Episode Details

Air Date: 5/15/2026

Today we examine what it would actually take to claw back democracy from billionaire capture — and why some people think it's more possible than it looks. We'll hear about California's proposed billionaire wealth tax, AOC's vision for change that doesn't depend on positional power, and why Peter Thiel's new "AI Tribunal of Truth" may have accidentally revealed exactly what the ruling class fears most.

Full Show Notes

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TOP TAKES

KP 1: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on Possible 2028 White House Run - C-SPAN - Air Date 5-8-26

KP 2: One State Found a Way to Make Billionaires Pay. Your State Could Be Next. - More Perfect Union, Inequality Media Civic Action, & Robert Reich - Air Date 4-1-26

KP 3: Tech Billionaires Want Us Dead - Taylor Lorenz - Air Date 1-19-26

KP 4: Jeff & Lauren Bezos Make 'Gratitude Lists' as AMAZON WORKERS DIE AT WORK - Brittany Page - Air Date 4-14-26

KP 5: Why Philanthropy [STILL] Isn't the Answer with (with Anand Giridharadas) - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 5-5-26

KP 6: The Case Against Billionaires | Chuck Collins - Washington Monthly - Air Date 1-5-26

(00:47:44) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Who Owns the Upside?

DEEPER DIVES

(00:59:03) SECTION A: TECH POWER, SURVEILLANCE, AND THE END OF TRUTH

A1: Do Tech Billionaires Want Us Dead? (with Taylor Lorenz) - Team Human with Douglas Rushkoff - Air Date 2-18-26

A2: The End of Work: Why Your Kids Won't Have Careers in 15 Years - Trevor Noah - Air Date 4-19-26

A3: This Is Actually Terrifying - Struthless - Air Date 4-16-26

(01:23:24) SECTION B: BEZOS, AMAZON, AND THE HUMAN COST

B1: "Tax the Rich" Is Hate Speech!? - PissedMagistus - Air Date 5-11-26

B2: Why I Support The California Billionaire Tax - Robert Reich and Inequality Media Civic Action - Air Date 4-7-26

(01:32:00) SECTION C: HOW THE TAX CODE BUILT THE ARISTOCRACY

C1: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy / Ray Madoff Part 1 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 11-13-25

C2: The Second Estate: Where Billionaires Don't Pay. You Do. (with Ray D. Madoff) - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 4-14-26

C3: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristo