Douglas Rushkoff, a Professor of digital economics and author of 'Survival of the Richest,' dives into the wild world of tech billionaires' survival fantasies and their implications for society. Meanwhile, Jay Graber, CEO of Bluesky, shares her vision for a decentralized social platform that champions user autonomy over traditional profit models. The discussion highlights the tumultuous effects of presidential tariffs on the economy and examines the evolving social media landscape in the wake of major shifts like Musk's Twitter acquisition.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Fake News Impact
A fake news story about a 90-day tariff pause caused a 2,600-point Dow swing.
The White House quickly corrected the misinformation, labeling it "fake news."
insights INSIGHT
Tariff Theory Flaws
Trump's tariff strategy assumes higher import costs will bring manufacturing jobs back.
This ignores technological advancements, potential recession impacts, and harm to consumers.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Tariff Math Confusion
The administration's tariff calculation method, revealed on "Liberation Day," was confusing.
Economists questioned the formula's logic and basis in economic principles.
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This book is a mix of memoir and business advice, detailing Trump's professional and personal worldview. It outlines his approach to deal-making, including his eleven key elements for success, such as 'Think Big,' 'Maximize Your Options,' and 'Have Fun.' The book offers insights into Trump's business strategies, his interactions with various figures, and his approach to negotiating deals. It also provides a glimpse into his personal life and how he runs his organization[1][3][5].
Survival of the Richest
Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires
Douglas Rushkoff
Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
Published in 1957, 'Atlas Shrugged' is Ayn Rand's magnum opus and her longest novel. The story is set in a dystopian United States where increasingly burdensome laws and regulations strangle innovation and productivity. The plot follows Dagny Taggart, a railroad executive, and Hank Rearden, a steel magnate, as they struggle against 'looters' who exploit their work. A mysterious figure named John Galt leads a strike of productive individuals, persuading them to abandon their companies and disappear. The novel culminates with Galt's three-hour radio speech explaining his philosophy of Objectivism, which emphasizes rational self-interest, individual rights, and the importance of the human mind. The book explores themes of capitalism, property rights, and the failures of governmental coercion, presenting a provocative vision of a society in collapse and the potential for a new capitalist society based on Galt's principles.
The president’s on-again, off-again tariffs are wreaking havoc on the economy. On this week’s On the Media, how the press is struggling to keep up with covering the chaos. Plus, the CEO of Bluesky, an alternative to Twitter, shares her vision for a better internet.
[00:00] Host Micah Loewinger breaks down a wild week in the economy–why the press can’t keep up, and what we can learn from the rollercoaster of tariffs the Trump administration has implemented.
[00:00] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Jay Graber, the CEO of Bluesky, a competitor to Twitter/X that’s seen massive growth recently, about how Bluesky is structured in a fundamentally different way than other social media platforms, and why that might make it “billionaire-proof.” Plus, TechDirt founder and editor Mike Masnick documents the surprising role that his wonky paper played in the founding of Bluesky.
[00:00] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with Douglas Rushkoff, whose many books probe the practice and philosophy of digital technology, about whether the apocalypse survival fantasies of tech billionaires are actually viable.
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