Plain English with Derek Thompson

‘The Job Market for Young People Is Brutal’

America's Religious Revival Is a Mirage

Is China the Winner of the Iran War?

‘Sh*tty Flow’—and Why We’re Addicted to It

Anthropic Thinks AI Might Destroy the Economy. It's Building It Anyway.

The podcast features an interview with Jack Clark, co-founder of Anthropic, focusing on the societal implications and safety of AI technology. Clark addresses concerns about AI's potential dangers, drawing parallels to nuclear weapons and the need for government regulation alongside private sector innovation. He argues...

America's Tax System Is Broken

The Casino-ification of America

"Yes, AI Is a Bubble. There Is No Question."

The Pill That Works Even When You Know It's Fake

The podcast explores the power of belief in shaping reality, questioning the line between fact and faith. Nir Eyal, author of "Beyond Belief," discusses how beliefs function as tools to improve life, not necessarily as truths. Eyal recounts his journey of interviewing religious leaders from various faiths, extracting p...

The Economic Crisis of the Iran War Goes Far Beyond Oil

"American Democracy as We Know It Might Not Survive This Technology"

Trump Is Doubling Down on Iran. How Should Democrats Respond?

The Four Ways That the Iran War Could End

How Metrics Make Us Miserable

The discussion centers on how metrics and scoring systems impact our lives, often leading to "value capture," where simplified measures overshadow richer, more nuanced values. Philosopher C. Thi Nguyen, author of "The Score," argues that while metrics can be useful for compressing information and coordinating action, t...

The Future of GLP-1 Drugs and AI Medicine, With Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks

The Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Tariffs. Now What?

The Media Theory That Explains “99% of Everything”

The conversation explores the shift from a literate culture to a more oral, digital form of communication and its effects on society. Referencing Walter Ong's work, the discussion highlights how literacy fostered introspection and linear thinking, while orality emphasizes communal knowledge and tribalism. Joe Weisentha...

"America Isn’t Ready for What AI Will Do to Jobs"

The Meltdown at The Washington Post—and the Crisis in News

Plain English BEST OF: What’s the Matter With America’s Food?