Summary of "Pete Buttigieg Wants to Make America Not Suck... Again?"

Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know
Episode: Pete Buttigieg Wants to Make America Not Suck... Again?
Release Date: October 30, 2024

In this engaging episode of Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know, host Hasan Minhaj sits down with Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, to discuss a wide range of topics from America's infrastructure challenges to the interplay between government initiatives and private sector innovation. The conversation offers deep insights into Buttigieg's vision for transforming American transportation and the broader societal implications of these efforts.

1. Ambitions for American Infrastructure

Hasan Minhaj begins by probing Buttigieg about his efforts to utilize government resources for significant projects.

• [00:04-00:12] Hasan: “You've overseen some pretty big incredible projects, and I feel like you're trying to use the government to do big things. Is this correct?”
• [00:10-00:12] Buttigieg: “Yeah. I mean, small things, too, that are.”

Hasan interprets Buttigieg's response as an attempt to "make America great again" through the infrastructure bill.

• [00:28-00:40] Buttigieg: “Uh, we're trying to make great American things again. I'm not big on. Again. I don't love looking for greatness in the past.”

Buttigieg clarifies that the focus is on creating new greatness rather than reverting to past achievements, emphasizing a forward-looking approach to infrastructure development.

2. The Cost of Subway Construction in the U.S.

A significant portion of the discussion delves into the prohibitive costs of building subway tunnels in America compared to other nations.

• [04:36-05:27] Buttigieg: “When I saw the condition of the Hudson River tunnels that link New York to New Jersey that were in bad shape before, and then Superstorm Sandy accelerated the damage to them... We looked this up... It was insane.”

Buttigieg highlights the staggering expenses associated with subway projects, citing examples like the 7 train extension to Hudson Yards costing $1.5 billion per mile and the Second Avenue Subway at $2.5 billion per mile.

• [05:28-05:38] Hasan: “Manhattan's 13 miles. Second Avenue subway cost $2.5 billion per mile. $40,000 per inch.”

3. Balancing Government and Private Sector Roles

The conversation shifts to the roles of government and the private sector in fostering innovation and infrastructure development.

• [07:19-07:50] Buttigieg: “What are the things that are best handled by the government allocating capital, and what are the things that are best handled by the private sector... the Internet was literally invented by the federal government and the private sector never could have developed something like the Internet itself.”

Buttigieg emphasizes the necessity of a strategic partnership where the government funds foundational projects like the Internet, which the private sector can then build upon to create products like smartphones.

4. High-Speed Rail Projects and Challenges

Buttigieg addresses the ambitious plans for high-speed rail in the United States, acknowledging both progress and obstacles.

• [08:24-12:02] Buttigieg: “We're working with private sector players who have built good rail on American soil... aiming to be done in 2028... We're doing the Las Vegas to LA... projects being discussed in Texas, Dallas to Houston, in the Pacific Northwest..."

Hasan introduces the concept of "high speed rail porn," referring to the idealized visions of high-speed trains, to which Buttigieg responds by outlining the realistic steps and timelines necessary to achieve such infrastructure.

5. Transportation Safety and Autonomous Vehicles

A critical part of the discussion focuses on transportation safety and the potential of autonomous vehicles to reduce fatalities.

• [20:03-22:09] Buttigieg: “We've achieved something as a country over the last few decades in aviation safety that I only wish were true on something like vehicle safety... We're pretty close to an event horizon where at least for a personal vehicle... that would be a huge development that will... potentially, over time, hundreds of thousands just in our lifetime.”

Buttigieg draws parallels between aviation safety and vehicle safety, advocating for the adoption of autonomous driving technologies to save lives, while also addressing public acceptance challenges.

6. Impact of Project 2025 on Transportation

The conversation turns to Project 2025, a policy agenda with significant implications for transportation and infrastructure.

• [25:11-26:02] Buttigieg: “They would pretty much get rid of all discretionary grants out of the Department of Transportation... getting rid of it would mean that so many of the best projects that we're doing in America right now wouldn't be happening.”

Buttigieg expresses concern over how Project 2025 could impede crucial infrastructure projects by eliminating the funding mechanisms necessary for their continuation and expansion.

7. Long-Term Vision vs. Political Cycles

Buttigieg reflects on the tension between long-term infrastructure planning and the short-term focus of political elections.

• [27:38-28:28] Buttigieg: “Public policy is a long game... the stuff you're building... decisions of people for good and for ill... infrastructure work compels you to understand that public policy is a long game.”

He underscores the importance of durable, forward-thinking policies that ensure sustainable infrastructure growth beyond individual election cycles.

8. Attempt at Downtime

In a humorous closing segment, Hasan attempts to gift Buttigieg two minutes of uninterrupted downtime, which Buttigieg humorously fails to comply with due to his busy schedule.

• [28:44-30:31]
  • Hasan: “I want to give you something that is long overdue... Just 120 seconds of being.”
  • Buttigieg: “Wow... I can't do it. There's too many things going on.”

This lighthearted exchange concludes the episode on a playful note, highlighting the demanding nature of Buttigieg's role.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Buttigieg on Infrastructure Funding: “Uh, we're trying to make great American things again.” ([00:28])

• Buttigieg on Subway Costs: “We looked this up... It was insane.” ([05:27])

• Buttigieg on Government vs. Private Sector: “The Internet was literally invented by the federal government...” ([07:50])

• Buttigieg on High-Speed Rail: “It's gonna happen probably.” ([08:45])

• Buttigieg on Transportation Safety: “We're pretty close to an event horizon...” ([20:03])

• Buttigieg on Project 2025: “So many of the best projects that we're doing in America right now wouldn't be happening.” ([25:11])

• Buttigieg on Long-Term Vision: “Public policy is a long game...” ([27:38])

Conclusions and Insights

The episode provides a comprehensive look into the complexities of modernizing America's transportation infrastructure. Pete Buttigieg articulates a clear vision for leveraging government support to enable massive infrastructure projects, while also emphasizing the essential role of private sector innovation. He candidly addresses the financial and logistical challenges inherent in such endeavors, offering transparency about the costs and timelines involved.

Buttigieg also highlights the critical importance of transportation safety and the transformative potential of autonomous vehicles. His insights into Project 2025 reveal deep concerns about how political agendas can undermine long-term infrastructure goals, stressing the need for policies that transcend partisan divides to achieve sustainable progress.

Overall, the conversation paints a picture of a nation grappling with how to modernize its infrastructure in a way that is both ambitious and pragmatic, balancing immediate needs with future aspirations. Hasan Minhaj's probing questions elicit thoughtful and honest responses from Buttigieg, making this episode a valuable resource for understanding the current state and future direction of American transportation policy.