Bernie Sanders Interview | Lex Fridman Podcast #450

Bernie Sanders argues the US is sliding into oligarchy, with billionaire campaign spending and 1,800+ pharma lobbyists as the clearest evidence.

• Rand Corporation data: $50 trillion redistributed from bottom 90% to top 1% over 50 years; 3 people own more than bottom half of America.
• Over 1,800 pharma lobbyists work Washington vs. 535 members of Congress — Sanders says this directly explains highest-in-world US drug prices.
• US spends twice as much per capita on healthcare as any other nation yet has lower life expectancy; ~60,000 die annually from lack of access.
• 1 in 4 Americans can’t afford prescribed drugs; 1 in 4 cancer patients go bankrupt or deplete family savings during treatment.
• Sanders proposed phasing Medicare eligibility down from 65 to 55, 45, 35 over 4–5 years rather than an overnight single-payer switch.
• In 2016 primary Sanders had one Senate supporter out of 50 Democrats, zero governors — still won 23 states and averaged $27 in donations.
• Sanders says he gave “5 minutes thought” to running in 2024, decided challenging Biden would split the party and hand Trump an easy win.

Guests: Bernie Sanders, US Senator from Vermont and two-time presidential candidate · 2024-10-23 · Watch on YouTube