This interview podcast explores the commodification of attention in the digital age, drawing parallels to the Industrial Revolution's commodification of labor. Host Ezra Klein interviews Chris Hayes, author of "The Sirens' Call," discussing the increasing competition for attention and how this impacts politics and media. Hayes argues that while aggregated attention is highly valuable, individual attention is cheap, mirroring the exploitation of labor in the Industrial Revolution. The conversation highlights how figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk leverage attention, contrasting this with the Democrats' more cautious approach. A key takeaway is the shift from valuing positive attention to prioritizing sheer volume, even if negative, as a political strategy.
