The Breakdown of Social Trust in America

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This chapter explores the catastrophic decline of social trust in America and its impact on democracy and the liberal world order. It discusses the psychology of distrust, the breakdown of social fabric, and the failure to have fact-based discussions in society. The chapter also examines the role of institutions, norms, and cultural contexts, as well as the influence of economic inequality and the rise of populism in politics.

Sam Harris speaks with David Brooks about the state of American democracy and the liberal world order. They discuss the weakness of moral individualism, the loss of social trust, the dangers of identity politics, what happened to the Republican Party, the hatred of elites, the 2024 Presidential Election, the Trump indictments, the war in Ukraine, moral force, the roots of liberalism, the various flavors of Trump support, the Biden presidency, Hunter Biden’s laptop scandal, Biden’s prospects in 2024, Nikki Haley, economic inequality, the problems with meritocracy, the state of media and social media, the lure of conspiracy thinking, the politics of recognition, our handling of the Covid pandemic, our difficulties acknowledging uncertainty, our withdrawal from Afghanistan, the limits of American power, and other topics.

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