AI, the Media, and the Billionaire Class

AI, the Media, and the Billionaire Class

From KPFA - Against the Grain by KPFA

June 9, 2026 · 60 min

About this episode

Rob Larson discusses the influence of the billionaire class on media and politics, particularly in the context of AI and press freedom.

The Trump administration has exposed the enormous power, as well as astounding wealth, of the billionaire class. And the power of that class partially emanates from their ownership of much of our media system, with significant political consequences. Economist Rob Larson returns to discuss the 1%, AI and the massive build out of data centers, and the decline of press freedom in the U.S. (Full-length broadcast.) World Inequality Database Rob Larson, Mastering the Universe: The Obscene Wealth of the Ruling Class, What They Do with Their Money, and Why You Should Hate Them Even More Haymarket Books, 2024 Photo by Jingming Pan on Unsplash The post AI, the Media, and the Billionaire Class appeared first on KPFA.

People in this episode

Guest: Rob Larson

Topics covered

  • AI
  • media
  • billionaire class
  • press freedom
  • political power
  • wealth inequality

Keywords

  • AI
  • media ownership
  • billionaire class
  • press freedom
  • wealth inequality
  • data centers
  • political consequences

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Trump administration, Haymarket Books, World Inequality Database

Books & works: Mastering the Universe: The Obscene Wealth of the Ruling Class, What They Do with Their Money, and Why You Should Hate Them Even More

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