

Firewall
Firewall
Politics, technology and the pursuit of happiness. Twice a week, Bradley Tusk, New York-based political strategist and venture investor, covers the collision between new ideas and the real world. His operating thesis is that you can't understand tech today without understanding politics, too. Recorded at P&T Knitwear, his bookstore / podcast studio, 180 Orchard Street, New York City.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 4, 2024 • 40min
Graduation Day
On the week of her graduation from high school, Bradley's daughter Abby Tusk returns to the podcast to be interviewed on what she's learned about herself, her generation, and the world. "The Internet is not terrible," Abby says, "but it is kind of rotting our brains." Are you optimistic or pessimistic about your future, he asks her. "Optimistic, for sure."This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

May 30, 2024 • 46min
One Hundred and One Brooklyns
What unites a borough that has such sharp juxtapositions of abundance and deprivation? Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso joins Bradley to talk about a better way to crack down on illegal weed shops, why the migrant crisis didn’t need to be a crisis, how to break the affordable housing logjam and what he’s doing to lift maternal health from a state of emergency.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

May 28, 2024 • 56min
The New Battles over AI, Crypto and Guns
Bob Greenlee, Bradley's longtime friend and COO at Tusk Holdings, joins the podcast to discuss the latest convergences of tech, politics and the law. Plus, Bradley realizes he no longer hates the Yankees and tries to sort out why.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

May 23, 2024 • 36min
What Every American Deserves
If the United States had a true safety net — a basic standard of living below which nobody would be allowed to fall —people would be more creative and take greater risks, argues Natalie Foster, author of "The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America's Next Economy." She joins Bradley to explain how we get from here to there.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

May 21, 2024 • 45min
Who Owns the Next Decade?
In response to Noah Smith's 'Seven Reasons America is Headed for a More Conservative Decade', Bradley offers five countervailing reasons of his own. Plus, is the anti-China narrative good for America; why the success of the Neurolink brain implant suggests a future union of man and machine; and what new books Bradley recommends for the beach (not that he personally ever reads on the beach, but you get the point).Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

May 16, 2024 • 46min
Are Venture Capitalists Blowing It?
Jordan Nof, Co-founder of Tusk Venture Partners, discusses VC challenges in a strong economy. Topics include overvaluation in private companies, AI advancements, digital health investments, Silicon Valley Bank collapse impact, NYC as a tech hub, and contact info for feedback.

May 14, 2024 • 47min
The Purpose Void
Why are young educated Americans rooting for Hamas? Bradley sketches out his thoughts for how to rebuild a sense of meaning and purpose. Plus, two things he agrees with — the ban of betting on political races and Mayor Adams’ Operation Padlock — and one he doesn’t: the rabid outrage over Apple’s iPad ad. If that company was afraid of making mistakes, it would never be what it is today.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack, and be sure to pre-order his upcoming book, Vote With Your Phone.

May 9, 2024 • 52min
Where Do We Go From Radical Candor?
Kim Scott, author of the blockbuster management book "Radical Candor" joins Bradley to discuss her follow-up "Radical Respect" as well as her new campaign, the Coalition of Concerned Creators, to give creators a fighting chance against the all-powerful tech platforms.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack, and be sure to order his debut novel, OBVIOUS IN HINDSIGHT.

May 7, 2024 • 49min
Biden vs. Trump Rematch Bracket
What single factor will have the biggest effect in an election where both candidates have already been president and have essentially 100% name ID? Bradley makes a list of the top 16 factors, sets them off against each other in a tournament bracket and picks the winners with pollster extraordinaire Jefrey Pollock of Global Strategy Group. And the champion is ... sorry, we're not giving it away. You'll just have to listen.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack, and be sure to order his debut novel, OBVIOUS IN HINDSIGHT.

May 2, 2024 • 39min
The Gilded Newsroom
What do you call a hedge fund that reports and publishes its own stories? Bradley talks to Sam Koppelman, co-founder and publisher of HunterBrook, an innovative hybrid that seeks to break news and generate alpha. "There's this myth that journalism is a terrible business," says Koppelman. "It's actually only a really terrible business for journalists."This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack, and be sure to order his debut novel, OBVIOUS IN HINDSIGHT.