The Realignment

Joshua Green, Bloomberg National Correspondent and author of The Rebels, discusses left populism through AOC, Bernie, and Warren. Topics include Biden's surprising turn toward progressivism, contrasting responses to the financial crisis and COVID-19, weaknesses of Bernie Sanders, the decrease in focus on Wall Street, and the relevance of populism in politics.

Yaroslav Trofimov, The Wall Street Journal's Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, discusses the history of the war in Ukraine, the failed 2023 counteroffensive, defining victory or defeat, increasing aid skepticism in Western capitals, and the role of the press in shaping narratives.

Heather Jo Richman discusses the AUKUS partnership and dual-use technologies in defense, emphasizing the role of the private sector. Topics include the importance of patient capital, the faulty premise of venture capital, dynamics between primes and startups, and bridging the gap between defense and private sectors.

Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America, and Michael Kratsios, former CTO of the United States, discuss the challenges of bringing technologists into government, the role of technology in national security, and the consequences of lacking technical expertise in government projects. They explore pathways for joining the government and highlight the importance of developing knowledge in areas like AI, quantum information science, biosecurity, and climate crisis mitigation.

Matthew George, CEO of Merlin Labs, discusses the case for autonomous flight and the promise of human-machine partnership. They explore the potential role of autonomous flight in an Indo-Pacific conflict and the challenges of scaling autonomation in planes and beyond. The episode also touches on the development of software replicating human pilot decision-making processes and the significance of the name 'Merlin' in aviation history.

In this podcast, Marshall and Saagar discuss their optimism for 2024, Biden and Trump's prospects, the 'Vibecession' discourse, Zelensky's visit to DC, and the book 'A Bright Shining Lie' on understanding the Vietnam War.

Ryan Grim, Washington Bureau Chief of The Intercept and author of The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution, discusses the state of the Democratic Party, the influence of the Squad in shaping social change, the rise of the squad after the Great Recession, the frustrations of activists, the potential for generational changes in politics, and the implications of the 2024 election on Joe Biden's presidency.

John Brennan, General Manager at Scale AI, discusses the impact of AI on national security, the U.S.'s strategic advantage in technological competition, the transition of AI from science-fiction to reality, computer vision and its applications in teaching computers, the relationship between AI and human talent, challenges in producing munitions, the importance of collaboration and mentorship in the AI ecosystem, and John Brennan's research on transforming intelligence oversight.

Mike Slagh, founder of Shift, discusses the intersection of national security, technology, and foreign policy. Topics include post-military career paths for veterans, the changing view of Silicon Valley on defense, and the collaboration between the military and technology sectors.

Georgia Tech's Johnny Smith, author of Jumpman, discusses how racial politics shaped Michael Jordan's career, the role of sports in society, and the shift from racial optimism to pessimism in America. They also analyze the controversy surrounding Jordan's gambling habits and the connection between Spike Lee and Jordan in 'Do the Right Thing'.