The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack 2025, So How Was It For You?
Dec 30, 2025
This discussion features Simon McGarr, a barrister focused on Irish politics, and Harry McEvins, an election analyst from irishelectionprojections.com. They explore the surprising landslide victory of Catherine Connolly in the presidential election and how media missteps overlooked her grassroots campaign. The duo warns about the potential AI investment bubble and the erosion of US governance, while examining Ireland's judicial review challenges. They also delve into political infighting, far-right rhetoric, and express cautious optimism about future social movements.
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Presidential Shock Shifted The Year
- The presidential election became the year's defining political event through Catherine Connolly's unexpected landslide.
- Media failed to switch modes from chasing drama to analysing why her grassroots surge happened.
AI Investment Bubble Nears A Reckoning
- AI investment is a global bubble concentrated in a few US firms and risks large-scale failure.
- The coming year may reveal how many projects were overfunded and produce a painful correction.
AI Moves Toward The Edge
- Big AI models will shift from cloud mega-centres toward efficient on-device models, favouring firms with mobile expertise.
- Google's edge-focused approach may outlast cloud-heavy rivals like Oracle-backed data-centre plays.