Moment of Zen

E9: Modern cold wars with China and Russia, the new right, and tech's cultural shift w/ Noah Smith

Episode Summary

We speak with Noah Smith about our modern cold wars with China & Russia, the new right, and tech’s cultural & political shifts. (0:00) intro  (1:50) sponsor  (2:15) What determines a country’s success  (6:00) Chinese collapse?  (8:35) Why does Ukraine matter?  (13:30) Can America be isolationist?  (20:20) Are we in a Cold War with China?  (25:45) Unpacking the new right  (35:44) The future of wokeness  (41:40) How Noah finds meaning in life (petting rabbits)  (44:20) Noah defends his liberalism  (53:00) American cope  (57:00) Why American infrastructure sucks  (1:01:00) Fake liberals  (1:06:30) Why California is a one-party state  (1:15:00) Tech’s political shift  (1:20:00) Noah’s advice to tech people

Episode Notes

(0:00) intro 
(1:50) sponsor 
(2:15) What determines a country’s success 
(6:00) Chinese collapse? 
(8:35) Why does Ukraine matter? 
(13:30) Can America be isolationist? 
(20:20) Are we in a Cold War with China? 
(25:45) Unpacking the new right 
(35:44) The future of wokeness 
(41:40) How Noah finds meaning in life (petting rabbits) 
(44:20) Noah defends his liberalism 
(53:00) American cope 
(57:00) Why American infrastructure sucks 
(1:01:00) Fake liberals 
(1:06:30) Why California is a one-party state 
(1:15:00) Tech’s political shift 
(1:20:00) Noah’s advice to tech people