E66: Noah Smith on 2024 Election Strategy, American Civil Service, and Cash Benefits

This week’s episode of Upstream is a cross-release with Turpentine’s Econ 102 where economist Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss a range of topics spanning American politics and societal issues.

They unpack the potential worst-case scenario resulting from the Chevron ruling where endless litigation paralyzes the government, and discuss the disconnect between the American elite and the working class, highlighting the focus on identity over economic issues.

Noah also debunks the deep state myth and discusses the real issues surrounding Biden's age, questioning the influence of "political handlers" and the reality of a "deep state." 🐝 Head to https://beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Preview

(01:09) 4th of July Celebrations and Mailbag Questions

(01:51) Debate Reflections: Trump vs. Biden

(02:35) Biden's Age and Democratic Dilemma

(03:09) Kamala Harris: The Successor Debate

(04:12) Michelle Obama: A Potential Candidate?

(07:06) The Deep State: Myth or Reality?

(11:30) Bernie Sanders and the DNC

(13:58) Chevron Ruling and Its Implications

(19:10) Sponsor: beehiiv | Babbel

(22:44) Project 2025 and Civil Service Polarization