Omicron: Feelings vs. Facts
Derek talks about the rise of the "Vaxxed and Done" movement before reviewing the latest omicron data with John Burn-Murdoch, data superstar at the Financial Times. Host: Derek Thompson Guest: John Bu...
11 Jan 202236min
The Biggest Inventions of the 2020s: Cancer Vaccines, Flying Cars, Space Travel, and More
Let’s kick off the new year with a bit of techno-optimism! After a miserable start to this decade, we can still have a Roaring Twenties. In this episode, ‘Plain English’ presents a tour of the frontie...
7 Jan 202254min
The Four Ways That America Is Polarizing
David Frum joins Derek to talk about rising and falling polarization by race, gender, education, and place—and what it tells us about America's strange new politics. Host: Derek Thompson Guest: David ...
28 Dec 202138min
The Four Biggest Myths of the U.S. Economy. Plus, Omicron in 100 Seconds.
Morgan Housel, Collaborative Fund partner and author of the bestseller 'The Psychology of Money,' joins the pod to debate what we're getting wrong about inflation, the Great Resignation, robots, and i...
21 Dec 202146min
Elon Musk Is the Person of the Year. Who Is the Person of the Century?
New York Times tech columnist Kevin Roose is back to talk about the Age of Elon, why tech’s most famous founders are acting so weird, and why I’m wrong about remote work. Plus, a 2022 prediction. Host...
17 Dec 20211h 4min
The Elizabeth Holmes Trial With Rebecca Jarvis of 'The Dropout' Podcast
Derek is obsessed with the trial of disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes—and he hopes you are too. Days away from the trial's end, Derek and Rebecca review the most jaw-dropping evidence in the...
14 Dec 202148min
Media Report Card! Biden Blues, Omicron Fears, Chris Cuomo, and a Celebrity Profile for the Ages
Bryan Curtis from The Ringer’s ‘The Press Box’ podcast joins Derek to hand out grades to the news media for its coverage of Biden, the pandemic, and more. Host: Derek Thompson Guest: Bryan Curtis Pro...
10 Dec 202144min
Work in America Is Broken—Can Remote Work Save Us?
Derek talks to Anne Helen Petersen, the coauthor of 'Out of Work: The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home,' about Americans' relationship to our jobs, work as an identity, and burnout ...
7 Dec 202139min
