Prof G Markets U.S. Takes 10% Stake in Intel, Powell’s Jackson Hole Speech + OnlyFans’ $7B Boom
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Aug 26, 2025 
Join Justin Wolfers, a professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan, as he dives into the U.S. government's bold move to acquire a 10% stake in Intel. They explore the unsettling implications of government intervention in the private sector and the potential effects on corporate innovation. The discussion also unpacks Jerome Powell's Jackson Hole speech, hinting at possible interest rate cuts while facing internal divisions. Lastly, they analyze the staggering success of OnlyFans, spotlighting its role in addressing loneliness in the digital age.
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Passive Ownership Raises Questions
- If the government is truly passive, the purchase yields no operational benefits for Intel.
- That leaves observers to invent rationales like political favoritism or hidden intervention.
Define The Problem Before Intervening
- Policymakers must identify the specific problem before choosing an industrial-policy tool.
- Moving shares without a clear objective is incoherent and risky.
Intervention Could Skew Tech Markets
- The purchase could be a lever to compel procurement or bully firms to use Intel chips.
- Such top-down tech choices undermine consumer and market choice among competitors like AMD.