Great post (as usual). I’m with you on Gavin Newsom’s podcast — not particularly a fan of any of them, but the more long form conversational content we get, the better.
Too many people in the world form their opinions based on tweets and 60 second videos that are usually deigned to maximize algorithm engagement. That can’t possibly be a good thing.
“And when any one party starts to run away with it, we start to see very shitty ideas become very shitty policies.”
Run away with what, the narrowest margin of Republican Congressional control since 1914?
Give Banana Republicans enough rope so they can hang themselves. As it is, the Republican Majority Leader of the House is asking his colleagues not to host town halls. How does this auger for the 2026 mid-term elections? The exposed level of carelessness and incompetency of Musk and his Muscovites in re firings and invasion of citizens’ privacy? The mainstream criticism cant is “don’t underestimate Musk.” I think Musk over-estimates himself. Musk is epistematic trespass of epic proportions. He’s laboring under the false notion that government can be run like a business. Nothing new here. Many arrogant archetypes pre-date Musk.
The USA is effectively a one-party democrat state at the elite level (500k+ income + all_academia + silicon valley + federal_gov employees ).
All these institutions have effectively collapsed in terms of their effectiveness and trust in these institutions is lower than they ever have been in the history of the USA. Something to ponder
I always find it interesting when people can't see the inexorable decline western civilization is on. Most of europe doesn't even have positive GDP growth anymore. And the USA's gdp growth is sluggish as well. Seems mostly deficit spending at this point.
"Think of it like (and I mean really visualize it) Howard Stern, Bill Simmons, Jim Kramer and Jason Calacanis banging each other..."
jfc. there is not enough eye/brain bleach in the known universe to offset this image.
Great post (as usual). I’m with you on Gavin Newsom’s podcast — not particularly a fan of any of them, but the more long form conversational content we get, the better.
Too many people in the world form their opinions based on tweets and 60 second videos that are usually deigned to maximize algorithm engagement. That can’t possibly be a good thing.
“And when any one party starts to run away with it, we start to see very shitty ideas become very shitty policies.”
Run away with what, the narrowest margin of Republican Congressional control since 1914?
Give Banana Republicans enough rope so they can hang themselves. As it is, the Republican Majority Leader of the House is asking his colleagues not to host town halls. How does this auger for the 2026 mid-term elections? The exposed level of carelessness and incompetency of Musk and his Muscovites in re firings and invasion of citizens’ privacy? The mainstream criticism cant is “don’t underestimate Musk.” I think Musk over-estimates himself. Musk is epistematic trespass of epic proportions. He’s laboring under the false notion that government can be run like a business. Nothing new here. Many arrogant archetypes pre-date Musk.
US should've boosted LNG exports years ago. The reason why Qatar is rich AF is because of LNG. https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/fae4ec29-20be-4cc0-9034-b870c9188cd1_1244x726.png
10 years ago, shale oil producers were flaring natural gas, wasting valuable energy and increasing emissions https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=26632
The USA is effectively a one-party democrat state at the elite level (500k+ income + all_academia + silicon valley + federal_gov employees ).
All these institutions have effectively collapsed in terms of their effectiveness and trust in these institutions is lower than they ever have been in the history of the USA. Something to ponder
I always find it interesting when people can't see the inexorable decline western civilization is on. Most of europe doesn't even have positive GDP growth anymore. And the USA's gdp growth is sluggish as well. Seems mostly deficit spending at this point.
Furthermore, if you take out government spending from the GDP figures, the USA has seen negative gdp growth for a long time now.
Which tracks with the middle class lived experience.
The USA was far more dynamic, innovative, pre the 1970s.
We are in a really really bad place long-term. And this is why Trump won.