The Milken Global Conference kicked off with an invitation only breakfast. Those privileged to attend could hear Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein interview Bill Ackman of Pershing Square Capital Management. Both men are legends in their fields. Rubenstein is a politically connected private equity underwriter (PEU) while Ackman is an acclaimed hedge fund maven. Both men employ leverage in their greedy pursuits. They also hate paying taxes, but don't mind running up interest expenses.
Ackman will speak on his opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, an area strongly supported by Rubenstein. This is front stage entertainment so there will be no hard hitting questions or verbal fisticuffs. Watch Rubenstein's interview with FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried to see a soft, puff piece. Bankman offered puffery in a completely unchallenged format. Two months later FTX imploded in a fraudulent fireball.
Expect lots of deals from the Milk'em confab. California Davos is in session.
