Making Sense with Sam Harris cover image

Making Sense with Sam Harris

#389 — The Politics of Risk

Oct 25, 2024
Nate Silver, founder of FiveThirtyEight and a prominent voice in data analysis and election forecasting, joins to discuss the cultural attitudes towards risk in American politics. They explore the erosion of trust in institutions and polarization driven by figures like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk. Silver sheds light on what people misunderstand about election forecasting and the significance of generational divides in voting. With a keen eye on 2024, he warns about misleading polls and potential public unrest over election outcomes.
33:53

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The erosion of trust in liberal institutions and media is leading to increased skepticism and political instability across society.
  • Nate Silver highlights the complexities of election forecasting, emphasizing how misleading polls can skew public perception and voter narratives.

Deep dives

Concerns About Kamala Harris's Campaign

The struggles of Kamala Harris’s campaign are highlighted, particularly her difficulty in articulating her shifting views on key issues like border security and policing. Many voters remain unsure about her position or suspect she might align with far-left ideologies, despite Harris appearing to disagree with these perceptions. This confusion stems from her evasiveness when asked about previous stances, which contributes to a negative image among potential supporters. Without a timely and clear explanation of her changes, Harris may risk alienating crucial segments of the electorate just before the election.

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