Bradley Tusk on How to Save Democracy Before it’s Too Late, the Problem With Our Political Structures, and the Power of Mobile Voting

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Bradley Tusk, a venture capitalist, political strategist, philanthropist, and the author of “Vote With Your Phone: Why Mobile Voting Is Our Final Shot At Saving Democracy.” 

Bradley’s family foundation is funding and leading the national campaign to bring mobile voting to all U.S. elections. Tusk Philanthropies also runs and funds anti-hunger campaigns that have led to the creation of anti-hunger policies and programs (including universal school breakfast programs) in 22 different states, helping to feed over 12.5 million people.

Before Vote With Your Phone, Bradley authored “The Fixer: My Adventures Saving Startups

From Death by Politics” and “Obvious in Hindsight.” He hosts a podcast called Firewall about the intersection of tech and politics and recently opened an independent bookstore, P&T Knitwear, on Manhattan's Lower East Side.

Bradley is currently the Managing Partner and Co-founder of Tusk Ventures, the world’s first

venture capital fund that invests solely in early stage startups in highly regulated industries, and

the founder of political consulting firm Tusk Strategies. He is also an adjunct professor at

Columbia Business School.

Previously, Bradley served as campaign manager for Mike Bloomberg’s 2009 mayoral race, as Deputy Governor of Illinois, overseeing the state’s budget, operations, legislation, policy and communications, as communications director for US Senator Chuck Schumer, and as Uber’s first political advisor.

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KEY TOPICS 

• [00:00] - Intro
• [2:05] - Why Is Democracy At Risk?
• [9:30] - Tech Likes Things As They Are
• [12:30] - Aligning Social Media With Public Good
• [14:20] - On Regulating Free Speech
• [21:55] - Assumptions Behind Mobile Voting
• [26:24] - Risk of Misinformation With Mobile Voting
• [27:35] - Technology’s Impact on Voting Accessibility
• [33:35] - The Gen-Z Vote and Social Media Reform
• [37:35] - Why We Need Mobile Voting
• [39:25] - Using AI to Reform Government Procurement
• [45:05] - Where Should Technology be Introduced?
• [48:35] - Arguments Against Mobile Voting
• [52:30] - U.S. Immigration Problem
• [56:30] - Tension Between Tech and Regulation
• [1:02:35] - Religions’ Antidote to Evolution
• [1:09:10] - Conclusion

RESOURCES

Follow Bradley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/btusk/

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For the transcript of this episode, go to: https://content.aleph.vc/podcast-episodes/sam-lessin---episode-29

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CREDITS

Executive Producer: Erica Marom 

Producer: Sofi Levak & Yoni Mayer

Video and Editing: Ron Baranov

Music and Art: Uri Ar 

Design: Rony Karadi