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Last week, Erik Torenberg sat down with Balaji Srinivasan to discuss the vibe shift to the right in Silicon Valley, particularly after the attempted assassination of President Trump.
Last week, Erik Torenberg sat down with Balaji Srinivasan to discuss the vibe shift to the right in Silicon Valley, particularly after the attempted assassination of President Trump. This episode originally aired in Moment of Zen. They discuss the rising tensions between tech counter-elites and political incumbents, and why tech is at odds with "America First". They explore tech's influence on politics, ideological shifts, and international dynamics affecting global economics and policies. Balaji also provides a critical analysis of movements like the January 6th riots and contemplates the future of democracy.
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:29) The Rise of the Tech Counter Elite
(01:32) Libertarianism and Statism in Tech
(02:35) Tech's Political Alignment and Demographic Shifts
(03:58) Global Ideologies and Tech
(06:15) Global Influence and the Tech Center
(08:03) Challenges of Domestic Manufacturing
(12:49) The Tech Counter Elite vs. Traditional Elites
(15:03) The Internet Frontier and Elite Defection
(18:05) The Role of Tech in Modern Politics
(19:10) Democratic Party's Internal Struggles
(27:13) SPONSORS: Squad | beehiiv
(37:31) Conspiracy Theories and Political Divides
(38:02) Counter Elite vs. Elite: Who Should Lead?
(38:53) The Race Between Incumbents and Disruptors
(39:19) SPONSORS: Babbel | Brave
(41:51) Meta Organisms and Human Coordination
(42:33) Swarm Intelligence and Ideological Competition
(44:44) FBI and Informants: Unveiling the Truth
(51:26) Media Manipulation and Political Narratives
(56:32) The Role of Atrocity Stories in War
(01:05:25) The Power of Collective Ideologies
(01:08:40) Leadership and Decentralization
(01:08:56) Critique of Bureaucracy and Stability
(01:09:59) Global Shifts and Historical Context
(01:10:22) The Rise of India and China
(01:10:56) Economic and Political Shifts
(01:13:29) The Internet's Impact on Society
(01:15:13) January 6th and Political Double Standards
(01:17:42) One-Party States and Democracy
(01:24:16) Control Outside the State
(01:29:24) Wokeness and Political Conflicts
(01:37:04) Economic Collapse and Future Predictions
(01:40:05) Conclusion and Final Thoughts
