Lex Fridman Podcast

#349 – Bhaskar Sunkara: The Case for Socialism

Dec 22, 2022

Bhaskar Sunkara, a prominent democratic socialist and the founding editor of Jacobin, discusses vital topics surrounding socialism and its relevance today. He explores the balance between individual freedoms and social equity, advocating for a system that satisfies essential needs like housing and education. The podcast delves into the historical distinctions between socialism and communism, the importance of free speech in social democracy, and insights into modern policies aimed at improving healthcare and education. Sunkara calls for a nuanced understanding of wealth and the responsibilities of the wealthy in fostering societal progress.

03:52:04

Creator website

Episode guests

Bhaskar Sunkara

Highlights

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Episode notes

What Is Socialism?

00:58

Lex Fridman Statement on Interviewing Trump & AOC

03:09

The Pros and Cons of Mass Unemployment by Choice

01:29

Inclusivity Instead of Division In The Ideology of the Left

01:54

Intro

2min

The Power of Optimism and Integrity

2min

Contemplation and Appreciation: Personal Struggles and Sponsored Support

2min

Celebrating Open Source and Personal Productivity

4min

Personalized Health and Internet Security

2min

The Quest for Equitable Democracy

18min

The Ideological Maze: Socialism vs. Communism

15min

Navigating Social Democracy and Socialism

29min

Wage Bargaining and Economic Balance

25min

10.

The Paradox of Progress: Celebrating Achievements While Acknowledging Suffering

2min

11.

The Essentials of Free Speech

5min

12.

The Intersection of Justice and Economics

3min

13.

Socialism, War, and Future Conflicts

8min

14.

Marxism and the Future of Society

24min

15.

Advancing Democratic Socialism: Healthcare and Education

22min

16.

Understanding Progressive Taxation and Wealth Perception

10min

17.

The Political Landscape of Bernie Sanders and Beyond

23min

18.

Navigating Political Engagement: Lessons from Populism and Socialism

13min

19.

The Evolution of Socialism: Insights from Jacobin

15min

20.

Embracing Intellectual Curiosity

4min

21.

Creating Meaning Through Legacy and Social Activism

3min

Bhaskar Sunkara is a democratic socialist, political writer, founding editor of Jacobin, president of The Nation, and author of The Socialist Manifesto. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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EPISODE LINKS:
Bhaskar’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/sunraysunray
Jacobin: https://jacobin.com
Jacobin’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacobin
The Nation: https://thenation.com
The Socialist Manifesto (book): https://amzn.to/3hKpt2p

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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(13:24) – Socialism
(31:54) – Communism
(58:31) – Class struggle
(1:09:33) – Quality of life
(1:17:29) – Unions
(1:29:57) – Corruption
(1:43:15) – Freedom of speech
(1:51:38) – War
(1:59:24) – Karl Marx
(2:13:03) – Socialist vision
(2:18:28) – AI and socialism
(2:23:26) – Socialist policies
(2:48:45) – Billionaires
(2:54:43) – Bernie Sanders
(3:05:10) – AOC
(3:17:11) – 2024 presidential election
(3:22:05) – China
(3:31:06) – Jacobin
(3:38:35) – The Socialist Manifesto
(3:45:55) – Advice for young people
(3:49:28) – Meaning of life

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