The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Stephen Witt, a tech journalist and author of "The Thinking Machine," discusses Nvidia's monumental role in the AI revolution, highlighting how it shifted from gaming to a titan in microchip production under CEO Jensen Huang. Witt explains Nvidia's edge in parallel processors crucial for AI and the implications for global power dynamics, especially amid U.S.-China tensions. He argues that the traditional labor advantages may diminish with increasing automation, reshaping tech's geopolitical landscape and urging public engagement in AI's future.

The discussion delves into Trump's sweeping tariffs and their global economic fallout. It highlights historical parallels with authoritarian regimes using economic control. The Roundtable examines the repercussions on farmers, showcasing the disconnect between policy decisions and real-world impacts. There's also talk of Trump's potential military aspirations, like Greenland, and how these maneuvers reflect a shift in Republican ideologies and highlight concerns for democratic checks and balances. It's a deep dive into the intersection of economics and political power.

Sarah Larson, a staff writer at The New Yorker covering the Tesla takedown movement, discusses the intriguing protests at Tesla dealerships. She highlights how activists are uniting their anger against Elon Musk and Donald Trump, inspired by tactics from historical movements like ACT UP. Topics include the political implications of targeting a major electric car company, rising anti-Tesla sentiments, and the media's dynamic portrayal of protests and violence. Larson explores how these demonstrations reflect broader frustrations with corporate influence in politics today.

Chris Murphy, Junior Senator from Connecticut and vocal advocate for democratic reform, dives into the alarming state of American democracy. He condemns the Republican Party's disregard for democratic norms, likening the situation to failed democracies abroad. Murphy argues for a populist agenda that addresses corruption and resonates with wider audiences. He stresses the urgency for Democrats to take risks, unite, and mobilize against rising authoritarianism. His insights reveal the critical need for a reinvigorated commitment to democracy to prevent its decline.

Claire Howorth, executive editor of Vanity Fair, discusses Gavin Newsom's bold foray into podcasting with Radhika Jones. They analyze Newsom's strategy to reach across the political aisle, engaging figures like Steve Bannon while addressing the challenges of polarization. The conversation shifts to Newsom’s potential presidential aspirations and the Democratic Party's struggle with young male voters. Howorth critiques the risks of appealing to right-wing populists, questioning whether this gambit will enhance or hinder his political future.

David W. Brown, an insightful writer on NASA and the space industry, joins Tyler Foggatt for a captivating discussion. They dive into Elon Musk's mounting influence on NASA and the agency's evolving relationship with SpaceX. Brown addresses Trump's space ambitions and whether they can shield NASA from budget cuts. The duo highlights the political intricacies affecting space exploration, contrasting Trump and Obama’s visions, and examines the critical interdependence of NASA and SpaceX amidst shifting political landscapes.

Kaitlan Collins, CNN's Chief White House correspondent known for her bold questioning, dives into her experiences navigating a press landscape increasingly hostile under Trump. She recounts her early days at The Daily Caller, the challenges of conducting live interviews amid misinformation, and the changing dynamics between the press and the presidency. Collins argues that despite Trump's public disdain, he craves press validation. Her insights highlight the complexities of journalism in today's politically charged climate.

Michael Waldman, President and C.E.O. of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School, discusses the troubling conflicts between Donald Trump and the judiciary. He highlights Trump's public attacks on judges and the implications for judicial independence. The conversation explores the potential for a constitutional crisis, the judiciary's role in checking executive power, and historical precedents of presidential defiance against court rulings. Waldman emphasizes the challenges of maintaining the rule of law amidst escalating political tensions.

The veteran courts reporter Ruth Marcus joins the host Tyler Foggatt to discuss the Trump Administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, why flights of Venezuelan deportees were sent to El Salvador, and how the defiance of federal court orders has set off a constitutional crisis. This week’s reading: “The Trump Administration Nears Open Defiance of the Courts,” by Ruth Marcus “The Case of Mahmoud Khalil,” by Benjamin Wallace-Wells “The Long Nap of the Lazy Bureaucrat,” by Charlie Tyson “Hundreds of Thousands Will Die,” by David Remnick “The Felling of the U.S. Forest Service,” by Peter Slevin To discover more podcasts from The New Yorker, visit newyorker.com/podcasts. To send feedback on this episode, write to themail@newyorker.com. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Two weeks after the Inauguration of Donald Trump, Elon Musk tweeted, “We spent the weekend feeding USAID into a wood chipper.” Musk was referring to the Agency for International Development, an agency which supports global health and economic development, and which has saved millions of lives around the world. “A viper’s nest of radical-left lunatics,” Musk called it. U.S.A.I.D.’s funding is authorized by Congress, and its work is a crucial element of American soft power. DOGE has decimated the agency with cuts so sudden and precipitous that federal workers stationed in conflict zones were stranded without safe passage home, as their own government publicly maligned them for alleged fraud and corruption.  Courts have blocked aspects of the federal purge of U.S.A.I.D., but it’s not clear if workers can be rehired and contracts restarted, or whether the damage is done. In January, 2022, Atul Gawande, a surgeon and leading public health expert who has written for The New Yorker since 1998, was sworn in as assistant administrator for global health at U.S.A.I.D. He resigned as the new administration came to power, and is watching in shock as Trump and Musk make U.S.A.I.D. a guinea pig for the government-wide purge now under way. U.S.A.I.D. was, he admits, a soft target for MAGA—helping people in faraway countries. Gawande calls U.S.A.I.D. “America at its best.” But with Trump and Musk, “there’s a different world view at play here,” he says. “Power is what matters, not impact.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices