All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg · Friday, September 18, 2026
Critics argue that the California high-speed rail project is a 'high-speed rail to nowhere,' with a significant portion of its budget allocated to 'change order delays' due to a lack of planning and design. The project has not even procured the trains yet, despite billions spent.
“One third of the entire cost of California high-speed rail has gone to this part called change order delays. Uh, because they didn't know where the infrastructure was and or how to build this actual train.”
“California was supposed to buy the actual trains. And the trains that would be considered high-speed rail. The state didn't buy the trains. My opinion, because they know that there will never be a train on these tracks.”
“Now we're on top of the high-speed rail, and there's not any rail that has been placed. It's actually just a bunch of cement. The high-speed rail to nowhere. That's what they should call it actually.”