"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg
E3: Ezra Klein on Supply-side Progressivism, Polarization, and What Silicon Valley Misses About Politics
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Supply-side progressivism focuses on increasing essential resources like housing and clean energy for societal advancement.
- Tech industry experiences ideological conflicts between right-leaning founders and traditional tech beliefs.
- Silicon Valley's political factions, including Davos elite, start-up founders, and crypto community, reveal underlying tensions around labor-capital dynamics.
Deep dives
Corporate Leaders and the Politics of Social Media
Some corporate leaders, such as Elon Musk, are noted for their willingness to push social boundaries and challenge conventional norms, leading to a shift in public perception of acceptable behavior. This trend is reflected in the growing success of individuals who display a certain level of unrestrained behavior, emphasizing a departure from traditional social norms and an embrace of controversy, which is becoming more prevalent and potentially advantageous in today's digital era.
Ezra Klein's Approach to Progressive Solutions
Ezra Klein discusses the development of 'supply side progressivism,' an idea that emerged from observing progressive governance in California and the challenges faced in achieving desired outcomes. This approach highlights the importance of focusing on increasing the supply of essential resources, such as housing and clean energy, to address societal issues effectively and achieve progressive goals.
Tech Industry Dynamics: Labor vs. Capital
In the tech industry, a distinct division emerges between a reactionary movement within the right-leaning founder culture and traditional institutional tech beliefs. This stratification stems from a deep-seated conflict between labor and capital, leading to internal power struggles and ideological clashes within tech companies, especially concerning issues of moderation and corporate values.
Polarization and Political Tribes in Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley's diverse political factions navigate ideological territories ranging from the Davos tech elite and start-up founders to the crypto community, each representing distinct interests. The interplay between these tribes reveals underlying tensions around labor-capital dynamics, cultural shifts, and evolving perceptions of power and influence within the tech landscape.
Importance of Agenda Control in Politics
Creating conflicts around economic messages rather than socio-cultural ones can enhance a party's effectiveness. Bernie Sanders' dominance in debates was attributed to his willingness to take unpopular stances, which in turn provided him with agenda control. Having popular positions alone is insufficient without the ability to drive the discussion and make opponents engage, thus highlighting the significance of agenda control in political messaging and strategy.
Media Influence and Political Power
The podcast delves into the impact of media on politics and power dynamics within Silicon Valley. It discusses how personalities like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos wield influence through media ownership and communication platforms. The conversation shifts towards the role of media theorist Neil Postman and the insights from mid-century media theory, emphasizing how mediums shape societal perceptions and individual behaviors.
Ezra Klein, journalist, political analyst, and podcaster, sits with Erik Torenberg to go deeper into the intellectual movement of supply-side progressivism and what Silicon Valley misses about politics. This conversation was recorded in early February 2023, but is even more relevant today. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAM
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Preview of Ezra discussing Elon Musk
(02:16) Unpacking supply side liberalism and the abundance agenda
(07:55) Contrasting Ezra’s Buildism with Marc Andreessen and Tyler Cowen
(12:20) Why we can't build
(16:36) Sponsors: Secureframe | Mercury | MarketerHire
(18:47) Unions
(21:06) Ezra on what Silicon Valley misunderstands about politics
(24:15) Abundance agenda is bipartisan, but will polarize
(27:05) Ezra on immigration and free trade
(31:08) Reinterpreting Ezra’s book Why We’re Polarized in 2023
(34:30) Institutional distrust
(39:10) Davos elite v. Tech Elite v. Crypto Elite
(47:10) What makes Elon right wing?
(51:50) Chris Caldwell’s theory of polarization
(01:00:15) What the president can actually do
(01:07:00) Where he differs from Patrick Collison
(01:10:15) Equality of opportunity vs a sufficient floor
(01:16:55) Elon and the era of the trickster god
(01:20:30) Ezra’s book recommendation
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This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.
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