Intel’s Tightrope Walk with Trump, Surprise Appearance From Dr. Drew | Darren Rovell, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Colin Anderson, Truman Sacks

Overview

This episode dives into Intel's recent equity deal with the U.S. government, exploring its implications for the tech and defense sectors. It also features conversations with Darren Rovell on the booming collectibles market, Dr. Drew Pinsky reflecting on his dot-com era venture, Colin Anderson discussing his tenure at Palantir, and Truman Sacks unveiling Cubby Law, an AI-powered tool for law students.

Notable Quotes

- Living well is the goal—not living forever, not living perfectly free of illness. - Dr. Drew Pinsky, on society's fear of risk and mortality.

- Trust no one's execution but your own. - Colin Anderson, on Palantir's approach to vertical integration.

- It's like having your professor tutor you every night. - Truman Sacks, on Cubby Law's personalized AI teaching assistant.

🛠️ Intel’s Equity Deal with the U.S. Government

- Intel converted $8.9 billion in CHIPS Act grants into a 10% equity stake for the U.S. government, making it Intel's largest shareholder.

- The deal is framed as a strategic move to bolster U.S. semiconductor manufacturing but raises questions about government involvement in private enterprise.

- Former President Trump played a key role, leveraging his stake to align Intel with his America First agenda.

- Critics debate whether this move constitutes socialism or a pragmatic investment in national security.

🎨 The Booming Collectibles Market with Darren Rovell

- Rovell highlights the rise of high-value modern sports cards, such as a $13 million Kobe-LeBron card, and the growing interest in niche collectibles like vintage magazines and historical artifacts.

- He notes the degenerate economy driving younger generations to treat collectibles as investments, often blending gambling-like dynamics with collecting.

- Rovell's advice: focus on true one-of-one items for long-term value, as manufactured scarcity can be risky.

💡 Dr. Drew’s Dot-Com Era Lessons

- Dr. Drew recounts his venture into the dot-com boom with a SoftBank-backed startup, which aimed to create an interactive health platform but struggled due to the lack of broadband adoption.

- The company’s mantra, Get big fast, epitomized the era's focus on growth over profitability.

- Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Drew emphasizes the importance of improvisation, risk-taking, and focusing on living a meaningful life.

📊 Scaling Palantir with Colin Anderson

- Anderson shares insights from his eight years as Palantir’s CFO, navigating the company’s early challenges, including four years of pre-revenue operations.

- Palantir’s forward-deployed engineering model, which embeds engineers directly with clients, was key to solving complex problems and scaling the business.

- He stresses the importance of mission-driven work, dual-use technology, and maintaining financial hygiene to support long-term growth.

📚 Launching Cubby Law with Truman Sacks

- Cubby Law is an AI-powered teaching assistant tailored to law students, offering personalized study plans and practice exams based on individual professors’ syllabi.

- The platform aims to disrupt legacy tools like Quimbee by providing a 10x better experience for law students competing in a high-stakes, curve-based environment.

- Sacks envisions expanding into LSAT prep and bar exam tools, with the long-term goal of building relationships with future lawyers to enter the broader legal tech market.