Episode description

🔥 AI is eating politics alive—and two founders from the backwoods of Idaho are leading the charge.

What happens when artificial intelligence meets democracy?

When cold, hard data replaces political spin?

When people get real-time transparency on what their government is actually doing?

This isn’t some Silicon Valley utopian fantasy. This is happening right now—built by a team who isn't in DC, aren’t in the Ivy League, and definitely aren’t taking marching orders from political overlords.

Luke Dupin and his team are applying AI to politics in a way that’s never been done before.

It’s about radical transparency, political accountability, and cutting through the noise so citizens can make real, informed decisions—not just every four years, but every damn week.

🔥 In This Episode

🚀 AI Eats Politics for Breakfast – Why government (from local to federal) is wildly inefficient, and how AI is slicing through the legalese to actually tell people what’s going on.

🤖 From C-SPAN to Chaos Mode – Mystery Science Theater for legislation? Live-streamed bill breakdowns? AI-powered public engagement that doesn’t suck? Yeah, that’s happening.

🏛️ The Death of Traditional Politics – Why both the Left and the Right are completely missing the point—and how data-driven, decentralized decision-making is the only way forward.

💰 Polymarkets, Blockchain, and Betting on Policy – What if we let people bet on legislation outcomes? (Hint: It already works better than any polling system we have today.)

🎯 AI for True Representation – Forget lobbyists. Forget media spin. What happens when your AI assistant helps you track every bill, every vote, and every politician in real time?

🛠️ How We Fix This – Real solutions, not just angry rants. From direct democracy to AI-driven voting tools, this is the blueprint for the next political revolution.

🎙️ About Our Guests

Luke Dupin – AI engineer, political systems disruptor, and co-founder of Anchor, the AI-powered engine reshaping how people interact with legislation. Play with wonk here.

Nick Smoot – Serial entrepreneur, systems thinker, and community builder on a mission to gamify civic engagement and make politics actually work for people. Sign up to be a member of build_ here.

Together, they’re proving that you don’t need to be in DC to change the system—you just need the right tech, the right mindset, and the guts to build it.

00:00 Navigating Startup Life in Non-Traditional Tech Hubs

07:11 The Challenges of Being a Technical Founder

10:11 The Importance of Customer Engagement

13:08 Introducing Wonk: AI in Politics

15:56 Understanding Legislation with AI

18:37 The Role of Personal Anchors in Political Engagement

21:24 The Future of Democracy and Civic Participation

24:27 Decentralization and Direct Democracy

27:20 Innovations in Voting and Representation

30:00 The Intersection of Data and Politics

37:17 Engaging the Public: The Challenge of Awareness

38:26 Innovative Ideas for Political Engagement

40:10 Understanding Complex Healthcare Policies

44:02 Using AI to Predict Legislative Outcomes

46:44 The Role of AI in Political Decision-Making

55:30 Reimagining Education for the Future

01:01:47 Decentralization and Economic Models

01:09:01 The Decline of Home Ownership

01:11:53 Innovative Ideas for Community Ownership

01:17:42 Digital Twins and Urban Planning

01:21:38 Decentralized AI and Its Implications

01:25:07 Rethinking Economic Models for the Future

01:31:11 The Future of Work and Human Flourishing

01:36:49 Building Meaningful Products in Niche Markets