Saikat Chakrabarti

And it's in these contexts of a larger society-wide transformation that you're able to do things like change the housing rules. Because housing is a big deal. But if you just do a whole politics around housing, that's not a big enough constituency to call for the huge kind of structural reforms you need across society. You know, in France, for example,

And it's in these contexts of a larger society-wide transformation that you're able to do things like change the housing rules. Because housing is a big deal. But if you just do a whole politics around housing, that's not a big enough constituency to call for the huge kind of structural reforms you need across society. You know, in France, for example,

They built TGV, their national high-speed rail, during their post-war boom. And I know you talk a lot about California high-speed rail, but if you look at how they did that versus how we did California high-speed rail, it was this comprehensive plan where they pitched the country on the whole network. And so because it was this huge network, they planned for all the surrounding industry.

They built TGV, their national high-speed rail, during their post-war boom. And I know you talk a lot about California high-speed rail, but if you look at how they did that versus how we did California high-speed rail, it was this comprehensive plan where they pitched the country on the whole network. And so because it was this huge network, they planned for all the surrounding industry.

They built out universities to train the engineers. They built out rolling car set industries to build the train sets. They built out all the steel industries. And they even planned, this is when they're deploying nuclear power all over France, they planned their nuclear power deployment in a way to make sure they would have the power to power the trains.

They built out universities to train the engineers. They built out rolling car set industries to build the train sets. They built out all the steel industries. And they even planned, this is when they're deploying nuclear power all over France, they planned their nuclear power deployment in a way to make sure they would have the power to power the trains.

And I'd say that whole thing was even made possible because France was in the middle of a larger national renewal where they were building out their whole economy. And Charles de Gaulle even talked about it as a mission for France, actually. But on the flip side, we got California High Speed Rail, where they had this project, which was one line.

And I'd say that whole thing was even made possible because France was in the middle of a larger national renewal where they were building out their whole economy. And Charles de Gaulle even talked about it as a mission for France, actually. But on the flip side, we got California High Speed Rail, where they had this project, which was one line.

And I just think it wasn't big enough to use the political capital of that project to push through the CEQA reforms or whatever other reforms we would need. to make that go faster. Well, they also didn't try.

And I just think it wasn't big enough to use the political capital of that project to push through the CEQA reforms or whatever other reforms we would need. to make that go faster. Well, they also didn't try.

Yeah.

Yeah.

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