E61: Noah Smith on Wokeness, Right Wing Muckrakers, and Class vs Identity

Todays episode features a conversation between Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discussing the recent angry posts on X from David Austin Walsh, a history postdoc at Yale, and what this controversy says about elite overproduction in the US. They also cover the the rise of right-wing muckrakers, discuss what the conservative movement needs now, and who they consider the smartest thinkers today are — on the left and the right.

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj

--

RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Econ 102 with Noah Smith

Every week, Noah Smith, economist and Noahpinion writer break down current events through the lens of economics — while keeping econ entertaining.

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6q7Gn5lP8TTtBPuV1NJSGs

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/econ-102-with-noah-smith-and-erik-torenberg/id1696419056

--

SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SQUAD

🐝 Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. Go to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.

💥 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.

--

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

(01:05) Twitter Controversy: David Austin Walsh

(04:30) Elite Overproduction and Academia

(08:29) Affirmative Action and Racial Disparities

(14:32) Sponsor: Beehiiv | Squad

(17:07) Elite overproduction’s implications for politics and academia

(22:29) Right-Wing muckrakers and progressive institutions

(32:12) Misconceptions about Barack Obama

(32:50) Mike Solana, Christopher Rufo, and other voices on the Right

(35:33) Evolution of progressive and conservative labels

(40:20) American Roots of Wokeness

(56:53) The Future of Conservatism

(1:01:41) Wrap

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].