Rutger Bregman

In the fight against injustice, winning is a moral duty. So you've got to recognize that building coalitions is absolutely essential to getting things done. And that is something, again, that leftists and progressives today really need to understand. I mean, I was posting on social media about, you know, the great speech that Cory Booker gave.

In the fight against injustice, winning is a moral duty. So you've got to recognize that building coalitions is absolutely essential to getting things done. And that is something, again, that leftists and progressives today really need to understand. I mean, I was posting on social media about, you know, the great speech that Cory Booker gave.

And then the comments are full of people, well, actually, he's like pro-Israel. And like, well, look, people, we can keep going on like this, you know, in our little bubbles. But that's really not the way... how we win next time. So if you look at the abolitionist movement, initially it was mainly driven by these Quakers who were very weird.

And then the comments are full of people, well, actually, he's like pro-Israel. And like, well, look, people, we can keep going on like this, you know, in our little bubbles. But that's really not the way... how we win next time. So if you look at the abolitionist movement, initially it was mainly driven by these Quakers who were very weird.

You know, they had this deep belief in the equality of people. They believe that there's something of God in each and every one of us. So they were also the first who allowed women actually to speak in their meeting houses, their churches. And they didn't get much done, to be honest, because they weren't taken seriously. It was only when they started working together with the evangelicals

You know, they had this deep belief in the equality of people. They believe that there's something of God in each and every one of us. So they were also the first who allowed women actually to speak in their meeting houses, their churches. And they didn't get much done, to be honest, because they weren't taken seriously. It was only when they started working together with the evangelicals

that it really became a juggernaut for change. Now these people, you know, they had to bite their tongue quite often, actually, because they disagreed on so many things. But that's what it means to be morally serious.

that it really became a juggernaut for change. Now these people, you know, they had to bite their tongue quite often, actually, because they disagreed on so many things. But that's what it means to be morally serious.

Yeah, it's really a totally different zeitgeist. I mean, I was a millennial writing, indeed, my first book and being mainly frustrated by the fact that politics, and maybe particularly so in the country where I was growing up, in the Netherlands, had become so boring. It didn't seem like we had big utopian visions anymore.

Yeah, it's really a totally different zeitgeist. I mean, I was a millennial writing, indeed, my first book and being mainly frustrated by the fact that politics, and maybe particularly so in the country where I was growing up, in the Netherlands, had become so boring. It didn't seem like we had big utopian visions anymore.

Every milestone of civilization, the end of slavery, democracy, equal rights for men and women. I mean, all these things were utopian fantasies once. And I was like, well, what's the next thing, right? Can we abolish poverty maybe with the universal basic income? Can we move towards a much shorter working week? Like, come on, give me a bigger vision. And yeah, I guess I got what I wished for.

Every milestone of civilization, the end of slavery, democracy, equal rights for men and women. I mean, all these things were utopian fantasies once. And I was like, well, what's the next thing, right? Can we abolish poverty maybe with the universal basic income? Can we move towards a much shorter working week? Like, come on, give me a bigger vision. And yeah, I guess I got what I wished for.

But it's been moving a little bit in the other direction. I think that still the arguments holds that very often idealists mainly know what they're against. You know, they're against Trump. They're against autocracy. They're against austerity. They're against the establishment. But what are we actually for?

But it's been moving a little bit in the other direction. I think that still the arguments holds that very often idealists mainly know what they're against. You know, they're against Trump. They're against autocracy. They're against austerity. They're against the establishment. But what are we actually for?

Yes, sure.

Yes, sure.

Oh, that's a good question. Like, what are the big utopian visions? A couple of things. So, obviously, I believe we can totally abolish poverty. Like, we're more than rich enough right now, especially with the rise of AI. And I think we should use the bounty of AI and distribute it equally. That will be a dividend for all of us. It's a little bit like what Alaska has been doing since the 80s.

Oh, that's a good question. Like, what are the big utopian visions? A couple of things. So, obviously, I believe we can totally abolish poverty. Like, we're more than rich enough right now, especially with the rise of AI. And I think we should use the bounty of AI and distribute it equally. That will be a dividend for all of us. It's a little bit like what Alaska has been doing since the 80s.

Oh, the sovereign wealth fund? Yes, exactly. So they recognize that the oil in the ground is owned by everyone in Alaska, right? And so they've been giving a basic income to everyone ever since. And I think we should do that in many other respects as well. And yeah, I think we should revive the dream of moving towards a much shorter working week as well.

Oh, the sovereign wealth fund? Yes, exactly. So they recognize that the oil in the ground is owned by everyone in Alaska, right? And so they've been giving a basic income to everyone ever since. And I think we should do that in many other respects as well. And yeah, I think we should revive the dream of moving towards a much shorter working week as well.