The Insurgents

Eoin Higgins returns to the show to discuss his new book “Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices On the Left.” We talk about how tech and Silicon Valley figures like Peter Thiel, Marc Andreesen and Elon Musk have used their vast wealth and influence to sway the political and ideological leanings of prominent independent writers. You can pre-order the book here. Our most recent premium episode for paid subscribers examines DeepSeek and the race for AI. Kylie Robison of the Verge was a great guest and we confirmed that she is, in fact, a gamer. That episode is available here: https://www.insurgentspod.com/p/ep-345-what-is-deepseek-ft-kylie This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.insurgentspod.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.insurgentspod.comKylie Robison of The Verge joins us to talk about DeepSeek, the new AI LLM that, its developers claim, was built for just a fraction of the cost compared to its US-based competitors. We analyze those claims, talk about the competing interests trying to “win” the AI race, examine the harm and risks associated with rapid and unchecked AI development and, …

Jared Holt, extremism researcher, joins us to talk about the Nashville high school shooting that has left many confused and bewildered over the shooter’s professed ideology and motives. Jared helps provide some clarity and offers a bleak look into the furthest corners of the internet where this type of radicalization occurs. Our most recent premium episode on the flurry of Trump Executive Orders and Elon’s “salute” is available for subscribers here: https://www.insurgentspod.com/p/ep-343-an-awkward-gesture This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.insurgentspod.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.insurgentspod.comTrump is back in office, kicking off his second term with a flurry of executive orders. We dig into several of them, specifically around immigration, the border, his J6 pardons and the reinstatement of TikTok. We also talk about Elon’s “awkward gesture” on inauguration day. Curious!

Prof. Kurt Gray, director of the Deepest Beliefs Lab at UNC and author of the new book “Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground,” joins Jordan to talk about why Americans are deeply divided over issues of morality, how to think about people on the other side and how to find common ground in conversations. They explore the roots of fear and security in our minds, how that evolved into moral codes, how protecting the vulnerable is consistent in most of our minds but who falls into the “vulnerable” category varies, and best practices for talking to people with different politics.You can pick up a copy of Outraged here.Our most recent premium episode for paid subscribers about the tech billionaires attending Trump’s inauguration and Mark Zuckerberg’s apparent rightward shift is available here: https://www.insurgentspod.com/p/ep-341-our-billionaire-overlords This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.insurgentspod.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.insurgentspod.comWe talk about Mark Zuckerberg’s overt rightward shift with Meta. Now, Zuckerberg Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos will attend Trump’s inauguration next week. We also get into the Jack Smith report which, ah shucks, concludes that they would have convicted Trump if only they had more time!

Brett Erlich joins Jordan to talk about the wildfires affecting the greater Los Angeles area, how they began, why they’re so uniquely destructive and what the impediments were to fighting them when they broke out. We also get into how people try to exploit these moments for personal and political gain, try to inject their pet causes (i.e. “DEI”) into these stories and why some people are celebrating the destruction of homes belonging to the wealthy.Photo by Cal Fire This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.insurgentspod.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.insurgentspod.comYouTuber and democratic strategist Keith Edwards joins us to talk about his new piece, “White Men Vote. Let’s Act Like It.” We get into the knee-jerk reactions attempts to have conversations around white voters trigger, why and how we should try to attempt to reach white male voters and the dangers associated with summarily dismissing them.We also talk …

We put on our detective hats to get to the bottom of the “drone” mystery. Do we have another Havana Syndrome on our hands? Are they actually even drones? Also, we talk about Luigi Mangione being charged with terrorism and AOC’s failed bid for House Oversight Committee chair. Our most recent premium episode on ABC News settling the defamation suit with Trump for $15 million is available for paid subscribers here: https://www.insurgentspod.com/p/ep-337-why-abc-news-gave-trump-15You can subscribe to the show and get access to an additional episode every week here: https://www.insurgentspod.com/subscribe This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.insurgentspod.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.insurgentspod.comJustin Baragona of The Independent joins Jordan to talk about why ABC News settled with Donald Trump in his defamation case against the network. From there, we get into why Trump is now suing the Des Moines Register and pollster Ann Selzer for “election interference” over her poll that had Harris up over Trump in Iowa. We take a look at the larger issue…