

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

Jan 11, 2024 • 36min
New York State of Play
Chris Coffey, CEO of Tusk Strategies, joins Bradley to break down the messy chessboard of New York politics. Can the Governor solve the housing crisis this time around — or least make a meaningful dent in it? Will the Mayor rise above his legal morass and be the man of action he purports to be? And is there anything, beyond law and order, that truly activates voters, or does group affiliation drive almost everything? 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.mediaSubscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack, and be sure to order his debut novel, OBVIOUS IN HINDSIGHT.

Jan 9, 2024 • 59min
The End of Addiction
If early results hold up, GLP-1 drugs could take out a big bite out of vice and transform life as we know it. Maybe, suggests Bradley, we won't need nearly so many liquor and weed shops, fast-food joints, prisons, rehab facilities or casinos. But what will we all do instead? Plus, Bradley raves about self-driving taxis in Phoenix, reviews the ups and downs of a family vacation in Japan (up: making a TikTok video with Abby; down: horse sashimi), and argues for freeing the art market from all legal niceties and letting it run wild.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.mediaSubscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack, and be sure to order his debut novel, OBVIOUS IN HINDSIGHT.

Jan 4, 2024 • 41min
The Gift of George Santos
Maybe we needed a buffoonish compulsive liar elected to Congress to grasp the true state of our democracy? Bradley talks to Mark Chiusano, author of 'The Fabulist', a highly entertaining book about Santos that takes him just seriously enough.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.mediaSubscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack, and be sure to order his debut novel, OBVIOUS IN HINDSIGHT.

Dec 26, 2023 • 59min
Tech in '24
When will we start focusing on the future again? In this year-end double episode, Bradley surveys the regulatory landscape for AI, digital health, crypto and fintech, the gig economy, autonomous vehicles and more. For tech start-ups, there is at least one silver lining. As cities and states deal with shrinking budgets, smart political leaders will support growth and innovation.

Dec 21, 2023 • 38min
A Looming Showdown over Reproductive Rights
Could the Supreme Court go so far as to kneecap the FDA and block access to abortion drugs in Red States? Adam Sieff, the outside counsel for Mayday Health, joins Bradley to discuss the prospects for averting a disastrous decision. Plus, Bradley highlights his favorite books of 2023.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.mediaSubscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack, and be sure to order his debut novel, OBVIOUS IN HINDSIGHT.

Dec 19, 2023 • 48min
Prediction #1: Neither Biden nor Trump Will Win the Election
So who then? Bradley tackles the big political questions of 2024, including convention drama, the outcome of the Trump prosecutions, how the Supreme Court will decide the future of the FDA, where identity politics goes from here, the state of real reform on college campuses and whether Eric Adams will still be mayor in a year's time. Plus, could a fairytale celebrity wedding be what it takes to unite a divided nation?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.mediaSubscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack, and be sure to order his debut novel, OBVIOUS IN HINDSIGHT.

Dec 14, 2023 • 32min
Make America Build Again
Was the 40-year, $22 billion project to put a few precious miles of highway under Boston is a historic boondoggle — or a roadmap of how we can do better in the future? Bradley talks to Ian Coss, the host and co-producer of The Big Dig, one of this year’s best podcast series (according to The New Yorker and us).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.mediaSubscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Twitter + Linkedin + Substack, and be sure to order his debut novel, OBVIOUS IN HINDSIGHT.

Dec 12, 2023 • 46min
Name the Essential Life Skill that High-Status Colleges Ignore
How about common sense? Three university presidents were pilloried for their testimony on free speech in Congress, but the bigger problem, says Bradley, is the broken and blinkered system of higher education that they represent. Plus, how Biden could save himself, his party and his country; the EU lights the way on AI regulation; and competing claims on the sports icons of American cities.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.mediaSubscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Twitter + Linkedin + Substack, and be sure to order his debut novel, OBVIOUS IN HINDSIGHT.

Dec 7, 2023 • 43min
LIVE: How Our Founders See the World
Two founders of Tusk Venture Partners portfolio companies — Nicole Bocskocsky of Elaborate and Don Burnette of Kodiak Robotics — join Bradley for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of tech policy today. Recorded live this past October as part of a16z's Tech Week NYC 2023, this conversation includes lessons they've both learned from the frontlines of regulatory battles related to AI, autonomous vehicles, and more.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.mediaSubscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Twitter + Linkedin + Substack, and be sure to order his debut novel, OBVIOUS IN HINDSIGHT.

Dec 5, 2023 • 58min
Five Ways America Will Change if Trump is President Again
The way to beat Trump, argues Bradley, is to closely examine what he says he's going to do and ask voters — is this the country you want? Plus, Bradley maps out a five-day plan for Mayor Adams to save himself and discusses how to fix New York City traffic problems with Tusk's in-house transportation nerd Cory Epstein.[01:21]How Mayor Adams can save himself[16:12] Listener question on street safety[32:25] Discussion on congestion pricing[36:48] Five Ways America Will Change if Trump Is President Again[54:50] Recommendations of the weekDiscussed on today's episode:How Eric Adams Can Bounce Back, 11/29/23, Bradley Tusk for NY Daily NewsCongestion Pricing’s Impact on New York? These 3 Cities Offer a Glimpse., 12/02/23, New York TimesThis 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.mediaSubscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Twitter + Linkedin, and be sure to order his debut novel, OBVIOUS IN HINDSIGHT.