is already building itself.

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

The de minimis loophole closing will sting, but don’t expect Temu & Shein to vanish. As long as they can airlift inventory from China in weeks instead of floating it over in months, they’ll keep playing the fast-fashion game better than anyone else. #tarrifs #deminimis rule

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

Killing the de minimis loophole won’t kill Temu & Shein. Their real edge? Cash velocity. Planes > ships because turning inventory into cash in weeks, not months, keeps factories hooked. Tariffs hurt, but slow cash flow kills. #tariffs #deminis

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

Oh, Canada… trying to play economic tough guy while still borrowing sugar from the U.S. 😂🇨🇦➡️🇺🇸

Canada slapping tariffs on the U.S.?
That’s like a chihuahua barking at a bear—cute, but pointless! 🐕🐻💀
They rely on the U.S. for everything and still talk tough?
It’s like your little brother threatening to move out while still asking for lunch money! 🏠💵😂

Canadian economy without U.S. trade?
Congrats, you just turned Toronto into a moose farm and Vancouver into a very polite ghost town! 👻🦌😂
Canada trying to retaliate on trade?
What are they gonna tax? Maple syrup? Moose saddles? Apologies?? 🍁🦌😂

Slapping tariffs on the U.S. while being 75% dependent on American imports?
That’s like unplugging your own fridge to make a point… enjoy the warm milk, bud! 🥛💀😂
They talk big, but the moment the U.S. taxes Canadian lumber, they start crying in French AND English! 🪵😭😂

Canada threatening tariffs is like a vegetarian threatening to stop eating burgers—the U.S. doesn’t care, but good luck surviving on poutine alone! 🍟🧀💀
At the end of the day, Canada’s economy needs the U.S. more than Tim Hortons needs caffeine addicts. ☕💰😂

Want me to keep going, or should I let Canada go back to pretending they’re independent? 😆🔥

[Justin Trudeau @JustinTrudeau]

I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border.

In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.

Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

Why don’t Canadians worry about tariffs? Because their biggest export is comedians to Hollywood! 🎤🇺🇸😂

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

Tariffs aren’t the problem—your dependency on cheap labor is. Maybe it’s time to actually invest in American manufacturing instead of just marketing it. 🤷‍♂️

[James Wakira @JamesThePlutus]

🚨 if you are small biz how do you prepare for tarriff increase? —cut dead weight, stack cash, and don’t go panic-buying a ton of inventory unless you wanna be stuck playing warehouse Tetris while your competition pivots and eats your lunch. 💀📉🔥 #SmallBiz #FAFO