Slate Daily Feed Slate Money | Good Riddance to Larry Summers
Nov 22, 2025
Larry Summers resigns amid troubling revelations about his communications with Jeffrey Epstein, prompting discussions about his controversial past. The hosts dive into the complexities of Big Tech regulation, exploring recent antitrust challenges faced by Meta and questioning the efficacy of current regulations. They also dissect the state of the AI market, weighing whether the current investment surge signifies a bubble or genuine innovation, while pondering its implications for the economy.
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Summers' Post-Scandal Emails With Epstein
- Emily Peck recounts Larry Summers emailing Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein's 2018 exposure and jail time.
- Summers sought Epstein's advice about pursuing a female mentee, which Peck and the Harvard Crimson found appalling.
Smart In Debate, Weak At Leadership
- Felix Salmon questions Summers' legendary intellect versus public mistakes.
- Salmon says Summers excels at demolishing ideas in debate but often fails at consensus-building and practical leadership.
Blog Slapback And Summers' Thin Skin
- Felix describes being fired after posting a mocking blog headline comparing Summers' reputation to 'Pig Shagger Jones.'
- He uses this story to illustrate Summers' thin skin and history of trying to silence critics.