MD MEETS

Peter Thiel on AI, Trump, democracy and the future of the West.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Mathias Döpfner, the Silicon Valley investor warns that Europe is falling dramatically behind in the AI race, revisits his controversial views on democracy and explains why he believes Germany’s AfD is wrong on Ukraine, China and Israel. Plus: Can AI become bigger than the internet? Is technological progress moving too fast? And could humans one day live forever?

Peter Thiel on power, politics, technology - and what comes next.
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MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved
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Jazz legend Ron Carter has spent nearly 75 years searching for what he calls “the right note.”

The most recorded jazz bassist in history has played alongside some of the defining artists of modern music - from Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock to countless other icons who shaped jazz as we know it. Yet, approaching his 90th birthday, Carter says he still goes to work every night for the same reason: to get better.

In this episode of MD MEETS, Mathias Döpfner sits down with Ron Carter for a deeply personal conversation about a life devoted to music.

Carter reflects on playing with Miles Davis, the art of being a great bandleader, and why a musician should leave their ego at home. He recalls how racial discrimination helped steer him from the cello toward the double bass and explains why he believes classical music still has a problem with racism today.

The two also debate the influence of Black culture on modern music, the relationship between jazz and classical music, and whether rhythm or harmony was really at the heart of the revolutionary sound Carter helped create with Miles Davis.

And what happens when artificial intelligence enters the equation? Carter is deeply skeptical that a machine can replicate what comes from decades of experience, mistakes and listening: “75 years of trying to find the right fucking note.”

But ultimately, this is a conversation about much more than music.

Carter talks about discipline, curiosity, listening, growing older - and why, after one of the most extraordinary careers in music history, his dreams for the future include something remarkably simple: helping people who cannot afford to buy their groceries.

A conversation with a legend who is still searching for the right note.

Ron Carter Universe:
https://www.roncarteruniverse.com
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Video: youtube.com/@mdmeets | Web: https://mdmeets.com | Mail: mail@mdmeets.com
MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved
Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mdmeets
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I think we are at the beginning of a bigger war."

In this episode of MD MEETS, Mathias Döpfner sits down with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić just one day after his highly controversial meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Long regarded as one of Europe's leaders closest to Vladimir Putin, Vučić explains why he welcomed Zelensky to Belgrade, why Serbia refuses to choose between East and West, and why he believes his country's independent foreign policy serves Serbian interests better than alignment with any geopolitical bloc. The conversation explores Serbia's balancing act between Russia, Ukraine, China and the European Union, the future of peace negotiations, hybrid warfare, NATO, Kosovo, and the changing balance of global power. Vučić also shares his concerns about Europe's economic decline, argues that the continent must work harder to remain competitive, and explains why he believes the world is entering a new and more dangerous era.

Is Europe prepared for a changing world order? And are today's conflicts only the beginning of something much bigger?
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Video: youtube.com/@mdmeets | Web: https://mdmeets.com | Mail: mail@mdmeets.com
MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved
Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mdmeets
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of MD MEETS, Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner sits down with Palantir CEO Alex Karp for a wide-ranging conversation about artificial intelligence, geopolitics, and the future of the West.

Karp argues that Europe’s biggest challenge is not a lack of talent but a crisis of political leadership and technological competence. He explains why he believes AI is essential for defending democracies, why Palantir has become one of the world’s most controversial technology companies, and why Europe’s debate about surveillance misses the real battle over technological sovereignty.

The two also discuss Germany’s political landscape, the rise of the AfD, and why Karp believes its growing support reflects deep public frustration over migration and economic stagnation - even as he rejects the party’s positions on Russia and authoritarianism.

The conversation explores trust in institutions, China’s growing technological ambitions, the race between democratic and authoritarian systems, and the future of AI. Karp also reflects on inequality in the AI era, the responsibility of Silicon Valley, and why he still considers himself a progressive despite frequently being portrayed as a political outsider.

Can open societies remain innovative enough to compete with authoritarian rivals? And what will determine whether the next decade belongs to democracies - or to those willing to abandon them?
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Video: youtube.com/@mdmeets | Web: https://mdmeets.com | Mail: mail@mdmeets.com
MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved
Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mdmeets
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and one of the most polarizing figures in British politics, joins Mathias Döpfner for a wide-ranging and explosive conversation.
Farage speaks about his close relationship with Donald Trump, the future of the transatlantic alliance, and why he believes the West must stand firm against Russia, China, and Iran. He defends Trump’s leadership style, discusses assassination attempts, and explains why he sees the former U.S. president as a model of political resilience.
At the center of the debate: migration. Farage outlines his controversial plan to deport hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants, warns of rising Islamism and antisemitism in the UK, and argues that mass migration is reshaping British society. He also explains why Brexit has not yet delivered economically - and what radical changes he would implement on energy, deregulation, and growth.
The conversation also covers the collapse of traditional parties, the rise of populism across Europe, comparisons to Germany and the AfD, and Farage’s own ambition to become Prime Minister.
Is Britain heading for a political earthquake? And can Farage really turn disruption into power?
Subscribe for essential insights, candid perspectives, and the dialogues that matter most
Video: youtube.com/@mdmeets | Web: https://mdmeets.com | Mail: mail@mdmeets.com
MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved
Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mdmeets
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.