Wonderful interview. There was an LA Times piece back in 2010 about a PG&E-backed proposition which included this quote from a student:
“PG&E is a force for evil. I bundle up. I wear three sweaters, two hats and do jumping jacks before I will turn on the heat. I hate them. They are awful. And I’m a Buddhist. I don’t usually talk like this.”
I think there's a tendency to discredit how much the average American hates getting screwed over by corporations - see how many mainstream pundits criticized the messaging of the anti-oligarchy rallies that Bernie and AOC went on, despite their massive turnout. For someone to hold that level of anger, not (only) for a Big Pharma or Big Oil company but their own electric utility, really shows how animating it can be to target utility monopolies. And that was 16 years ago!
All of that is to say, I really appreciated hearing Steyer articulate his proposals to reign in these monopolies. Gonna be really interesting to see the role that issue plays in this election.
I love that you're getting major party candidates in for interviews. Great work!
While Steyer may be on the "good" end of the billionaire spectrum, you're exactly right to challenge his suitability on the wealth point alone.
No one becomes a billionaire with two things:
a) an obsessive drive to compile wealth (ususally as a metric to feed an ego) and
b) an abnormally large lack of empathy of how neoliberalism impacts everyday people around the world.
Even if the most benevolent soul created the most amazing product and became an "accidental" billionaire - a normal person would use that and spend tens of millions a year on food aid, housing aid and other social causes. They would give to the point their excessive wealth decreases - and if it grew, that indicates they are failing (I'm looking at you, Bill Gates).
While it's better than average that Steyer's portfolio doesn't directly support major fossil fuel companies, it is still full of corporations obsessed with profits - over people, community and climate. He's personally profiting from a system that pushes people out of work, screws contractors, overcharges customers and pollutes.
I am not against capitalism per-se, but we need to return to "housebroken" capitalism that balances obligations to shareholders, employees, customers and community - and respects the value of quality regulation. Until Steyer has a portfolio of such companies, he is still a serious part of the problem.
I'm exactly that skeptical reader, Emily, and Steyer did not win me over on his right to exist as a billionaire. That said...maybe he'll yank back the Overton window a bit, who knows?
P.S., If you plan to do some more interviews with midterm candidates this year, could you do one for a New York race? Every week I let out a primal scream into my pillow when our governor bellyaches about how our very own climate laws are too onerous to her corporate handlers and I'd really love to know that ANYONE is loudly objecting to this capitulation.
Great interview. So far, Steyer is my candidate, mostly because of his climate positions.
I'd like to take issue with a comment you made at 6:30 that "Elon promised he'd electrify transportation, and Bezos said he'd fix healthcare." You followed that saying neither panned out. That's simply not true. Tesla has profoundly changed transportation. If not for Tesla, there would be essentially no EVs today from anyone. Tesla is forcing the global auto industry to electrify. They have directly taken over 9 million ICE cars off the road, and indirectly, they've taken tens of millions more since none of those other EVs would ever have been built without Tesla.
Elon's politics are horrid, I get that, but it is counter-productive to speak ill of Tesla to get back at Musk. Tesla has done nothing wrong. Tesla is by far the most powerful ally we have against the global oil industry. We should applaud the workers who made that happen and do everything we can to kill the sale of new ICE cars.
Over 40,000 new gas cars are sold every day in the US. Since the electorate is 50/50, that means some 20,000 Dems buy a new gas car every day. This has to stop! We need Emily Atkins, and every other climate warrior to start talking about this problem. It's easy to fix. Create a campaign to shame anyone who buys a new gas car. They are perpetuating the industry that is responsible for much of the climate change and deaths from criteria pollutants.
Loved this interview and your follow-up chat with Tracy. You’re on 🔥Emily! Love the idea of inviting the other candidates on. California is last I checked the world’s 4th largest economy so what they do matters to all of us.
I appreciate that Tom Steyer took the time to speak with you at all about his candidacy and climate change. Do I think he's the best choice? No. There's no such thing as a "cool" billionaire, and I would rather he be an advocate for environmentally-conscious policies from the sidelines than someone actively driving policy. That's not my choice to make from someone who lives all the way across the country, though.
As a billionaire, there are so many more effective ways for him to make change. He doesn't need to personally run. The fact that Steyer is demonstrates that this isn't about the things he is running on, rather, its about him. The fact that he wouldn't give away enough money to de-billionaire is telling. He can keep a few hundred million and still be "comfortable". This is another trojan horse candidate in the wake of so many like Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and others....
Wonderful interview. There was an LA Times piece back in 2010 about a PG&E-backed proposition which included this quote from a student:
“PG&E is a force for evil. I bundle up. I wear three sweaters, two hats and do jumping jacks before I will turn on the heat. I hate them. They are awful. And I’m a Buddhist. I don’t usually talk like this.”
I think there's a tendency to discredit how much the average American hates getting screwed over by corporations - see how many mainstream pundits criticized the messaging of the anti-oligarchy rallies that Bernie and AOC went on, despite their massive turnout. For someone to hold that level of anger, not (only) for a Big Pharma or Big Oil company but their own electric utility, really shows how animating it can be to target utility monopolies. And that was 16 years ago!
All of that is to say, I really appreciated hearing Steyer articulate his proposals to reign in these monopolies. Gonna be really interesting to see the role that issue plays in this election.
Your interview with Tim Steyer is masterful and revealing, thank you for your astute journalism!
Thank you so much!
Great interview! Please keep it up.
I love that you're getting major party candidates in for interviews. Great work!
While Steyer may be on the "good" end of the billionaire spectrum, you're exactly right to challenge his suitability on the wealth point alone.
No one becomes a billionaire with two things:
a) an obsessive drive to compile wealth (ususally as a metric to feed an ego) and
b) an abnormally large lack of empathy of how neoliberalism impacts everyday people around the world.
Even if the most benevolent soul created the most amazing product and became an "accidental" billionaire - a normal person would use that and spend tens of millions a year on food aid, housing aid and other social causes. They would give to the point their excessive wealth decreases - and if it grew, that indicates they are failing (I'm looking at you, Bill Gates).
While it's better than average that Steyer's portfolio doesn't directly support major fossil fuel companies, it is still full of corporations obsessed with profits - over people, community and climate. He's personally profiting from a system that pushes people out of work, screws contractors, overcharges customers and pollutes.
I am not against capitalism per-se, but we need to return to "housebroken" capitalism that balances obligations to shareholders, employees, customers and community - and respects the value of quality regulation. Until Steyer has a portfolio of such companies, he is still a serious part of the problem.
SO informative!
A wonderful verbal volley, with Emily serving & returning each question & comment.
Knowledge is power!
I'm exactly that skeptical reader, Emily, and Steyer did not win me over on his right to exist as a billionaire. That said...maybe he'll yank back the Overton window a bit, who knows?
P.S., If you plan to do some more interviews with midterm candidates this year, could you do one for a New York race? Every week I let out a primal scream into my pillow when our governor bellyaches about how our very own climate laws are too onerous to her corporate handlers and I'd really love to know that ANYONE is loudly objecting to this capitulation.
I object! New Yorker here who’d also love for you to interview our dear governor…
Great interview. So far, Steyer is my candidate, mostly because of his climate positions.
I'd like to take issue with a comment you made at 6:30 that "Elon promised he'd electrify transportation, and Bezos said he'd fix healthcare." You followed that saying neither panned out. That's simply not true. Tesla has profoundly changed transportation. If not for Tesla, there would be essentially no EVs today from anyone. Tesla is forcing the global auto industry to electrify. They have directly taken over 9 million ICE cars off the road, and indirectly, they've taken tens of millions more since none of those other EVs would ever have been built without Tesla.
Elon's politics are horrid, I get that, but it is counter-productive to speak ill of Tesla to get back at Musk. Tesla has done nothing wrong. Tesla is by far the most powerful ally we have against the global oil industry. We should applaud the workers who made that happen and do everything we can to kill the sale of new ICE cars.
Over 40,000 new gas cars are sold every day in the US. Since the electorate is 50/50, that means some 20,000 Dems buy a new gas car every day. This has to stop! We need Emily Atkins, and every other climate warrior to start talking about this problem. It's easy to fix. Create a campaign to shame anyone who buys a new gas car. They are perpetuating the industry that is responsible for much of the climate change and deaths from criteria pollutants.
Loved this interview and your follow-up chat with Tracy. You’re on 🔥Emily! Love the idea of inviting the other candidates on. California is last I checked the world’s 4th largest economy so what they do matters to all of us.
I appreciate that Tom Steyer took the time to speak with you at all about his candidacy and climate change. Do I think he's the best choice? No. There's no such thing as a "cool" billionaire, and I would rather he be an advocate for environmentally-conscious policies from the sidelines than someone actively driving policy. That's not my choice to make from someone who lives all the way across the country, though.
As a billionaire, there are so many more effective ways for him to make change. He doesn't need to personally run. The fact that Steyer is demonstrates that this isn't about the things he is running on, rather, its about him. The fact that he wouldn't give away enough money to de-billionaire is telling. He can keep a few hundred million and still be "comfortable". This is another trojan horse candidate in the wake of so many like Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and others....
Good interview. So far, Tom is my choice.
I am a paid subscriber! Can I hear your opinion of the interview. You just did!