The Portal cover image

30: Ross Douthat - The Rave Before the Fall

The Portal

00:00

Exploring Space, Nostalgia, and Institutional Support

The chapter delves into various topics, including political ferment among conservatives, dissatisfaction among young political writers, Silicon Valley billionaires investing in spaceflight, and the motivations behind Elon Musk's desire to go to Mars. It discusses the idea of rekindling American spirit through space exploration and debates Musk's intentions, questioning if they are genuine or a nostalgic throwback. The conversation also touches on the importance of institutional support in different fields like science, politics, and culture, highlighting the need to challenge denatured expertise and encourage renewal outside of traditional systems.

Transcript
Play full episode

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app