Charlie Warzel, a writer for The Atlantic and Substack's Galaxy Brain, joins for a thought-provoking chat about the evolving dynamics of Trump's support base. He discusses the unsettling state of American democracy and the cracks appearing in voter loyalty due to recent policies. The conversation touches on the financial investor mindset behind political support, the toxic influence of media figures, and the chaotic nature of modern political discourse. Along the way, they humorously reflect on societal issues and the absurdity of current narratives.
01:02:11
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Democracy Crisis Feels Distant
The survival of American democracy feels precarious but not imminent to most Americans who aren't paying attention.
The political crisis seems overwhelming to those immersed but less tangible to the everyday person outside the core networks.
insights INSIGHT
VCs Treat Politics Like Investments
Silicon Valley elites treat political support as a portfolio investment where reputational risk matters.
They hedge bets and cut losses on Trump when his policies threaten their financial interests.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Dave Portnoy's Tariff Week Saga
Dave Portnoy lost $7 million on stocks and crypto amid the tariff panic but still publicly interacts with Trump.
His reactions reveal the volatile and performative nature of some MAGA base influencers.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'Project Hail Mary', Ryland Grace, a high school science teacher, awakens on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there or his mission. He soon discovers that he is the sole survivor of a desperate mission to save Earth from a microorganism called the Astrophage, which is threatening to cause a new ice age. As Ryland regains his memories, he encounters an alien named Rocky, and together they work to solve the scientific mystery and save their respective home planets. The story blends science, humor, and heart, exploring themes of survival, discovery, and unlikely friendships[1][3][5].
The Origins of Woke
Civil Rights Law, Corporate America, and the Triumph of Identity Politics
Richard Hanania
In this book, Richard Hanania presents a theory that the rise of 'woke' views in the US is primarily driven by legal rules and legislation, particularly those related to civil rights and affirmative action, rather than by ideological or cultural shifts. He argues that these laws have forced major institutions, including corporations and educational bodies, to conform to certain standards, leading to the widespread adoption of identity politics. Hanania also provides a roadmap for how these legal and institutional changes could be altered to reduce the influence of identity politics. The book offers a detailed historical and legal analysis of how these changes have shaped American society and culture[1][4][5].
Last time we had Charlie Warzel on, it was to determine whether the insurrection had been a political success. Now, 100+ days into Trump 2.0, he joins us again to answer some simple questions: Should we be worrying about the survival of American democracy now? And also, with the fallout from tariffs revealing the first cracks in Trump’s base, is this whole thing good for anyone? Plus, are we ready for Dave Portnoy 2028?
Our guest Charlie Warzel is a writer for The Atlantic and for his Substack, Galaxy Brain (https://warzel.substack.com/). You can follow him there or @cwarzel on X and Instagram, or @cwarzel.bsky.social.
Want even more Panic World content? Like ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to the Garbage Day Discord? Sign up for just five bucks a month at: https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld.
Sponsors
Want to sponsor Panic World? Ad sales & marketing support by Multitude, hit them up here: http://multitude.productions.
Panic World 
