EPISODE · Dec 19, 2025 · 1H 9M
Google’s Former CEO Is Dancing in Ukraine
from Angry Planet
Earlier this year journalist Ben Makuch caught a glimpse of Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, dancing at a club in Kyiv. It was a surreal moment, a snapshot of a tragic war that the West thinks is defining the future of conflict. Tech executives have flocked to Ukraine, courting the country in an attempt to get at a resource more precious than gold: data. Makuch was just there and has written about what he saw for The New Republic and he’s on the show today to talk about it.Some light smoking banterBen’s timelineGoogle’s CEO dancing in a bar in KyivUkraine as laboratory for war techThe JSOC era is overIn defense of the majestic American turkeyThe great America vs China speculationWar, cheaperOn the actual frontlineWheat fields of fiber optic lineThe buzz of the droneLife in the bloodlandsThe human suffering of living in UkraineFPV-made propaganda“Never underestimate human innovation when it comes to killing other humans.”What’s Erik Prince doing in Ukraine?New York Times on Military ReformThe Medieval—and Highly Effective—Tactics of the Ukrainian ProtestsWho Is St. Javelin and Why Is She a Symbol of the War in Ukraine?‘Cope Cages’ on Busted Tanks Are a Symbol of Russia’s Military Failures‘Unauthorized’ Edit to Ukraine’s Frontline Maps Point to Polymarket’s War BettingSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
Earlier this year journalist Ben Makuch caught a glimpse of Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, dancing at a club in Kyiv. It was a surreal moment, a snapshot of a tragic war that the West thinks is defining the future of conflict. Tech executives have flocked to Ukraine, courting the country in an attempt to get at a resource more precious than gold: data. Makuch was just there and has written about what he saw for The New Republic and he’s on the show today to talk about it.Some light smoking banterBen’s timelineGoogle’s CEO dancing in a bar in KyivUkraine as laboratory for war techThe JSOC era is overIn defense of the majestic American turkeyThe great America vs China speculationWar, cheaperOn the actual frontlineWheat fields of fiber optic lineThe buzz of the droneLife in the bloodlandsThe human suffering of living in UkraineFPV-made propaganda“Never underestimate human innovation when it comes to killing other humans.”What’s Erik Prince doing in Ukraine?New York Times on Military ReformThe Medieval—and Highly Effective—Tactics of the Ukrainian ProtestsWho Is St. Javelin and Why Is She a Symbol of the War in Ukraine?‘Cope Cages’ on Busted Tanks Are a Symbol of Russia’s Military Failures‘Unauthorized’ Edit to Ukraine’s Frontline Maps Point to Polymarket’s War BettingSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Google’s Former CEO Is Dancing in Ukraine
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