E159: The Bestie Awards! Recapping the best and worst of 2023
Jason Calacanis (host), David Sacks (host), Chamath Palihapitiya (host), David Friedberg (host), David Friedberg (host), David Sacks (host)
In this episode of All-In Podcast, featuring Jason Calacanis and David Sacks, E159: The Bestie Awards! Recapping the best and worst of 2023 explores all-In Bestie Awards 2023: Politics, Business, Science, and Self-Owns The hosts of the All-In Podcast hold their fourth annual 'Bestie Awards,' handing out tongue‑in‑cheek accolades for the biggest winners and losers across politics, business, science, tech, and culture in 2023.
All-In Bestie Awards 2023: Politics, Business, Science, and Self-Owns
The hosts of the All-In Podcast hold their fourth annual 'Bestie Awards,' handing out tongue‑in‑cheek accolades for the biggest winners and losers across politics, business, science, tech, and culture in 2023.
They frame 2023 as a year of political upheaval (Trump’s resurgence, DEI backlash, Hamas/Israel, third‑party candidates), business concentration (Magnificent Seven, Microsoft, Uber, NVIDIA), and societal strain (antisemitism, youth malaise, ballooning debt).
Science and tech discussions center on CRISPR’s first FDA‑approved treatment, explosive AI/LLM progress, and room‑temperature superconductor hype, alongside worries about over‑regulation and the need for open-source, locally run AI.
The episode closes with reflections on a turbulent but formative two years, cautious optimism for 2024, and appreciation for the show’s growth, with characteristic humor, roasting, and irreverent banter throughout.
Key Takeaways
Populism and non-traditional candidates reshaped 2023 politics.
Trump’s legal troubles strengthened his GOP lead; RFK Jr. ...
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DEI and ESG suffered a major legitimacy and capital backlash.
Post–October 7 campus reactions and congressional testimonies, plus shrinking ESG assets, led the hosts to label DEI/ESG the year’s political and business ‘losers,’ arguing consumers and donors are rejecting ideological corporate signaling.
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Economic power concentrated further in a few mega-cap companies.
The ‘Magnificent Seven’ drove most equity gains, while Microsoft, Nvidia, Meta, and Novo Nordisk exemplified how strategic bets in AI, gaming, semaglutides, and operational discipline translated into trillions in market cap shifts.
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AI progress was explosive and decentralized, heightening both promise and control fears.
From GPT-powered apps and open-source models that run locally to rapid advances in generative media, the hosts see massive productivity upside but stress that offline, open tools are key to resisting overbearing regulation and censorship.
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CRISPR’s first FDA approval marks a real-world gene-editing inflection point.
Editing sickle cell patients’ genes is framed as a quietly historic breakthrough, particularly for Black patients, demonstrating that once-hypothetical gene-editing therapies are now clinically and commercially real.
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Institutional credibility—media, Ivy Leagues, legacy news, and big brands—eroded further.
From Fox News’ Dominion settlement and Disney’s stumbles to Ivy League presidents’ disastrous hearings, the hosts argue trust is shifting away from institutional gatekeepers toward citizen journalism and more independent brands.
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Underlying social health metrics for younger adults are flashing red.
Rising excess deaths, suicides, low marriage rates, and pervasive mental health issues among 20–40-year-olds are cited as a ‘worst trend,’ suggesting something structurally wrong in how younger cohorts are faring in today’s environment.
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Notable Quotes
“The biggest political winner was Donald Trump… everything the Dems have done has actually galvanized his support.”
— Chamath Palihapitiya
“My biggest winner in politics is abortion rights… it’s the Democrats’ only winning issue and they’re putting it on the ballot everywhere.”
— David Sacks
“America should be a colorblind meritocracy.”
— David Sacks
“The most important boundary condition to have a sustainable third party is a good name… No Labels is a terrible name.”
— Chamath Palihapitiya
“As long as we embrace the enlightenment and don’t embrace the dark ages, we stand a shot at keeping progress alive.”
— David Friedberg
Questions Answered in This Episode
How sustainable is the backlash against DEI and ESG, and what replaces these frameworks in corporations and universities?
The hosts of the All-In Podcast hold their fourth annual 'Bestie Awards,' handing out tongue‑in‑cheek accolades for the biggest winners and losers across politics, business, science, tech, and culture in 2023.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
If a strong third party emerges, what concrete electoral reforms (e.g., ranked-choice voting, ballot access changes) would be required for it to be more than just a spoiler?
They frame 2023 as a year of political upheaval (Trump’s resurgence, DEI backlash, Hamas/Israel, third‑party candidates), business concentration (Magnificent Seven, Microsoft, Uber, NVIDIA), and societal strain (antisemitism, youth malaise, ballooning debt).
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Does the concentration of market gains in the ‘Magnificent Seven’ represent healthy innovation leadership or a systemic risk to markets and competition?
Science and tech discussions center on CRISPR’s first FDA‑approved treatment, explosive AI/LLM progress, and room‑temperature superconductor hype, alongside worries about over‑regulation and the need for open-source, locally run AI.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
How should regulators and the public balance the benefits of open-source, locally run AI models with concerns about misuse and safety?
The episode closes with reflections on a turbulent but formative two years, cautious optimism for 2024, and appreciation for the show’s growth, with characteristic humor, roasting, and irreverent banter throughout.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
What specific policy or cultural changes could realistically address the rising excess deaths, mental health issues, and declining family formation among young adults?
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Transcript Preview
(music plays) All right, everybody. Welcome back. It is our fourth annual Bestie Awards. Yes, everybody is incredibly excited to hear the biggest winners in politics and losers in business, best science breakthrough, so many amazing categories. With me again, Chairman Dictator, Chamath Palihapitiya, or Billionaire POC. Welcome back to the program, Chamath. (laughs) BIPOC. BIPOC. That's what I said, Billionaire POC. Billionaire Person of Color. Yes, please get it right.
(laughs)
And running the All-In DEI group, the Rain Man himself, David Sacks. Welcome back to the program.
Good to be here.
Okay. And-
(laughs)
... The Sultan of Science. Welcome back to the program. Are you ready with your selections, gentlemen? Are we ready to do this?
J-Kal, this is the holiday episode. You gotta have a little more cheer. This isn't all business, dude.
Cue the music, Nick.
Three, two ... (instrumental music plays) Yes. And here we are, everybody, back again for the 2023 Bestie Awards. (clapping) This is where everybody goes crazy. Oh my god. Standing ovation.
Hold on. Who's drinking some champagne with me? I need some-
Champagne popping.
What are you guys drinking?
These are the awards. Everybody wants to know who's gonna be a winner.
You're right. I need a drink. Hold on.
(laughs)
He needs a drink for this.
I need a drink too. Can you, can I go get a drink? Hang on.
Everybody get a drink. Loosen it up.
I'm at my office. I don't have alcohol here.
(laughs) Look in the second drawer.
Don't let your winners ride.
Rain Man, David Sacks.
I'm going all in.
As I said, we open source it to the fans, and they've just gone crazy with it.
Love you, bestie.
Queen of Quinoa.
I'm going all in.
All right, everybody. Welcome to the Bestie Awards for 2023.
What are you drinking?
I've got a little Veuve Clicquot. You know I love my Veuve.
Are you actually gonna drink it?
You know what? I ... People don't know this about me, but, uh, that was, um, my beverage of choice, was the old Veuve Clicquot when I would go out in New York. What have you got there, Sacks? What are you drinking for the 2023 Bestie Awards? What are you drinking?
I'm drinking my Clase Sol Reposado-
Hmm.
... in a glass with a single big rock. And I broke out my, uh, patriotic Great Seal of the United States glass.
This is a tribute to the border. You've got a little bit of Mexico-
(laughs)
... a little bit of the United States. And is it-
That's right.
... flowing between the border and you? Is that it? It's open border now.
Uh, the border s completely-
Open border for Christmas?
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