The David McWilliams Podcast David McWilliams Podcast

Elon Musk is to 2024 what Howard Roark was to 1943. In Ayn Rand's book Fountainhead, her hero Roark was brilliant, single-minded and flawed. Musk is a modern day Roark and yet despite his remarkable entrepreneurial success, from SpaceX to Neuralink, he may not have the Midas touch after all. Tesla's share price has dropped 30% since January, and its market share is dwindling in China. Musk's investments in China have also led to intellectual property theft and challenges in navigating the Chinese market. But standing back, Tesla's tribulations could be a microcosm of broader geopolitical tensions of trade disputes and intellectual property wars. The world is looking at the Mid East, the China/America rivalry echoes previous clashes Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, we plunge headfirst into the contentious issue of Nimbyism – should property ownership grant individuals the power to stop developments? We don't think so! Particularly not when contrasted with the backdrop of the housing crises gripping the English-speaking world. Bound by the chains of common law but bereft of common sense, our societies find themselves stuck in a self-inflicted housing crisis. Join us as we dissect how our flawed society has bred Nimbyism, and been perpetuated by the contented classes who turn their backs on their communities. From London to Los Angeles, Dublin to Sydney, we confront Nimbyism and explore potential solutions to reclaim our cities from this self-destructive spiral.  Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we truly living in a Plutocracy', where we are governed by the wealthy elites instead of those we voted for? As election season heats up around the globe, we tackle the age-old question: should we tax the rich more? While the wealthy typically oppose such measures, there's one dissenting, wealthy voice: Nick Hanauer, podcaster, venture capitalist, and rich lad himself who thinks that we either force the rich to pay more in taxes, or the streets will revolt, and the pitchforks will come. Hanauer, who famously warned of imminent social unrest should inequality persist unchecked, shares his insights on why taxing the rich is not just a matter of fairness, but a crucial step in preserving social stability. According to Hanauer, we need to reshape our economic policies, or the revolution will come! Listen to Nick here and come to see him and chat with him at Kilkenomics next November. Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Palestine is one of the most, if not the most, tragic national stories of the 21st century. Divided, humiliated, abused, and abandoned by both West and East, the Palestinian nature has been strangled by Israeli occupation, asphyxiated by international indifference, and its children scattered all over the world. Bassem Youssef trained cardiologist turned comedian, talks to us about how the global conversation often reverts back to the less important matters surrounding the war - instead of what actually matters. Israelis may be winning the war but they are losing the battle - they are running out of options. Only the strong can make peace - in this case, that is up to Israel. Would that diminish the idea of the Jewish homeland? They only have four options left - lets delve into them in this episode. Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for fraud on hundreds of thousands of customers that unraveled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency. We chatted to Michael Lewis recently, who spent over a year with SBF, immersing himself in the universe of crypto-bros, and recently published his book 'Going Infinite' which tracks back the entire story of the crypto-hack that is SBF. We discuss his limited emotional intelligence, male over-confidence, and the Dunning-Kreuger effect. With every new technology, there will be speculation, bubbles, and, most importantly, white-collar crime - SBF was one of the first in the crypto world but won't be the last.

Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Inheritance is a tricky one. We all want to leave something to our kids if possible, yet inheritance for society makes inequality permanent, favouring the children of the rich. Millennials are about to become the wealthiest generation, which begs the question - should inheritors of wealth play a role in driving social change? What should they give back? A recent Bank of Italy paper reveals the rich stay rich. Tax records dating back to 1427 reveal that the top twenty wealthiest families in Florence remain almost identical to the top twenty richest families in 2008. However, 15th Century Florentines understood that altruistic measures such as building museums, orphanages, piazzas, roads, and more would be their insurance policy to ensure social stability - but today's rich don't quite care. They avoid all responsibility, dodging taxes worldwide. As inequality pisses people off, does this mean violent, catastrophic social change is inevitable, or will democracy do its job more gently? Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.