"Moment of Zen"

In this episode of "Moment of Zen," hosts Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja delve into the concept of populism and its impact on modern politics. For full shownotes, visit highlight: https://highlightai.com/share/0a17c191-56ca-43f0-b169-614198ecbc29 -- Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg -- SPONSORS: INCOGNI Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MOMENT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/moment SHOPIFY Shopify: Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/cognitive GIVEWELL GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. (Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to support our show.) SQUAD Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- Follow on X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @samoburja (Samo) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @turpentinemedia

In this episode of Moment of Zen, host Rudyard Lynch engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Samo Burja, exploring the breakdown of traditional power structures and drawing parallels between modern times and the religious wars of the 1600s. They delve into topics such as the aftermath of Trump's election victory, the rise of private military companies in Africa, and the evolving dynamics of global power. For full shownotes, visit highlight: https://highlightai.com/share/4f3ff1c4-1c9e-451c-b2d5-54bc06f8a87f -- Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg -- 🎙️ Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes. SPONSORS: SHOPIFY Shopify: Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/cognitive GIVEWELL GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. (Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to support our show.) SQUAD Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- Follow on X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @samoburja (Samo) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @turpentinemedia TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:06) Trump's Election Victory (02:31) The Left's Position & Strategic Analysis:  (04:53) Astroturfing, Emotionality, and Left-Wing Psychology (10:21) The Future of the Internet: Free or Controlled?  (15:21) Government Transparency and Historical Parallels (17:31) Political Structures and Information Processing (18:50) Sponsors: Dealcraft | Squad (20:51) The Changing Political Landscape and Cultural Shifts (21:53) "Blade Runner 1600s" and Societal Changes (23:55) Geopolitical Shifts and the Rise of Private Military Companies (27:21) France's Loss of Influence in West Africa (28:41) Reasons for France's Decline in Africa (30:41) A Class Analysis of Colonialism (36:57) Sponsors: Shopify | Givewell (39:30) Mexico's Co-evolution of Cartels and Politics (40:28) Decentralized States and Elite Enclaves (42:20) The Two Models of Mass Immigration (45:11) Immigration, Demographics, and Political Manipulation (46:28) Host Culture and Psychological Motivations (49:04) The Great Chain of Being, Psychological Assumptions, and Modernity's Problems (50:41) The War on Human Nature and Fragmentation (52:33) Demon Plague Theory and Contagious Madness (53:48) Charles Taylor's A Secular Age  (57:31) Hollywood as Mythology, Cultural Shifts, and the 20th Century's Transformation of the Public Mind (1:00:31) Conclusion & Outro

Noah Smith joins Erik Torenberg to discus the aftermath of Trump's election and discuss the conditions why Kamala Harris lost. For full shownotes visit https://highlightai.com/share/59de7631-50e2-4e47-b135-317b057b8434 -- Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg -- 🎙️ Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes. SPONSORS: SHOPIFY Shopify: Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/cognitive GIVEWELL GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. (Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to support our show.) SQUAD Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- Follow on X: @noahpinion (Noah) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @turpentinemedia --

In this episode, Steve joins the podcast to discuss the current state of the 2024 presidential election, providing insights on polling, election integrity, and potential outcomes for both candidates. He offers a balanced analysis of the race between Trump and Harris, discussing swing states, voter demographics, and possible post-election scenarios. For full shownotes, visit highlight: https://highlightai.com/share/1c755ce8-0c73-44ca-8d14-184a40e37f2d -- Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg -- 🎙️ Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes. SPONSORS: SQUAD Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- Follow on X: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (04:00) Close Elections & Historical Trends (07:40) The Electoral College & Swing States (12:15) Sponsors: Givewell | Squad (13:13) Kamala Harris' VP Choice (17:30) Election Integrity & 2020 Trauma (28:40) Voter ID Concerns & Potential for Fraud (36:50) Predicting the Outcome & Election Night (39:20) October Surprises & Viral Stories (42:50) Trump & Harris: Potential Outcomes of Defeat (52:50) 2028 Candidates & The Future of Politics (59:00) The Rise of Non-Traditional Candidates (1:00:30) Wrap

In this thought-provoking episode, Richard Hanania joins Erik Torenberg to discuss his upcoming book on elite human capital, the future of American politics, and his evolving views on culture war issues. For full shownotes, visit highlight: https://highlightai.com/share/dcd6fdba-6a0c-4fee-bc87-8f855df56a32 -- Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess -- 🎙️ Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes. Subscribe on all platofrms: https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine SPONSORS: SQUAD Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. NOTION Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at https://notion.com/cognitiverevolution GIVEWELL GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to make sure they know you heard about them from us. Follow on X: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @RichardHanania (Richard) @turpentinemedia

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg sits down with Tim Urban, writer of the popular blog Wait But Why, and author of the 2023 book What’s Our Problem? where he offers a framework for thinking about our chaotic political landscape. Tim unpacks the clash between freedom and equality in modern society. He explores how social justice movements and political extremes threaten open dialogue. Urban argues for a return to classical liberal values, challenging listeners to consider: Are we fostering true diversity of thought, or silencing dissent in the name of progress? 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- 🎙️ Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes. Subscribe on all platofrms: https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine -- SPONSORS: GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to make sure they know you heard about them from us. 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast -- Follow on X: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @waitbutwhy (Tim) @turpentinemedia TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:04) Tim Urban Describes the Genesis of his Book (02:11) Why Does Tim Believe Classical Liberalism is the "Least Bad" System? (06:56) The Existential Threat of Today's Technology (07:36) The Anomalous Nature of Our Era (11:44) "What's Our Problem?": A Self-Help Book for Societies (14:15) Trump's "Full-Fledged Demagogue" Presidency (21:22) Summary of the Right & Left's Illiberal Actions (24:13) Mistake Theory vs. Conflict Theory (29:23) Sponsors: Givewell | Dealcraft (37:49) The Debate on Gender Disparities in Tech (41:04) The Size and Power of the Social Justice Fundamentalist Movement (44:20) Sponsor: Squad (45:34) The Tyranny of the 3% (46:55) Two Constitutions: Individual Rights vs. Group Rights (52:34) Unsolved Questions for Tim Urban (56:17) Wrap

Today on Moment of Zen, we're bringing you the second episode of "This Won't Last", the newest show from Turpentine. Keith Rabois, Logan Bartlett, Kevin Ryan, and Zach Weinberg share a rare anecdote about the first venture investment into OpenAI, lay out the bull and bear case for the leading AI companies and discuss regulatory chess games at play in American politics. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- SPONSORS: GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to make sure they know you heard about them from us. 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast -- Follow on X: @eriktorenberg @rabois @kevinryan @loganbartlett @zachweinberg @turpentinemedia TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:25) OpenAI's First Venture Investment (07:40) Foundational AI Talent and OpenAI's Growth (15:59) Sponsors: Squad | Givewell (16:27) OpenAI's Staggering Revenue Projections and Valuation (20:39) AI Model Development and Competition (25:28) Consumer Distribution and OpenAI's Competitive Landscape (29:40) Google's Response and OpenAI's Public Market Potential (32:15) Anthropic's Position and the Safety Debate (34:03) AI Safety Concerns and the Role of the US Military (38:04) The Shift in Perspective on AI and the Military (41:28) Social Media Regulation and the Role of Government (45:18) State-Level Regulation and the Challenges of Online Platforms (51:02) Gambling Regulation and Individual Accountability (55:17) Cryptocurrency and the Global Casino (58:13) Accredited Investor Status and the Downstream Implications of Regulation (101:12) Healthcare Regulation and the Challenges of Risk Assessment (104:29) Individual Accountability and the Trade-Offs of Social Fabric Insurance (107:16) The Limits of Do-Your-Own-Research (1:10:39) The Spectrum of Evidence and the Challenge of Communicating Confidence (1:14:27) A Promise to Return to Healthcare

This episode centers on the alarming issue of declining fertility rates worldwide, examining specific country examples such as Japan, South Korea, and Turkey, and the societal and technological implications of these demographic changes.  Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg explore potential interventions, such as tax breaks for families, and the possibility of extreme measures like state-managed reproduction programs. They also tackle cultural and economic factors influencing fertility and the urgency of addressing this underpopulation crisis to prevent civilizational collapse.  -- 🎙️ Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes. Subscribe on all platforms: https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine -- 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- SPONSORS: GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to make sure they know you heard about them from us. Elevate your investment game with Altea by Alts.co. Discover vetted deals in unconventional asset classes, network with captivating individuals, and indulge in exclusive travel experiences. Ready to invest in pro sports teams or film financing? Apply now at https://www.alts.co/zen and redefine your investment journey. 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast -- Follow on X: @samoburja @eriktorenberg @turpentinemedia TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:37) Demographic Challenges and Fertility Crisis (02:16) Global Fertility Trends and Anomalies (04:13) Fertility Bouncebacks (07:58) The Impact of Modernity on Fertility (09:59) The Unpredictability of Fertility (13:51) The Hopelessness of the Situation (14:12) Future Population Projections and Concerns (17:05) Life Expectancy and Healthspan (17:08) Sponsors: Givewell | DealCraft (18:58) Life Expectancy and Healthspan continued (21:48) Sponsors: Alts | Squad (21:52) Potential Solutions and Interventions (22:33) The Urgency of the Crisis (29:13) The Case for Family Tax Breaks (30:30) The Implications of Declining Fertility Rates (33:17) Urbanization and Population Shifts (35:32) The Future of Industrial Society (37:29) AI and Human Extinction Scenarios (41:02) Cultural and Political Dynamics of Fertility (44:30) The Politics of Underpopulation (50:05) Innovative Solutions to Population Decline (57:46) The Ethics of Genetic Engineering (59:06) Conclusion and Call to Action

Today on Moment of Zen, Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch return for for a mind-bending discussion and deep dive into the concept of "long ripples" — how ideas and events from the distant past continue to shape our present and future in unexpected ways. From Plato's influence on modern political movements to the unforeseen consequences of the Industrial Revolution, this conversation challenges our understanding of historical cause and effect. Are we truly progressing, or are we caught in cycles we fail to recognize? Can we learn from the past, or are we doomed to repeat it in new, technologically-amplified ways? This episode is a rollercoaster ride through time, technology, and human nature, forcing us to reconsider our place in the grand sweep of history.  Both Samo and Rudyard are hosts of Turpentine shows, Live Players and History 102, respectively. CHECK OUT: Live Players: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188 History 102: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 — 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: turpentinenetwork.co — RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes. Apple: https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine — SPONSORS: 💻 Building an enterprise-ready SaaS app? WorkOS has got you covered with easy-to-integrate APIs for SAML, SCIM, and more. Join top startups like Vercel, Perplexity, Jasper & Webflow in powering your app with WorkOS. Enjoy a free tier for up to 1M users! Start now at https://bit.ly/WorkOS-Turpentine-Network 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. — LINKS: Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/ Whatifalthist YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/Whatifalthist — FOLLOW ON X: @eriktorenberg @samoburja @whatifalthist @turpentinemedia — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:15) Exploring Plato's Influence (05:10) Historical Ripples and Convergent Evolution (06:45) The Fall of Civilizations (12:43) Comparing Civilizational Cycles (17:42) The Future of Human Civilization (23:30) Sponsor: Dealcraft (29:02) AI and Genetic Engineering: Potential and Pitfalls (33:30) Pandemic Era Reflections (34:04) Genetic Engineering and Society (34:49) Sponsor: WorkOS | Squad (36:43) 19th Century Misconceptions (39:23) Cycles of Societal Transformation (41:54) Intellectual Decay and Historical Rewriting (44:13) Anthropology and Cultural Studies (46:34) Decline of Western Institutions (53:12) Space Exploration and Technological Decline (1:01:15) Hypernormalization and Social Reality (1:01:49) Wrap

In this thought-provoking episode, repeat guests of MOZ Hannah and Steve (both anonymous) return to debate the controversy surrounding Tucker Carlson's Martyr Made interview with historian Daryl Cooper about World War II. They critically examine Cooper's contentious views on Churchill and Hitler, discussing the dangers of historical revisionism from both the left and the right and its impact on modern political discourse. The conversation explores the fine line between challenging historical narratives and engaging in counterproductive provocation, touching on issues of antisemitism, the political alignment of Jewish Americans, and the broader implications for right-wing politics. — SPONSORS: 🎙️ Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes. Subscribe on all platforms: https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine 💻 Building an enterprise-ready SaaS app? WorkOS has got you covered with easy-to-integrate APIs for SAML, SCIM, and more. Join top startups like Vercel, Perplexity, Jasper & Webflow in powering your app with WorkOS. Enjoy a free tier for up to 1M users! Start now at https://bit.ly/WorkOS-Turpentine-Network 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. — — FOLLOW ON X: @eriktorenberg @turpentinemedia — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:09) Setting the stage for the Tucker Carlson interview controversy (01:10) The core of the controversy: Revisiting World War II narratives (03:00) Holocaust denial vs. edgy revisionism: Analyzing the interview's approach (06:00) The dangers of "transgressive" historical revisionism (10:40) Debunking myths vs. promoting harmful narratives (18:40) Fact-checking Daryl Cooper's claims about World War II (25:10) Sponsor break: WorkOS | Squad (33:30) The broader context: Antisemitism and political discourse (41:30) Examining the political implications for Jewish voters (49:20) The psychology of hate in political movements (57:10) Constructive alternatives to controversial historical revisionism (1:05:00) The self-fulfilling prophecy of antisemitism accusations (1:08:35) Conclusion: Putting the controversy in perspective

Today on Moment of Zen, we're airing a discussion between Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch - two intellectual heavyweights tackling the idea that civilizations may have inherent differences that can alter our understanding of the course of history and politics. Both Samo and Rudyard are hosts of Turpentine shows, Live Players and History 102, respectively. This is a fascinating discussion on threads that bridge Silicon Valley with ancient civilizations like Babylon, the impact of Abrahamic religions, and the idea that societies go through cycles that may upend our current assumptions CHECK OUT: Live Players: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188 History 102: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 — 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: turpentinenetwork.co — RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast — SPONSORS: 💻 Building an enterprise-ready SaaS app? WorkOS has got you covered with easy-to-integrate APIs for SAML, SCIM, and more. Join top startups like Vercel, Perplexity, Jasper & Webflow in powering your app with WorkOS. Enjoy a free tier for up to 1M users! Start now at https://bit.ly/WorkOS-Turpentine-Network 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. 🚀 Elevate your investment game with Altea by Alts.co. Discover vetted deals in unconventional asset classes, network with captivating individuals, and indulge in exclusive travel experiences. Ready to invest in pro sports teams or film financing? Apply now at https://www.alts.co/zen and redefine your investment journey. — LINKS: Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/ Whatifalthist YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/Whatifalthist — FOLLOW ON X: @eriktorenberg @samoburja @whatifalthist @turpentinemedia — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:40) Beginning of Discussion on Civilizational Differences (02:46) Abrahamic vs Non-Abrahamic Societies (07:29) Classical Civilization vs Modern Western Civilization (11:16) Literacy Rates in Ancient Rome (14:48) Pre-modern Feminism and Ancient Greek Society (20:06) Sponsors: WorkOS | Alts (22:08) Continuation After Sponsor Break (26:39) Cycles of Civilization and Political Theory (30:04) Deforestation and Environmental Changes in Ancient Civilizations (32:08) Sponsor: Squad (33:12) Spengler's Theory of Civilizational Rise and Fall (36:53) Archaeology and Museums in Ancient Babylon (38:09) Societal Decline in Ancient Civilizations (40:11) Modern China as a Hybrid Civilization (42:22) New Religions in California (46:40) Machine Worship and Singularity Beliefs (51:10) Regional Differences Within America (54:11) Obscure Civilizations: Nuragic and Khmer (58:03) Wrap

Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith are joined by Dario Amodei, CEO and Co-founder of Anthropic. Dario talks about the economics of AI development, the comparative advantage of AI companies like Anthropic, AI safety, and his stance on California's SB 1047 bill. They also discuss the impacts of AI on global power dynamics, competition between the US and China, and inequality in an AI-powered world. This episode was recorded this week on Turpentine’s show Econ 102. Check it out for more like this: https://open.spotify.com/show/6q7Gn5lP8TTtBPuV1NJSGs?si=8fab4d65ddf5422a — 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: turpentinenetwork.co — RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast — SPONSORS: 💻 Building an enterprise-ready SaaS app? WorkOS has got you covered with easy-to-integrate APIs for SAML, SCIM, and more. Join top startups like Vercel, Perplexity, Jasper & Webflow in powering your app with WorkOS. Enjoy a free tier for up to 1M users! Start now at https://bit.ly/WorkOS-Turpentine-Network 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. — LINKS: Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/ Noahpinion: https://www.noahpinion.blog/ — FOLLOW ON X: @noahpinion @eriktorenberg @anthropicAI @turpentinemedia — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (04:23) Dario's intellectual evolution (06:37) Is Google the Bell Labs of Al? (10:07) Economic moats in Al (12:35) Scaling hypothesis and Al's future (17:05) National security and Al (19:04) Leopold Aschenbrenner's essay (20:33) Al's impact on business models (26:30) Noah's big thesis  (29:51) Sponsors: WorkOS (31:58) Al arms races? (36:17) Al's impact on labor and skill distribution (40:41) Sponsor: Babbel | Squad (44:35) Future of Al and a hyperscaling world (41:42) A vision of radical abundance (49:55) Al safety and inequality (54:06) The SB 1047 debate (58:56) Rabbit alignment problem (01:01:25) Wrap

Joshua Steinman, former military officer who served as Deputy Assistant to President Trump and Senior Director for Cyber (2017-2021), now co-founder of Galvanick, joins Erik Torenberg and AI scout Nathan Labenz for a discussion on the AI arms race. They focus on US-China relations, the rate of AI development, and the global implications of a technological arms race.  Should the US and China work together to prevent a future of AI-powered warfare, or is a conflict inevitable? -- 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/ -- SPONSORS: 💻 Building an enterprise-ready SaaS app? WorkOS has got you covered with easy-to-integrate APIs for SAML, SCIM, and more. Join top startups like Vercel, Perplexity, Jasper & Webflow in powering your app with WorkOS. Enjoy a free tier for up to 1M users! Start now at https://bit.ly/WorkOS-Turpentine-Network 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/zen 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast -- References mentioned: Systems Confrontation and System Destruction Warfare: How the Chinese People's Liberation Army Seeks to Wage Modern Warfare 2024 Global Threat Report | 2024 Cyber Threat Report -- Follow on X: @JoshuaSteinman @eriktorenberg @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:16) Reflections on previous episode (03:31) Discussion on AI and Energy Concerns (05:57) AI Arms Race Concerns and China's Plans (09:49) Distributed Training and Rhetoric (12:10) Ashenbrenner Model and Benefit Sharing (15:54) Josh's Experience with Trump and Media Misrepresentation (18:22) Public Perception of Trump and Media Bias (23:07) Reasons for Disparaging Trump and the Dynamics of Power (28:41) China's Nature and Response to China (31:08) AI Concerns, Energy, and Corporate Power (36:02) Tail Risk, Slaughterbots, and Political Power (38:27) Arms Reduction Treaties and Reality (42:05) Decommissioning Nuclear Weapons and AI Arms Race (45:32) Semiconductor Policy and AI Future (47:35) Slaughterbots, AI Control, and Trust-Building (50:18) Olive Branches and China's Leadership (51:52) Rand Corporation Report and Private Speeches (55:13) The Declining Barriers to Entry in Violence (58:48) Einstein Quote and Nuclear Weapons (1:00:36) Wrap

Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the top challenges Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will have to face in their presidency. They discuss foreign policy, including managing relations with China, reassessing defense contractors, and fostering economic alliances. They also address the inefficiencies in the non-profit sector, energy policy and nuclear power. Erik and Samo release weekly episodes together on the "Live Players" podcast. -- 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- SPONSORS: 💻 Building an enterprise-ready SaaS app? WorkOS has got you covered with easy-to-integrate APIs for SAML, SCIM, and more. Join top startups like Vercel, Perplexity, Jasper & Webflow in powering your app with WorkOS. Enjoy a free tier for up to 1M users! Start now at https://bit.ly/WorkOS-Turpentine-Network 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/zen 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast -- Follow on X: @samoburja @eriktorenberg @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (02:37) Biggest obstacles (05:34) Bureaucratic reform and leaks (11:51) A second Donald Trump term (13:20) Nonprofits (16:02) Sponsors: WorkOS | Babbel (18:27) Curtis Yarvin’s theory of a major US overhaul (27:46) Energy policy and cheap nuclear power (21:40) Foreign policy advice and China (32:19) Sponsor: Squad (33:58) Middle East and Russia foreign policy recommendations (44:06) Restructuring the US Air Force: Focus on drones over manned fighters (46:15) Proposal for special economic zones to boost industrial policy (50:07) Ideas for revitalizing US manufacturing and competing with China

Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez to talk about the company's evolution and the broader crypto landscape. Following Coinbase's public listing and the recent regulatory environment, Armstrong discusses Coinbase's focus on product development, their efforts in Washington D.C., and strategies for increasing global crypto adoption. Armstrong also touches on his venture into biotech with New Limit, the changing media landscape, and the future of economic freedom through decentralized technologies. -- 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- SPONSORS: 💻 Building an enterprise-ready SaaS app? WorkOS has got you covered with easy-to-integrate APIs for SAML, SCIM, and more. Join top startups like Vercel, Perplexity, Jasper & Webflow in powering your app with WorkOS. Enjoy a free tier for up to 1M users! Start now at https://bit.ly/WorkOS-Turpentine-Network 📈 More than 37,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: netsuite.com/102 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/zen 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast -- LINKS: Base: https://www.base.org/ Coinbase Developer Platform: https://cdp.coinbase.com/ New Limit: https://www.newlimit.com/ Farcaster: https://www.farcaster.xyz/ Stand With Crypto: https://standwithcrypto.org/ -- FOLLOW ON X: @brian_armstrong (Brian) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @dwr (Dan) @antoniogm (Antonio) @moz_podcast (MoZ) @turpentinemedia (Turpentine) TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:57) Brian's Current Focus Areas at Coinbase (03:59) Coinbase's Move Towards Decentralization (05:59) Coinbase's Approach to Innovation (11:00) Thoughts on Mass Market Crypto Adoption (15:31) Sponsor: WorkOS | NetSuite (17:44) Crypto's Implications Beyond Payments (23:54) Experiences with Crypto Regulation in DC (28:56) Sponsor: Babbel | Squad  (31:57) Coinbase's Marketing Strategy (35:59) Measuring Economic Freedom and Crypto Adoption (44:52) Origins of New Limit Biotech Company (50:59) Challenges of Shifting from Crypto to Biotech (53:58) Reflections on Dan Romero's Contributions to Coinbase (56:56) Thoughts on Balaji Srinivasan (57:58) Balaji's Insights on Media Landscape (1:00:24) Wrap

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg is joined by Samuel Hammond (@hamandcheese), a senior economist at the Foundation for American Innovation and AI Scout/ Cognitive Revolution podcast host Nathan Labenz (@labenz). From drug innovation to nuclear risk, they discuss the impact of AI on policy and governance, exploring the challenges and opportunities of a Trump vs. Harris presidency. From drug innovation to nuclear risk, they dissect the impact of AI on policy and governance, exploring the challenges and opportunities of a Trump vs. Harris presidency. -- 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj - RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast -- SPONSORS: 💻 Building an enterprise-ready SaaS app? WorkOS has got you covered with easy-to-integrate APIs for SAML, SCIM, and more. Join top startups like Vercel, Perplexity, Jasper & Webflow in powering your app with WorkOS. Enjoy a free tier for up to 1M users! Start now at https://bit.ly/WorkOS-TCR 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/zen 📈 More than 37,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: netsuite.com/102 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- LINKS: Samuel Hammond Essays * The EA case for Trump 2024: https://www.secondbest.ca/p/the-ea-case-for-trump-2024 * AI and Leviathan: Part I: https://www.secondbest.ca/p/ai-and-leviathan-part-i * A Manhattan Project for AI Safety: https://www.secondbest.ca/p/a-manhattan-project-for-ai-safety Books: * Asymmetric Politics: How the New Right Became Resurgent in American Politics by Matthew Grossmann and David Hopkins * The New Class War by Michael Lind * The Great Stagnation by Tyler Cowen * The Singularity Is Near by Ray Kurzweil -- FOLLOW US ON X: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @hamandcheese (Samuel)  @labenz (Nathan) @turpentinemedia (Turpentine) TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (01:08) Samuel's Perspective on Trump: Focus on Innovation (03:54) Nathan's Perspective on Trump: Focus on Tail Risks (07:55) Governing Philosophies and Party Structures (14:53) The Need for Understanding AI on Its Own Terms (20:48) The Potential for AI to Reform the Administrative State (21:38) Sponsor: Babbel | WorkOS (29:34) The Dissonance Between Idealism and Reality (32:33) Sponsor: NetSuite| Squad (37:54) The Potential for a Crisis-Driven AI Policy (48:56) The Case for a Trump Administration in Light of Past Policies (1:13:20) The Risks of an AI Arms Race (1:28:28) The Potential for a Shared AI Future (1:47:56) The Need for a Pause in AI Development (1:57:02) The Limits of Individual Leadership and the Importance of Institutional Change (1:58:17) The Hypothetical Scenario of Trump Ordering a Nuclear Strike (2:02:02) The Need for Outsider Leadership

Today two anonymous friends of the podcast, Indian Bronson and "Hannah" join Erik Torenberg to make their moral case for Donald Trump. They discuss why swapping Kamala Harris for Joe Biden could cause a "reprise of Obama 2012", the immigration restrictionist viewpoint, and the "aesthetic baggage" that often comes along with the radical leaders capable of ushering in change.  🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️1 to 100 | Hypergrowth Companies Worth Joining Every week we sit down with the founder of a hyper-growth company you should consider joining. Our goal is to give you the inside story behind breakout, early stage companies potentially worth betting your career on. This season, discover how the founders of Modal Labs, Clay, Mercor, and more built their products, cultures, and companies. Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/70NOWtWDY995C8qDqojxGw Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1762756034 - Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talks to experts who understand the complicated but not unknowable systems we rely on. You might be surprised at how quickly Patrick and his guests can put you in the top 1% of understanding for stock trading, tech hiring, and more. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mos4VE3figVXleHDqfXOH Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/complex-systems-with-patrick-mckenzie-patio11/id1753399812 -- SPONSORS: 💻 Building an enterprise-ready SaaS app? WorkOS has got you covered with easy-to-integrate APIs for SAML, SCIM, and more. Join top startups like Vercel, Perplexity, Jasper & Webflow in powering your app with WorkOS. Enjoy a free tier for up to 1M users! Start now at https://bit.ly/WorkOS-TCR 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/zen 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- LINKS: Moment of Zen w/ Noah Smith - Case for Biden’s Legacy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntTPeo5ciXo Moment of Zen w/ Hannah and Antonio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwS22WZ4gzY Moment of Zen w/ Richard Hanania - Trump/Biden Predictions with Richard Hanania: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mKjFeUJXOI Upstream with Erik Torenberg - Bryan Caplan on Housing Regulation, Fertility, and Crime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8jeiGz8Qs4 Indian Bronson Substack:  https://indianbronson.substack.com/ Center for American Progress Presentation - America’s Electoral Future: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/americas-electoral-future-3/ Norman Potter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Potter Sam Brinton:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Brinton -- FOLLOW US ON X: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @Indian_Bronson @turpentinemedia (Turpentine) TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (02:55) The Moral Case for Trump (03:05) Kamala Harris and the Biden Administration (04:19) The Role of the American Presidency (05:03) The Problem with Unaccountable Bureaucracy (05:27) The Impact of Voter Preferences on Policy (09:40) The Obama Era and Its Aftermath (11:00) The Case for Trump 2024 (13:04) National Identity (17:24) Sponsor: WorkOS | Babbel (21:20) The Consequences of Unchecked Immigration (28:05) Sponsor: Squad (30:38) The Need for a Common Civic Culture (37:15) Election Legitimacy and Voter Fraud (37:54) Illegal Immigration (39:23) Quality of Life in Different Cities (40:21) Law Enforcement (41:13) Immigration and Labor Force (48:39) Cultural Assimilation and National Identity (50:41) The Aesthetic Baggage of Trump's Character (1:01:28) Historical Context of Bombasity and Violence in American Politics

In today’s episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the potential of Kamala Harris as a presidential nominee, President Biden’s legacy, impact of COVID-19 on the economy and inflation, and the recent shifts in U.S. foreign relations and immigration policies. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️1 to 100 | Hypergrowth Companies Worth Joining Every week we sit down with the founder of a hyper-growth company you should consider joining. Our goal is to give you the inside story behind breakout, early stage companies potentially worth betting your career on. This season, discover how the founders of Modal Labs, Clay, Mercor, and more built their products, cultures, and companies. Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/70NOWtWDY995C8qDqojxGw Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1762756034 - Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talks to experts who understand the complicated but not unknowable systems we rely on. You might be surprised at how quickly Patrick and his guests can put you in the top 1% of understanding for stock trading, tech hiring, and more. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mos4VE3figVXleHDqfXOH Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/complex-systems-with-patrick-mckenzie-patio11/id1753399812 -- SPONSORS: COMMANDBAR | BEEHIIV | BABBEL | SQUAD 🦾 Level up your ineffective website chatbot with CommandBar. CommandBar builds a new type of web assistant which delivers highly personalized responses, real time co-browsing, and can perform actions on behalf of the users. Learn how Hashicorp, Gusto, Freshworks and more use CommandBar at https://commandbar.com/moz Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/torenberg 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- FOLLOW US ON X: @noahpinion (Noah) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @turpentinemedia (Turpentine) -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:17) Kamala Harris's political prospects (05:04) Biden's legacy and presidential impact (14:51) Sponsors: Commandbar | Beehiiv (17:12) COVID-19 vaccine release (16:03) Inflation and economic policies (22:53) Industrial policy and trade (32:26) Sponsor: Babbel | Squad (35:09) Impact of Trump’s presidency (40:19) Afghanistan withdrawal and the role of Trump and Biden (47:20) Ukraine: Biden administration's response (55:48) Biden's big challenge on immigration (59:16) Wrap

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Balaji Srinivasan sits down with Erik Torenberg to discuss the massive vibe shift in Silicon Valley a week after Trump's near-assassination, tech's emerging role as a counter-elite force, why Biden is president NPC, January 6, and the role of the media. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. -- RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️1 to 100 | Hypergrowth Companies Worth Joining Every week we sit down with the founder of a hyper-growth company you should consider joining. Our goal is to give you the inside story behind breakout, early stage companies potentially worth betting your career on. This season, discover how the founders of Modal Labs, Clay, Mercor, and more built their products, cultures, and companies. Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/70NOWtWDY995C8qDqojxGw Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1762756034 - Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talks to experts who understand the complicated but not unknowable systems we rely on. You might be surprised at how quickly Patrick and his guests can put you in the top 1% of understanding for stock trading, tech hiring, and more. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mos4VE3figVXleHDqfXOH Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/complex-systems-with-patrick-mckenzie-patio11/id1753399812 -- SPONSORS: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/torenberg 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. 🦾 Level up your ineffective website chatbot with CommandBar. CommandBar builds a new type of web assistant which delivers highly personalized responses, real time co-browsing, and can perform actions on behalf of the users. Learn how Hashicorp, Gusto, Freshworks and more use CommandBar at https://commandbar.com/moz -- LINKS: Librem 5 Phone: https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/ School of Fish Meme: https://x.com/balajis/status/1489288836349784064 Graph: History is Running in Reverse: https://x.com/balajis/status/1749858089665257497 FBI Lost Count of Number of Informants at Jan 6: https://nypost.com/2023/09/19/fbi-lost-count-of-number-of-informants-at-capitol-on-jan-6-ex-official/ Most important article: https://time.com/5936036/secret-2020-election-campaign/ --- FOLLOW US ON X: @balajis (Balaji) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @turpentinemedia (Turpentine) --- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (01:21) The Vibe Shift in the Tech Industry (02:54) The Tech Counter-Elite (08:01) Tech's Influence on Politics (14:32) Tech's Impact on the Republican Party (20:40) The Democrat Party and the Tech Counter-Elite (26:49) Sponsors: beehiiv | Babbel (29:39) The Core Disagreement: Who Should Run Things? (38:45) The Power Struggle Between the Elite and Counter-Elite (38:49) Sponsors: CommandBar | Squad (40:02) Political Parties as Swarms of Ideologies (49:56) Adapting to a Changing World Order (1:12:41) The Media's Role in Shaping Public Opinion (1:26:48) The Potential for New Cities and Countries (1:41:54) Wrap

In this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss China's energy strategy and its broader geopolitical implications. Contrary to popular belief, China is not aggressively pursuing energy independence but remains reliant on imports despite significant domestic oil production. The conversation delves into China's geopolitical strategy, its military preparedness, and the potential consequences of a conflict over Taiwan. The episode also explores the broader implications of a potential U.S.-China industrial competition and the risks of a bipolar world. - This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talks to experts who understand the complicated but not unknowable systems we rely on. You might be surprised at how quickly Patrick and his guests can put you in the top 1% of understanding for stock trading, tech hiring, and more. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mos4VE3figVXleHDqfXOH Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/complex-systems-with-patrick-mckenzie-patio11/id1753399812 - 🎙️ Second Opinion - A new podcast for health-tech insiders from Christina Farr of the Second Opinion newsletter. Join Christina Farr, Luba Greenwood, and Ash Zenooz every week as they challenge industry experts with tough questions about the best bets in health-tech. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1759267211 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A8NwQE976s32zdBbZw6bv — SPONSORS: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/torenberg --- REFERENCED ARTICLES: “China Isn’t Pursuing Energy Independence” https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/p/china-isnt-pursuing-energy-independence --- LINKS: Samo’s Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/ --- FOLLOW US ON X: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @samoburja (Samo) @turpentinemedia (Turpentine) --- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (01:46) China's Domestic Oil Production (03:00) Energy Independence and Geopolitical Strategy (04:00) Comparing US and China Energy Policies (05:13) China's Economic Logic Over Energy Security (06:09) China's Relationship with Iran and Russia (07:55) Modernizing China's Petrochemical Industry (08:33) Advising China on Resource Independence (16:13) Sponsors: beehiiv | Babbel (18:58) China's Strategic Priorities and War Likelihood (22:16) Western Brinksmanship and Misconceptions (29:29) The Role of Manufacturing in Modern Warfare (30:44) The Need for a Massive Industrial Base (33:30) Sponsors: Squad (34:54) China's Strategic Military Preparations (36:57) China's Oil and Resource Capabilities (40:11) The Taiwan Conflict: Economic and Military Implications (52:47) The Future of Global Power Dynamics