The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: Derek Thompson on Abundance and a New Political Order
Mar 18, 2025
Derek Thompson, senior editor at The Atlantic and co-author of Abundance, joins Renée DiResta and Kevin Frazier for a thought-provoking conversation. They explore innovative funding strategies for scientific progress and how technology could reshape political structures. The discussion highlights the need for new political approaches to tackle issues like housing and public health, criticizing stagnant liberal ideologies. They also delve into AI's role in society, examining its implications and the necessity for effective housing reforms to foster individual freedoms.
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Need for a Strong Opposition
- America needs a strong, popular opposition to counter the right-wing movement.
- The current opposition, however, is weak and often incompetent where it governs.
The Importance of Housing
- Housing affordability is crucial for solving America's affordability crisis, as it's the largest spending segment.
- Current processes at the state and local levels hinder housing markets from responding to demand with supply.
Shift in Liberalism
- A shift in liberalism from the 1960s to 1970s led to a focus on blocking development rather than building.
- This shift, while achieving some good, created a housing shortage and other infrastructural deficits.