In this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Richard Hanania discuss the surprising support for Donald Trump within Silicon Valley, contrasting it with earlier elections. They also explore reasons behind this shift, such as anti-wokeness sentiments, dissatisfaction with left economic policies, and the Democrats' anti-tech stance. beehiiv: Head to https://beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.
The conversation also covers broader societal issues like the impact of religion, American Jews' political tendencies, and the strengths and weaknesses of America's socio-economic systems, and reflects on Elon Musk's political involvement and the rise of conspiratorial thinking in modern politics.
We’re publishing this conversation across Moment of Zen and Upstream since the themes are highly relevant to both shows.
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Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more.
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:19) Silicon Valley's Surprising Support for Trump
(01:20) Silicon Valley's Shift in Political Climate
(03:32) Richard's Political Evolution and Disillusionment
(04:27) Conservative and Liberal Ideologies
(09:03) Human Capital and Political Dynamics
(14:08) Sponsor: Squad | beehiiv | Babbel
(14:16) Religion's Role in Society
(35:25) Historical Context of Anti-Semitism
(36:12) Comparing Prejudices: Gypsies, Asians, and Religious Differences
(36:58) Rationalism vs. Conflict Theory
(38:00) The Role of Villainy in Political Narratives
(39:16) Conspiracies and Enlightenment Values
(41:30) The Impact of Conspiratorial Thinking
(49:43) Jewish Intellectual Influence
(52:09) DEI and Meritocracy in Silicon Valley
(53:56) America's Resilience and Future Challenges
(56:07) Immigration Policies: US vs. Europe
(1:01:44) Future of Political Parties Post-Biden and Trump
(1:07:27) Wrap
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"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg 