Rebel News Podcast - January 24, 2025


EZRA LEVANT ｜ Trump's ASSAULT on eco-radical craziness deflates the WEF globalists


Episode Stats


Length

43 minutes

Words per minute

164.06322

Word count

7,156

Sentence count

691

Harmful content

Misogyny

2

sentences flagged

Hate speech

6

sentences flagged


Summary

Summaries generated with gmurro/bart-large-finetuned-filtered-spotify-podcast-summ .

Ezra LeVant catches up with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink on the streets of Davos, Switzerland, to ask him a question about what it's like to be an anti-populist in the age of Donald Trump.

Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
Misogyny classifications generated with MilaNLProc/bert-base-uncased-ear-misogyny .
Hate speech classifications generated with facebook/roberta-hate-speech-dynabench-r4-target .
00:00:00.000 Hello, my friends. I'm in Davos, Switzerland, and I'm just amazed at what I've seen, including
00:00:04.680 my on-the-street walking scrum with Larry Fink. He's the CEO of BlackRock, and we scrummed him
00:00:13.340 for nine minutes, and he was not happy about that. But I want you to see it, not just hear it. To see
00:00:19.020 it, you've got to go to rebelnewsplus.com, click subscribe, and you've got the video version of
00:00:26.460 the show. And I'll tell you, this is a crazy place. I want you to see it. It's rebelnewsplus.com.
00:00:34.260 All right, here's today's podcast.
00:00:41.600 Tonight, we caught him. Larry Fink,
00:00:54.540 the CEO of BlackRock on the streets of Davos. It's January 23rd, and this is the Ezra LeVant Show.
00:01:04.340 Shame on you, you censorious bug.
00:01:16.680 I was in Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day. It was thrilling for those who believe in freedom
00:01:23.100 and populism and nationalism and smaller government. And then I got on a plane on Tuesday and I arrived
00:01:29.940 here in Zurich first, and then I took three trains to come up to Davos to the opposite place in the
00:01:36.680 world, not geographically, but ideologically. It's a World Economic Forum. And they believe in all the
00:01:42.100 opposite things to America first Trumpism. They believe in globalism, not nationalism. They believe
00:01:48.320 in socialism, or probably more accurately, corporate socialism, a kind of fascism, as opposed to the free
00:01:54.100 market. They believe in ideological environmentalism. They believe in degrowth at the same time as they
00:02:00.680 believe in making money. It's a strange kind of capitalism. And most certainly, they believe in
00:02:06.000 censorship, whereas Donald Trump is taking steps to improve freedom of speech. What a contrast going from
00:02:11.600 Trump's Washington to Klaus Schwab's Davos. There's some energy that has gone out of Davos. I think people here have
00:02:20.040 had two months since Donald Trump's win in November to sort of grieve over the changes that are coming to the world.
00:02:26.440 Joe Biden wasn't really active mentally. He didn't really shape the government. But whatever cabal was orchestrating the U.S.
00:02:33.260 government in his, when he was mentally not up to the task, they were definitely the things that Klaus Schaub would
00:02:41.700 admire and find common cause with. When I started coming to Davos a few years ago, green schemes, environmentalism,
00:02:52.140 carbon taxes, sustainability, those were the buzzwords. Last year, there was a lot on stopping Trump and Elon Musk.
00:02:58.860 That wasn't, you know, perhaps what was in the signs, but that was on everybody's minds and lips.
00:03:04.260 Now they're focusing on AI. And a lot of the green schemes have sort of fallen out of favor here,
00:03:10.500 at least officially. But it's the same globalist cabal running the joint. We had an interesting
00:03:17.460 visit on the street. You know that we apply for accreditation. Of course, they always turn us down
00:03:22.020 because we ask prickly questions. So we wait outside the secure perimeter when the VVIP is
00:03:28.820 come out onto the street. And we try and recognize people and ask some questions.
00:03:32.860 And we were about to go. It was the end of the day. It was quite cold here.
00:03:36.220 And out of the corner of our eye, we spotted Larry Fink. Who's that? Well, you probably know him better
00:03:42.280 as the CEO of BlackRock. BlackRock has $11 trillion under management. One of the largest investment
00:03:50.920 firms in the world. Now that's laudable, I suppose. Good for them. A successful company,
00:03:56.020 except they use that power to inject DEI right into the veins of the companies it invest in.
00:04:02.760 So for example, last I checked, BlackRock owns about $80 billion worth of shares of Google YouTube.
00:04:09.720 Okay, no problem. But part of BlackRock's terms for massive investments is the companies they invest
00:04:16.700 in take the woke policies of DEI, diversity, equity, and inclusion. In the corporate sense,
00:04:22.780 they use a different acronym, ESG, environmental, social, and governance. But BlackRock, it's enormous,
00:04:29.820 $11 trillion. It's got a stake of just about anything on the stock market. And Larry Fink,
00:04:35.580 the big boss of BlackRock, uses that political power not to chase more return on investment
00:04:41.700 for shareholders, but rather to shape the corporate world to turn it all woke. And we caught up with
00:04:48.660 Larry Fink on the streets, and he did not like our questions one bit. Here, take a look at this.
00:04:54.440 Mr. Fink, are you going to follow Donald Trump's plan and get rid of DEI and ESG in your companies?
00:05:03.440 BlackRock really is the opposite of Donald Trump in so many ways. You're authoritarian,
00:05:08.660 you're anti-populist, you're top-down. Are you going to change it all in light of the U.S. presidency?
00:05:17.140 How has Donald Trump, have you talked to Donald Trump since he was elected?
00:05:23.600 Is the World Economic Forum a counterpoint to Donald Trump?
00:05:30.820 Why are you running away from simple questions? Just answer a question. Have you talked to President
00:05:35.080 Trump yet? Why are your bodyguards pushing away journalists, Mr. Fink?
00:05:40.660 They're simple questions. Is it that hard to answer a question that you need bodyguards
00:05:44.360 and to swerve through traffic? Is the next four years going to be bad for business with Donald
00:05:49.660 Trump in charge? Is peace the last thing you want on this world?
00:05:55.320 Which makes more money for you, war in Ukraine or peace in Ukraine?
00:05:58.620 Ezra Levant's my name, Mr. Fink. Did you just take a photo of you?
00:06:03.780 Am I supposed to be scared? Is that a threat? Is that a threat, Mr. Fink?
00:06:07.420 Are you used to bullying your way through life?
00:06:12.860 No, no, no, no, no.
00:06:13.680 It's like, oh.
00:06:15.520 What?
00:06:17.660 Is that how you've lived your entire life without having...
00:06:22.160 Look at this.
00:06:23.020 Don't push back, mate. Don't push me, bro.
00:06:26.960 Don't push me.
00:06:27.740 When was the last time you answered a question that you didn't know was coming?
00:06:33.180 Why are you so unaccountable?
00:06:36.020 Isn't that what you love about the World Economic Forum?
00:06:38.780 You control everything.
00:06:42.440 Why do you think you deserve so much power?
00:06:47.180 Hey, I'll be your mini.
00:06:49.200 Should I be scared now?
00:06:50.540 Which of your former directors do you want to run Canada?
00:06:55.220 Mark Carney or Chrystia Freeland?
00:06:57.740 Hey, don't push me, bro.
00:07:03.100 What?
00:07:04.320 What are you getting violent for, man?
00:07:07.240 I could push just like you get, man.
00:07:09.340 No, you're definitely not speaking about thugs.
00:07:11.380 Let's try and do it.
00:07:12.160 Look at these thugs.
00:07:13.000 They fund wars around the world and then you question them.
00:07:19.560 They try not only to intimidate you, but physically assault you.
00:07:25.380 What's with taking photos of journalists who ask you prickly questions?
00:07:28.760 Who's more powerful, you or President Trump?
00:07:32.280 Why do you think you're so disliked around the world?
00:07:41.900 Why are you putting your ideology ahead of your investors with ESG, Mr. Fink?
00:07:55.240 Isn't that being disloyal to shareholders, putting your ideology ahead of rate of return?
00:08:02.280 Why do you think you're above accountability?
00:08:06.180 Is it because you're rich?
00:08:08.240 Well, that was last night.
00:08:09.500 Today, Avi and I had a bit of a morning after chit-chat about what we had just experienced and observed.
00:08:17.260 Here's my talk with Avi.
00:08:18.540 And by the way, we did this in front of the Black Rock Pavilion.
00:08:21.640 Take a look.
00:08:22.680 Avi, it hasn't yet been a full day since you and I had a walk and talk with Larry Fink, the big boss of Black Rock.
00:08:29.420 But already our video has been seen about five million times on Twitter alone.
00:08:33.880 It's incredible because I think a lot of people are waking up to who and what Black Rock really is.
00:08:41.600 And I guess it's everything that's represented at the web.
00:08:45.660 Yeah, you know, it's funny.
00:08:46.360 It's people on the left and the right have in common distaste for Black Rock.
00:08:50.700 And I think it reminded me a little bit of when you and I had a walk and talk with Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer.
00:08:57.120 Here's a reminder of what that was like.
00:08:58.720 Mr. Bourla, can I ask you, when did you know that the vaccines didn't stop transmission?
00:09:04.480 How long did you know that without saying it publicly?
00:09:07.420 Thank you very much.
00:09:08.500 I'm sorry.
00:09:08.940 To answer that question.
00:09:10.240 I mean, we now know that the vaccines didn't stop transmission.
00:09:14.340 But why did you keep it secret?
00:09:17.940 You said it was 100% effective.
00:09:19.940 Then 90%, then 80%, then 70%.
00:09:23.360 But we now know that the vaccines do not stop transmission.
00:09:26.980 Why did you keep that secret?
00:09:28.980 Have a nice day.
00:09:30.200 I won't have a nice day until I know the answer.
00:09:32.980 Why did you keep it a secret that your vaccine did not stop transmission?
00:09:38.140 Is it time to apologize to the world, sir?
00:09:42.560 To give refunds back to the countries that poured all their money into your vaccine that
00:09:47.300 doesn't work, your ineffective vaccine?
00:09:49.380 Yeah, you have a little bit around.
00:09:50.700 It's not making...
00:09:51.340 Are you not ashamed of what you've done in the last couple of years?
00:09:53.680 Do you have any apologies to the public, sir?
00:09:58.980 Are you proud of it?
00:10:00.560 You've made millions on the backs of people's entire livelihoods.
00:10:04.940 How does that feel, to walk the streets as a millionaire on the backs of the regular
00:10:09.300 person at home in Australia, in England, in Canada?
00:10:11.900 What do you think about on your yachts, sir?
00:10:15.180 What do you think about on your private jet?
00:10:17.700 Are you worried about product liability?
00:10:20.100 Are you worried about myocarditis?
00:10:22.880 What about the sudden deaths?
00:10:26.880 What do you have to say about young men dropping dead of heart attacks every day?
00:10:32.000 I think one of the reasons that video did so well is that everyone knew Albert Bourla,
00:10:36.540 and they knew he was getting up to no good, but he had never submitted himself to unscripted,
00:10:40.860 unvetted questions.
00:10:42.340 Same thing with Larry Fink of BlackRock.
00:10:44.680 Everyone has sort of heard of him or BlackRock, and they know he's up to no good,
00:10:48.280 but he never puts himself in a position to answer questions he basically didn't approve
00:10:52.780 in advance.
00:10:53.660 I think that's why our video yesterday did so well.
00:10:56.280 Yeah, like I said, there's a lot of people concerned for our welfare, so we thought if
00:11:00.800 we may as well double down, we're this far in deep, so we'll come out here and we'll
00:11:06.040 follow up, because there is some interesting things we didn't get to ask him.
00:11:10.860 In that time, probably because, you know, there's a lot going on, and to remember everything
00:11:16.220 surrounding you, especially when you're getting pushed around by a bodyguard.
00:11:20.060 Yeah, it's hard.
00:11:21.000 I mean, you and I sometimes wait for more than an hour for a VVIP, and so we only have a matter
00:11:28.140 of moments to jump in and start asking questions, and it takes a little while to get the noggin
00:11:32.220 jogging, but you alluded to a weird thing when we were walking, and the bodyguards were
00:11:39.940 pushing us a bit, and Larry Fink didn't have anything to say, and he did something very
00:11:45.220 strange.
00:11:45.740 He took out his personal cell phone, and he took snapshots of our faces, me and you and
00:11:52.500 one of our cameramen here.
00:11:53.680 Just take a quick peek at what that looked like.
00:11:55.620 And I think that was meant to intimidate us in some way, although it's weird, because
00:12:22.400 we were going to put the whole video online, we weren't obscuring our...
00:12:26.220 Yeah.
00:12:27.020 ...larry thing, because he knows the kind of fear he instills.
00:12:32.160 Well, that's the thing, and normally I'd say, what an idiot, what a blowhard, come and get
00:12:36.940 me.
00:12:37.120 We're doing public interest journalism on a public street, asking questions of public
00:12:42.020 interest, public policy, like we were doing absolutely legitimate legal journalism, and
00:12:50.040 he's just a coward. 0.62
00:12:51.220 But when you manage $11 trillion, you've got a lot of power.
00:12:55.960 I mean, he's got these personal thugs, so we show he's not shy about shutting people
00:12:59.660 around.
00:12:59.900 And it was only afterwards that a friend reminded me, and this is what's so insane, and this
00:13:05.940 is why I am 1% worried about Larry Fink.
00:13:09.980 You know the man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump, the guy who came within an inch of murdering
00:13:16.780 the president when he shot?
00:13:18.800 His name was Thomas Matthew Crooks, and he appeared in a BlackRock promotional video.
00:13:25.260 And we never got to the bottom of that.
00:13:26.940 We never found out more about who was this guy.
00:13:30.420 And if BlackRock has within its larger family assassins about whom there is no trace, it's
00:13:38.300 got a bit of an MKUltra vibe to it.
00:13:40.500 Like, BlackRock is so big and so powerful and involved in such, like, world-changing events.
00:13:47.020 They both finance, they both provide the weapons in wars, and then they get the contracts to
00:13:53.400 rebuild the countries after those wars.
00:13:55.140 These are violent people.
00:13:57.840 So when Larry Fink takes our pictures, and we know that Larry Fink had an actual attempted
00:14:03.800 assassin in the larger BlackRock family, maybe he's going to give that photo of us to their 0.94
00:14:10.900 little MKUltra team.
00:14:12.360 I don't know.
00:14:12.780 Yesterday we were joking around that we have no suicidal thoughts, but it's true.
00:14:16.240 Yeah.
00:14:16.500 And it's on the record now for everyone to see because, like I said, there is 1% fear.
00:14:22.440 I think that this would be a bit too crazy for him to do.
00:14:26.060 But you don't know the lengths in which he'll go, even out of sheer embarrassment of his own
00:14:32.800 behavior yesterday being publicized so far.
00:14:36.000 So there is a few.
00:14:36.660 I don't know how it can lay out.
00:14:38.200 Don't know what he could do.
00:14:39.740 I do know we really upset him.
00:14:41.720 Yeah.
00:14:42.180 I don't think that he's been subjected to scrutiny from the peasants maybe in 20 years.
00:14:49.080 And he thinks he rules this town.
00:14:51.540 And he thinks that only his people are allowed here.
00:14:54.420 Well, he made the mistake of stepping out of the high security perimeter.
00:14:57.920 The drawbridge came down.
00:14:59.180 He walked across the moat with the peasants.
00:15:01.540 And he heard a little bit from the peasants.
00:15:03.100 That's why the video's gone viral.
00:15:04.760 The questions that you and I asked him were questions that a million people have wanted
00:15:09.340 to ask, but simply he wasn't allowed to.
00:15:11.660 I hope that he was just trying to intimidate us with those pictures.
00:15:16.060 But Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was in a BlackRock corporate video, tried to murder the president
00:15:21.780 of the United States.
00:15:22.700 If you're willing to assassinate the president of the United States, you'd think nothing of
00:15:27.140 harming a couple of citizen journalists.
00:15:29.660 Totally.
00:15:30.120 But that's not going to stop us.
00:15:32.120 WEFreports.com.
00:15:33.320 All our videos all week.
00:15:35.580 In fact, I think we're getting so much content.
00:15:37.460 We're going to have enough to go past the actual week here on the ground.
00:15:41.580 So make sure to go there, bookmark.
00:15:43.620 And if you support our mission here and you support the fact that we're willing to talk
00:15:48.240 and challenge even Larry Fink, even as he threatens us, shipping a couple of dollars to help us
00:15:54.700 cover the cost of just getting here because it has been a super expensive project.
00:16:01.060 But I think it's worth it.
00:16:02.400 We don't have $11 trillion to manage here.
00:16:05.080 I manage $11.
00:16:07.200 Larry Fink manages $11 trillion.
00:16:09.320 I manage $11.
00:16:11.120 Well, this morning we were, you know, you never know who you're going to find here at the
00:16:15.320 World Economic Forum.
00:16:16.620 Generally, as I say, they tilt to the left.
00:16:18.780 They tilt towards socialism, globalism, things like that.
00:16:23.660 But out of the corner of our eye, again, we spotted Paul Ryan.
00:16:27.940 I don't know if that name rings a bell.
00:16:29.680 He'll probably wind up being a footnote in history.
00:16:31.660 But for a while, he was the Speaker of the House in the United States, and he was Republican.
00:16:36.200 In fact, he was the vice presidential candidate on the Republican ticket.
00:16:41.660 He lost.
00:16:43.200 Now, I saw him and I thought, well, what's he doing here at Davos at all?
00:16:46.680 He's a Republican.
00:16:47.380 And I thought, I wonder what he has to say about Donald Trump, because if he's a Republican
00:16:53.200 at Davos, is he a fish out of water?
00:16:56.260 Did he have any congratulations to pass on to the president?
00:16:59.900 Here's what happened when I asked him those basic questions.
00:17:03.620 Mr. Ryan, can I ask you for your thoughts on Donald?
00:17:06.780 Give me a word on Donald Trump.
00:17:08.140 I'm good.
00:17:08.800 Are you optimistic that he'll be a good president?
00:17:12.780 I'm good.
00:17:14.320 I mean, I know you're good.
00:17:16.180 I don't like going to walk and talk interviews.
00:17:17.340 It's just not my style.
00:17:18.120 Well, just give me a word.
00:17:19.100 It sounds like you're resentful of the president.
00:17:21.200 It sounds like you're trying to put words in my mouth.
00:17:22.700 Well, then put your own words in your mouth.
00:17:25.100 And they're good at what you do.
00:17:26.540 Well, I'm not, because I'm not eliciting a good answer from you.
00:17:32.920 Well, why wouldn't you at least commend the president for his victory?
00:17:38.280 Yeah, I need you to send me the QR code so I can get in.
00:17:42.000 Yeah.
00:17:43.460 Yeah, just touch me with the QR code.
00:17:47.460 Yeah, well, I didn't check that email.
00:17:50.620 Let me check that one.
00:17:51.460 Hang on a second.
00:17:52.340 All right, I'll call you back.
00:17:54.020 It seems a little stingy.
00:17:55.500 All the world leaders are at least congratulating him.
00:17:59.160 You refuse to congratulate the president.
00:18:01.040 That seems...
00:18:01.640 No, I refuse to talk to you because you're being obnoxious.
00:18:03.660 I'm not being obnoxious.
00:18:04.520 I'm asking you a very simple, easy question.
00:18:06.300 Here's what I want you to do.
00:18:06.900 Go on Bloomberg yesterday and look at my TV interview and use theirs.
00:18:12.080 I think you're jealous.
00:18:15.040 I think you had your shot and you failed.
00:18:18.020 And you're sort of grudging towards Trump who won.
00:18:22.320 Is that wrong?
00:18:24.080 Hang on a second.
00:18:25.180 Yeah, there's...
00:18:26.380 Right.
00:18:26.960 No.
00:18:28.480 Yeah, you've got to send me the QR code.
00:18:31.760 Right.
00:18:32.120 Yeah, no, that's what I need just to get in.
00:18:34.800 All right.
00:18:35.740 Let me check that email.
00:18:38.560 Okay.
00:18:42.120 Are you still working out?
00:18:45.460 I'm trying to...
00:18:46.220 I'm just not going to entertain your obnox...
00:18:48.060 You're being obnoxious.
00:18:48.640 I mean, you're calling me obnoxious.
00:18:50.100 Actually, I think you're being obnoxious.
00:18:51.420 You're refusing to...
00:18:51.840 You're refusing to say even a grudging congratulations to the new president.
00:18:55.720 No, I'm just not going to talk to you.
00:18:57.300 Why?
00:19:00.420 Hang on a second.
00:19:01.280 All right.
00:19:01.780 I think you're a sore loser.
00:19:06.960 What are you even doing at a left-wing place like the World Economic Forum?
00:19:11.980 It's not very Republican.
00:19:14.540 Who are you meeting with?
00:19:16.620 Where's that secret?
00:19:19.140 Right now, I'm trying to navigate my email, so...
00:19:22.480 But what are you doing here?
00:19:26.680 Like, this is a George Soros kind of place.
00:19:29.160 Is that your crew now?
00:19:31.240 Is that who you hang with?
00:19:38.900 Well, I don't think I was being obnoxious.
00:19:40.800 I just don't think I was being obnoxious.
00:19:43.160 Annoying, I'll plead guilty to that.
00:19:45.400 But wouldn't it be easy for Paul Ryan to say congratulations to the new president?
00:19:49.920 I hope he does well.
00:19:50.800 Just anything.
00:19:51.680 I mean, every leader in the world, left-wing or right-wing, has said the same.
00:19:56.100 Not Paul Ryan.
00:19:57.020 I think he's angry and maybe a little bit disgruntled that he didn't get a chance to be president
00:20:02.060 when he could have been.
00:20:03.900 Speaking of politicians, my friend Abiy Amini and my colleague and friend Sheila Gunn-Reed,
00:20:09.540 Abiy's my friend too, they both bumped into John Kerry, who is a man about town here at Davos.
00:20:16.540 We always see him and he always walks around.
00:20:18.060 And to his credit, he takes some time to talk with us.
00:20:20.700 Elsewhere on our website, wefreports.com, you can see the longer interaction with him, including Sheila and Ali.
00:20:29.480 But I want to show just a short interaction that I had with him.
00:20:33.800 Remember that John Kerry was a candidate for president under the Democrats.
00:20:37.860 He lost, he was made secretary of state, and then he became the climate ambassador.
00:20:45.560 He was the secretary of state under Obama, and he was climate ambassador under Joe Biden.
00:20:50.640 But Joe Biden's gone.
00:20:51.500 And so John Kerry is not the climate ambassador for the United States anymore.
00:20:56.720 So what's he doing here?
00:20:58.700 Who's he representing?
00:21:00.340 Here's my short conversation with John Kerry about that interesting question.
00:21:04.600 Flying, obviously, private jet.
00:21:06.200 Can you disclose who your clients are?
00:21:07.940 Don't you think that's relevant?
00:21:10.280 You used to work for the U.S. government.
00:21:11.940 Who do you work for now?
00:21:13.860 Shouldn't you disclose him?
00:21:14.900 I work in several capacities now.
00:21:18.720 Can you name them, please?
00:21:20.220 Well, if you'd like that, I'll have my office with them all out here.
00:21:23.320 I'm skeptical that you will, sir, with all respect.
00:21:25.840 Can you tell me at least one of them?
00:21:27.100 Surely you know.
00:21:27.860 Look, I'm not going to put up with your ridiculous...
00:21:30.720 How's it...
00:21:31.380 It's not disrespectful.
00:21:32.620 I respect you, sir.
00:21:33.500 You are.
00:21:33.800 No, you are.
00:21:34.200 I'm asking who you work for because it's not known right now.
00:21:37.440 I work for Galvanize Climate Solutions.
00:21:40.540 And how long have you been working with them?
00:21:42.100 Full-time climate addressing the energy transition and working constructively with people.
00:21:51.160 And who's behind that organization?
00:21:53.400 Who funds it?
00:21:54.300 It's not funded.
00:21:55.480 It's a...
00:21:57.100 You should...
00:21:57.720 Are you a volunteer?
00:22:00.080 Tom Steyer is the president.
00:22:02.320 So he made his money in coal, didn't he?
00:22:05.960 Don't you think that's unusual that Tom Steyer made his money in coal and he's paying you?
00:22:09.820 Sir, sir.
00:22:10.820 I think that's very...
00:22:12.160 I said he's paying me.
00:22:13.440 Are you a volunteer, sir?
00:22:15.840 Tom Steyer, he's king of coal.
00:22:19.760 He made his money emitting carbon.
00:22:22.740 The whole world is emitting carbon.
00:22:25.400 I thought you were against that sort of thing.
00:22:27.240 I am.
00:22:27.700 That's exactly what we're changing.
00:22:29.200 Did he buy an indulgence?
00:22:30.460 Is that what your project is?
00:22:32.480 Take care.
00:22:33.200 Isn't that funny?
00:22:34.540 John Kerry is here due to the largesse of a coal baron. 1.00
00:22:42.260 Tom Steyer, who made his money in coal and now is a green activist.
00:22:45.800 That perfectly sums up John Kerry, who, by the way, admitted he came here in part on a private jet.
00:22:51.860 Hey, I want to show you one more thing.
00:22:54.200 We were just walking here today and we came upon a guy offering freebies.
00:22:58.600 There's lots of places offering freebies, free hot chocolate, free toques, stuff like that.
00:23:03.820 And this guy was offering energy bars.
00:23:06.180 And I looked at them and they look, you know, just like some energy bar.
00:23:09.840 But he said verbally, it's made with insects.
00:23:13.080 And he said it sort of quickly.
00:23:14.780 I heard it immediately, but some others didn't.
00:23:18.280 I talked to him at some length.
00:23:20.060 Here's a guy who's actually following through on the Klaus Schwab exhortation to eat ze bugs.
00:23:26.980 What do you think of this?
00:23:28.700 Tell me about what you're doing here.
00:23:30.220 Hi, I'm doing a promotion tour for a recently funded company that is doing these bars.
00:23:37.140 It's POMBA food.
00:23:38.540 And we are producing upcycled food.
00:23:41.800 And, well, this is our energy bar, which uses insect protein as a protein source.
00:23:48.720 Now, I want to be very fair to you because you've invited me to talk to you.
00:23:52.960 Okay.
00:23:53.640 When I hear you say that these are insect bars, I have a natural reflex to gag.
00:24:00.860 I think there's a human evolutionary reaction to things that historically have caused us sickness.
00:24:08.080 That's why when we see maggots, we almost throw up.
00:24:11.540 It's nature's way of saying, don't eat that.
00:24:14.320 That's bad.
00:24:15.820 Why would you want people to eat insects?
00:24:18.940 Because I just make your best case for what I think is an astonishing proposition.
00:24:25.440 Well, the thing is, I don't know if it is really an instinct or if it's just learned behavior that we have an aversion against these insects or against spiders or anything.
00:24:36.040 Because in other parts of the world, especially in Africa and Asia, many people eat many kinds of insects.
00:24:43.380 And so maybe we just need to get used to it.
00:24:46.260 Now, you said the word should.
00:24:48.620 Maybe we should get used to it.
00:24:50.980 Why wouldn't we eat beef and chicken and fish and vegetables?
00:24:56.920 Why should we?
00:24:58.040 Should is sort of a moral word.
00:25:00.520 It is something we ought to do.
00:25:03.800 If we can eat chicken and beef and fish and vegetables, why are you saying we should eat insects?
00:25:10.580 Well, it's not in every occasion that we can have beef and cattle and pigs and chicken.
00:25:17.580 For example, if there are a few resources in water or the food distribution for hay and stuff that these animals that we mentioned before need, then it can be challenging.
00:25:29.860 And then it can be easier to just feed the worms or the insects with some things that are very easy to store.
00:25:38.140 Or if you want to take the example that we will go to other planets and we will conquer Mars, for example.
00:25:44.500 If we want to take pigs and cows with us to Mars, it will be difficult because of the space and because they need a lot of room.
00:25:54.700 And you can basically put an insect into the fridge, put it down to five degrees and then wake it up again once you arrive.
00:26:06.060 And so that's why it can be more convenient to base our nutrition on insects than on mammals.
00:26:13.240 Thank you.
00:26:14.500 I have to tell you, your example is so extreme and fantastical and hypothetical because although Mars is in the news because Elon Musk is shooting rockets into space,
00:26:25.300 we haven't landed on Mars, we haven't colonized Mars.
00:26:29.660 That's such an obscure reason why you're selling these or you're giving these away today.
00:26:35.860 What is your moral rationale for eating bugs today in 2025?
00:26:42.820 Not really a moral thing.
00:26:44.000 It's just a possibility.
00:26:45.000 You know, it got allowed in the European Union in 2022 and in Switzerland shortly after four kinds of insects that can be used in human nutrition.
00:26:56.400 And so why not doing it?
00:26:58.320 It's a sustainable way to produce food.
00:27:01.220 And so why not doing it?
00:27:02.300 I mean, nobody's obliged to do it.
00:27:03.740 And so far, many people can afford beef and chicken.
00:27:07.100 So, yes, feel free to eat it.
00:27:09.480 But at some point, it can be possible that it will be too expensive to buy these for people.
00:27:15.900 And so they have another opportunity to consume animal protein for a less price.
00:27:22.180 Now, if I may, can I look at this?
00:27:26.780 So on the front, it says energy, cocoa, cashew, performance, pumba, upcycled food.
00:27:33.860 I don't see the word insect share the flavor.
00:27:37.360 Yeah.
00:27:37.800 And so if I were, like that lady just came by, that says contains insect protein. 1.00
00:27:44.680 But, you know, you see it in bold letters?
00:27:49.820 Where?
00:27:50.820 There.
00:27:52.180 This is the...
00:27:53.260 Cashew-nusa? 0.58
00:27:54.480 No, the lower one here.
00:27:56.020 That means alphitobius diapyrinus.
00:28:00.600 Exactly.
00:28:01.300 No one, I put it to you, not one in a thousand people knows what that means.
00:28:06.840 I don't think the words insects or bugs, you call it upcycled food.
00:28:14.680 Yep.
00:28:15.640 I'll bet you a hundred euros.
00:28:18.360 Would you like to try an energy bar?
00:28:19.820 Yes.
00:28:20.180 Made with insect protein as a protein source.
00:28:22.180 And here's the way to our webshop.
00:28:24.380 You can order online.
00:28:25.520 We are so far not in retail.
00:28:26.900 How much sugar is in there?
00:28:28.260 Plenty.
00:28:28.820 It's an energy bar.
00:28:29.860 So like 16 gram.
00:28:31.580 Yeah.
00:28:32.840 I'll try it.
00:28:33.700 Thanks.
00:28:33.980 Go ahead.
00:28:34.460 Enjoy it.
00:28:34.840 That container says insect protein, but the word insect protein, I don't see it on the wrapper.
00:28:42.020 Well, it's alphitobius diapyrinus.
00:28:44.520 But no one here knows what alphitobius diapyrinus means.
00:28:50.560 Do you know what alphiopus diapyrinus means?
00:28:53.040 Sorry, what?
00:28:53.900 Yeah, exactly.
00:28:55.080 Do you want to try an energy bar to make with insect protein as a protein source?
00:28:58.520 Oh, that actually sounds healthy.
00:29:01.240 Yeah, it's very healthy.
00:29:02.240 It has a very good amino acid profile.
00:29:04.560 But it says Lufthansa, right?
00:29:06.080 What again?
00:29:06.360 Lufthansa just because it's a white card.
00:29:08.440 Ah, I thought it was a greenwashing.
00:29:10.000 Yeah.
00:29:10.300 So that's actually cool.
00:29:11.380 Yeah.
00:29:11.720 Are you going to try it?
00:29:12.800 Yeah.
00:29:13.160 Can you try it right now?
00:29:14.320 I want to see what you think of it.
00:29:15.840 You want to see my face expression?
00:29:17.060 I want to see if you like it or not.
00:29:18.440 You could have not told me that it's insects, right?
00:29:20.400 No, I have to tell everyone because it's a new feature.
00:29:23.340 The insect protein and people sometimes have an aversary reaction, so I tell them.
00:29:28.400 So it doesn't help get some of the...
00:29:29.200 No, no, it's very tasty and it's very healthy.
00:29:31.000 I'm kidding.
00:29:31.480 Okay, okay.
00:29:32.100 So I've been following this for a while now.
00:29:33.960 Okay.
00:29:36.240 Sorry, thank you.
00:29:38.680 It's all right.
00:29:40.180 Magnus protein bars.
00:29:41.360 Yeah.
00:29:41.700 A bit tasteless.
00:29:42.360 We have a protein bar in our webshop, which has a lot more protein content.
00:29:46.840 So this is the energy bar, but yeah, the protein of this bar is also from insect.
00:29:52.840 And you ask me what it means, and I don't know.
00:29:54.840 Pumba?
00:29:55.620 Pumba is in the name of our brand.
00:29:57.240 Oh, okay.
00:29:58.180 Is that from the Lion King, the creature that ate insects?
00:30:00.940 Exactly.
00:30:01.800 Exactly.
00:30:02.220 You're winding him up.
00:30:03.320 Well, what do you think of it?
00:30:04.260 So you had a bite.
00:30:06.240 Oh, it's good.
00:30:07.880 Are you going to finish it or have you had enough?
00:30:10.420 So.
00:30:12.360 Because this is not the sugar coat things, right?
00:30:14.380 So in general, those bars are not super tasty, right?
00:30:17.840 Regardless if it's insects or whey protein.
00:30:20.360 And this one is the same.
00:30:21.360 It's not the most tasty thing on the planet.
00:30:23.620 But if I had to choose, I don't mind actually going for insects.
00:30:29.600 Thanks, man.
00:30:30.560 Yeah, you're welcome.
00:30:31.420 Have a nice day.
00:30:32.180 Likewise.
00:30:32.920 All right.
00:30:33.960 Well, there you have it.
00:30:35.000 A real-life taste test.
00:30:36.160 The lad says it's not particularly good, not particularly bad.
00:30:40.100 He eats the bugs.
00:30:43.160 Is there a rule in Switzerland or the European Union or anywhere in the world that insect,
00:30:51.180 here it says contains insect protein.
00:30:53.200 That's very clear to understand.
00:30:55.460 But that is not written on the bar.
00:30:57.280 Of course, in compliance with all the rules.
00:30:58.740 Okay, but what are the rules?
00:31:00.760 Do you, like, you are telling people verbally that there's bugs in here.
00:31:05.780 Yeah.
00:31:05.940 But the wrapper does not say that.
00:31:08.720 Is there a rule in Switzerland that it has to be disclosed in a conspicuous way?
00:31:13.940 If it were so, then it would be written there.
00:31:17.980 But it's not written there, so it's not necessary.
00:31:20.920 So the only...
00:31:22.200 I mean, you're being very candid and I see it there.
00:31:25.040 But if you were to sell this somewhere, if they didn't know what Alphatobius diaporinus meant,
00:31:34.940 they wouldn't know.
00:31:37.180 They just wouldn't know.
00:31:37.920 Yeah, probably not.
00:31:38.880 What kind of...
00:31:39.460 Now, I don't know my genus and species that well.
00:31:42.600 What kind of bug is that?
00:31:45.580 It's like a mealworm.
00:31:47.380 It's a small form of a mealworm.
00:31:51.340 Do you eat these in your own life?
00:31:53.280 In your own private life?
00:31:54.580 Yeah.
00:31:55.840 Yeah.
00:31:56.740 I mean, it's a new thing, you know?
00:31:59.740 It's not that we have grown up with insects.
00:32:03.180 Not in this part of the world, as I mentioned before.
00:32:05.020 It's another part of the world where they eat up to 500 different kinds of species of insects.
00:32:12.240 Just in the Western world, this is a new phenomenon.
00:32:16.040 And so, for me too.
00:32:17.780 I also only one or two years ago started consuming it.
00:32:22.600 But for me, it's already something normal.
00:32:24.920 Yeah.
00:32:25.120 Now, in some parts of the world, people are extremely poor.
00:32:30.040 And they're even starving.
00:32:32.120 I'll tell you, if I was starving, if it was a matter of life and death, I would eat whatever was not poisonous to survive.
00:32:40.720 But as societies get wealthier, they don't have to eat extreme foods.
00:32:47.680 I'm just trying to understand the rationale.
00:32:52.640 I mean, I've listened to everything you said.
00:32:53.840 By the way, I very much appreciate you talking to me because I'm a critic and I'm a skeptic.
00:32:58.360 So, I am listening carefully to what you have to say.
00:33:02.280 But so far, what I'm hearing is it's convenient if we go to Mars.
00:33:09.080 We may not have beef and chicken, so this is an alternative.
00:33:13.400 And in some very poor parts of the world, they eat bugs.
00:33:17.460 Are there other arguments for it?
00:33:19.140 Well, as I mentioned before, you need a lot of resources to produce one kilogram of beef or pig meat.
00:33:27.840 You need thousands of liters of water.
00:33:30.640 Whereas with this, you need maybe 15 liters of water.
00:33:34.100 So, it's a lot less resources that you need and you don't need fresh pastry.
00:33:39.240 You can use an old brand from the mill that is used, that is a leftover from the milling process.
00:33:45.260 Would you like to try it?
00:33:45.900 Please come.
00:33:46.520 Sure.
00:33:46.860 It's a protein or energy bar made with insect protein.
00:33:52.180 That's great.
00:33:53.020 Yeah.
00:33:53.400 Use the way to a web shop.
00:33:55.180 And I would say this is the right place to offer this because here when you walk so much,
00:33:59.340 you get into the meetings, you have so much of muscle exercise, brain exercise.
00:34:04.100 At the time you are offering such an energy kind of a chocolate, it's a great gesture.
00:34:08.380 You will very quickly get rid of your muscle pain because it's a big energy resource.
00:34:13.280 That's nice.
00:34:14.020 That's nice.
00:34:14.460 One for my friend.
00:34:15.300 Can I ask you, sir?
00:34:16.600 Yeah.
00:34:18.560 And can I ask you if you would taste it on camera and tell me what you think?
00:34:24.340 Yeah, I can do that if you want.
00:34:26.360 Now, did you hear him say that there's insects in that?
00:34:29.840 I didn't hear that.
00:34:31.720 Okay, that's...
00:34:32.580 That's what I said, eh?
00:34:33.180 I came, I joined late actually.
00:34:35.400 I didn't know.
00:34:35.920 I said it's an energy bar with insect protein as a protein source.
00:34:40.720 Oh, is it?
00:34:41.760 Yeah.
00:34:43.440 How do you feel about that?
00:34:44.720 That's funny.
00:34:46.340 Now, would you try it?
00:34:50.400 I think I won't.
00:34:51.400 I am skeptical as well.
00:34:55.660 Can I ask why you won't eat the bugs?
00:34:58.660 So, of course, I mean, if it is coming up with insects, that's not a thing which we really expect that because this is something we are here for.
00:35:06.500 We want to conserve, we want to conserve the planet, but not by killing the insects, that's not what we really expect from this, no.
00:35:16.040 All right, good luck.
00:35:17.040 All right, good luck.
00:35:18.040 Thanks for talking with me.
00:35:19.040 Thank you.
00:35:20.040 What insect do you have?
00:35:21.040 It's a worm.
00:35:23.040 It's a buffalo worm.
00:35:25.040 Okay.
00:35:26.040 You want to try it?
00:35:27.040 Yes.
00:35:28.040 Okay.
00:35:29.040 Will you try it here?
00:35:30.040 Can I watch you try it?
00:35:31.040 Yes, of course.
00:35:32.040 Did you hear what's in it?
00:35:34.040 Yeah.
00:35:35.040 You heard, it's an insect in it.
00:35:37.040 It's made from worms.
00:35:38.040 What, what, what?
00:35:39.040 Can I have you?
00:35:40.040 Can I have you?
00:35:45.040 Did you hear what it's made with?
00:35:47.040 It's with coconut?
00:35:48.040 Yes.
00:35:53.040 It's it.
00:35:54.040 It's made with insects.
00:35:56.040 Okay.
00:35:57.040 It's with worms.
00:36:00.040 Okay.
00:36:01.040 Let me see.
00:36:02.040 That's what he told me.
00:36:04.040 This is, have you tried it yet?
00:36:06.040 I tried.
00:36:07.040 How does it taste?
00:36:08.040 Very nice.
00:36:09.040 It's, yeah, it's good.
00:36:10.040 Did you hear what it's made from?
00:36:11.040 Insects.
00:36:12.040 Yeah.
00:36:13.040 And, uh, you're fine eating insects?
00:36:15.040 No, no, no.
00:36:16.040 Nothing.
00:36:17.040 Well, you're doing that now.
00:36:18.040 It's like chocolate.
00:36:19.040 Yes.
00:36:22.040 So you, how do you feel about eating insects?
00:36:27.040 No, no.
00:36:28.040 Well, you're doing it.
00:36:29.040 It's like chocolate.
00:36:30.040 Okay, that makes, so that's how it tastes.
00:36:32.040 But you're, you're fine eating insects?
00:36:34.040 No, no, no, no, no.
00:36:35.040 Nothing.
00:36:38.040 How do you, do you like it?
00:36:39.040 Yes, I like it.
00:36:40.040 Do you like the insects?
00:36:41.040 It's strange, stranger, but they like.
00:36:44.040 I don't know what is the same word.
00:36:46.040 No.
00:36:47.040 It's like, you know the, I don't know the name, the, like, atiles?
00:36:51.040 So you guys love insects.
00:36:54.040 You'll eat the bugs.
00:36:55.040 Thank you.
00:36:56.040 Thank you.
00:36:57.040 All right, they'll eat, you heard it.
00:36:58.040 They'll eat the bugs. 0.94
00:37:01.040 So will you try it?
00:37:02.040 I won't, but I, but I'm grateful for your time, and I thank you for letting me interview.
00:37:06.040 Please come closer.
00:37:07.040 Is it an energy bar?
00:37:08.040 Yes, of course, uh, it's an energy bar made with insect protein as a protein source.
00:37:13.040 Insect protein?
00:37:14.040 Insect protein, the buffalo worm, whole buffalo powder is in there.
00:37:18.040 Whoa.
00:37:19.040 Are you brave enough to try it?
00:37:20.040 Of course.
00:37:21.040 Of course, well.
00:37:22.040 Of course.
00:37:23.040 Let's see ya.
00:37:24.040 I'd like to, I'd like your review, a food review.
00:37:26.040 Okay.
00:37:28.040 I'm very much vegetarian.
00:37:30.040 Well, are vegetarians allowed to eat insects?
00:37:33.040 I don't know.
00:37:35.040 I would try now.
00:37:36.040 Wow.
00:37:37.040 And my partners look very funny at me from there.
00:37:39.040 Would you like to try an energy bar?
00:37:41.040 It's good.
00:37:43.040 Enjoy it.
00:37:44.040 Good.
00:37:45.040 So are you willing to leave vegetarianism behind to eat the bugs?
00:37:48.040 I'm not sure.
00:37:49.040 Well, you just did, actually.
00:37:51.040 Maybe.
00:37:52.040 I would try for sure.
00:37:53.040 Alright, there you have it.
00:37:54.040 Bye bye.
00:37:55.040 So far, seven people like the bugs, one person refuses.
00:37:59.040 This is an energy bar with insect protein as a protein source.
00:38:02.040 We have more information here on the flyer, and you can also buy them at our website.
00:38:05.040 It's in Zurich, so you can also buy them, and then we send them to you.
00:38:09.040 Okay.
00:38:10.040 All right.
00:38:11.040 I didn't have enough German to speak with him, but he might eat the bugs.
00:38:17.040 Well, I mean, each to their own.
00:38:21.040 I live in a country where not only...
00:38:23.040 Where are you from?
00:38:24.040 I'm from Canada.
00:38:25.040 Okay.
00:38:26.040 Not only is marijuana legalized, but so are many hard drugs.
00:38:29.040 And if people can use hard drugs paid for by the government, surely they can eat the bugs.
00:38:34.040 But my one concern with you, my friend, which I've shared with you, is I don't think that there's sufficient disclosure on here to let people know what they're getting into.
00:38:41.040 Okay.
00:38:42.040 That's just my concern.
00:38:43.040 I know that has nothing to do with you, but I don't think one in a thousand people knows that Alpha Tobias diaporinus is a bug.
00:38:54.040 Yeah, I mean, I understand you, but I think there's a very good legal system in Switzerland, which is very...
00:39:01.040 No, I'm not asking you the challenge.
00:39:03.040 I'm just saying I think it's very inconspicuous.
00:39:05.040 Ah, okay.
00:39:06.040 From that point of view.
00:39:07.040 Okay.
00:39:08.040 Yeah.
00:39:09.040 Okay.
00:39:10.040 Can I ask you...
00:39:11.040 I understand it and, well...
00:39:12.040 I'm not saying this is illegal.
00:39:13.040 I really think that probably many people still think like you, but I think also it's a trend that it's picking up more and more speed.
00:39:19.040 And, well, we are here on the forefront because there are not so many producers of insect-based food so far, but we are here and we are showing it to the world.
00:39:29.040 In Canada, our government gave millions of dollars to an insect farm called Aspire.
00:39:36.040 They later shut down.
00:39:38.040 Who is funding Pumbaa?
00:39:39.040 Is it a government?
00:39:40.040 Is it an NGO?
00:39:42.040 Who's behind Pumbaa insect bars?
00:39:46.040 I am not the founder of the company, so I'm not that much in the topic, but I think it's private investors.
00:39:54.040 I have one last question.
00:39:55.040 What does upcycled food mean?
00:39:57.040 I haven't heard that word before.
00:39:58.040 Upcycled is the bran and the milling process that we use to feed the insects.
00:40:04.040 Okay.
00:40:05.040 So, otherwise would be either burned and turned into gas because it's a leftover that can't be used for producing flour.
00:40:13.040 Or we use it to feed it to the worms and they...
00:40:17.040 So, you're saying you're feeding the worms something that would otherwise be waste. Is that what you're saying?
00:40:21.040 Exactly.
00:40:22.040 Alright.
00:40:23.040 Well, you've been very helpful. You've answered all my questions with an eerie calm. You're absolutely calm. And, you know, those happy faces don't lie. Those kids seem to like the bugs. That Sikh gentleman. He didn't hear you when you said insects. He didn't hear you. He was... 0.98
00:40:36.040 You heard that he didn't hear me. Well, I asked him. I said, did you hear? And so that's my worry is that someone will not knowingly eat the bugs.
00:40:55.040 It's the bugs.
00:40:56.040 Yeah, okay. Yeah, it can happen.
00:40:58.040 Well, it can happen if it's not labeled.
00:41:01.040 Yeah, I mean...
00:41:02.040 Are insects halal?
00:41:05.040 Um...
00:41:06.040 I think halal only is working with mammals or... 1.00
00:41:10.040 I don't know either.
00:41:11.040 I also don't know. I'm sorry, but...
00:41:14.040 Halal... I'm not... I'm not firm with the topic of halal.
00:41:16.040 Okay, I was just curious. I don't think it's kosher.
00:41:19.040 Yeah.
00:41:20.040 Maybe I'm wrong on that. I don't know my kosher rules that well either.
00:41:23.040 Well, listen, thanks again for talking with me.
00:41:25.040 And one of the criticisms of the World Economic Forum is that they eat fancy five-star meals and they tell ordinary people to eat the bugs, as Klaus Schwab would pronounce it.
00:41:41.040 But here you are and people seem to be willingly eating the bugs.
00:41:45.040 So I'm slightly more confused than I was before, but I'm grateful to you. Thanks very much.
00:41:51.040 Okay. It was my pleasure. And yeah, enjoy your time at the Economic Forum.
00:41:55.040 Thanks. What's your name?
00:41:56.040 Clemens.
00:41:57.040 Clemens. Good to meet you.
00:41:58.040 What's your name?
00:41:59.040 Ezra.
00:42:00.040 Ezra. Nice to meet you, too.
00:42:01.040 Likewise. Bye-bye.
00:42:02.040 Yeah, I'm not going to eat the bugs, but I'm worried that a lot of people will, because unless you know the Latin name for the mealworm...
00:42:10.040 And I can't even remember it. I said it about five times in the interview. It's so obscure. I don't think one in a thousand people knows what that Latin name for a mealworm is.
00:42:19.040 Nowhere is there a warning you are about to eat the bugs. I think there's a bit of trickery involved there. I think it's sort of gross.
00:42:26.040 But I'm grateful to the guy for speaking with me so candidly.
00:42:29.040 Well, that's our show from Davos. It's very interesting to come here and I'm grateful to you for your support.
00:42:35.040 You know, we flew in six people. Sheila, me and Avi are the three journalists. And each of us had a videographer in attendance.
00:42:44.040 So it was a big operation. We had to fly all the way to Zurich and then take trains up to Davos. And we had to stay one town over because all the hotel rooms in Davos are booked.
00:42:53.040 So every morning we took the train. It's a big logistical undertaking. It's very expensive. It's the most expensive project of our year.
00:43:00.040 But I think it's one of the most important. And it's become sort of a signature move for Rebel News.
00:43:05.040 So I hope you enjoyed it. Again, for a lot more video content about our trip to the World Economic Forum, please go to wefreports.com.
00:43:15.040 That's my show for today. Until next time, on behalf of all of us at Rebel News around the world, including here at Davos, see you at home.
00:43:22.040 Good night and keep fighting for freedom.
00:43:35.040 Good night and keep fighting for freedom.