The Breakdown of Trust with Balaji Srinivasan & Glenn Greenwald - WBD454

Location: Remote
Date: Monday 24th January
Project: balajis.com,
glenngreenwald.com.br
Role: Angel Investor & Entrepreneur,
Journalist and Author


US exceptionalism and continuance of its role as the world's
leading power is under threat. Whilst it is arguable whether
America has truly lived up to being that ‘Shining City on a
Hill’, it’s potential demise and a resultant shifting balance of
power eastwards should give those who believe in freedom and
privacy pause for thought.


The reasons for the current predicament are varied and complex.
Whilst there are powerful external forces seeking to damage the
US, the most critical wounds are those that have been
self-inflicted. Of these, a breakdown of public trust in
government and the media are perhaps the most consequential.


The impacts are apparent to all: polarisation, ineffective
governance, paranoia, stasis. All the while, China continues to
make bold and aggressive moves aimed at supplanting the US.


All of this has occurred in a relatively short period of time.
Just 30 years ago the Soviet Union fell, whilst Chinese nominal
GDP was 6% of the US’s. Complacency and a focus on fighting
imaginary enemies allowed rot to set in. Does Bitcoin offer an
opportunity for the US to regain it’s discipline whilst also
living up to the mantle of being the land of the free?


In this interview, I talk to angel investor Balaji Srinivasan and
journalist Glenn Greenwald. We compare American incompetence to
Chinese competence, how Bitcoin offers hope, why the US
establishment has struggled to assimilate new technology and the
damaging conflict between tech and media over the past 20 years.