Marketplace All-in-One Get your kicks on Route 66
Apr 6, 2026
A road-trip through Route 66 spotlights small towns, roadside nostalgia, and quirky motels. Conversations explore local job scarcity, shifting economies, and a potential rail project that could bring work. The journey captures why certain stops draw international tourists and how changing transportation shapes communities.
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Route 66 As A Three‑Dimensional Economic Snapshot
- Route 66 offers a cross-section view of the modern U.S. economy stretching from AI hubs to isolated desert towns.
- David Brancaccio drives from Santa Monica through San Bernardino and the high desert to contrast tech‑rich areas with places lacking AI or job growth.
Road Testing Old And New Cars On Route 66
- David Brancaccio and friends sample a range of vehicles from a Waymo robotaxi to a 1966 Oldsmobile and a 2026 Rivian to experience economic and cultural change firsthand.
- The quiet Rivian SUV becomes the primary ride, prompting them to add a Chuck Berry/oldies playlist to match Route 66 nostalgia.
Santa Monica Shows AI's Localized Economic Stakes
- Santa Monica exemplifies concentrated economic inequality and hosts major entertainment and gaming firms poised to be reshaped by AI.
- Brancaccio names Skydance and Activision Blizzard as local companies that face AI-driven upheaval or opportunity.