Balaji Srinivasan, author of The Network State and co-founder of Counsyl, talks to Erik Torenberg about his past and future predictions, the future of the left and right, and why tech will never be able to escape politics. Upstream with Erik Torenberg is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: Turpentine.co. Check out Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period

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We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Preview of episode

(02:30) Why are the scariest words in the English language “Balaji was right”

(07:06) When to reform vs start a new institution

(09:50) Are ideas weapons?

(13:31) Sponsors

(15:30) You don’t start with a tech company anymore, you start with a tech community

(18:58) Internet nationalism

(22:06) What "political" means

(26:20 ) Activist movements are like “pump and dumps”

(29:40) What the sovereign individual misses

(41:03) Bitcoin is still the flag of technology

(45:38) Democrats will move to the right on immigration

(57:20) Tech America vs Woke America

(58:00) Why are tech people so woke?

(1:03:39) The left will flip on diversity

(1:05:00) The left is shifting from wokeism to statism

(1:15:17) Bitcoiners will take over the right wing party

(1:21:28) Elon

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This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at [email protected].