"Moment of Zen"

By Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez

Every week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyond.

Moment of Zen is part of the Turpent... more

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How many episodes does "Moment of Zen" have?

The podcast currently has 144 episodes available.

"Moment of Zen" episodes:

August 09, 2025Why Urban Centers Outlast Empires | Samo Burja
Today on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja explore cities as civilization's most enduring institutions, examining their political dynamics, technological evolution, and role as interfaces between competing social forces and power structures.

Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: ⁠https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/⁠

Live Players: ⁠https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers⁠
--
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🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at ⁠https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse⁠
--
SPONSORS: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | SQUAD
More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine learning: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://netsuite.com/102⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at ⁠https://shopify.com/momentofzen⁠.
Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to ⁠https://choosesquad.com/⁠ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

--
X / TWITTER:
@SamoBurja
@eriktorenberg
@turpentinemedia
--
Key Highlights
Core Thesis:
Cities are humanity's most enduring institutions (5,000+ years), persisting through complete civilizational changes due to human co-location needs
Political Dynamics:
Cities vote left due to visible inequality and Democratic urban optimization

Republicans lack compelling urban vision beyond deregulation

Prediction: DC will become America's dominant city like Moscow or Paris
Digital-Physical Connection:
Social media platforms remain tied to specific cities (Twitter/SF, Instagram/LA)

Physical proximity still creates career advantages despite digital connectivity
Reform Strategies:
Moving coordinated voter blocs more effective than building charter cities

Charter cities work best in high-growth regions (Africa, Central America)

Current cities technologically obsolete - not optimized for autonomous vehicles
Need for "Refounding":
Cities require complete institutional overhaul rather than incremental reform

Political and cultural change must originate in cities, not countryside
...more
52min
August 02, 2025AI and The War for Your Attention | Antonio Garcia Martinez and Chris Hayes from the a16z Podcast
Today on Moment of Zen, we're excited to cross post a conversation from the newly revamped a16z podcast featuring Antonio Garcia Martinez and MSNBC's Chris Hayes exploring how AI-generated content is reshaping the attention economy, from algorithmic manipulation to the future of human creativity in digital spaces. Listen to more episodes of The a16z Podcast here: link.chtbl.com/blpusvv-
--
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🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at ⁠https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse⁠
--
SPONSORS: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | SQUAD
More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine learning: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://netsuite.com/102⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at ⁠https://shopify.com/momentofzen⁠.
Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to ⁠https://choosesquad.com/⁠ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
X / TWITTER:
@chrislhayes
@antoniogm
@eriktorenberg
@turpentinemedia
--
Key Highlights
AI "Slop" Problem: Discussion of how AI-generated content could overwhelm social platforms with low-quality material, similar to email spam but at unprecedented scale

Attention vs. Intent Gap: The fundamental tension between what captures our attention algorithmically versus what we actually want to consume

Brand Advertising Paradox: Why major advertisers (Ford, Progressive) still avoid platforms like TikTok despite massive young audiences, suggesting ad tech limitations

Cultural Homogenization: How algorithmic feeds are creating identical subcultures across geographic boundaries while fragmenting shared national experiences

Group Chat Migration: The shift from public posting to private messaging as people seek authentic community away from performative social media

Future Interface Prediction: AI chatbots becoming the primary way we interact with digital services, replacing traditional apps and websites

Technology vs. Utility: The disconnect between what's profitable (attention-grabbing tech) versus what's genuinely useful (like solar power), and its implications for innovation priorities
...more
51min
July 26, 2025Why China and America are Creating the Same Ruling Class | Samo Burja
Today on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja explore how China's elite universities are creating a ruling class similar to America's, with student activism and credentialism reshaping both nations' power structures.

Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: ⁠https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/⁠

Live Players: ⁠https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers⁠
--
📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: ⁠https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess⁠
🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at ⁠https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse⁠
--
SPONSORS: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | SQUAD
Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at ⁠https://netsuite.com/zen⁠.
Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at ⁠https://shopify.com/momentofzen⁠.
Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to ⁠https://choosesquad.com/⁠ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
X / TWITTER:
@SamoBurja
@eriktorenberg
@turpentinemedia
--
Key Highlights
Core Thesis: Elite Convergence
China and America are creating remarkably similar ruling classes despite being geopolitical rivals with different political systems

Universities are the primary mechanism driving this convergence in both countries
China's Leadership Evolution
Historic shift: For the first time, Chinese leaders are educated in China's own elite universities (Peking, Tsinghua, etc.) rather than abroad or through practical experience

From engineers to lawyers: China moving from technocrats with engineering backgrounds to university-credentialed elites

Signaling theory: Chinese elite universities now function like Harvard/MIT as intelligence signals
"Chinese Woke" vs Western Woke
China already has student activism - but it's Marxist/Maoist students organizing workers' unions

Ideological trap: Communist Party struggles because students use party ideology to critique the party itself

Future prediction: Chinese "woke" will likely focus on gender/feminism rather than racial/ethnic issues due to China's homogeneity
University Power Dynamics
Zero-sum tournament: Universities create gatekeeping for elite positions in both countries

Elite clubs, not education: Universities function more as exclusive clubs than learning institutions

Defensibility: University power will be extremely difficult to dislodge without radical intervention
Consequences for China
Positives: Better rule of law, higher status for journalists/lawyers, more humanistic perspective

Negatives: Loss of business acumen, reduced technical expertise, potential future incompetence as credentials replace competence
Mirror Society Concept
Both nations face similar paradoxes: Ideological foundations that create unresolvable contradictions

Generational warfare: Young elites using ideology to displace older generations in both systems

Talent retention: China increasingly keeping its best students domestically rather than sending them to American universities
Long-term Prediction
China's government may become incompetent as university credentials replace practical experience and technical knowledge
...more
57min
July 19, 2025Hardware Wars | Samo Burja
Today on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja explore AI hardware dominance, US-China semiconductor competition, automation's economic impacts, and strategic industrial policy for maintaining technological leadership.

Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: ⁠https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/⁠

Live Players: ⁠https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers⁠
--
📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: ⁠https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess⁠
🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at ⁠https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse⁠
--
SPONSORS: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | SQUAD
Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at ⁠https://netsuite.com/zen⁠.
Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at ⁠https://shopify.com/momentofzen⁠.
Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to ⁠https://choosesquad.com/⁠ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
X / TWITTER:
@SamoBurja
@eriktorenberg
@turpentinemedia
--
Key Highlights
Hardware as AI's Foundation
Data collection (cameras, self-driving cars) and computation infrastructure are the two critical hardware pillars driving AI advancement

Physical proximity between chip designers, manufacturers, and users creates significant competitive advantages
US-China Semiconductor Competition
Export controls came too late and actually accelerated China's domestic chip development

Taiwan's TSMC holds crucial position due to personal relationships (Jensen Huang-TSMC founder connection)

China has skilled engineers who can optimize hardware locally, creating efficiency gains
Proposed US Strategy
Create special industrial zones (Bay Area or Texas) co-locating chip fabs, data centers, and AI labs

Massive government investment ($500B-$1T) to build "America's TSMC"

Talent acquisition focused on patriotic Americans rather than relying solely on foreign talent

Start with defense contracts (NSA/CIA) to justify fully US-manufactured chips
Automation's Political Risks
Automating 50% of white-collar work = economic growth

Automating 95% of white-collar work without physical automation = political disaster

Displaced laptop class more dangerous than displaced blue-collar workers due to organizational capabilities

Risk of expanded bureaucracy and protectionist policies
Physical vs. Knowledge Work
Knowledge work easier to automate (already digitized)

Physical automation requires specialized companies for each domain (5+ years per application)

Preference for specialized robotics over general humanoid robots to maintain employment transitions
...more
56min
July 12, 2025Singapore: The City-State Strategy That Worked | Samo Burja
Today on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja examine Singapore's transformation from poor post-colonial state to wealthy financial hub through Lee Kuan Yew's strategic governance, geopolitical balancing, and prioritizing economic efficiency over individual freedoms.

Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: ⁠https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/⁠

Live Players: ⁠https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers⁠
--
📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: ⁠https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess⁠
🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at ⁠https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse⁠
--
SPONSORS: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | SQUAD
Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at ⁠https://netsuite.com/zen⁠.
Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at ⁠https://shopify.com/momentofzen⁠.
Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to ⁠https://choosesquad.com/⁠ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
X / TWITTER:
@SamoBurja
@eriktorenberg
@turpentinemedia
--
Key Highlights
Foundation & Strategy
Lee Kuan Yew transformed Singapore from poor colony to wealthy financial hub through meritocratic governance

Strategic location on Straits of Malacca controls vital trade routes to China
Governance Model
High government salaries prevent corruption and attract talent

Prioritized economic growth over social benefits through "delayed gratification"

City-state scale enables efficient planning and direct accountability
Economic Evolution
1960s-90s: Industrial development

Post-1990s: Tax haven and Asian financial center

Current: Attracting foreign headquarters and wealthy immigrants
Geopolitical Navigation
Successfully balanced US-Soviet competition during Cold War

Defeated internal communist movement in 1960s

Now faces choice between US alliance vs Chinese economic integration
Unique Features
Harsh law enforcement (death penalty, caning) maintains order in dense city

Land reclamation for expansion

Investing in insect protein/vertical farming for food security
Challenges
Vulnerable to deglobalization as trade blocs form

Lee family succession continues (hereditary leadership)

Failed to solve demographic decline despite early efforts
Lessons
Scalable: Low corporate taxes, strong city governance, automation investment

Non-scalable: Extreme efficiency pressure, geographic advantages, population density
...more
1h
July 05, 2025The Real Reason Civilizations Collapse | Samo Burja
Today on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg talks with Samo Burja on "long history" - the thesis that human civilization is far older than believed, with complex societies predating agriculture by millennia. It examines why civilizations rise and fall, and implications for preventing our own collapse.

Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
--
📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess
🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse
--
SPONSORS: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | SQUAD
Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at https://netsuite.com/zen.
Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen.
Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
X / TWITTER:
@SamoBurja
@eriktorenberg
@turpentinemedia
--

Long History Thesis
Human civilization is much older than believed - complex societies existed before agriculture

Göbekli Tepe (11,500 years old) features monumental construction 1,000 years before earliest agriculture

Academic consensus moves slowly; archaeologists find what they expect to find
Why Civilizations Fall
Pattern 1: Military overextension and fiscal collapse (like Soviet Union)

Pattern 2: Complex trade network breakdown (Bronze Age collapse example)

History isn't linear progress - it's cycles of rise, stagnation, and fall
Modern Implications
We may not reach the singularity - could face our own stagnation period

Military overextension is a current US risk

China and US are 80-90% similar despite perceived differences
Preventing Collapse
Diversify beyond university monoculture - generate more "live players"

Invest in novel energy sources and government experimentation

Address fertility crisis (affects all societies regardless of politics)

Avoid rationalizing decline as environmental success
Historical Lessons
Ancient societies had sophisticated "social technologies" we've lost

Study history for positive examples, not just cautionary tales

Human nature and organizational capacity remain largely unexplored
...more
57min
June 28, 2025Is Nuclear Proliferation Inevitable? | Samo Burja
Today on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg talk with Samo Burja on nuclear weapons proliferation, energy geopolitics, and his "nuclear accelerationist" argument that widespread nuclear capability is inevitable, so countries should pursue abundant nuclear energy despite proliferation risks.

Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
--
📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess
🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse
--
SPONSORS: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | ADQUICK | SQUAD
Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at https://netsuite.com/zen.
Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen.
The easiest way to book out-of-home ads (like billboards, vehicle wraps, and airport displays) the same way you would order an Uber. Ready to get your brand the attention it deserves? Visit https://adquick.com/ today to start reaching your customers in the real world.
Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
X / TWITTER:
@SamoBurja
@eriktorenberg
@turpentinemedia
--
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DISCUSSION:
Core Argument: "Nuclear Accelerationism"
Nuclear weapons proliferation is inevitable - the 80-year-old technology is only getting easier

We're paying security costs without reaping energy benefits

Should accelerate civilian nuclear development to achieve energy abundance
North Korea precedent: Even poor, isolated countries can build nukes

Japan example: Already has tons of plutonium, could build weapons in <1 year

Proliferation ratchet: Countries rarely denuclearize once they acquire weapons

National security incentives overwhelm nonproliferation efforts
Nuclear club expansion: Countries with existing weapons should build thousands of reactors

Energy exports: Non-nuclear countries buy electricity from nuclear neighbors

Scale economics: Need massive reactor deployment for true cost advantages

Incentive structure: Subsidize alternatives for countries that forgo nuclear tech
Small arsenals (dozens of nukes) create different dynamics than superpower stockpiles (thousands)

Current "doomsday machine" logic only applies to US/Russia/China

Widespread small arsenals might actually reduce conventional war risk
...more
1h 3min
June 21, 2025The Future of Media with Noah Smith and Chris Best, CEO of Substack
Today on Moment of Zen, we're airing a conversation with economist Noah Smith and Substack CEO Chris Best discussing the evolving media landscape. They dive into whether Twitter's dominance is waning, what features a successor platform would need, and how artificial intelligence is set to transform media as we know it. This conversation originally took place live on Noah's Substack: https://www.noahpinion.blog/
--
📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess
🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse
--
SPONSORS: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | ADQUICK | SQUAD
Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at https://netsuite.com/zen.
Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen.
The easiest way to book out-of-home ads (like billboards, vehicle wraps, and airport displays) the same way you would order an Uber. Ready to get your brand the attention it deserves? Visit https://adquick.com/ today to start reaching your customers in the real world.
Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
RELATED LINKS:
Eugene Wei's Status as a Service: https://www.eugenewei.com/blog/2019/2/19/status-as-a-service

Twitter, Threads, and Remote Work with Eugene Wei:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1zSxuEAgUUlptJHNEr2Q7O
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/twitter-threads-and-remote-work-with-eugene-wei/id1661672738?i=1000621483289
--
X / TWITTER:
@noahpinion
@eriktorenberg
@turpentinemedia
--
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DISCUSSION:
Breaking News Platform Concept
Noah proposed Substack could replace Twitter's former role as a breaking news hub by recruiting OSINT specialists and citizen journalists to create live blogs

These would function as both real-time updates and daily digest newsletters, solving the chicken-and-egg problem of audience vs. content
AI's Impact on Media
AI will serve as a "force multiplier" for writers rather than replacing them entirely

Key applications: summarization, curation, and search enhancement

Writers may use AI teams to amplify their unique perspectives and research capabilities
Platform Evolution
Twitter's decline attributed to the shift from chronological to algorithmic feeds (pull to push media)

The "age of Twitter" for breaking news lasted roughly 2011-2023

Substack currently excels at day-after analysis but lacks real-time news capabilities
Geopolitical Concerns
Noah expressed pessimism about US competitiveness against China due to population size (4x difference)

Concerns about weakened alliance systems under recent US foreign policy

Worries about falling behind in electric/battery technology due to policy and cultural resistance
Content Abundance Problem
Both noted the challenge of infinite content creation vs. scarce attention

Emphasized importance of choosing content that shapes who you become, not just what you want right now
...more
49min
June 14, 2025Are Dynasties Better Than Meritocracies?
Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg examine how dynastic succession can outperform meritocratic systems. The discussion analyzes successful family-controlled enterprises like the New York Times, Samsung, and Sweden's Wallenberg companies, arguing that hereditary structures can often solve succession problems more effectively than rational selection mechanisms.

Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
--
📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess
--
SPONSORS: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | ADQUICK | SQUAD
Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at https://netsuite.com/zen.
Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen.
The easiest way to book out-of-home ads (like billboards, vehicle wraps, and airport displays) the same way you would order an Uber. Ready to get your brand the attention it deserves? Visit https://adquick.com/ today to start reaching your customers in the real world.
Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
X / TWITTER:
@SamoBurja
@eriktorenberg
@turpentinemedia
--
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DISCUSSION:
...more
53min
June 07, 2025The Middle Class Myth and China’s Future with Noah Smith
Today on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith debunk the myth that globalization destroyed America's middle class, showing wages actually grew during hyperglobalization. It examines the limited "China shock" impact and critiques how both political tribes' technology fears may handicap America's competitiveness against China.

--
📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse

--
SPONSORS: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | ADQUICK | SQUAD
Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at https://netsuite.com/zen.

Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen.

The easiest way to book out-of-home ads (like billboards, vehicle wraps, and airport displays) the same way you would order an Uber. Ready to get your brand the attention it deserves? Visit https://adquick.com/ today to start reaching your customers in the real world.

Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

--
X / TWITTER:
@noahpinion
@eriktorenberg
@turpentinemedia
--

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DISCUSSION:
Main Argument
Myth: Globalization hollowed out America's middle class

Reality: Middle class moved UP income brackets; wages grew 40% during peak globalization
Real Causes
1973 oil shock caused wage stagnation (70s-80s), not globalization

China shock (2000s): Only 2M manufacturing jobs lost, limited scope
America vs. China
US: Less globalized than most countries; only 4% manufacturing trade deficit

China: Cities will look shabby in 30 years; exports falling as % of GDP
Political Technology Paralysis
Republicans: Fear hardware (solar, batteries, EVs)

Progressives: Fear software (AI, social media)

Both sides handicapping American tech leadership while China advances
...more
54min

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How many episodes does "Moment of Zen" have?

The podcast currently has 144 episodes available.

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