Bloomberg Talks – Andrew Yang on Politics and No-bull Mobile

Podcast: Bloomberg Talks
Date: October 2, 2025
Guest: Andrew Yang (Former Presidential and NYC Mayoral Candidate, Founder of Noble Mobile and the Forward Party)
Hosts: Bloomberg Businessweek hosts (likely Joe Weisenthal and Carol Massar)

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with Andrew Yang, touching on his ongoing political ambitions, the potential for a disruptive third party in American politics, his relationship with high-profile figures like Elon Musk, and the launch of his new affordable wireless carrier, Noble Mobile. Yang delves into the frustrations of the current two-party political system, his views on political incentives and term limits, as well as the unique pitch behind his MVNO, which aims to lower cell phone bills and encourage healthier digital habits.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Andrew Yang’s Evolving Roles: Entrepreneur vs. Political Candidate

• Entrepreneurship vs. Politics
  • Yang discusses the challenges of entrepreneurship compared to running for office.
  • “As a candidate, people want to know more about you. Like you become the product and there’s nothing that can prepare you for that.” (Andrew Yang, 06:24)
  • While startup experience informed some aspects, he notes politics' personal scrutiny is in a category of its own.

Political Ambitions and the Future of Third Parties

• Future in Politics
  • "I'm too young to be done with politics...I'm sure I'll run for something again at some point." (Andrew Yang, 06:50-07:02)
• Relationship with Elon Musk & a Third Party
  • Yang remains in touch with Musk; shared vision about the failure of the two-party system.
  • "I'm aligned with anyone who thinks that the current system is not working...there are times when Elon has definitely had that point of view." (Andrew Yang, 08:01)
• Structural Challenges: Money, Incentives, and Term Limits
  • Pinpoints perverse ‘incentives’ as driving dysfunction:
    • “If someone does the right thing, they're probably shortening their political career.” (Andrew Yang, 08:57)
  • Strongly supports term limits:
    • “75% of Americans think we should have term limits because they don’t want folks heading to D.C. and squatting there for decades.” (Andrew Yang, 09:12)
• Forward Party & Likelihood of a Third-Party Breakthrough
  • Forward Party is not a hypothetical—already has dozens of nonpartisan local officials.
  • “You don’t need an upstart movement like Forward to win 51 Senate races. ...You need us to get three or so. And that I think is going to happen sometime in the next three or five years.” (Andrew Yang, 09:52–10:24)
• Prospects of an Independent President
  • Points to Mike Duggan as a model for successful independents.
  • “There’s no reason why someone can’t make that similar case nationwide. It might even be Mike Duggan.” (Andrew Yang, 10:30)
• Vision for Open Primaries via Technology
  • Imagines a national, tech-powered independent primary:
    • “A primary that every American can vote in on their smartphone...genuine lowercase d democracy. And there is nothing stopping that from happening in 2028 or 2032.” (Andrew Yang, 11:03–11:45)
  • Suggests only the willingness of a major figure (e.g., Mark Cuban) is needed to start the trend.

Noble Mobile: Disrupting the Mobile Carrier Market

• Value Proposition
  • “Imagine a carrier that actually paid you to doom scroll a little bit less. $50 for unlimited, which is less than what 90% of Americans are paying, and we'll give you up to $20 cash back based on your data use.” (Andrew Yang, 12:19)
  • Incentivizes digital wellness; organizes live offline events to promote socializing and less screen time.
  • “If I get money back, anyone will.” (Andrew Yang, 12:55)
• Business Model & Partnership with T-Mobile
  • Built as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) leveraging T-Mobile’s network.
  • “We went out to the folks at T-Mobile and said, 'Hey, we’d love to make data available to the American people at closer to true cost.' ...They have lent us or leased us spectrum or data that we can then sell to the American people at much closer to true value.” (Andrew Yang, 13:34)
  • Criticizes major US carriers for expensive plans and lack of innovation.
  • “Americans spending $83 a month on our wireless when Europeans are spending $40…because you have carriers paying $20 billion in dividends and raising prices while not actually investing in their networks.” (Andrew Yang, 14:12)
• Adoption & User Experience
  • Early adoption exceeds forecasts; highlighted cost savings compared to major carriers.
  • “I took my bill from $140 to $46 or so, and everything works better than ever.” (Andrew Yang, 14:49)
• Skepticism about MVNOs Addressed
  • Assures unlimited, high-speed data, unlike past bad MVNO experiences recounted by hosts.
  • “We do not slow it down. It’s truly unlimited if you give us $50 that month. Unlimited. All you can eat data as fast as you can find.” (Andrew Yang, 15:49)
  • When pressed why larger carriers don't offer this: pivots to 'company approach’—focus is on consumer experience and real value.

Reflections on Polarization and the Path Forward

• Current State of US Politics
  • Yang describes worsening polarization; sees the recent shutdown as symptomatic.
  • “Really the question is, how do we get out of this? ...Number one would be a miraculous restoration of one party or the other to some degree of common sense...Number two is that 50% of Americans who self-identify as independents raise their hands and say, you know what? I want something new.” (Andrew Yang, 17:24)
  • Reminds audience it’s possible to build new institutions in America.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Political Candidacies vs. Entrepreneurship:

  • “As a candidate, people want to know more about you. Like you become the product and there's nothing that can prepare you for that.” (06:24, Andrew Yang)

• On Political Incentives:

  • “If someone does the right thing, they're probably shortening their political career. If they go along with what their base wants, they might have a lifetime appointment.” (08:57, Andrew Yang)

• On Breaking Congressional Gridlock:

  • “How many US Senators would you need to form a fulcrum in this divided time? Maybe three, maybe four. ...You don’t need an upstart movement like Forward to win 51 Senate races.” (09:52, Andrew Yang)

• On Mobile Plan Pricing:

  • “Americans spending $83 a month on our wireless when Europeans are spending $40…because you have carriers that are paying $20 billion in dividends and raising prices while not actually investing in their networks.” (14:12, Andrew Yang)

• On National Division:

  • “The polarization is getting worse and worse. The shutdown is an emblem of that. ...So really the question is, how do we get out of this?” (17:24, Andrew Yang)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction and weather/markets run-down – [00:00–05:39]
• Andrew Yang joins the show – [05:39]
• Entrepreneurship vs. politics discussion – [06:17–06:50]
• Relationship with Musk & independent political plans – [07:09–08:46]
• Broken political system, term limits & odds of third party breakthrough – [08:46–10:56]
• Vision for national open primary via smartphone – [11:03–11:45]
• Mark Cuban speculation – [12:02]
• Overview of Noble Mobile / digital wellness – [12:09–12:48]
• MVNO business model and comparison with major carriers – [13:14–14:49]
• Host skepticism about MVNOs; Yang’s assurance about speed/unlimited plans – [15:13–16:43]
• Final appeal – politics and the path forward from polarization – [17:05–18:17]

Episode Tone & Final Thoughts

The conversation is candid, lively, and optimistic, with Yang balancing criticism of establishment politics and industry with concrete, innovative proposals. The tone is hopeful; both about policy innovation and practical consumer innovation. Yang’s blend of entrepreneurial storytelling and political analysis will appeal to listeners interested in systemic change and tangible alternatives, whether in governance or the phone market.

Listen if you want to hear:

• The inside baseball of running for office vs running startups
• Why a tech-based, national “open” primary may be coming
• Candid thoughts on the US’s political dysfunction and Yang's faith in bottom-up reform
• The promise — and the reality — of a cheaper, healthier cell phone plan