Episode Summary
Executive Summary: The episode is a live election-night reaction centered on rapidly shifting betting and market signals that increasingly suggest a Trump victory, despite some poll and network uncertainty. The hosts debate why polls missed the race, interpret state-by-state reporting delays, and argue the result reflects deeper backlash against elites, lockdowns, media, and identity politics. They also discuss Senate control and the possibility of litigation or recounts.
Main Topics: Election-night market shift toward Trump: Hosts react to dramatic moves in betting markets, currencies, Treasury yields, and futures as Trump’s odds improve quickly, treating the markets as more predictive than TV networks. Polling errors and the 2016/2020 comparison: Several speakers argue that polls underestimated Trump again, with explanations focusing on education weighting fixes, turnout differences, and state-level reporting structure. State-by-state path to victory: The discussion focuses on Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Texas, with repeated attempts to map Trump’s and Biden’s routes to 270 electoral votes. Lockdowns, COVID, and anti-establishment backlash: The hosts and guests argue that lockdowns, perceived overreach, and pandemic policy became major political drivers and fueled opposition to Democrats and institutions. Demographic nuance beyond monoliths: The conversation pushes back against simplistic voting blocs, especially around Hispanics and Black voters, emphasizing that racial and ethnic groups are internally diverse. Senate races and broader political control: Beyond the presidency, participants note that Senate outcomes remain pivotal and could shape whether the next administration can govern effectively. Potential for recounts and delayed results: Multiple speakers warn that Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, and others may not be settled on election night, and recounts or litigation could extend uncertainty.
Key Arguments: Betting markets and financial markets are moving faster and more accurately than television networks in capturing Trump’s improving chances. Polls missed key dynamics, especially turnout and education-based weighting, though some survey organizations claim they were closer than the national averages. Trump’s appeal is not limited to a narrow white working-class base; it extends across age, class, gender, and some Hispanic and Black voter segments. Lockdowns and COVID restrictions were politically costly and became a major anti-establishment grievance. Democrats failed to learn from 2016 and instead escalated cultural conflict, impeachment, and anti-Trump messaging, provoking backlash. The election may be decided in the Electoral College rather than the popular vote, highlighting structural tension in U.S. politics. The Senate matters as much as the presidency because divided government could constrain policy even if Trump wins or loses.
Data Points: Live viewers: 63 - Opening live-stream audience count at the start of the podcast. Trump betting odds in UK market: 3-to-10 favorite - Hosts cite UK betting markets swinging heavily toward Trump. Wagered volume: 368 million pounds - Amount mentioned as having been wagered in the market discussion. Trump vs Biden betting price: $13 to win $10 - Explained as a favorite-price example for listeners unfamiliar with gambling. Trump Pennsylvania line: -159 - Live odds discussed as markets shifted during the episode. Trump odds on Bovada: -600, later -250 - Odds moved sharply during the live conversation. North Carolina vote margin: about 1,000 votes - Biden held a tiny lead at one point with partial reporting. North Carolina reporting: 63% of counties fully reported - Used to explain how partially reported urban counties could still change the outcome. Ohio reporting: 78% reporting - Discussion of Trump leading Ohio as more votes came in. Ohio margin: 52% to 47% - Trump’s lead in Ohio with the reported vote share. Pennsylvania mail-in ballots: 2.5 million total - Secretary of State dashboard cited in the conversation. Pennsylvania mail-in ballots counted: 12% - Used to argue that Pennsylvania was far from decided. Pennsylvania precincts reported: about 25% - Early reporting in Pennsylvania was still sparse. Philadelphia precincts reported: 82 of 1,706 - Illustrates how little of Philadelphia had been counted at that point. Outstanding Pennsylvania mail-in ballots: 2.2 million - A later update cited by the hosts from reporting in the state. Pennsylvania vote gap: 371,591 - Difference between Trump and Biden in the tally discussed at that moment. Arizona/Pennsylvania/Michigan timing: 1-3 days or weekend - Prediction that some states might not be resolved election night. SurveyMonkey sample: 9,000 respondents - John Cohen mentions a same-day poll on willingness to accept results. SurveyMonkey total interviews: more than 1 million voters - John Cohen says the organization spoke to this many voters over time. Wisconsin margin in SurveyMonkey data: 9.5 points - Cohen contrasts SurveyMonkey’s result with a broader national poll showing a larger gap. Black male support for Trump: near 20% - Cohen cites a gender split within racial groups. Black women support for Trump: 95/5 against Trump - A contrast used to show differences within demographic groups.
Pivotal Quotes: "Donald Trump ate the COVID virus and killed it with his body." — David Sacks: A hyperbolic statement describing Trump as a defiant symbolic leader during the COVID era. "We’re not all the fucking same." — Chamath Palihapitiya: He argues against treating Hispanics, Black voters, or other groups as monoliths. "If Trump wins, it’s because of the Electoral College." — John Cohen: He emphasizes that Trump could lose the popular vote while still winning the presidency.
Implications: The episode frames the election as a test of institutional trust, media credibility, and coalition politics. If Trump wins, the hosts expect pressure on Democrats to rethink their strategy, more market volatility, and possible recount/litigation in unresolved states.
From the Episode
To think that he had a chance of pulling off an upset, just like 2016. I will say what I said on our text earlier: Donald Trump ate the COVID virus and killed it with his body. And then he stood in front of the White House and ripped his shirt off and let us all know that he is our leader. He did not get elected. He claimed victory beginning in 2016, and he has not and will not let go since then. And I think it is that culture. Of personality that draws so many people in that are just feeling like they need change and they need leadership and they don't need something from the old school. And he stood up and he showed us that this whole thing is a fake. COVID is a fake. Government is fake. The people are fake. The media is fake. I'm getting some late numbers. I'm getting some late numbers here, you guys. He's now minus $1.59 to win Pennsylvania, and they took.
white people out there, we're not all the goddamn same. Okay. And if you put a thousand black people, here's the memo now for the Democrats and the Republicans. They're not all the same. You can take a thousand Hispanics, and it turns out they're not all the same. So maybe, you know, you can take a thousand straight people, a thousand gay people. We're not all the fucking same. So maybe what this means is that we've moved past color and now ideology and social policy and economic and monetary and fiscal, all of these things that Totality of how a rational, well-developed person. Makes a decision, maybe that's at hand. And before, if we historically only thought, you know, older white men and white women could do it, maybe now it actually applies independent of color and gender. Yeah, I absolutely agree with that. And I would add to that if Trump's victory in 2016 laid waste to the Republican establishment, if he wins again tonight, it will lay waste to the Democratic establishment. And the theory of the case that they've had for 20 years, the sort of share emerging Democratic-majority case.
So you're absolutely right. There's something major. I would also like to caveat it. We are looking once again at if Trump wins, it's because of the Electoral College. Like he is going to lose the popular vote. There's still far more Americans and American voters who voted today and, you know, kind of over the past several weeks who would prefer Joe Biden to be president. So again, we can't characterize with a broad brush the American voting population when this is about, effectively, I hate to call it a quirk, but this is about our system of vote. Tallying. And the president, you know, to pull back your point about kind of there is something major here: the fact that many people, you know, some of us might be friends with, can't understand why this isn't a hundred to zero race, fail to understand that the president's base isn't small. It is, you know, we've had it 44 to 46 percent approving of his job performance for many years now. Like he has a completely durable, solid floor. He also has a high ceiling, right? So he was never going to win the popular vote this time around, but he had a
About This Week in Startups
Jason Calacanis covers startups, tech, markets, media, and all the hottest topics in business and technology. He also interviews the world’s greatest founders, operators, investors, and innovators.