Saikat Chakrabarti

Well, I think we've lost that muscle. I think we've totally lost that muscle of how do you actually do the kind of comprehensive planning, the execution of these big projects and the transforming your whole economy. And so I I don't think they thought they weren't trying. They were just doing the normal thing politicians do. Zephyr, there's an example you had wanted to bring up.

Well, I think we've lost that muscle. I think we've totally lost that muscle of how do you actually do the kind of comprehensive planning, the execution of these big projects and the transforming your whole economy. And so I I don't think they thought they weren't trying. They were just doing the normal thing politicians do. Zephyr, there's an example you had wanted to bring up.

Well, first of all, I mean, I do agree that, you know, money in politics is this hugely enervating force, right? But even if we got rid of money in politics and all the other forces that kind of get in the way, I don't think our politicians on their own would do things at the scale. You know, even looking at Texas versus California, yeah, people are billing in Texas because...

Well, first of all, I mean, I do agree that, you know, money in politics is this hugely enervating force, right? But even if we got rid of money in politics and all the other forces that kind of get in the way, I don't think our politicians on their own would do things at the scale. You know, even looking at Texas versus California, yeah, people are billing in Texas because...

In a completely, you know, nothing else going on sort of scenario, there's fewer rules in Texas, it's cheaper to build in Texas, so you build in Texas. But that's not going to build out enough clean energy to make any sort of dent, actually, you know, in the global problem of tackling climate change. I think the money in politics and all that just supports the general focus

In a completely, you know, nothing else going on sort of scenario, there's fewer rules in Texas, it's cheaper to build in Texas, so you build in Texas. But that's not going to build out enough clean energy to make any sort of dent, actually, you know, in the global problem of tackling climate change. I think the money in politics and all that just supports the general focus

feeling that our politicians have and this trend that they've had of trying to do less and less. I think one of the really bad parts of money in politics is that politicians spend all their time calling big donors for money, and they think that's their job. And they're really confused by the job of actually trying to build stuff, you know, or make things happen. Like, there was an interview with

feeling that our politicians have and this trend that they've had of trying to do less and less. I think one of the really bad parts of money in politics is that politicians spend all their time calling big donors for money, and they think that's their job. And they're really confused by the job of actually trying to build stuff, you know, or make things happen. Like, there was an interview with

Hassan Khan, who I worked on the CHIPS Act on Oddbots yesterday, and he was talking about the stuff that actually got in the way of the CHIPS Act, right? And a big part of it was trying to negotiate with all the different special interests and groups that had stuff to say. And he said, that's fine. That's an important part of the process. And again, you know, Europe does this as well.

Hassan Khan, who I worked on the CHIPS Act on Oddbots yesterday, and he was talking about the stuff that actually got in the way of the CHIPS Act, right? And a big part of it was trying to negotiate with all the different special interests and groups that had stuff to say. And he said, that's fine. That's an important part of the process. And again, you know, Europe does this as well.

But there's no real... And they've lost semiconductor manufacturing. Yeah, that's fair. But, you know, but there's no real focus from the up top. There's no political leadership that was saying, we got to get this fab built, right? I was saying that's actually an overwhelming priority here.

But there's no real... And they've lost semiconductor manufacturing. Yeah, that's fair. But, you know, but there's no real focus from the up top. There's no political leadership that was saying, we got to get this fab built, right? I was saying that's actually an overwhelming priority here.

And what happens when you create a political moment that's bigger than any of these forces, you can actually blow past it. And we're kind of seeing that with Trump and tariffs right now. Dark abundance. Yeah, dark abundance. Because, you know... I'm sure all the businesses are calling up Trump right now and being like, what the hell are you doing with these tariffs?

And what happens when you create a political moment that's bigger than any of these forces, you can actually blow past it. And we're kind of seeing that with Trump and tariffs right now. Dark abundance. Yeah, dark abundance. Because, you know... I'm sure all the businesses are calling up Trump right now and being like, what the hell are you doing with these tariffs?

And they're calling all their congresspeople and senators. But Trump's created such a political moment and reality within the Republican Party where you've just got to go along with the tariffs. The Republican congresspeople can say, sorry, this is just too popular in the party. My hands are tied. I've got to go with the president.

And they're calling all their congresspeople and senators. But Trump's created such a political moment and reality within the Republican Party where you've just got to go along with the tariffs. The Republican congresspeople can say, sorry, this is just too popular in the party. My hands are tied. I've got to go with the president.

Yeah, I think it's not just about not pissing people off. I think it's a complete abdication of responsibility of leading. I think it's a lack of realizing that we need new ideas and we need an actual vision for how to do stuff. Because it's not just, you know, groups on the left.

Yeah, I think it's not just about not pissing people off. I think it's a complete abdication of responsibility of leading. I think it's a lack of realizing that we need new ideas and we need an actual vision for how to do stuff. Because it's not just, you know, groups on the left.

Like, I went to a training when I was in Congress that was a training on how to get ideas from corporate lobbyists, right? I tweeted about it and I pissed off some people. But it's really hard to push new ideas.

Like, I went to a training when I was in Congress that was a training on how to get ideas from corporate lobbyists, right? I tweeted about it and I pissed off some people. But it's really hard to push new ideas.