Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar 10/29/25: OpenAI Whistleblower, US Detains Israel Critic, Food Stamps Blocked By Trump, US China Trade Deal
17 snips
Oct 29, 2025 
Journalist Ben Smith joins to discuss the shifting dynamics of U.S.–China relations. He explores how Trump’s administration is looking to restore trade normalcy and the complexities of decoupling from China. Smith highlights challenges with initiatives like the CHIPS Act and contrasts state capitalism in China with U.S. industrial strategies. The conversation touches on Taiwan's strategic ambiguity and its implications for semiconductor supply. Smith’s insights provide a fresh perspective on the evolving geopolitical landscape.
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AI Mental-Health Risks At Scale
- OpenAI's ChatGPT shows widespread emotional engagement, with millions exhibiting suicidal ideation or psychosis weekly.
- Saagar warns that leaving safety guardrails to a single CEO creates dangerous monetization-driven choices.
Former Safety Lead's Erotica Warning
- Steven Adler, ex-OpenAI product safety lead, found AI role-play became a hotbed for explicit sexual fantasies and risky content.
- Adler argues OpenAI previously banned erotica because it amplified emotional dependency and mental-health harms.
From Nonprofit Promise To Profit Drive
- OpenAI's restructuring removed nonprofit caps to attract huge investments and scale engagement-driven products.
- Saagar argues the company prioritized monetization and user engagement over the original public-good mission.
