Should we be celebrating a Biden boom? Lamenting inflation and its consequences? Both?
We know how to talk about booms, like the ’90s. We know how to talk about busts, like after the financial crisis. We know how to talk about stagnation. What we don’t know how to talk about is contradictory extremes coexisting together. But that’s the economy we have right ... Show More
Apr 24
Stewart Brand, Silicon Valley’s Favorite Prophet, on Life’s Most Important Principle
Stewart Brand might be the most influential philosopher of the internet – at least in its more idealistic era. In the 1960s, Brand was the central bridge figure between the San Francisco counterculture and the emerging technology scene. He created the legendary Trips Festival wit ... Show More
50 m
Apr 21
Why Are Palantir and OpenAI Scared of Alex Bores?
Leading the Future, a super PAC whose funders include the founders of companies like Palantir and OpenAI, is spending millions of dollars this election cycle, and a considerable amount of that money is going toward attack ads against Alex Bores – even though Bores himself used to ... Show More
1h 32m
May 2023
The Trickle Up Economy, with Oxfam America's Policy Lead on Economic Justice
<p>Join us in this thought-provoking episode of Pushback Talks as we sit down with Rebecca Riddell, Policy Lead, Economic Justice at Oxfam America. In a candid conversation, Leilani, Fredrik, and Rebecca speak on the importance of engaging in difficult conversations and effective ... Show More
53m 3s
Feb 2024
Swamp Notes: Is it the economy, stupid?
<p>For decades, common political wisdom has held that Americans vote based on their satisfaction with the economy. But even as the US economy booms, with persistently low unemployment and wage growth outpacing inflation, President Joe Biden’s approval rating continues reaching re ... Show More
11m 15s
Oct 2022
Why won't trickle-down die? (with Mark Blyth)
While President Biden has embraced middle-out economics here in the states, the UK’s new leaders have decided to enthusiastically revive trickle-down economics. Political economist Mark Blyth, who teaches International Economics, shares his thoughts on the United Kingdom’s troubl ... Show More
38m 40s
Nov 2021
The Economy Is Good. So Why Do We Feel Terrible About It?
<p>The U.S. economy is doing better than many had anticipated. Some 80 percent of jobs lost during the pandemic have been regained, and people are making, and spending, more.</p><p>But Americans seem to feel terrible about the financial outlook.</p><p>Why the gap between reality ... Show More
25m 12s
Nov 2023
The Bad Vibes Around a Good Economy
<p>The American economy, by many measures, is doing better than it has done in years. But for many Americans, that is not how it feels. Their feelings point to an enduring mystery: Why do Americans feel so bad when the economy is so good?</p><p>Jeanna Smialek, who covers the Fede ... Show More
21m 40s