"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg Turpentine

In this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Richard Hanania delve into the surprising support for Donald Trump within Silicon Valley, contrasting it with earlier elections. They explore reasons behind this shift, such as anti-wokeness sentiments, dissatisfaction with left economic policies, and the Democrats' anti-tech stance.

The conversation also covers broader societal issues like the impact of religion, American Jews' political tendencies, and the strengths and weaknesses of America's socio-economic systems, and reflects on Elon Musk's political involvement and the rise of conspiratorial thinking in modern politics.

We’re publishing this conversation across Moment of Zen and Upstream since the themes are highly relevant to both shows.

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj

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RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Moment of Zen
Every week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyond.
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15KYOzvDzAQvqX0z0SpHEJ
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moment-of-zen/id1661672738

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SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | BABBEL | SQUAD
🐝 Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. A special offer is at https://beehiiv.com: use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months

🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

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FOLLOW ON X:
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@RichardHanania (Richard)
@Upstream__Pod (Upstream)
@TurpentineMedia

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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:19) Silicon Valley's Surprising Support for Trump
(01:20) Silicon Valley's Shift in Political Climate
(03:32) Richard's Political Evolution and Disillusionment
(04:27) Conservative and Liberal Ideologies
(09:03) Human Capital and Political Dynamics
(14:08) Sponsor: Squad | beehiiv | Babbel
(14:16) Religion's Role in Society
(35:25) Historical Context of Anti-Semitism
(36:12) Comparing Prejudices: Gypsies, Asians, and Religious Differences
(36:58) Rationalism vs. Conflict Theory
(38:00) The Role of Villainy in Political Narratives
(39:16) Conspiracies and Enlightenment Values
(41:30) The Impact of Conspiratorial Thinking
(49:43) Jewish Intellectual Influence
(52:09) DEI and Meritocracy in Silicon Valley
(53:56) America's Resilience and Future Challenges
(56:07) Immigration Policies: US vs. Europe
(1:01:44) Future of Political Parties Post-Biden and Trump
(1:07:27) Wrap

In 2019 Erik Torenberg sat down with Balaji Srinivasan and Glen Weyl to talk about the future of a decentralized world. They cover decentralized governance, politics, voting, and more. This conversation was recorded orginally for Village Global's Venture Stories.

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj
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RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  The Riff
Byrne Hobart, the writer of The Diff, is revered in Silicon Valley. You can get an hour with him each week. See for yourself how his thinking can upgrade yours.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rANlV54GCARLgMOtpkzKt
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-riff-with-byrne-hobart-and-erik-torenberg/id1716646486
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SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | BABBEL | SQUAD
🐝 Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. Go to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.

🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at babbel.com/torenberg

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
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Listen to the 10X Capital Podcast: https://10xcapitalpodcast.com/
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:53) RadicalxChange
(02:20) Common ground and divergences
(05:19) Role of choice and community
(06:59) Voice vs. Exit
(10:06) Future of governance and identity
(16:52) Sponsor: Beehiiv | Babbel | Squad
(19:25) Complexity of social systems
(25:20) Social inequality and drug war
(39:40) Technocracy and its implications
(46:44) Economic models and social relations
(56:34) Changes on property law
(56:41) Quadratic voting and finance
(01:01:21) Limitations of technology in the next century
(01:04:19) Future of nation states and governance
(01:10:53) Technocrats, empires, and incentives
(01:15:07) Wrap

In 2020 Erik Torenberg sat down with Mike Solana, then VP at Founders Fund (now the Editor In Chief of Pirate Wires) to go deeper into his commitment to controversial ideas and freedom. He discusses the dynamics of America's culture wars, debating freedom vs. equality, the resurgence of Marxism, and the roots of anti-American sentiment. This conversation was recorded orginally for Village Global's Venture Stories.

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj
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RECOMMENDED PODCAST: The Riff with Byrne Hobart
Byrne Hobart, the writer of The Diff, is revered in Silicon Valley. You can get an hour with him each week. See for yourself how his thinking can upgrade yours.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rANlV54GCARLgMOtpkzKt
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-riff-with-byrne-hobart-and-erik-torenberg/id1716646486

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SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SQUAD

🐝 Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. Go to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

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FOLLOW ON X:
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@micsolana (Mike)
@foundersfund
@TurpentineMedia
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:46) The Ethos of Founders Fund
(01:37) Mike's Journey to Founders Fund
(01:59) The Seasteading Institute and Anarcho-Capitalism
(03:19) Evolution of Founders Fund
(06:39) Hereticon: A Conference for Unorthodox Thinkers
(11:46) Anatomy of Next: A Vision for the Future
(13:42) Perception of Silicon Valley and Media
(16:10) Sponsor: Beehiiv | Squad
(18:44) Capitalism, Freedom, and Individualism
(26:00) Technology and Society
(33:39) A Journey Through Political Ideologies
(34:50) The Power of Belief and Free Market Capitalism
(36:06) Debating Nuclear Energy and Environmental Concerns
(39:22) Rebranding Longevity and the Death Meme
(40:43) The Future of AR, VR, and AI
(45:21) Exploring Space and the UFO Phenomenon
(50:13) Silicon Valley's Political Influence and Local Governance
(56:02) Envisioning a Post-Scarcity World
(58:25) The Culture of Trauma and Personal Responsibility
(1:01:22) The Culture War and Anti-American Sentiment
(1:09:10) Wrap

Todays episode features a conversation between Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discussing the recent angry posts on X from David Austin Walsh, a history postdoc at Yale, and what this controversy says about elite overproduction in the US. They also cover the the rise of right-wing muckrakers, discuss what the conservative movement needs now, and who they consider the smartest thinkers today are — on the left and the right.

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj
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RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Econ 102 with Noah Smith
Every week, Noah Smith, economist and Noahpinion writer break down current events through the lens of economics — while keeping econ entertaining.
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6q7Gn5lP8TTtBPuV1NJSGs
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/econ-102-with-noah-smith-and-erik-torenberg/id1696419056
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SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SQUAD
🐝 Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. Go to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
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TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Intro
(01:05) Twitter Controversy: David Austin Walsh
(04:30) Elite Overproduction and Academia
(08:29) Affirmative Action and Racial Disparities
(14:32) Sponsor: Beehiiv | Squad
(17:07) Elite overproduction’s implications for politics and academia
(22:29) Right-Wing muckrakers and progressive institutions
(32:12) Misconceptions about Barack Obama
(32:50) Mike Solana, Christopher Rufo, and other voices on the Right
(35:33) Evolution of progressive and conservative labels
(40:20) American Roots of Wokeness
(56:53) The Future of Conservatism
(1:01:41) Wrap


This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

In this episode of Upstream, we're publishing a session recorded live at The Hill & Valley Forum in May 2024 hosted by Jacob Helberg, and featuring Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures, and Senator Todd Young (R-IN). Khosla and Young dive straight into the most pressing national security concerns regarding the threat of AI. In this techno-economic race, the winner will have economic and military control over Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. AI is a technology capable of that much influence is described as being comparable to an atomic bomb. If AI is viewed through the lens of an atomic bomb, should the U.S. be forming a new Manhattan Project? Would you open source the Manhattan Project?

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj

The HIll & Valley Podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Catch all the 2024 Forum sessions and subscribe:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39s4MCyt1pOTQ8FjOAS4mi
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hill-valley/id1692653857
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This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.
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SPONSORS: BEEHIIV |. SQUAD

Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
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TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) The Urgency of AI in the Techno-Economic War
(01:13) Exploring AI's Role in Modern Warfare and Global Influence
(08:33) Sponsor: Beehiiv | Squad
(11:34) The Global AI Supply Chain and National Security Concerns
(17:23) Open Source vs. Closed Model Debate in AI Development
(22:26) Closing Remarks

This week on Upstream, Erik sits down with Bryan Caplan to discuss his new book about housing regulation. The conversation touches on political economy, fertility, crime, and more. beehiiv: Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj
--
This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.
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RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 
The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence. 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614
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SPONSORS: BEEHIIV
Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:36) Why write "Build, Baby, Build"?
(01:51) The value of graphic novels
(05:00) Potential benefits of housing deregulation
(11:50) Gentrification
(15:20) Sponsor: Beehiiv
(16:25) The best case in favor of housing regulation
(21:40) Fertility rates
(29:00) The political economy of housing regulation
(35:59) The mechanics of housing regulation
(45:51) Challenges of communicating in politics
(51:22) Economic thought over time
(56:13) Differences in beliefs between generations
(58:48) Crime prevention
(1:03:00) Bryan's next book
(1:08:05) Wrap
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LINKS:
Bryan's book: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Baby-Science-Housing-Regulation/dp/1952223415
Bryan's Blog: https://www.betonit.ai/
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X / TWITTER:
https://x.com/bryan_caplan (Bryan)
https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik)
https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream)
https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)
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For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co