8/8/23: $1 Trillion Landlord Bomb, Housing Prices Skyrocket, Partisan Split On Gov Power, Dem Threatens Biden Challenge, Biden Tanks With Young Voters, Holy Grail Of Fusion Energy, Zoom Ends Remote Work, Saudis Drive Up Gas Prices, And MORE!
In this episode, Krystal and Saagar cover a range of interesting topics, including the impending landlord financial bomb, skyrocketing housing prices, the growing partisan divide on government power, a potential Biden challenger from the Democratic party, Biden's struggle with young voters, a breakthrough in fusion energy generation, Zoom ending remote work, Saudis driving up gas prices, and a key election on abortion rights in Ohio.
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Quick takeaways
Housing prices are increasing rapidly, creating a financial bomb for landlords.
There is a partisan split on government power, with growing support for universal healthcare.
Congressman Dean Phillips advocates for more competition in the next presidential nominating contest.
Deep dives
Push to End Remote Work for Federal Government Employees
President Biden is urging federal government employees to return to working in their offices, signaling a shift away from remote work that has been in place for years. The move comes amid pressure from Republicans in Congress, who blame remote work for delays and backlogs, while Democrats, advocacy groups, and unions argue that remote work is a valuable tool for recruiting and retaining staff.
Concerns Over Vacant Office Spaces in Washington, D.C.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is calling on the White House to take action to get federal workers back in their offices in order to revitalize the city's economy. With many federal employees working remotely or in hybrid setups, office spaces throughout the city are left vacant, causing economic strain. The mayor suggests repurposing these spaces for other uses if federal workers continue to work remotely.
Zoom Calling Employees Back to the Office
Video conferencing platform Zoom, which has seen a surge in popularity during the pandemic, is now requiring its employees to work in the office at least two days a week. This move signals a shift away from remote work and toward a hybrid approach. While some companies have embraced remote work, Zoom's decision highlights the growing push for employees to return to in-person work environments.
Debate over the Impact of Remote Work on Productivity
Research on the impact of remote work on productivity has produced mixed results. While some studies initially showed increased productivity among remote workers, more recent research suggests that remote work may actually lead to decreased productivity. However, it is important to consider that remote work offers employees greater flexibility and can contribute to higher job satisfaction, which is a crucial factor for many workers.
Healthcare: Growing Support for Government Guarantee
According to recent polling data, the percentage of Democrats who believe the government should guarantee healthcare for everyone has risen to 85%, while Republicans have also seen an increase to 30%. This trend over the past decade suggests a growing consensus for universal healthcare. Surprisingly, even among Democrats who were skeptical of free trade deals, the numbers show strong support for government-backed healthcare.
Democratic Congressman's Call for Competition in Presidential Nominating Contest
Congressman Dean Phillips, a centrist Democrat from Minnesota, is advocating for more competition in the next presidential nominating contest. He believes that Democrats should not have a coronation but rather a competition, highlighting a New York Times poll that shows 55% of Democratic voters wanting alternatives to the current primary contenders. While Phillips himself is not ruling out the possibility of running, his main message is to encourage well-positioned candidates with good character and competency to jump into the race. This call for competition aims to address concerns about limited choices and to promote a more vibrant democratic process.
Krystal and Saagar discuss a massive impending landlord financial bomb, housing prices skyrocketing, partisan split grows on government power, Democratic representative threatens Biden challenge, RFK and Marianne crush Biden with young voters, potential holy grail of fusion energy breakthrough, Zoom ends remote work, Saudis drive up oil prices, and a key election on abortion rights in Ohio.