In this episode, I delve into the fascinating history of Silicon Valley with Margaret O'Mara, a professor of American History at the University of Washington and a leading historian of Silicon Valley.

We explore the relationship between the public and private sectors that fueled the growth of Silicon Valley, debunking the myth of the lone entrepreneur and highlighting the significant role of Cold War defense spending.

Margaret shares insights from her celebrated book "The Code" which tells the behind-the-scenes story of the people who built Silicon Valley and shaped Big Tech. We also discuss the impact of elections on tech policy, the evolving influence of tech in Washington, and the rise of AI.

We also discuss the parallels between today's tech landscape and the Gilded Age, the importance of historical perspective, and the future of tech innovation amid increasing US-China tensions and energy concerns.

(00:00) Introduction

(04:18) From Politics to Tech History

(06:02) The Cold War Origins of Silicon Valley

(08:30) The Human Storytelling Behind Tech

(11:18) Is Silicon Valley A Meritocracy?

(17:38) Tech's Political Influence

(22:13) The Emergence of the Tech Right

(23:01) A New Gilded Age

(26:47) Antitrust & Regulation

(31:06) What Democrats Need

(36:10) Future of AI and Crypto

(36:38) The 2024 Elections

(39:37) China and the New Cold War

(40:23) US Government Spending and Innovation

(42:01) Defense Tech

(45:45) The Role of Universities and Big Tech

(52:27) The Rise of AI

(56:56) Energy Concerns in AI

(01:03:20) The Value of History