Plain English with Derek Thompson cover image

Plain English with Derek Thompson

Why Are Robocalls So Hard to Stop? (Plus: Kamala and the Gender Wars.)

Aug 2, 2024
Joshua Bercu, the executive director of the Industry Traceback Group, dives into the epidemic of robocalls, revealing that the average American is bombarded with spam calls daily. He explains clever tactics used by scammers, such as neighbor spoofing, which make it hard to trace them back. Bercu also discusses measures taken to battle the spam crisis, like industry collaborations and innovative technologies. Additionally, the conversation touches on Kamala Harris and gender trends in the upcoming election, highlighting the intersection of technology and political polarization.
54:46

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The evolving dynamics of the 2024 presidential election highlight a growing gender divide, significantly impacting voter preferences and party alignment.
  • Robocalls and spam texts pose a massive challenge, yet concerted efforts between industry and government are effectively reducing their frequency through innovative traceback methods.

Deep dives

2024 Election Dynamics

The current landscape of the 2024 presidential election reflects significant shifts, particularly with Kamala Harris emerging as the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party. Polling indicates that Harris is performing better than Joe Biden, transforming what initially appeared to be a clear advantage for Trump into a competitive race. It is crucial to focus on key swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, as these will largely determine the election outcome. While the media tends to fixate on various debates, understanding these state dynamics is paramount for grasping electoral trends.

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