John interviews the legendary Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s “Mad Money with Jim Cramer” for the past 16 years, co-host of “Squawk on the Street,” and co-founder of the financial news site TheStreet. John and Jim have a fun and freewheeling conversation about everything from Cramer’s early days as local reporter in California, to China’s ambitions regarding Taiwan, and why he thinks Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is an unsung hero of the left.

This is a lightly edited rerun of the interview that ran on Friday, April 2nd.

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John interviews Andrew Sullivan, the noted British-American writer and podcaster, as well as the author of the forthcoming collection “Out on a Limb: Selected Writing, 1989–2021.” Named acting editor of The New Republic, at only 26, he quickly established himself as one of America’s leading public intellectuals. In 1989, he wrote a piece titled, “Here Comes The Groom: A (conservative) case for gay marriage.” That headline gives a glimpse into his heterodox style of thinking. As further proof, Sullivan lists the American presidential candidates he’s supported: “Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Dole, Bush, Kerry, Obama, Clinton, and Biden.” 

Sullivan has written for The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, and New York Magazine, but last year he returned to his blogging roots with The Weekly Dish, which he publishes via Substack. John talks to Andrew about his career trajectory, the rise of Trump, and the rise of woke culture.

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Science and tech headlines: 

• A South Korean study has found that one shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine plus another of the Pfizer vaccine produces more antibodies than getting the AstraZeneca vaccine alone.
• Quantum computing startup PsiQuantum has raised $450 million in a series D round. It plans to develop a quantum computer using photons to store information.

News items: 

• A congressional panel urged US corporations to pull their sponsorships of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. John explains why the entire multi-billion dollar marketing and broadcasting edifice built round the Olympics will collapse in the next decade.
• Despite a blowout quarter for Google, Apple, and Facebook – actually, because of the blowout quarter – John and Rebecca agree that regulatory trouble may come for Big Tech.
• Fears that the Chinese government’s crackdown on the real estate and education industries may come for the health care industry has led to a selloff of Chinese health equities. Rebecca explains how the CCP is thinking in “centuries” — not quarters — as they try to solve their demographic quandary – investors be damned! 
• John and Rebecca discuss John’s most recent column, titled Four Illusions. In it, he explains how President Biden’s obviously declining mental acuity and Vice President Harris’ less-than-stellar performance could lead to the re-election of Donald Trump in 2024 – if inflation rears its ugly head.

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John interviews Mark Tercek, a former partner at Goldman Sachs who left the world of finance to become the CEO of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) – the world’s largest environmental nonprofit organization. During his 11 years at TNC, the organization raised over $7 billion dollars to fight climate change and protect land and water around the world. Tercek is also the author of “Nature’s Fortune: How Business and Society Thrive by Investing in Nature.”

John and Mark discuss the move from investment banking to environmentalism, why he brought a business approach to the organization, and how the private sector can be one of the leaders in the fight against climate change.

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Science and tech headlines: 

• A consortium of 99 scientists has completed the map of the human genome, discovering more than 2,000 new genes in the process.
• Autonomous truck startups brought in more than $5 billion in funding in the first five months of 2021. John and Rebecca talk about the promise of self-driving semis.

News items:

• Los Angeles County reinstated mask mandates and social distancing after official health reports found that 20% of new infections were in people who were vaccinated.
• Foreign investors deployed a record $900 billion in American mutual funds and ETFs in the first half of this year. Rebecca explains why US equities look so attractive these days.
• John and Rebecca discuss a New York Times story on Facebook’s partnering with religious organizations to create online congregations.
• China has sent the Biden administration a list of grievances and demands. John and Rebecca think they won’t be answered.

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