Raging Moderates: How Trump Remade America in Just One Year
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
In this episode of Raging Moderates, Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov analyze how Trump's second term has rapidly reshaped American institutions and global relationships. (02:17) They discuss how Trump has moved quickly to restructure America's relationship with Europe, implement new tariffs, and monetize presidential pardons while his approval ratings on key issues have begun to decline. (03:21) The hosts then turn to AI policy, examining Trump's executive order blocking state regulation of AI and the mounting job losses from AI adoption. (27:13) They conclude by sharing their favorite moments of 2025, from the World Series to acts of heroism and philanthropy that gave them hope during a turbulent year.
Main themes:
- Trump's rapid institutional changes and their lasting impact on American democracy and global relations
Speakers
Scott Galloway
Scott Galloway is a Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern School of Business and a serial entrepreneur who has founded multiple companies. He's a bestselling author and co-host of the Pivot podcast, known for his sharp analysis of business, technology, and politics.
Jessica Tarlov
Jessica Tarlov is a political strategist and co-host of The Five on Fox News. She serves as a Democratic strategist and commentator, providing political analysis across major news networks with expertise in polling and campaign strategy.
Key Takeaways
America Has Become a "Platform for Making Money" Over Public Service
Galloway argues that the Trump administration has fundamentally shifted America's priorities from serving the Commonwealth to operating as a "trading exchange for trying to make money." (29:01) This transformation is evident in everything from monetized presidential pardons to policies that prioritize AI companies over worker protection. The insight reveals how traditional democratic values are being supplanted by pure economic considerations, creating a "hunger games economy" where the top 1% are protected by law but not bound by it, while the bottom 99% are bound by law but not protected by it. For professionals, this means understanding that success increasingly depends on financial positioning rather than merit or public service.
Collective Action Beats Individual Parenting on Technology
Tarlov and Galloway emphasize that individual parents cannot effectively protect their children from social media's harmful effects - it requires collective bans. (37:37) As Galloway notes, research shows that when parents individually remove social media from their children's lives, those kids become more depressed due to social isolation. Australia's ban on social media for those under 16 demonstrates the power of collective action. This principle extends beyond parenting to professional contexts where individual efforts to change harmful systems often fail without broader organizational or societal support.
Economic Precarity, Not Therapy, Is the Root of Modern Mental Health Issues
The hosts argue that the rise of therapy culture has turned meaningful mental health treatment into a "comfort industry" that masks deeper structural problems. (32:36) Galloway contends that "most young people who had a relationship and a good job and housing wouldn't need therapy" and that the greatest source of mental wellness would be "massive structural change that reduced the economic precarity of young people." This insight challenges professionals to look beyond individual self-improvement solutions and recognize how economic inequality drives many personal struggles.
AI Policy Is Being Shaped by Money, Not Public Interest
The discussion reveals how AI regulation is being captured by industry interests through massive lobbying efforts. (29:54) Meta has hired 87 lobbyists (roughly one for every six members of Congress), while OpenAI ramped up lobbying spending by 70%. Galloway notes that "the greatest ROI in history has been spending money on lobbying," while everyday citizens affected by AI-related job losses have no representation. Professionals must understand that major policy decisions increasingly reflect financial influence rather than public benefit, requiring active civic engagement to counter corporate capture.
Female Billionaires Demonstrate Superior Philanthropic Leadership
The hosts highlight how female billionaires like Mackenzie Scott approach giving differently than their male counterparts. (50:05) Scott gave away $7 billion in 2025 and $20 billion since 2020, with no ceremony or virtue signaling - just direct impact. As Galloway observes, "as soon as they no longer have to check-in with their dude, they just start giving a shit ton of money away." This pattern suggests that effective leadership often involves immediate action over self-promotion, providing a model for professionals in any field about prioritizing results over recognition.
Statistics & Facts
- Trump has signed 218 executive orders so far in 2025, more than any president in history. (13:50) This demonstrates the unprecedented speed of institutional change during his second term.
- 57% of voters agree that Trump is losing the battle against inflation, with 68% believing the economy is poor or very poor. (14:08) This shows growing public dissatisfaction with economic performance despite market gains.
- The average American consumer now faces an effective tariff rate of 18%. (14:40) This represents a significant increase in the cost of goods for ordinary Americans as a result of Trump's trade policies.
