Topic: John Doerr

Venture capitalist John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins is featured discussing his weekly consultations with Al Gore to advance climate action. Doerr expresses regret over the 2000 election, suggesting the world would be decades ahead in emission reductions if Gore had become president. The hosts analyze the transition of the global narrative from COVID-19 concerns to the "catastrophic climate crisis" championed by figures like Greta Thunberg.

The hosts discuss the prestigious nature of ambassadorships to the UK and France, often awarded to major political donors. Adam Curry jokingly expresses interest in becoming the U.S. Ambassador to Holland if Donald Trump remains in office, citing the "party scene" and the official title of "The Honorable."

A story is recounted regarding a Silicon Valley CEO with an extensive gun collection and the extreme anti-gun stance of Kleiner Perkins CEO John Doerr. An anecdote describes Doerr reacting negatively to a toy gun worn by Randy Komisar at a Halloween party. The segment concludes with a description of the physical toll of firing a 50-pound elephant gun, which resulted in massive bruising despite using heavy shoulder padding.

Reports suggest Barack Obama may intervene to prevent Bernie Sanders from securing the nomination, while Elizabeth Warren's campaign struggles to maintain momentum. The hosts discuss the influence of Silicon Valley billionaires like John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins, who fund Democratic candidates in hopes of securing ambassadorships. They argue that these "elite" donors often have a flawed worldview that leads to poor political and technological investments.

Silicon Valley venture capitalist John Doerr is noted for his significant but often unsuccessful political donations to Democrats. Additionally, Kamala Harris is heard declaring her pronouns at a CNN town hall, which the hosts characterize as extreme virtue signaling.

John C. Dvorak recounts the history of Kleiner Perkins and partner John Doerr, highlighting their pivot to "Green Tech" and several notable investment failures. He mentions the Segway, the Fisker automotive collapse, and a rumored "snowblower" fiasco. Dvorak also claims that the firm missed the initial opportunity to invest in Google and had to buy in later at a higher price to maintain their reputation.

Financial institutions like Mastercard are reportedly pressuring platforms like Patreon to close accounts based on content, mirroring previous actions against WikiLeaks. Simultaneously, corporate firewalls like Palo Alto Networks have begun blocking InfoWars on internal networks. These trends are attributed to a perceived left-leaning political monoculture among Silicon Valley venture capitalists and executives.

The role of the Theranos board, which included figures like Henry Kissinger and George Shultz, is examined alongside the culpability of venture capital firms. The hosts suggest that experienced investors should have recognized the technical impossibilities of the Edison machine. They contrast the Theranos scandal with the established blood-testing industry giants like LabCorp.

A story is recounted about shooting an "elephant gun" with a Silicon Valley CEO who kept his firearms hobby secret from anti-gun colleagues like John Doerr. The gun was so powerful it required heavy padding and pushed the shooter back several feet. The following day, the shooter discovered significant bruising across his chest despite the protective gear.

A story from ten years ago describes a high-end party in Woodside attended by venture capitalists like John Doerr. At the event, a guest told one of the hosts that "everything in Silicon Valley is a scam" and a "big sales club." The anecdote serves to illustrate the hosts' long-standing skepticism of the tech industry's hype and self-importance.

The dinner party ends abruptly after the host defends Tom Perkins’ controversial letter comparing the persecution of the "1 percent" to Nazi Germany. The host argues that minorities should not be persecuted, regardless of their wealth. This leads to a side discussion about venture capitalist John Doerr and his nervous habits, including biting his fingernails down to the bone.

The hosts discuss the growing local hostility toward tech employees in San Francisco, exemplified by protests against Google and Apple commuter buses. Dvorak characterizes these movements as an "extortion racket" similar to the Rainbow Coalition, suggesting they will disappear once tech companies provide payoffs. They debate whether this local resentment reflects a broader national trend of anti-business sentiment.

The discussion turns to other targets of the hacker Guccifer, including venture capitalist John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins and Senator Lisa Murkowski. The hosts speculate that Doerr's leaked emails might reveal his attempts to secure an ambassadorship to France or England through political donations. They also discuss Doerr's failed "green" investments with Al Gore.

Bloom Energy, a Silicon Valley startup funded by Kleiner Perkins and John Doerr, is promoted as a "power plant in a box" that allegedly turns natural gas into electricity via electromechanical reactions. Industry insiders suggest the technology is a front for natural gas-fired plants and relies on government tax credits rather than true innovation. Speculation suggests an upcoming IPO is designed to allow early investors to exit before the technology's inefficiencies are fully exposed.

John Doerr and Kleiner Perkins faced criticism for a series of green energy investment failures following their success with Netscape and Amazon. A rivalry between Doerr and former partner Vinod Khosla is highlighted, noting Khosla's transition to his own venture firm and his involvement in open-source textbook philanthropy. The segment characterizes the venture capital firm's "green" pivot as a departure from their historical success in the tech sector.

President Obama held a private dinner with Silicon Valley leaders at the home of venture capitalist John Doerr, featuring guests like Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, and Larry Ellison. The absence of Microsoft representatives is noted, with speculation that Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer may view themselves as above such political gatherings. The event is framed as a meeting of the "technological elite" seeking political influence and ambassadorships.

The hosts discuss the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, which they characterize as a "douchebag festival." They recount an anecdote involving associates who mocked the event by forcing startup founders to deliver elevator pitches into microphones held at extreme heights or near the ground. The segment also mentions appearances by John Doerr and Bing Gordon.

The hosts deconstruct the "Bloombox" fuel cell technology featured on 60 Minutes. They characterize the media blitz as a PR setup designed to facilitate an exit for venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins. They suggest the ultimate goal is to sell the company to General Electric, noting that both John Doerr and GE's Jeffrey Immelt serve as advisors to the Obama administration.

The hosts defend their "value for value" funding model, explaining that listener donations allow them to remain independent of corporate influence. They recount an encounter with venture capitalist John Doerr on Sand Hill Road and discuss the show's growing reach among advertising professionals and airline staff. The goal of the show is presented as deconstructing news in a way mainstream outlets refuse to do.

President Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board is scrutinized for its heavy inclusion of corporate CEOs and venture capitalists. Named members include Jeffrey Immelt of GE, John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins, and Charles Phillips of Oracle. The hosts characterize this alliance between government and major corporations as a move toward corporatism or fascism.