Jan 15, 2026 · 29m · tbpn
The AI Power Backlash, the NYMag David Ellison profile, Google Personal Intelligence | Diet TBPN
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The podcast hosts examine the growing economic and political backlash against AI data centers and energy demands, corporate finance moves including Apple Card's transition to JPMorgan, and the rise of Skydance's David Ellison in Hollywood. They also analyze mainstream consumer AI marketing and product rollouts alongside recent tech and legal headlines.
How this conversation actually went
Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. How this is scored →
speaking balance: gold is the hosts, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)
Tyler expresses disappointment, arguing that rising energy prices prove real free-market incentives for short-term energy supply expansion are failing.
Hardest push from the hosts ▶ 4:15 Reframing consumer opposition against tech dismissivenessThe host rejects the tech industry dismissal of NIMBY concerns, arguing local consumers receive no tangible benefits for local data center utility price increases.
Biggest teaching moment ▶ 9:51 Tyler reframing data center subsidies as market failureTyler educates the table on the structural takeaway of the deal, pointing out that rising costs indicate energy infrastructure won't scale at the pace tech expects.
The host holds their own ▶ 8:35 Host calculates Microsoft electricity cost impactThe host demonstrates financial knowledge by calculating Microsoft's multi-billion dollar energy exposure against total revenue and operating margins.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
| Chapter | Topic | The hosts as informed peer | Guest teaching | Guest disagreement | The hosts pushing back | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truth Social Ads and Trump Utility Policy Mandate | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | The host breaks down the economic dynamics of data center electricity demands, quoting bipartisan pushback statistics and explaining why local communities oppose new builds despite tech excitement. | |
| Microsoft Power Concessions and Energy Market Realities | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | The co-hosts run through Microsoft's power economics, calculating that a 50% power rate increase represents less than 1% of operating income. Tyler offers a mild contrarian perspective about broken free-market energy incentives. | |
| Semiconductor Expansions, Farmland Speculation, and Text Scams | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | The conversation covers TSMC land purchases in Arizona and farmland price inflation in Michigan, contrasting USDA average prices with tech acquisition rates before digressing into SMS spam banter. | |
| Apple Card Transition from Goldman Sachs to JPMorgan | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | The hosts review the WSJ report on JPMorgan taking over Apple Card balances from Goldman Sachs, followed by an analysis of tech advertising budgets during major televised sports. | |
| Google Gemini Rolls Out Personal Intelligence Integration | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | The host walks through the profile of David Ellison and Skydance, analyzing his shift from student filmmaking to studio acquisitions, alongside discussions on McConaughey's AI likeness trademarks. |
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