Derek Thompson

and much of my writing is an attempt to do a little bit of a very specific dance. Ezra touched on this, I think, really beautifully. We're in an era right now of anti-institution politics, anti-establishment politics. And Democrats are at risk right now as being seen as the party that always defends institutions, the party that always defends the establishment status quo. And that is...

and much of my writing is an attempt to do a little bit of a very specific dance. Ezra touched on this, I think, really beautifully. We're in an era right now of anti-institution politics, anti-establishment politics. And Democrats are at risk right now as being seen as the party that always defends institutions, the party that always defends the establishment status quo. And that is...

and much of my writing is an attempt to do a little bit of a very specific dance. Ezra touched on this, I think, really beautifully. We're in an era right now of anti-institution politics, anti-establishment politics. And Democrats are at risk right now as being seen as the party that always defends institutions, the party that always defends the establishment status quo. And that is...

an absolute death knell, I think, for this century's angry anti-establishment politics. So what we're trying to do is essentially say, here's a way to channel the anger that people have at the establishment, but toward our own ends, right?

an absolute death knell, I think, for this century's angry anti-establishment politics. So what we're trying to do is essentially say, here's a way to channel the anger that people have at the establishment, but toward our own ends, right?

an absolute death knell, I think, for this century's angry anti-establishment politics. So what we're trying to do is essentially say, here's a way to channel the anger that people have at the establishment, but toward our own ends, right?

We believe that we have answers on housing and energy and high-quality governance and science and technology, really good answers that are fiercely critical of the status quo in Democrat-led cities and Democrat-led states. We're trying to be oppositional in a way that's constructive rather than just destructive.

We believe that we have answers on housing and energy and high-quality governance and science and technology, really good answers that are fiercely critical of the status quo in Democrat-led cities and Democrat-led states. We're trying to be oppositional in a way that's constructive rather than just destructive.

We believe that we have answers on housing and energy and high-quality governance and science and technology, really good answers that are fiercely critical of the status quo in Democrat-led cities and Democrat-led states. We're trying to be oppositional in a way that's constructive rather than just destructive.

It's also possible that you're going to find as you try to interview Democratic politicians that the exact same thing that happened with tech CEOs is going to happen among Democratic politicians. You interviewed some tech CEOs and then they did a great job and their friends were like, you were fantastic on the Lex Friedman podcast. That was such a great thing that you said in, you know, minute 97.

It's also possible that you're going to find as you try to interview Democratic politicians that the exact same thing that happened with tech CEOs is going to happen among Democratic politicians. You interviewed some tech CEOs and then they did a great job and their friends were like, you were fantastic on the Lex Friedman podcast. That was such a great thing that you said in, you know, minute 97.

It's also possible that you're going to find as you try to interview Democratic politicians that the exact same thing that happened with tech CEOs is going to happen among Democratic politicians. You interviewed some tech CEOs and then they did a great job and their friends were like, you were fantastic on the Lex Friedman podcast. That was such a great thing that you said in, you know, minute 97.

And then there becomes a bit of a meme that you can create really high value moments for yourself if you appear on Lex's podcast. And then it becomes less risky for the next marginal CEO to say yes. And I think right now what we're talking about fundamentally is not physics. It's culture. It's just norms.

And then there becomes a bit of a meme that you can create really high value moments for yourself if you appear on Lex's podcast. And then it becomes less risky for the next marginal CEO to say yes. And I think right now what we're talking about fundamentally is not physics. It's culture. It's just norms.

And then there becomes a bit of a meme that you can create really high value moments for yourself if you appear on Lex's podcast. And then it becomes less risky for the next marginal CEO to say yes. And I think right now what we're talking about fundamentally is not physics. It's culture. It's just norms.

I think there's a fear of low expected value if you're a high ranking Democratic politician and if you do a podcast like this. What if I say the wrong thing and it goes viral and my bookers and my agenda people and myself just feel terrible for the next few weeks because all we see on blue sky and X is just people hating.

I think there's a fear of low expected value if you're a high ranking Democratic politician and if you do a podcast like this. What if I say the wrong thing and it goes viral and my bookers and my agenda people and myself just feel terrible for the next few weeks because all we see on blue sky and X is just people hating.

I think there's a fear of low expected value if you're a high ranking Democratic politician and if you do a podcast like this. What if I say the wrong thing and it goes viral and my bookers and my agenda people and myself just feel terrible for the next few weeks because all we see on blue sky and X is just people hating.

But if you get one interview that goes well, if you talk to Wes Moore, let's say, and there is a five minute segment where he articulates some vision of liberalism in the 2020s that everyone says, my gosh, that is the best possible articulation of what the Democratic Party can stand for the next four years that I've ever heard.

But if you get one interview that goes well, if you talk to Wes Moore, let's say, and there is a five minute segment where he articulates some vision of liberalism in the 2020s that everyone says, my gosh, that is the best possible articulation of what the Democratic Party can stand for the next four years that I've ever heard.