E15: “The Besties” All-In’s inaugural award show covering the best, worst & most memorable of 2020

TL;DR

The Besties podcast awards the biggest winners and losers in politics, business, culture, and more for 2020.

Transcript

hey everybody welcome back besties  are back for the all-in podcast   the queen of quinoa freeburg is here the dictator  chamoth and of course rain man david sachs   and it's been a big week here in silicon valley  with airbnb and wish both going public for over   a hundred billion dollars combined anybody  get their beak wet on that one oh hey guy... Read More

Key Insights

• 🍭 Airbnb's IPO and Wish's IPO for over a hundred billion dollars were monumental events.
• 🆘 Brian Chesky's leadership and innovation helped Airbnb navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis.
• 🥺 The Chinese Communist Party, led by Xi Jinping, emerged as a winner despite the negative publicity from the pandemic.
• 💁 Podcasting and long-form discussions gained popularity as an antidote to social media.
• 🧑‍💻 Censorship, particularly in the media and tech platforms, became a significant issue in 2020.
• 🙏 Smart moves in business included alpha fold, mRNA vaccines, and strategic investments in companies like Tesla and Twilio.
• 🍵 The COVID-19 pandemic exposed flaws in political leadership, particularly in handling crises and promoting science-based decision making.
• 🤩 Timing the market proved to be a foolish strategy, and holding shares in great businesses was the key to success.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were the biggest winners in politics in 2020?

The biggest winners in politics were Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. Biden's successful campaign and centrism won him the presidency. Xi Jinping turned the negative publicity from the COVID-19 crisis into building client states.

Q: Who were the biggest losers in business in 2020?

The small business owners, particularly in the restaurant, retail, and hospitality industries, were hit hard by the lockdowns. Facebook and Google also faced multiple antitrust lawsuits, impacting their reputation.

Q: What were the smartest business moves in 2020?

Alpha Fold, a protein-folding technology, and the mRNA vaccines were the smartest business moves. Both had significant breakthroughs in their respective fields and had a profound impact on medicine and health.

Q: Who made the smartest political moves in 2020?

Congressman Jim Clyburn's endorsement of Joe Biden was a game-changer in the Democratic primary, leading to Biden's ultimate victory. Pete Buttigieg's appearances on Fox News helped him secure a position in Biden's administration.

Q: What were the dumbest business moves in 2020?

Nikola's overvaluation and subsequent decline was a major setback. Slack's decision to sell the company rather than capitalize on its network effect was also seen as a missed opportunity.

Q: What were the dumbest political moves in 2020?

Rudy Giuliani's press conference at a sex shop and the handling of the "defund the police" movement were identified as the dumbest political moves.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Airbnb and Wish going public for over a hundred billion dollars combined.

• Chamath investing in Airbnb's early round, leading to high returns.

• Brian Chesky's leadership and navigating Airbnb through the COVID-19 crisis.

• Sarah Cooper gaining popularity for her mocking of Trump during the pandemic.

• Biggest loser in culture: Censorship in the media and tech platforms.