Bernie Wants a Cut of the AI Future
Is the Sanders proposal brilliant or dangerous?
OG Pantsuit Politics listeners are sure to remember the gas and the brakes analogy. When it comes to government power, Sarah is the gas, and I’m the brakes. When it comes to private power, we reverse. That was our framework for years of episodes.
This framework has, at times, been buried or obscured by the barrage of Trump-related headlines, by the complexities of responding to a pandemic, and by attacks on the foundational components of our democratic republic. But today’s episode shows that it’s still there. We’re both worried about the government (about its slowness, its ineffectiveness, its tendency toward corruption) and the private sector (massive companies concentrating power and wealth in the hands of very few people at the expense of everyone while building tools that they don’t even entirely understand). So, Sarah is attracted to the government as the problem-solver and is with Bernie Sanders. Give the public a 50% stake in AI companies and see where we go from there. I’m more inclined toward transparency and public sentiment. As people know more about AI, they like it less. Let that discontent play out.
Outside of politics, we size up the first 6 months of 2026 by reflecting on our words for the year, which we had to look up (and that probably says it all!).
If you know someone who’s been side-eyeing the SpaceX IPO or wondering how AI ended up in their retirement account, text them this episode and tell them it’s the version where their eyes won’t glaze over. - Beth
Topics Discussed
The SpaceX IPO and its red flags
What going public is supposed to mean — and what it means here
How index funds could put SpaceX in your retirement account whether you choose it or not
President Trump's June 2 executive order on AI and cybersecurity
Senator Sanders' proposal for a 50% public stake in AI companies
The EU's risk-based approach to AI regulation
Outside of Politics: words of the year, half-time report
Get the Founders Trunk and all of our America250 celebrations by becoming a member
Episode Resources
Episode Transcript
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Show Credits
Pantsuit Politics is hosted by Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers. The show is produced by Studio D Podcast Production.
Our theme music was composed by Xander Singh with inspiration from original work by Dante Lima.
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