Introducing Business History: How Free Whisky, Hot Pants and Low Fares Led to Southwest's Success
Hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith trace the rise of Southwest Airlines from a Texas intrastate startup sketched on a cocktail napkin to one of the most consistently profitable airlines in U.S. history. They explain how regulatory structures, low fares, aggressive legal battles, operational innovations, and a deliberately unglamorous business strategy gave Southwest a durable edge in a notoriously bad industry. The episode then examines how those same strengths later exposed vulnerabilities, culminating in the 737 MAX grounding, a holiday meltdown, activist investor pressure, and strategic changes like adding assigned seating.
Bezos's AI Start-up, Thiel's Nvidia Sell-off, and Trump-MTG Breakup
Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway recap their recent live tour and Scott's appearance on Bill Maher's show before diving into U.S. politics, including Donald Trump's push to release the Epstein files and his public break with Marjorie Taylor Greene. They analyze Greene's apparent pivot and apology, debate a new Republican health care proposal and broader healthcare reform, and then turn to concerns about an AI-driven market bubble, Peter Thiel's NVIDIA sell-off, OpenAI's economics, Jeff Bezos's new AI startup, the recent bond rally, and the fragility created by extreme stock market concentration. The episode closes with wins and fails focused on Seth Meyers vs. Trump, Tom Cruise's honorary Oscar, and worries about systemic financial risk.
Is the U.S. Really Less Corrupt Than China? (Update)
Stephen Dubner interviews political scientist Yuen Yuen Ong about her research on corruption in China and the United States, based on her book "China's Gilded Age." Ong explains her four-part typology of corruption, how certain types of corruption can coexist with rapid economic growth, and why she believes the U.S. and China are both experiencing different versions of a "Gilded Age." She also critiques common corruption metrics, discusses China's evolving political-economic model under Mao, Deng, and Xi, and reflects on the strengths and weaknesses of capitalist prosperity and democracy.