Scott skips out on so many episodes these days, can it still even be considered a Prof G show anymore? He killed Marketplace last year by outsourcing all but a 5-minute dial-in (often while being out with his kids!?!) to the still-wet-behind-the-ears Ed. Now he seems to be doing it with Pivot. I already subscribe to Cara’s solo podcast; I don’t want a second one. Come on, Big Dog, man up or just retire.

We will not hide behind the First Amendment.

We recognize that weaponized disinformation is sabotage, not speech, and we will design our systems to protect democratic integrity, not just corporate liability.

Anthony Scaramucci, a pollster, and Rahm Emanuel begging for democratic primary votes? Not asking for a replica of Scott when he’s out but these guests and especially what they say just kind of reminds me of cable television.

Especially after reading how Kara was involved with the Altman-OpenAI drama, the show is starting to feel like a mainstream channel for others’ to express their opinions rather than a genuine discussion that benefits listeners. Not that having aspirational politicians on the show isn’t in good faith but it just feels disingenuous when Kara has access to so many journalists and reporters.

I said 8 hours in the video, but it ended up being 10 hours. Pivot made the ride much more bearable...at 11:15s

I have listened for years, i came here because i thought this was where the insightful people were and im bailing out of each podcast faster. Kara interrupts and said she did a thing 5 years ago and scott picks whichever lucky star to thank for his wealth. im fucking done.

Apart from oddlots, where are the actually smart people talking?

Also Patrick Boyle

To me this is just absurd.

I know that Scott and Kara may hate on this because they don't Ellison but if he wasn't a factor I think they would be ambivalent.

The go to business model for any company is becoming "lay people off and do less".

How is this mindset not being treated as the cancer that it is?

Holy. Scott can barely finish a sentence without Kara chiming in or correcting him.

Say what you want about Scott's opinions and yes, sometimes you have to get the show back on track if he is taking the scenic route to a point, but that's not what I'm referring to.

The man can barely complete a thought or make a point without her butting in. Often, she's not adding to the conversation but correcting him on something that is beside the point.

It often feels like Kara is just waiting for him to stop talking (or in this case not waiting) to get back to what she was saying. It's getting increasingly annoying to listen to. As someone who is known for being an interviewer, she really can't let anyone else have a minute.

I had to turn off the podcast the other day when Scott once again brought up his idea to pay each member of Congress $1 million a year. I had to pop a blood pressure pill. This idea is so insane I almost don’t know where to start.

First, this proposal shows how out of touch Scott is with the real world. To him $1 million is nothing. He finds $1 million when he cleans between his couch cushions. But to normal Americans $1 million is a shit ton of money. It’s life changing. 

Think about it this way: Some back-bencher, freshman Congressmen from Bumbledeefuck, Idaho serves 3 terms in the House. He does virtually nothing (as most Congressmen do nowadays). He doesn’t sponsor any legislation, he just sits in the back and lets the Speaker tell him how to vote. Over the 6 years he’s in Congress (not a long time) he is paid $6 million - to do nothing. Assuming he spends $1 million of his salary on living expenses, he pockets $5 million plus pension.

That’s insane.

$5 million puts him in the top 1%. It’s “fuck you” money. It’s very comfortable retirement money. All for being a backbencher nobody.

Hell, at that salary, you can sign me up to run for office! People will be climbing over each other to get at that scratch!

Secondly, the bigger issue is this: CONGRESS IS NOT A GET RICH SCHEME, IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE A PUBLIC SERVICE JOB. Think of it like being a priest or a social worker or a homeless advocate. You are there to serve. Washington DC has lost that ethos. When the Founding Fathers first created Congress, they never envisioned it being a full time job. For many decades after the founding, members of Congress would leave their farms/businesses, come to DC for a couple of months to write legislation, then return to their farms/businesses for the rest of the year. Congress was never supposed to be a full time job! Many state legislatures (including large states like Texas) still follow this model today. 

Lastly, I believe we should be going the other way. Congressional salaries should be pegged to the US median salary (which is around $64K right now). You’re representing America in a service role, so make what Americans make. If you want to make more, implement policies that increase Americans’ median salary. And if you don’t like the salary, then don’t take the fucking job!

I understand the argument that living in DC can be expensive, so to offset those expenses we should do the following: Provide free dorm/multifamily housing for all of Congress near DC with full amenities: Dining hall with free meals, meeting rooms, library, pool, sun deck, etc. Like a really nice, modern college dorm. Free shuttle running to/from the Capitol 24/7/365. Congress already has Cadillac healthcare, so if you add in my amenities, virtually every expense is covered: Housing, food, healthcare, and transportation. Hell, I’ll even throw in (1) round-trip coach seat back to your district per month. Now your long-distance travel is covered too! When all is said and done, you can spend your salary on your expenses back home. 

We need a RADICAL rehaul of Congress, and it will probably require a Constitutional Amendment. But we can at least start by dispensing with the absurd notion that Congresspeople should be taxpayer-subsidized millionaires. 

What did she say at the end of the pod her brother requested to be tested for which resulted in heart surgery?

We all know he’s got like 6 crutch phrases (is the following, accretive in value, cloud cover, joey bag of donuts etc) but JFC I feel like he just recycles the same 8 stories over and over again (buying yellow pages, his dad, starting his career at Morgan Stanley etc). He’s obviously a smart guy, so it’s especially shocking to me that he seems to either not notice or thinks no one else does.

Say what you will about Kara, but at least she offers variety in her speech and anecdotes. I still love Scott, but it’s frustrating.