In this engaging conversation, Steve Case, co-founder of AOL and author of "Rise of the Rest," reflects on the internet's evolution since the 1990s. He shares insights from his book, emphasizing the potential for entrepreneurship to flourish outside major tech hubs. Case and Kara discuss the disparities in venture capital distribution and propose solutions for fostering innovation in underserved communities. They also examine the challenges faced by tech companies today and consider ways to bridge the growing political divides affecting economic growth.
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Case's Early Prediction
Kara Swisher and Steve Case share a long history, going back to the early 1990s when Swisher first covered AOL for the Washington Post.
Case, then a relatively unknown entrepreneur, made a bold prediction about buying Time Warner, which Swisher initially dismissed.
insights INSIGHT
AOL Time Warner: Vision vs. Execution
AOL Time Warner's failure, despite its visionary potential, highlights the importance of execution alongside vision.
Steve Case reflects on the merger's disappointment, citing missed opportunities in broadband and digital integration.
insights INSIGHT
Unintended Consequences of Connectivity
While the internet has connected millions, unintended consequences like filter bubbles and echo chambers have emerged.
Steve Case notes the disappointment of filter bubbles contrasting with the initial goal of fostering diverse voices and perspectives online.
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Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement
Megan Twohey
Jodi Kantor
She Said is a thrilling account of the investigative journalism that led to the exposure of Harvey Weinstein's decades-long history of sexual abuse and harassment. Written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the book chronicles their meticulous investigation, including secret meetings, harrowing phone calls, and private text exchanges with A-list actresses and other sources. It also explores the systemic structures of power that enabled Weinstein's behavior and the broader impact of the #MeToo movement, including the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford against Brett Kavanaugh. The book is praised for its detailed and suspenseful narrative, offering insights into the rigorous process of quality reporting and the significant cultural shifts it helped catalyze.
Rise of the West
William H. Mcneill
In this book, McNeill challenges the Spengler-Toynbee view that separate civilizations developed independently. Instead, he argues that human cultures have interacted at every stage of their history, with major social changes triggered by new or newly important foreign stimuli. The narrative is divided into three parts: the beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia to 500 B.C., the cultural balance of Eurasia from 500 B.C. to 1500 A.D., and the era of Western dominance since 1500 A.D. McNeill highlights the interplay between cultural, political, and economic factors of each civilization and how they influenced each other. The book also includes a retrospective essay where McNeill discusses how his work was shaped by the time it was written and suggests revisions based on subsequent developments in historiography[2][4][5].
Kara and Steve Case go back — way back, to the 1990s. She was a young Washington Post reporter covering a new thing called “the Internet” … and he was a co-founder of the company that became AOL. In this conversation, they take a walk back through time to look at how far the world has come and where tech companies have stumbled or fallen flat. They discuss Case’s new book, “Rise of the Rest,” which offers an optimistic future for the expansion of entrepreneurship and innovation beyond a handful of places like Silicon Valley, Boston and New York City. They also discuss whether a more equitable distribution of economic growth is possible, given some of the nation’s political divides — and potential solutions for bridging those divides.
Before the interview, Kara and Nayeema talk about the newsmakers of the day, including Theranos founder, Elizabeth Holmes, who is seeking a new trial, and the deep pockets of “anti-woke” investors in Silicon Valley including, of course, Peter Thiel. As always, Kara offers unsolicited advice.
Do you want some (solicited) advice from Kara? Call 1-888-KARA-PLZ and leave a message.
You can find Kara and Nayeema on Twitter @karaswisher and @nayeema.
On with Kara Swisher 
