Journalist and co-host of ‘Today, Explained’ podcast, Noel King, joins Larry to discuss their new special series on capitalism. They explore political divisions in economic philosophy, America's changing views on democracy and capitalism, the shareholder mentality, rise in property and education costs, and the future of capitalism.
The podcast delves into the political divisions within economic philosophy and the right-wing's shift towards authoritarianism.
The episode examines the societal impact of capitalism, including the shareholder mentality, rising property and education costs, and society's relationship with unions.
The podcast discusses the historical shift in capitalism's perception, including the impact of the financial crisis and the rising frustrations with the economic system.
Deep dives
The Changing Dynamics of Social Media Stardom
The podcast explores the journey to social media fame, highlighting how an Instagram post or a viral TikTok can launch someone into internet stardom. However, it also sheds light on the less glamorous aspects of this kind of fame, challenging the notion that it is always as glamorous as it seems
The Rise of Today Explained: A Fun and Informative Daily News Podcast
The podcast features an interview with a former host of Morning Edition, NPR, who is now a co-host of Today Explained, a daily news show from VOX Media. The podcast delves into the creation and context of Today Explained, describing it as a sound-rich and positive news show that takes the news seriously. It also discusses the importance of providing not just news, but also context and explanations to help listeners understand complex issues.
Unpacking Capitalism and its Impact on Society
The podcast episode explores the evolving perception of capitalism and its ramifications. It references historical moments, such as the financial crisis of 2008-2009, as a turning point when discussions around capitalism began to shift. It delves into the impact of capitalism on the economy, wealth inequality, and the increasing role of government in the market. The episode also touches on the rising frustrations regarding the rising costs of education, the student loan crisis, and the need for reform in the economic system.
The Influence of Milton Friedman's Essay on Woke Capitalism
In the podcast episode, the speaker discusses the influence of economist Milton Friedman's essay in the early 70s, where he argued that companies should focus solely on making money and not be socially responsible. This idea, which opposed woke capitalism, pushed businesses towards prioritizing profits over social causes. The speaker finds it surprising that this opposition to social responsibility in business is not a recent phenomenon, but rather something that has been debated for decades.
The Rise of De-Growth Movement and Critiques of Capitalism
The podcast episode also explores the de-growth movement and the idea of moving away from constant economic growth. The speaker finds the arguments made by de-growth proponents convincing and expresses their own personal shift in lifestyle, such as adopting a vegetarian diet, in response to these ideas. The discussion highlights a potential shift in thinking towards challenging the value of constant growth and proposing alternative economic models.
Larry is joined by journalist and co-host of the ‘Today, Explained’ podcast Noel King to discuss the show’s new special series ‘Blame Capitalism’. They begin by talking about how the project came together, the political divisions within economic philosophy, and the right-wing’s ideological shift towards authoritarianism. Next, they debate America’s changing views on democracy and capitalism throughout the generations while shining a light on the beginnings of the Tea Party movement (15:49). This leads into an examination of the shareholder mentality in today’s marketplace, modern society’s relationship to unions, and the continual rise in the price of property and education (24:25). Noel ends the pod by breaking down the future of capitalism, what she learned while producing the special series, and the social impact of Vivek Ramaswamy’s presidential run (45:27).
