Plain English with Derek Thompson

SpaceX, AI Bubble Fears, and The Age of the Trillion-Dollar, Zero-Profit Company

The market is shifting toward asset-heavy, zero-profit tech giants, raising questions about whether AI is a bubble.

The Iran War Is Ending. Everybody Lost.

The war in Iran has ended in a humiliating deal that trades massive economic concessions for hollow promises.

The Donald Trump Corruption Scandal Draft

Derek Thompson and Isaac Saul draft the most egregious examples of Donald Trump using his presidency to get rich.

The Most Exciting Month of Medical Breakthroughs in Years

A massive wave of medical breakthroughs in weight loss and oncology is ushering in a potential new golden age of cures.

Old-igarchy: How the Elderly Conquered American Power

Aging Americans are hoarding wealth and power through a rigged system that leaves younger generations behind.

How Modern Fatherhood Is Changing Men’s Brains

Fatherhood is undergoing a massive shift as millennial dads spend three times more time with kids than previous generations.

What 400,000 Essays Reveal About AI and Creativity

AI makes writing sound more creative while simultaneously making the underlying ideas blander and more homogeneous.

The Surprising Truth About America's Friendship Crisis

Modern life keeps us from deep connection, but declining social time is a choice driven by convenience and isolation.

Why the NBA Feels Broken—and Why the League Can’t Fix It

The NBA is richer and more global than ever, yet fans are furious at a product that feels broken and optimized to death.

The Men Who Think Toxic Feminism Destroyed America

The right-wing movement known as masculinism is uniting the modern GOP through a shared backlash against feminism.

Does Anybody Know How to Solve an American Debt Crisis?

Economist Justin Wolfers explains why the massive US deficit has liberal economists worried about a potential debt crisis.

Why the Iran War Is Tearing MAGA Apart

In this episode of Plain English, host Derek Thompson sits down with New York Times columnist Ross Douthat to explore the surprising durability of the MAGA movement. Despite years of internal contradictions and external crises, Trumpism has consistently maintained its coalition. Thompson and Douthat break down the unlikely alliance between Christian conservatives, anti-establishment populists, and the MAHA health movement, analyzing how these disparate groups reconcile their values with Donald Trump’s rhetoric and lifestyle. The conversation moves beyond historical political rifts to examine the present: Could the intensifying conflict in Iran be the catalyst that finally fractures this coalition? Listeners can expect a deep dive into the ideological fault lines within modern conservatism and a thought-provoking assessment of whether Trump’s grip on his base is truly as ironclad as it appears in the face of shifting global tensions.

The Triple Crisis That’s Breaking Hollywood—and Changing the Future of Movies

In this episode of Plain English, Derek Thompson explores the profound triple crisis currently reshaping Hollywood: a steep decline in ticket sales, a massive contraction in industry jobs, and a creative stagnation defined by aging stars and recycled intellectual property. While ticket attendance has halved since the early 2000s and studio employment has plummeted by 30 percent, the industry remains at a critical crossroads. Guest Sean Fennessey, host of The Big Picture, offers a contrarian perspective on these industry struggles. He argues that the narrative of terminal decline overlooks emerging green shoots, including a slight uptick in attendance and the rise of a new generation of creators. Together, Thompson and Fennessey analyze the new rules of the film business and discuss what these shifting industry dynamics reveal about the broader evolution of American culture.

The Most Powerful and Dangerous AI Model Yet

In this episode of Plain English, Derek Thompson explores the emergence of Anthropic’s highly capable and potentially dangerous AI model, Mythos. Capable of autonomous cybersecurity infiltration and complex reasoning, the model marks a significant shift in the industry as companies pivot from racing to release products to labeling their creations too powerful for public access. Thompson is joined by New York Times columnist and Hard Fork co-host Kevin Roose to examine the implications of this development. They discuss whether this new level of performance represents a genuine safety milestone or a strategic marketing move, while also exploring broader trends like the transition from demand to supply scarcity in the AI sector. Listeners can expect an insightful analysis of how Mythos and recent advancements in the field are shaping the consequential race toward artificial general intelligence.

The Whole World Is Fighting About Energy

In this episode of Plain English, host Derek Thompson explores the surprising connection between two of today's most significant global developments: the conflict involving Iran and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. While these stories may appear distinct, Thompson argues that they are fundamentally driven by a singular resource: energy. The episode examines how modern geopolitical tensions have transformed into energy blockades, with nations jockeying for control over power supplies. Simultaneously, the tech industry is engaged in a frantic arms race to secure the electricity and infrastructure necessary to support the massive demands of artificial intelligence. To unpack these complex themes, Thompson sits down with energy analyst Nat Bullard. Together, they discuss the implications of a global landscape where energy has become the ultimate currency of power, shaping both the future of international relations and the trajectory of technological innovation.

‘The Job Market for Young People Is Brutal’

In this episode of Plain English, host Derek Thompson explores the increasingly difficult landscape for young job seekers, specifically focusing on the recent rise in unemployment among college graduates. Thompson tackles the complex debate over whether artificial intelligence is displacing entry-level workers, acknowledging that expert consensus on the matter remains elusive. Joined by Atlantic staff writer Rogé Karma, the discussion unpacks why today’s labor market feels particularly hostile to new hires and explores the growing disconnect between official economic data and the lived experiences of young professionals. Listeners can expect a deep dive into these economic trends, an analysis of why current market vibes feel so bleak, and an examination of the systemic challenges facing those just entering the workforce. It is an essential listen for anyone trying to understand the shifting dynamics of the modern professional world.

America's Religious Revival Is a Mirage

In this episode of Plain English, host Derek Thompson sits down with political scientist and data analyst Ryan Burge to challenge the widely circulating narrative that America is undergoing a massive religious revival. While recent headlines suggest a surge in religious participation among Gen Z and a general reversal of the long-term trend toward secularism, Burge argues that the reality is far more nuanced. By analyzing detailed demographic data and shifting social patterns, the pair investigates whether these reports of a spiritual comeback are a true historic shift or merely a statistical mirage. Listeners can expect an eye-opening exploration of how religious affiliation in the United States is actually evolving. Through a data-driven lens, they unpack what the numbers really say about the future of faith in America and why the current perception of a national religious resurgence might be misleading.

Is China the Winner of the Iran War?

In this episode of Plain English, host Derek Thompson sits down with investor and writer Alex Turnbull to analyze the far-reaching global implications of the 2026 Iran war. Drawing a parallel to the 1970s oil crisis, which fundamentally reshaped American politics and international industry, the pair explores how this current conflict may catalyze similarly historic shifts. The conversation focuses on the "second-order effects" of the war, examining how geopolitical instability could solidify China’s global standing, fundamentally alter the nature of modern warfare, and accelerate the world’s transition toward renewable energy. Listeners can expect a deep dive into the surprising, long-term consequences of the conflict that extend well beyond the immediate theater of war. It is an insightful look at how current geopolitical tensions are poised to redraw the map of international power for years to come.

Why We're Addicted to ‘Sh*tty Flow’

In this episode of Plain English, Derek Thompson explores how the modern world often hijacks our personal values through the pressure of quantification. Drawing on the work of philosopher C. Thi Nguyen, Thompson examines how external metrics—such as status rankings and social media engagement—can override our internal motivations, turning meaningful pursuits into hollow attempts to make the numbers go up. To help listeners navigate this bureaucratic and inauthentic force, Thompson welcomes author Brad Stulberg to discuss the concept of excellence. Unlike shallow success driven by external validation, excellence requires the discipline to maintain one’s core values even when faced with systems designed to crush them. Listeners can expect an engaging conversation that challenges them to reevaluate their own priorities and provides a roadmap for finding genuine satisfaction in a culture obsessed with data.

Anthropic Thinks AI Might Destroy the Economy. It's Building It Anyway.

In this episode, Derek Thompson sits down with Jack Clark, cofounder of the AI powerhouse Anthropic, to explore the complex realities behind the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. As Anthropic experiences unprecedented revenue growth, moving from $9 billion to $20 billion in just fifteen months, the conversation shifts from financial metrics to the profound ethical questions facing the industry. Thompson presses Clark on the inherent tension between Anthropic’s mission to prioritize safety and its role as a leading developer of increasingly powerful systems. They discuss whether private companies should hold such immense responsibility and why public skepticism toward AI remains so high despite the technology's rapid adoption. Listeners can expect a balanced, critical look at the risks, promises, and internal contradictions of the current AI boom from a perspective at the very center of the movement.