Main content

Understanding the Attention Economy

Elon Musk鈥檚 growing power in Trump鈥檚 White House, USAID鈥檚 cuts to global journalism, and Chris Hayes on how big tech monetises human attention.

Elon Musk鈥檚 presence at a White House press conference surprised journalists when President Trump gave him the stage to address questions about his growing governmental influence. Jeff Mason, White House correspondent for Reuters, who asked Musk about claims of a 'hostile takeover' of government, describes the experience.

The Trump administration has announced significant cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides funding to independent media organisations worldwide. Max Tani, reporter for Semafor, explains how this decision affects news outlets, particularly those operating in countries where press freedom is under threat.

91热爆 Media Action, the 91热爆鈥檚 international charity, has been affected by the cuts, with USAID previously providing millions in funding. Its CEO, Simon Bishop, clarifies the organisation鈥檚 role and responds to Elon Musk鈥檚 claim that USAID funds the 91热爆 directly.
The attention economy is reshaping the way people engage with media and technology.

Chris Hayes, host of MSNBC鈥檚 All In, draws comparisons between Big Tech鈥檚 monetisation of attention and the Industrial Revolution鈥檚 transformation of labour. He discusses the social and political consequences of mass digital engagement and offers insight into potential regulatory solutions.

9 months left to watch

26 minutes

Last on

Wed 19 Feb 2025 01:30

Broadcasts