Referenced Resources

Here’s a list of all resources mentioned in the interview, categorized by type:

People

• Bernie Sanders: Senator, discussed throughout the interview regarding his political career, activism, book, and views on various issues.
• Trevor Noah: Host of the show “What Now”, interviewed Bernie Sanders.
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC): Mentioned in the context of her poll on Instagram and as a progressive politician who inspires others.
• Mamdani: Mentioned as a candidate for mayor of New York City, whom Bernie Sanders is supporting, and as an example of grassroots political success.
• Donald Trump: Former President, frequently mentioned as a political opponent and as a figure who identifies systemic problems but offers detrimental solutions.
• Elon Musk: Billionaire, mentioned as an example of extreme wealth inequality and as a significant political donor.
• Bezos: Billionaire, mentioned as an owner of The Washington Post and Twitch, and as a significant political donor.
• Ellison family: Mentioned as having bought Paramount, which owns CBS. Likely referring to Larry Ellison.
• Zuckerberg: Billionaire, mentioned as owner of Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and as a significant political donor.
• Rupert Murdoch: Media mogul, mentioned as owner of Fox, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Post.
• Tom Tillis: Senator from North Carolina, mentioned as an example of a Republican politician who faced repercussions for opposing a bill.
• Kamala Harris: Vice President, mentioned as having received contributions from billionaires, which may have influenced her campaign.
• Woody Guthrie: Folk singer, his song “Which Side Are You On?” is referenced.
• Johnny Cash: Musician, his song “Folsom Blues” is referenced in the context of Folsom, California.
• Andrew Cuomo: Former Governor of New York, mentioned in relation to the Mamdani campaign.
• Hillary Clinton: Former Secretary of State and presidential candidate, mentioned in comparison to Bernie Sanders’ campaigns.
• Martin Luther King Jr. (Dr. King): Civil rights leader, his “Jobs and Freedom” march and his understanding of economic issues are referenced.
• Mustafa Suleiman: Co-founder of DeepMind, mentioned as having stated that there will be a mass displacement of jobs due to AI.
• Shaquille O’Neal: Former NBA player, mentioned as an example of rule changes in sports to ensure fairness.
• Bill Ackerman: Mentioned in the context of billionaires willing to spend money to defeat candidates like Mamdani.
• Greg Casar: Congressman from Texas, mentioned as a progressive politician.
• Putin: President of Russia, mentioned in the context of authoritarian leaders.
• Saudi Arabia Royal Family: Mentioned as rulers of autocratic governments.
• Qatar Royal Family: Mentioned in the context of receiving a plane as a gift.
• James Madison High School: Bernie Sanders’ alma mater, mentioned in the context of free tuition.
• Brooklyn College: Bernie Sanders’ first college, mentioned in the context of free tuition.
• City University of New York (CUNY): University system where Bernie Sanders attended college, mentioned in the context of free tuition.
• University of California: University system mentioned in the context of free tuition historically.

Organizations

• Democrats: Political party, discussed in relation to their stance on issues, their role as a “corporate party,” and their potential for change.
• Republicans: Political party, discussed in relation to their stance on business and their alignment with right-wing extremism.
• DeepMind: AI company, mentioned as founded by Mustafa Suleiman.
• BlackRock: Financial institution, mentioned as a dominant stockholder in many American corporations.
• Vanguard: Financial institution, mentioned as a dominant stockholder in many American corporations.
• State Street: Financial institution, mentioned as a dominant stockholder in many American corporations.
• Major League Baseball: Professional baseball league, mentioned as an example of salary caps and fair competition.
• Fortnite: Video game, mentioned in the context of addictive gaming cycles and monetization.
• Call of Duty: Video game, mentioned in the context of addictive gaming cycles and monetization.
• The Daily Show: Television show, mentioned as where the interviewer worked when first in America.
• Apple: Technology company, not explicitly named but implied in the context of tech investors.
• Google: Technology company, mentioned in the context of searching for company ownership.
• Paramount: Media company, mentioned as owned by the Ellison family and owning CBS.
• CBS: Television network, mentioned as owned by Paramount.
• Fox: Media company, mentioned as owned by Rupert Murdoch.
• The Wall Street Journal: Newspaper, mentioned as owned by Rupert Murdoch.
• The New York Post: Newspaper, mentioned as owned by Rupert Murdoch.
• Meta: Technology company, mentioned as owned by Mark Zuckerberg.
• Twitter: Social media platform, mentioned as owned by Elon Musk.
• Twitch: Streaming platform, mentioned as owned by Bezos.
• Amazon Prime: Subscription service, mentioned in the context of paying for services.
• Progressive wing of the Democratic party: Mentioned as the group Bernie Sanders represents.
• Working-class Americans: Group discussed as being targeted by political parties and experiencing economic hardship.
• The billionaire class: Group discussed as having significant wealth and political influence.
• Fossil fuel industry: Industry mentioned as potentially harming the planet.
• Insurance companies: Industry mentioned as having significant power and influence.
• Drug companies: Industry mentioned as a target of public anger due to high prices.
• Trade union movement: Mentioned as a force for change.
• New York City: Location of Mamdani’s mayoral campaign and discussed in terms of housing and transportation costs.
• Germany: Country mentioned as having free college tuition.
• France: Country mentioned as having centrist parties in decline.
• United Kingdom (UK): Country mentioned as having centrist parties in decline and as a place where third parties are easier to establish.
• Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark, Sweden): Countries mentioned as examples of social welfare systems where healthcare is a human right.
• Vermont: State mentioned as Bernie Sanders’ home state and having tuition-free state colleges historically.
• Folsom, California: Rural area mentioned as having a large turnout for a Bernie Sanders rally.
• Denver: City mentioned as having a large turnout for a Bernie Sanders rally.
• James Madison High School: High school attended by Bernie Sanders.
• Brooklyn College: College attended by Bernie Sanders.
• City University of New York (CUNY): University system where Bernie Sanders attended college.
• University of California: University system mentioned in the context of free tuition.
• Dirksen office building: Location of Bernie Sanders’ Senate office.
• US House: Mentioned in Bernie Sanders’ political career.
• Senate: Mentioned in Bernie Sanders’ political career.

Documents

• Bernie Sanders’ new book: Discussed in relation to his life, dedications, and the struggles of teachers.
• A poll on Instagram by AOC: Mentioned as an indicator of voter behavior.
• “Jobs and Freedom”: Title of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington.
• Woody Guthrie song: “Which Side Are You On?” is referenced.
• “Folsom Blues”: Song by Johnny Cash, referenced in the context of Folsom, California.

Tools

• Super PACs: Mentioned as a way for wealthy individuals and groups to influence elections, particularly in the context of AI regulations.
• AI (Artificial Intelligence): Technology discussed as a threat to jobs and a resource-intensive industry.
• Robotics: Technology discussed as a threat to jobs.
• Computers: Mentioned in the context of modern isolation.
• Podcasts: Mentioned as a popular medium for conversation and information.
• Social media (Instagram, Facebook): Platforms mentioned in relation to political polls and information dissemination.
• Twitter: Social media platform, mentioned as owned by Elon Musk.
• Meta: Social media company, mentioned as owned by Mark Zuckerberg.
• Video games (Fortnite, Call of Duty): Mentioned in the context of addictive cycles and monetization.

Technologies

• AI (Artificial Intelligence): Technology discussed as a threat to jobs and a resource-intensive industry.
• Robotics: Technology discussed as a threat to jobs.
• Cashless registers: Technology being implemented in cafeterias, replacing human cashiers.
• Crypto: Mentioned in relation to wealth generation and investment.
• NFTs: Digital assets mentioned in the context of digital art and potential for other applications.

Concepts

• Oligarchy: Central theme of the interview, defined as control by a small group of wealthy and powerful individuals.
• Capitalism: Discussed as a system that, in its current hyper-capitalist form, leads to oligarchy and inequality.
• Democracy: Discussed in terms of its ideal versus its current implementation, particularly in the context of money’s influence.
• Progressivism: Political ideology, represented by Bernie Sanders and others.
• Liberalism: Political ideology, discussed as being distinct from progressivism.
• Working class issues: Economic struggles of working people, including low wages and lack of benefits.
• Income and wealth inequality: The widening gap between the rich and the poor, a major focus of the discussion.
• Cost of living: The expense of basic necessities like housing, transportation, and childcare.
• Cost of teaching: The financial burdens faced by educators.
• Social security: Mentioned in relation to its age.
• Health care: Discussed as a right and a current crisis in the US.
• Cost of prescription drugs: High prices of medications are a major concern.
• Childcare: Discussed as being outrageously expensive and workers being underpaid.
• Education: Discussed in terms of affordability, with historical free tuition being contrasted with current student debt.
• Taxes: Discussed in relation to the wealthy paying their “fair share.”
• Campaign finance reform: Proposals to limit the influence of money in elections.
• Public funding of elections: A proposed solution to level the playing field in political campaigns.
• Citizens United Supreme Court decision: Mentioned as a contributing factor to a corrupt political system.
• Identity politics: Discussed as a focus that can detract from economic issues.
• Classism: Discrimination based on social class, presented as a fundamental issue.
• Democratic socialism: Political ideology, discussed as being increasingly popular among young people.
• Social welfare system: Systems in place in Scandinavian countries.
• Worker-owned companies: Companies owned and managed by their employees.
• Handicap system (golf): Mentioned as an example of creating a level playing field.
• Ballot access regulations: Difficulties faced by third parties in getting on the ballot.
• Demagogue: A political leader who appeals to popular desires and prejudices.
• Authoritarianism: A form of government characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms.
• Human rights: Discussed in relation to healthcare and other basic needs.
• Mental health crisis: A significant issue in America.
• Human interaction: The value of personal connection, contrasted with automation.
• Value system: The principles and beliefs that guide society.
• Egalitarianism: The principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
• Fairness: A key concept in sports and politics.
• Community spaces: Places like parks and recreation centers that foster connection.
• Commercialization: The process of introducing a product or service into the market; in this context, the over-commercialization of everyday life.