Hub Podcasts The kids are not alright
Nov 15, 2025
The podcast dives into youth discontent, exploring whether economic pressure or cultural factors are the root cause. Young conservatives voice concerns over financial struggles rather than cultural issues. Peter Thiel argues that the promise of meritocracy has failed due to institutional stagnation. The discussion highlights a growing discontent stemming from stalled mobility and how freeing markets and removing barriers could restore hope and opportunity. Ultimately, it advocates prioritizing economic growth over cultural conflicts to address youth grievances.
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Bourgeois Revolt Explained
- Many young people feel radicalized because material pressures warped their expectations of adulthood.
- They kept bourgeois virtues but found the system didn't deliver jobs, homes, or mobility.
Meritocracy's Broken Promise
- Peter Thiel and others say meritocracy promises broke down as incumbency rewards winners.
- Young people followed credential rules but landed in stagnant jobs with limited upward mobility.
Misreading The Cause
- The malaise is often misdiagnosed as purely cultural when it's largely economic.
- Much of the economy is non-competitive with protected incumbents, so this isn't laissez-faire failure.