Notes | What is the Recap?

4 hours ago
4 min read

Commentary - not advice. See Disclaimers.

The Recap is a structured, markets intelligence brief designed to offer clarity and save you time. It is personally vetted and written by a research analyst and discusses important macroeconomic and geopolitical topics. The Recap will generally be published on Tuesday and Friday evenings (Pacific Time).

August 11, 2026

By Edward von der Schmidt

INTRODUCTION:

Following the events and stories that move markets and shape our world can be a daunting exercise. We are flooded with information from various sources. It can be difficult to follow what is going on or to determine what is true, let alone to capture subtlety or to find the forest among the trees (see Truth and Contention).

The Datum Research Recap was created to provide a transparent, reliable starting point that respects your intellect and your time. Here is our methodology and a breakdown of the structure so that you know what goes into each report.

METHODOLOGY:

For each Recap, I typically read 100-150 articles across the Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg, and the Wall Street Journal. I review their digital publications while focusing on markets, economics, politics, technology, and world affairs. In addition to taking notes, I log the headlines for potentially relevant or informative articles.

I regularly watch or listen to five news broadcasts for additional context. These are PBS News Hour, NHK Newsline, DW News, BBC World News America, and France 24.

When possible, I consult primary sources directly such as the Federal Reserve and major economic releases. I follow various social media accounts to glean developments I might miss.

The purpose of this exhaustive coverage is to be able to confidently identify and assess ground truths as best I can for often incomplete and evolving narratives. I also want to understand how stories are prioritized and presented from different viewpoints on different media.

After taking notes and compiling sources, I draft representative headlines for the key events and themes that I believe you should be aware of based on my assessment of their relative significance as well as my perspective and experience. I distill the core facts as I see them for each topic.

I proceed to an analysis of what might be inferred from the source material or else may be pertinent to the topic at hand. I may provide more subjective or speculative observations that might not necessarily follow from the facts or arguments outlined but rather reflect my own judgment and interpretations.

I make an effort to verify and qualify information and consider various perspectives. I iteratively review and refine as I draft. I try to adhere to the principles and guidelines in the Datum Research Analytical Process (see DRAP v1.2 Is (Probably) Not for You).

While I may use AI tools to analyze my work or to help with processing tasks (e.g. video captioning), I do not use these models to read, write, or create content for me. What you find in the Recap is researched and composed by a person.

STRUCTURE:

The Recap begins with high-level takeaways from each section: Headlines, Markets & Economies, and Additional Items. I will typically analyze one or two topic areas per section.

"Headlines" concern the major events or narratives affecting the macro environment. "Macro" here refers to broader currents guiding global markets as opposed to specific industries or products. Headline topics might cover geopolitical conflicts, domestic policies, international events, or other focal points.

"Markets & Economies" will discuss notable index and price moves, monetary policy signals and shifts, data releases, and similar subjects with a non-exclusive emphasis on the United States.

"Additional Items" include macro-adjacent news and themes that could be worth keeping on your radar.

Each topic begins with a statement that is meant to be an objective overview. These topic headlines are written to help you quickly find your bearings, not to grab your attention.

The "CONTEXT" bullet points provide the two or three most salient facts (in my estimation) to bring you up to speed and establish common ground. This list is not comprehensive - the sources and further reading as well as relevant personal knowledge are the basis for my observations.

The "ANALYSIS" section draws core inferences from the context, source material, and applicable domain expertise (if any). Here, I outline reasoned arguments as well as useful background information.

While I try to be measured, my interpretation of events and narratives and even facts will invariably reflect my own limited understanding and perspective. Analysis will naturally include subjective elements even when grounded.

The "VIEW" is an extension of the preceding analysis and is admittedly more subjective or speculative. This includes my read, which might not directly follow from the source material or analysis. My opinions might stem from professional experience or personal impressions and should not be considered factual (even on the occasions where I am proven correct).

The curated "SOURCES" list includes the main references for each topic, some of which may link to other articles or resources used to inform my understanding and analysis. These are vetted entry points for you to explore topics in greater detail and should save you time that might otherwise be spent searching. "FURTHER READING" includes associated or briefly-mentioned subjects for your reference.

"TAGS" are an experimental feature and subject to change. We are approaching a world where autonomous software ("agents") may consume our research and analysis on your behalf. The Recap attempts to anticipate this shift by organizing the brief into modular components with clear headings and relational metadata while preserving the clean prose and flow intended for people.

SUMMARY:

The Recap is intentionally and thoughtfully constructed to maximize signal and minimize the time and effort required to read it. In as little as five minutes, you could be better prepared for an ever-changing macro environment and have an idea of where to look next. You should also know that the information in front of you has been prepared by a professional who respects your time and wants to help you get going - quickly.

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THIS IS NOT ADVICE - financial, investment, or otherwise.