It Takes a Potemkin Village: The 251st Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying
Nov 13, 2024
01:37:41
auto_awesome Snipd AI
The hosts delve into Kamala Harris's campaign spending, revealing a billion-dollar war chest that surprisingly funded celebrity endorsements rather than genuine grassroots support. They critique the ethics behind celebrity influence in politics and highlight the questionable use of funds from small donations. The discussion shifts to the health implications of seed oils, challenging mainstream nutritional advice and promoting healthier alternatives like coconut and avocado oil. They encourage listeners to think critically about dietary choices and political realities.
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
The podcast critiques the unethical spending practices in political campaigns, particularly highlighting the $1 billion expenditure of the Harris campaign on celebrity endorsements, questioning its alignment with voter needs.
Hosts Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying challenge the mainstream acceptance of seed oils, advocating for a critical examination of dietary fats and a return to traditional cooking oils.
The discussion emphasizes the dissonance between authentic voter sentiment and the manufactured narratives presented by political endorsements, urging listeners to critically assess media representations in politics.
Deep dives
Introduction to Podcast Episode 251
The podcast begins with a light-hearted discussion about its numbering, referencing a 'sexy prime.' The hosts, Dr. Bret Weinstein and Dr. Heather Heying, introduce the main topics to be covered, including observations on presidential campaign strategies, the advocacy of seed oils, and some personal reflections. The mention of their supporters and the promotion of their Locals platform sets the tone for community interaction. This early banter adds a casual feel to what promises to be a more serious conversation.
Election Campaign Spending Insights
The podcast addresses the questionable spending habits of political campaigns, notably the Kamala Harris campaign, which reportedly spent over a billion dollars yet ended up in significant debt post-election. The hosts delve into how much was allocated to celebrity endorsements rather than tangible campaign efforts, questioning the ethics of such expenditures. Examples include a million dollars paid to Oprah's company for a supposedly organic endorsement and millions on media production. This raises broader questions about the integrity of campaign financing and suggests a misalignment with voters' needs.
The Influence of Celebrity Endorsements
The discussion highlights the implications of using paid celebrity endorsements in political campaigns, examining the authenticity of claims made by well-known figures. The hosts critique the artificiality of these endorsements, suggesting they create a misleading perception of enthusiasm for candidates like Harris. The manipulation of social media and other platforms to generate false support is presented as symptomatic of broader issues within campaign strategies. The hosts emphasize the dissonance between reality and the curated narratives presented to voters by influential personalities.
Seed Oils and Their Societal Perception
The podcast transitions to the topic of seed oils, discussing the increasing controversies surrounding their health implications. Contrary to popular belief, the hosts challenge mainstream views that defend seed oils, citing increasing scrutiny from health advocates. They advocate for a reevaluation of dietary fats, encouraging a return to traditional cooking oils like olive and coconut oil. This segment underscores the importance of critically examining dietary recommendations often derived from incomplete or biased information.
Critiques of Nutritional Science
The hosts cast doubt on nutritional guidelines propagated by authorities, stressing the need for a broader understanding of what constitutes healthy eating. They reference a New York Times article that defends seed oils, highlighting how studies may be distorted in favor of industry interests. Thorough discussions surrounding health professionals who advocate for seed oils without acknowledging the context and integrity of ingredient sourcing also take center stage. This criticism calls for more transparent and scientifically rigorous approaches to nutrition.
The Larger Political and Social Context
Lastly, the podcast elaborates on the intersection of political dynamics and societal perceptions, particularly relating to the latest presidential candidates. The hosts reflect on the manufactured image of candidates versus the organic support that truly represents voter sentiments. They suggest that many political endorsements are contrived to maintain a narrative rather than reflect genuine grassroots movements. The conversation fosters a deeper understanding of how narratives are crafted in political discourse, ultimately urging listeners to think critically about media representations.
In this 251st in a series of live discussions with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying (both PhDs in Biology), we talk about the state of the world through an evolutionary lens.
In this week’s episode, we discuss how the Harris campaign spent their billion dollar war chest—including on celebrities who appeared to be endorsing her because they believed in her, but were actually getting paid. Also: $26 million was spent for “text message outreach,” any many people donated $10 or $20. It’s reverse Robin Hood: stealing from the poor, to give to the rich. Related: how can we stay optimistic about unity, when we are seeing such different things? Finally: the New York Times finds a whole bunch of well-credential “experts” in nutrition to assure us that seed oils are excellent for your health. (They’re not.) You have a choice: follow the science, or think scientifically for yourself, and actually be healthy.
*****
Our sponsors:
Policygenius: Save time and money providing a financial safety net for your family. Go to http://policygenius.com to get your free life insurance quotes and see how much you could save.
CrowdHealth: Pay for healthcare with crowdfunding instead of insurance. It’s way better. Use code DarkHorse at http://JoinCrowdHealth.com to get 1st 3 months for $99/month.
Ralston College is reinventing and reviving higher ed. Join their MA in Humanities program and spend the first term in Greece before joining your peers on campus in Savannah, Georgia. Apply here: http://www.Ralston.ac
*****
Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com/
Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com
Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://a.co/d/dunx3at
Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org
*****
Mentioned in this episode:
Harris campaign disbursements from the FEC: https://github.com/gaiaus/2024-us-presidential-general-election/blob/main/harris%2Fspending%2Ftop_500_recipients.MD
News Nation with Lindy Li: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv3XbWtHyMg
Rescue the Republic: https://jointheresistance.org
Smith professors saw a perfect campaign: https://www.smith.edu/news-events/news/hope-and-action
Reason for Optimism: https://naturalselections.substack.com/p/reason-for-optimism
Are Seed Oils Actually Bad for You? https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/09/well/eat/seed-oil-effects.html
Professor Gardner’s site: https://www.med.stanford.edu/profiles/christopher-gardner
Thumbnail Courtesy: Kent Nishimura / Stringer / Getty Images News via Getty Images.