E69: Balaji Srinivasan on the Rise of the Tech Counter Elites

"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg

Last week, Erik Torenberg sat down with Balaji Srinivasan to discuss the vibe shift to the right in Silicon Valley, particularly after the attempted assassination of President Trump. This episode originally aired in Moment of Zen. They discuss the rising tensions between tech counter-elites and political incumbents, and why tech is at odds with "America First". They explore tech's influence on politics, ideological shifts, and international dynamics affecting global economics and policies. Balaji also provides a critical analysis of movements like the January 6th riots and contemplates the future of democracy.

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:29) The Rise of the Tech Counter Elite

(06:15) Global Influence and the Tech Center

(12:49) The Tech Counter Elite vs. Traditional Elites

(19:10) Democratic Party's Internal Struggles

(27:13) SPONSORS: Squad | beehiiv

(37:31) Conspiracy Theories and Political Divides

(39:19) SPONSORS: Babbel | Brave

(41:51) Meta Organisms and Human Coordination

(51:26) Media Manipulation and Political Narratives

(01:10:56) Economic and Political Shifts

(01:37:04) Economic Collapse and Future Predictions

(01:40:05) Conclusion and Final Thoughts