Working Robots: IBM and The War on Normal People

ProPublica's Ariana Tobin on IBM and Andrew Yang on his new book, The War on Normal People.
By Allen McDuffee
Share on twitter
Share on facebook
Share on email
Photo credit: Luis Perez

[cleanaudioplayer playlist=”{title: ‘Working Robots — governmentality’, artist: ‘Allen McDuffee’, mp3: ‘http://traffic.libsyn.com/governmentality/Ep.24_Final.mp3’}”]
Technology giants like Facebook, Google and Amazon are often praised for the jobs they create and high salaries they offer. But that praise may be misplaced because my guests this week say the tech sector is also responsible for many Americans losing their jobs.

On this episode, I talk with Ariana Tobin of ProPublica about the investigation she and colleague Peter Gosselin published looking into IBM’s age discrimination against thousands of employees. And in the book chat, I speak with Andrew Yang—founder of Venture of America and U.S. Presidential candidate. He’s also the author of the new book, The War on Normal People: The Truth About America’s Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future.

Listen and subscribe to the governmentality podcast wherever you listen to podcasts, including Apple PodcastsGoogle PlaySoundCloud and Stitcher.

Discussed on the show:

Guests:

Ariana Tobin is an engagement reporter at ProPublica, where she works to cultivate communities for their coverage. She was previously at The Guardian, where she was an engagement editor and, before that, she worked at WNYC, producing the technology-focused Note to Self podcast. Follow her on Twitter: @Ariana_Tobin

Andrew Yang is an entrepreneur, author and presidential candidate. In 2011 he founded Venture for America, a national entrepreneurship fellowship program that pairs recent graduates with startups. He’s the author of The War on Normal People in which he makes the case for implementing a universal basic income: $1,000 a month for every American adult, no strings attached. Follow him on Twitter: @AndrewYangVFA

Follow governmentality:

The governmentality podcast was produced and edited by Michele Zipkin. The show’s music was composed and performed by Jeremy Carlstedt.

The Rundown

1. Mitch McConnell’s Trump Calculation 

Jane Mayer at The New Yorker takes a deep dive on the risk of McConnell’s refusal to restrain the chief executive of the United States. 

2. 500,000+ Zoom Accounts Are For Sale on the Dark Web

Credentials of individuals and high-profile companies like Chase have been swept up, marking a new headache for the videoconferencing giant.

3. Bernie Sanders Endorses Joe Biden

Sanders told Biden, “We need you in the White House,” during a teleconference. But how many of his supporters heard him?

4. Paul Manafort Is Seeking Prison Release Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Trump’s former campaign manager claims he is “high risk.” 

5. Joe Biden Could Get a Critical Boost From a Black VP Pick

New polling suggests Biden could garner more enthusiasm among black voters in battleground states by picking a black woman.

6. Sanofi and GSK Partner on COVID-19 Vaccine

The Sanofi-GlaxoSmithKline vaccine will enter clinical trials later in 2020, but still won’t be available until late 2021. 

bottom