Making Sense with Sam Harris #278 — The Man Who Will Be King
5 snips
Apr 13, 2022 Graeme Wood, a staff writer at The Atlantic and expert on the Islamic State, joins the discussion. They dig into the controversial reign of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, including the high-profile murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the Ritz-Carlton imprisonments. The talk covers Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, relationships with Israel, and ongoing reform efforts. They also explore the complexities of U.S.-Saudi relations, jihadist deprogramming in prisons, and how the geopolitical landscape is shifting in the region amidst these challenges.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
MBS: A Short Bio
- Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, son of King Salman.
- MBS leads a modernization effort, aiming to reform the country economically and socially.
Khashoggi's Murder
- Graeme Wood knew Jamal Khashoggi weeks before his murder.
- Wood considered the risks of meeting MBS, given Khashoggi's fate.
Ritz-Carlton Arrests
- In 2017, MBS imprisoned Saudi elites at the Ritz-Carlton, accusing them of corruption.
- He offered deals to return stolen funds, avoiding harsher prosecution.