Summer/Fall 2024, I bought into his narrative about the emerging economy. It’s now April 2025, and his last podcast was in November—back when he was activity advocating for the current administration. My portfolio has taken a hit from the economic chaos and what feels like tantrum-driven tariffs. I was excited to see a new episode, hoping for insight on how he’s interpreting the current landscape and what strategic moves to consider. Instead, the only episode is just a self-congratulatory walk down memory lane—“I was smart and made great plays decades ago.” He is starting to feel out of touch and has backed some disastrously performing leaders, at least based on the market’s reaction. I’m still open to the idea that he knows what he’s doing, but right now it feels like he’s hiding behind his legacy.

Marc, you dear, brilliant but very misguided man. As I sit, watching my stock portfolio tank as the Trump Slump really sets in thanks to a pointless trade war, as we signal abandoning our European allies and they begin stocking their defense in what will surely be a huge expansion of nuclear weapons in the world, it needs to be said: Marc! What were you thinking? Now, I get that woke is bad and you were ready to basically die on this hill, but at some point, you need to speak up and say enough of this bending the knee to appease one man’s ego. My retirement simply can’t take it! Do you have the guts to admit this was maaaaaybe not the best idea? Or will you double down and tell us all the sky is green when we can see for ourselves it’s not? Marc, sweetie. Time to grow up, be a man and speak truth to power. Your country depends on it.

More like selfish brats. We are not a parliamentary democracy where any of us can afford to be a one issue voter. Do you not have enough money? How much are you willing to destroy the environment, support a corrupt Supreme Court, eliminate individual safety, freedoms, and choice to make more money? Trump is not on the right side of any social issue. Project 2025 is a conservative Christian nightmare. Your mothers SHOULD be ashamed. Lovely coalition you have with Peter Thiel as well - someone that doesn’t believe in liberal democracy (or democracy), that women shouldn’t vote, and that no one but billionaires even matter. And by the way, nobody is fighting for communism, just some socialist policies when they make sense, like Scandinavia which has tremendous innovation and tech transfer.

These people should be lined up against a wall.

Ben and Marc, thank you guys for putting your thoughts out there, however controversial. I’ve listened to all the episodes, including the previous ones on the a16z podcast before you spun off the Ben

It’s a gift to be able to listen to some of the smartest people in tech investing discuss important issues using a very objective lens. I look at things differently after listening to Marc and Ben discuss a topic.

Excellent discussion! Should be required listening for every university trustee, administrator and member of Congress.

Great podcast so far. Would have like to see that AI Hollywood conversation with some producers and studio heads for a better conversation

I appreciate Marc distilling so many thought leaders’ books and making them accessible in today’s context. I always find another connection between dots that I’ve been struggling to make. One question that needs addressing: is the invention/discovery of a new technology inevitable? That is, will someone, somewhere eventually “invent” a new technology any which way? If so, does any regulation act merely as a retardant?

You get to be a fly on the wall, while two of the smartest people in tech discuss the future. For free. With no commercials. It’s insanely great and I never miss an episode.

Hard to listen and follow the speaker