Does anything I write matter anymore? - by Noah Smith

Punditry in the age of populism, AI, and monetization.

Does anything I write matter anymore? Punditry in the age of populism, AI, and monetization. Noah Smith Jun 19, 2026 512 98 55 Share About three years ago, someone asked me why, with my physics undergrad background and a PhD in economics, I had decided to become a professional blogger. I told him that blogging seemed like the highest-leverage thing I could do, in terms of actually having an impact on the world. I didn’t mean that bloggers literally rule the world, of course — this isn’t Ender’s Game . Nor do I have any illusions that I’ll be able to have as much influence as a top politician l

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