Why Corporate Power is the New Bipartisan Enemy | Cenk Uygur DSH #1092

Summary

Digital Social Hour: Why Corporate Power is the New Bipartisan Enemy | Cenk Uygur DSH #1092

Release Date: January 12, 2025

Introduction

In episode #1092 of Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly engages in a candid and insightful discussion with Cenk Uygur, the founder of The Young Turks. Titled "Why Corporate Power is the New Bipartisan Enemy," the episode delves into the shifting dynamics of American politics, the decline of mainstream media, and the emerging potential for bipartisan collaboration against corporate dominance. Throughout the conversation, Uygur shares his perspectives on recent political developments, the impact of the Trump election, and strategies for uniting diverse political factions to challenge entrenched corporate interests.

---

1. The Complexity of the Doge Movement

Early in the episode, Sean Kelly and Cenk Uygur navigate the intricacies of the Doge movement—a loosely defined political ideology advocating for the reduction of government involvement in various sectors. Uygur clarifies misconceptions by emphasizing that while he opposes certain government expenditures, his stance is nuanced and not uniformly against all governmental functions.

Cenk Uygur [01:04]: “Doge is too big in terms of an umbrella word. If you say am I in favor of Doge cutting Medicare? My answer is hell no. But if you say Doge cutting Pentagon, yeah, let's have a conversation.”

Uygur advocates for a targeted approach, critiquing specific government expenditures like the Pentagon and corporate subsidies rather than blanket cuts across all government sectors.

---

2. The Impact of the Trump Election on Media and Politics

Uygur reflects on the outcomes of the recent election, acknowledging both positive and concerning developments. He notes the unexpected victory of Donald Trump and its implications for policy and media.

Cenk Uygur [01:41]: “the establishment media feels defeated and I think that they know it and I feel their panic and I love it and I drink it up.”

He praises the shift towards online media platforms, highlighting how the right-wing's early recognition of digital media’s power contrasts with the Democrats' continued reliance on mainstream outlets. This realignment has democratized media consumption, allowing for more authentic and unfiltered discourse.

Cenk Uygur [03:30]: “The power of online media comes in authenticity. So if you don't want authenticity, this is not the place for you.”

---

3. Bridging the Left and Right on Corporate Power

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the common ground between left and right factions in opposing corporate power. Uygur emphasizes that both sides are increasingly recognizing the detrimental impact of corporate subsidies and governance on American society.

Cenk Uygur [07:33]: “Why are oil companies getting $30 billion a year in subsidies? I don't get it. Like they should be paying us. They're causing climate change and now people can't afford their homes because the insurance companies are pulling out...”

He argues for uniting against corporate interests, suggesting that shared concerns can transcend traditional partisan divides.

Cenk Uygur [08:06]: “So what I'm trying to explain to the left because I think the right's actually pretty good at this... But when we do agree, why don't we unite and just get the policies we want?”

---

4. Education Reform and Affordability

The conversation shifts to the rising costs of education and the role of the Department of Education. Uygur advocates for accessible education as a means of promoting equality of opportunity.

Cenk Uygur [11:14]: “Education is ridiculously expensive. But that's not on the Department of Education. That's on the colleges... Because then you spend the rest of your life paying that debt back.”

He supports measures like student debt forgiveness coupled with proposals for free state education, drawing parallels to his father's experience in Turkey where access to education transformed lives.

Cenk Uygur [12:57]: “If you do those two things together, you say education is not going to cost as much anymore. You pay it if you want to. If you want to go to Harvard and pay them a gazillion dollars, that's your business, right? That's freedom.”

---

5. The Young Turks’ Policy Agenda and Future Directions

Uygur outlines The Young Turks' populist policy platform, aiming to gather widespread support across political lines. The agenda includes higher wages, family leave, anti-war initiatives, anti-corruption measures, restricting private equity from buying residential homes, and negotiating drug prices.

Cenk Uygur [13:30]: “Higher wages for the average guy, not for the corporate CEOs... Anti war, anti corruption... We negotiate all drug prices. It's an absolute outrage.”

He invites listeners to support and sign the platform, emphasizing the importance of collective action to drive policy change.

Cenk Uygur [12:59]: “If we get that to be a couple million people that sign it and then we take it to the politicians and go, we're demanding that you do this on behalf of all of the American people, that would be a great way to go.”

---

6. Accountability and the Future of Political Leadership

Highlighting recent political events, such as the accountability measures against figures like Mike Johnson, Uygur stresses the necessity of holding leaders accountable to their promises and actions.

Cenk Uygur [10:17]: “You guys hold your leaders accountable because if they don't do any of that, right. They don't act... you've got to hold them accountable.”

This commitment to accountability aligns with the broader theme of challenging the status quo and pushing for genuine reforms.

---

Conclusion

In this episode of Digital Social Hour, Cenk Uygur presents a compelling case for transcending traditional political boundaries to address the pervasive influence of corporate power in American society. By identifying shared grievances and advocating for a unified approach, Uygur envisions a political landscape where authentic, grassroots activism can drive meaningful change. The discussion underscores the potential for bipartisan collaboration in tackling systemic issues, emphasizing education reform, economic justice, and the need for accountable leadership.

Listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the current political climate, the shifting media dynamics, and actionable strategies for collective activism. Uygur’s insights not only challenge conventional partisan thinking but also inspire hope for a more unified and equitable future.

---

Notable Quotes

• Cenk Uygur [01:04]: “Doge is too big in terms of an umbrella word. If you say am I in favor of Doge cutting Medicare? My answer is hell no. But if you say Doge cutting Pentagon, yeah, let's have a conversation.”

• Cenk Uygur [03:30]: “The power of online media comes in authenticity. So if you don't want authenticity, this is not the place for you.”

• Cenk Uygur [07:33]: “Why are oil companies getting $30 billion a year in subsidies? I don't get it. Like they should be paying us...”

• Cenk Uygur [12:57]: “If you do those two things together, you say education is not going to cost as much anymore. You pay it if you want to... That's freedom.”

• Cenk Uygur [13:30]: “Higher wages for the average guy, not for the corporate CEOs... It’s an absolute outrage.”

---

Call to Action

The Young Turks encourages listeners to participate in shaping the political agenda by signing their populist policy platform and engaging with their daily live broadcasts. By fostering a community that transcends traditional party lines, Uygur aims to build a broad-based movement focused on substantive reforms and equitable policies.

For more information and to join the movement, visit TYT.com and follow The Young Turks on YouTube for daily live discussions and updates.

---

This summary captures the essence of episode #1092 of Digital Social Hour, highlighting the key discussions between Sean Kelly and Cenk Uygur. It provides an informative overview for those who have not listened to the episode, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered.

Transcript

[T-Mobile Representative]

AT T Mobile, we'll give you four free 5G phones and four lines for only $25 per line per month with eligible trade ins. And no, it's not a contest. It's every day for a limited time. Everyone's a winner on America's largest 5G network.

Minimum of 4 lines for $25 per line per month with autopay discount using debit or bank account. $5 more per line without autopay. Up to $830 off each phone via 24 monthly bill credits plus taxes, fees and $10 device connection charge for well qualified customers. Contact us before canceling entire account to continue bill credits or credit stop and balance on required finance agreement due bill credits end if you pay off devices early.

[Cascade Natural Gas Representative]

CT mobile.com cascade Natural gas believes a warm home, hot water and natural gas energy should be available to everyone. That's why Cascade established the Oregon Low Income Bill Assistance and Energy Discount Programs. These programs provide income qualified applicants a discount on their monthly bill and if needed, help with past due balances. Qualifying for assistance is easy by calling Cascade or any of our partner community action agencies. Get complete bill assistance [e-mail] help Are.

[Host 1]

You a fan of the Doge movement?

[Host 2]

Getting rid of government jobs?

[Cenk Uygur]

Doge is too big in terms of an umbrella word. If you say am I in favor of Doge cutting Medicare? My answer is hell no. But if you say Doge cutting Pentagon, yeah, let's have a conversation. I don't want to spend my money on foreign governments. I don't want to spend it on corporate subsidies. I don't want to spend it on Pentagon bs.

[Host 1]

That's a fair take.

[Host 2]

Take it agency by agency, not an overall umbrella.

[Cenk Uygur]

Foreign.

[Host 2]

Guys, he is back where I am. Fest. How's it going man? Post election Good brother.

[Cenk Uygur]

How you been?

[Host 2]

Yeah, I remember we we filmed right before the election and Trump was not was favored to win and he pulled it off.

[Cenk Uygur]

So yeah, yeah he did.

[Host 2]

Has your world changed a lot?

[Cenk Uygur]

It has actually in a lot of ways. And so obviously I didn't want Trump to win, but something really positive has come out of the wind. I mean we'll see if a lot of negative things come out right. But and there's definitely policy things I'm super worried about. But the good news is like establishment media feels defeated and I think that they know it and I feel their panic and I love it and I drink it up.

[Host 2]

Yeah, well you see hot ones just got acquired by Soros so he's shifting his efforts to alternative media and Patios.

[Cenk Uygur]

Yeah, everybody's shifting because, so look, the right wing's more of a mixed bag. You guys, A lot of the funders, donors, investors, etcetera, understood the power of online media earlier than the Democrats did. Yeah, the Democrats, they believed in mainstream media so much, they've. The uniparty has controlled mainstream media so thoroughly for so long that they got cocky and they, they didn't believe in online media. And so anytime that you'd even have a conversation about online media, the power brokers would think, oh, first of all, that's a little thing. Like it scraps off our table. It's not important. But most importantly, you're going to say what we want you to say. Right? And I'm like, no, A, we're never going to do that, and B, you missed the whole goddamn point. Yeah. Okay, so the, the power of online media comes in authenticity. So if you don't want authenticity, this is not the place for you. And so they will all went away because they don't want authenticity. Yep. They just wanted propaganda. Right. And what you got to give Trump credit for and Meyer credit for is that they embrace the chaos. They knew that they're, hey, some people are going to disagree, some people are going to say bad things about you. You can fully control the message, right? Yeah, but they rode that way. Right. Strategically, not policy, but strategically, that was the correct decision. The Democrats keep making the wrong decision and doubling down on the establishment, and that's why they're getting their asses handed them. So after the election, the fact that people realize, oh, we're not going to be able to propaganda our way out of this and mainstream media is on its way down, that's great news.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Have your political views changed?

[Cenk Uygur]

No, none.

[Host 2]

They're still the same.

[Cenk Uygur]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Really?

[Cenk Uygur]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Wow. Okay. That's respect that you're still standing on it though.

[Cenk Uygur]

Yeah, yeah, 100%. Yeah. So, but look, the great news on policy front is not that my opinions have changed or anybody else's, it's that we are finally beginning to realize, hey, wait a minute. On some things we actually do agree, right? No, and if I'm being, you know, more direct, I would say to you that the right wings ethos, drive like culture and their way of thinking about things has changed. So the left wing became unfortunately big portions of them. Not all of it, not the Bernie crowd, but a lot of it became authoritarian. You must believe this. There is no other way to do it. And if you veer from that, it's heresy and it's unacceptable. Right. The right wing used to be more authoritarian and then started to open up, open up and say, okay, you know what? You're allowed to disagree. Okay, yeah. This, that and the other thing, right? Yeah. And so within that disagreement, all of a sudden people started saying, hey, I don't know that corporate power is such a great thing. And I'm like, there you go. That. Okay, that's populism. Right? That's what we've been saying all along. So what I'm telling my left wing friends is, brother, when they get to a yes, take it. Take the S. Right. And they're so burned and they're so reluctant because of the past that they have trouble believing it. But I've been on enough shows, I've talked to enough MAGA hosts and real people to know that it's real.

[Host 2]

Okay, Are you a fan of the Doge movement? Getting rid of government jobs?

[Cenk Uygur]

So Doge is too big in terms of an umbrella word, Right. And an idea. So if you say, am I in favor of Doge Doge cutting Medicare, My answer is hell no. Okay. Or Social Security, no way. Right. But if you say Doge cutting Pentagon. Yeah, let's have a conversation.

[T-Mobile Representative]

If you love your phone but not your carrier, just switch to T Mobile. You can keep your phone, keep your number and we'll help pay it off up to $800 per line. You can also use our savings calculator to compare our plans and streaming benefits against Verizon and AT&T. So switch and keep your phone, keep your number and keep more of your moolah. Attmobile mobile.com up to four lines via virtual prepaid card.

Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months.

[Host 1]

Shout out to today's sponsor, Prolon, if starting a year with a fast feels a little daunting. You're not alone. There's an entire community of individuals wanting to make a meaningful decision in their health, just like you. This is what makes group fasting so powerful and why I'm joining in on Prolon's January Longevity Challenge, which is a coach led program to set you up for fasting success. Prolon's Fasting Mimicking diet is a revolutionary plant based nutrition program that nourishes the body while making cells believe they're fasting. I got all five boxes here and I'm starting day one tomorrow. It's researched and developed for decades at USC's longevity institute and backed by leading US medical centers, it helps promote healthy blood sugar, enhanced skin appearance, fat loss and improved energy and focus. It all starts with their five day program, which contains snacks, soups and beverages designed to keep the body in a fasting state. No guesswork or planning required, which is a relief after a busy holiday. If you guys are Ready to make 2025 your healthiest year yet, order your Prolon five day [e-mail] and they're offering Digital Social Hour listeners 15% off their five day nutrition program. Use the code [e-mail] we're talking about cutting corporate subsidies.

[Cenk Uygur]

Why are oil companies getting $30 billion a year in subsidies? I don't get it. Right. Like they should be paying us. They're causing climate change and now people can't afford their homes because the insurance companies are pulling out and all of a sudden the value of their houses are plummeting in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, all red states. Also California, right?

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Cenk Uygur]

So let's unite on the things that we agree on. So why? I don't want to spend my money on foreign governments. I don't want to spend it on corporate subsidies. I don't want to spend it on Pentagon bs, right?

[Host 2]

Yeah, that's a fair take. Take it agency by agency, not an overall umbrella.

[Cenk Uygur]

Yeah, and look, that's what I'm trying to explain to the left because I think the right's actually pretty good at this, which is guys, so what if we disagree? Okay, then let's fight over it. Right? There's nothing wrong with that. But when we do agree, why don't we unite and just get the policies we want?

[Host 2]

Right. What about the Department of Education? Are you in favor of removing that?

[Cenk Uygur]

No. Why? So look, education is obviously an enormous equalizer. It's about equality of opportunity. So a lot of times the right wing thinks that the left wants equality of results. And some few people on the left do. But most of the life, especially the voters, just want equality of opportunity. And for me, my dad was a very poor farmer in southeastern Turkey. And the way he got out of that was they allowed for a free education in Turkey back in the 1960s if you qualified, if you scored in the top 15, 20%, and he did, he wound up going to the top engineering school and it changed our lives forever. So I'm an enormous believer in education. I know that you can say, hey, you know what? Department of Education maybe doesn't help that as much as it should. Yeah. And then you'd have to really get into the nitty gritty of what are the programs? Do they help? Do they not help?

[Host 2]

Yeah, I am in favor of education, but don't you think it's gotten a little too expensive?

[Cenk Uygur]

Oh, education is ridiculously expensive. But that's not on the Department of Education. That's on the colleges. And they're basically building up these giant trust funds. These, and I'm forgetting what they call it, but they've got like 10 billion here, 40 billion there, and Yale and Harvard have this giant fund. But what are you going to do with it? What are you going to do with your 10 or 20 or 40 billion dollars? Why are you charging people an arm and a leg? And you know what happens when they charge that much? You become an indentured servant of the corporate class. Right. Because then you spend the rest of your life paying that debt back. And then they got you the, the college debt along with health care. Being attached to your employer is what puts shackles on you. So you can't fight corporate power. Right. And, and, and now when private equity buys all up all the residential homes, they're just turning us into indentured servants that are going to serve them the rest of our lives.

[Host 2]

Absolutely.

[Cenk Uygur]

That's why the right wing revolt is, is actually positive when on the things I don't agree with. No problem, man. We'll fight you on that completely. But you guys are doing some portions of it. Yeah. And we'll have to see if it's real though. Can I, let me do this back at you. Right. Because I see the energy here and I've now talked to hundreds and hundreds of guys who are maga and they really do mean it. Right. And let alone dozens of hosts. Yeah, but what, but what I ask back is that you guys hold your leaders accountable because if they don't do any of that, right. They don't act, they get rid of the Department of Education, but education still costs just as much. Right. And, and if they don't actually fight private equity buying up our homes, if they don't do any of that, you've got to hold them accountable.

[Host 2]

I'm all about accountability. I mean, look what's happening to Mike Johnson right now.

[Cenk Uygur]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

You know, he's being held accountable. He canceled his whole speech here.

[Cenk Uygur]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

So.

[Cenk Uygur]

And yeah, look, so again, we might agree and disagree on some of the cuts, but Mike Johnson was doing uni party stuff, right? Yeah. And what they were thinking is, oh, this election is fun and games, but at the end of the Day, we're just going to go back to more corporate tax cuts and more giveaways, et cetera. And you guys blocked that for worse in some ways, but for better in some ways. So at least that's a revolt, right? And as Charlie and I talked about on stage, you revolted against Mitch McConnell, you revolted against Dick Cheney. Those are huge wins.

[Host 2]

Absolutely. So I asked Charlie if he if he believes college debt should be forgiven, student debt. He said no. What would your take on that beef?

[Cenk Uygur]

Look, I. Yes, is the answer, but it has to be coupled with Bernie's proposal on free college education. That doesn't mean you get to go to Harvard. What all it means is if you go to a state school, right, Just like the state schools in turkey in the 1960s, back when it was really poor, could still afford. It gives you an opportunity to go to a great school like University of Wisconsin or University of Texas, University of North Carolina. These amazing state schools, right? Get you a chance to get that for free because. And they say, oh, well, some of that will go to the rich because they're going to the Ivies, right? They don't need, you know, University of Georgia to let them in and to get a free education. That's for the rest of us. That's for the middle class. So if you do those two things together, you say education is not going to cost as much anymore. You pay it if you want to. If you want to go to Harvard and pay them a gazillion dollars, that's your business, right? That's freedom, right? But you're going to have an opportunity for your kids to have the same shot as rich people's kids. I love that. I love it.

[Host 2]

What's next for you and the young Turks?

[Cenk Uygur]

So look, first of all, everybody come watch live 06:00 Eastern every single day, Monday through Friday, right? Come find out for yourselves what's our policies, what do we believe, etc. Hold us accountable, right? So Young Turks on YouTube is a great watch place to watch 6 o'clock every day, okay? So we put together a populist plank on TYT.com, six things I think we all agree on. And so one of the Come sign it. We don't want just left winger signing it. We want left wing, right wing independence. We want everybody. By the way, we pulled our audience. 18% of our audience are not Democrats. They're independent. Oh, wow, that's a big number. 18%, right? Yeah. People are beginning to realize, well, these guys fight for us, right? We agree and disagree on some issues. But on the core issues that we agree on, there is no better fighter than the young Turks on those things. So what are the six real quick? Higher wages for the average guy, not for the corporate CEOs. Right. And there's ways to get there. Pay family leave. So when you have a kid, you get to a mom gets to take 12 weeks off, raise her kid for just a little while. Right? Yeah. And so that's just basic decency. Anti war, anti corruption. One of them is private equity can now buy residential homes. And then the last one is we negotiate all drug prices. What is this? One drug or ten drugs or no drugs? No. In a capitalist system, in a free market, you can negotiate any price. It's an absolute outrage. I think we all agree to all six of those. If we get that to be a couple million people that sign it and then we take it to the politicians and go, we're demanding that you do this on behalf of all of the American people. That would be a great way to go.

[Host 2]

We'll link that below. Thanks for coming on again, man.

[Cenk Uygur]

All right. Thank you brother.

[Host 2]

Appreciate it.

[Cenk Uygur]

Cool.

[T-Mobile Representative]

AT T Mobile. We'll give you four free 5G phones and four lines for only $25 per line per month with eligible trade ins. And no, it's not a contest. It's every day for a limited time. Everyone's a winner on America's largest 5G network.

Minimum of 4 lines for $25 per line per month with autopay discount using debit or bank account. $5 more per line without autopay up to $830 off each phone. Be a 24 monthly bill credit plus taxes, fees and $10 device connection charge for well qualified customers. Contact us before canceling entire account to continue build credits or credit stop and balance on required finance agreement too bill credits and if you pay off devices early ct mobile.com.