Anne Applebaum discusses modern autocracies and how they undermine democracies. They talk about Putin's rise to power, the war in Ukraine, Trump's impact on American democracy, and the weaknesses of both Democrats and Republicans. They delve into the role of social media, the dangers of political lies, and the influence of extremist ideologies in current politics.

Sam Harris speaks with Anne Applebaum, David Frum, Barton Gellman, and George Packer about the ongoing threat to American democracy posed by Republican misinformation and disinformation regarding the 2020 Presidential Election and the attack on the Capitol on January 6th, 2021. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.

Anne Applebaum discusses the nature of modern autocracies, Putin's rise to power, Western enabling of autocracies, American democratic decline, anti-liberal tendencies, political effects of Trump's potential second term, challenges in American foreign policy, radicalization of Trump's support, erosion of democracy, impact of social media on promoting chaos and conspiracy theories.

Anne Applebaum, an Atlantic staff writer focusing on democracy's threats, and political reporter McKay Coppins dive into the implications of a recent election that reshaped voter dynamics. They discuss the potential normalization of authoritarian impulses following Trump's victory. The conversation touches on demographic shifts among Latino and Black voters and the likelihood of electoral mandates affecting governance. They also explore challenges facing U.S. foreign policy amid rising autocracies and the pervasive issue of disinformation eroding public trust.

Martin Wolf and Anne Applebaum discuss the global rise of populist, illiberal, and far-right parties, focusing on Poland's political shifts. They analyze the stakes of a potential second term for Donald Trump in the US presidency and emphasize the importance of defending liberal democracy. The episode delves into the challenges of restoring neutrality in democratic institutions and the implications of authoritarian responses in different countries.

Anne Applebaum, author of 'Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who to Run the World,' discusses the global propaganda war led by Russia, China, and authoritarian allies. Topics include MAGA embracing anti-democracy messaging, Ukraine's struggles, and the risks of foreign influence in elections.

Anne Applebaum and Sam Harris delve into the vulnerabilities of democracies, the rise of autocracies undermining liberal democracy, implications of the war in Ukraine, Trump's impact on American politics, the shift towards anti-democratic beliefs within the Republican Party, the influence of social media on society, and the challenges faced by the Democratic Party amidst the current political climate.

Join Anne Applebaum, a Staff writer for The Atlantic and a historian, as she delves into the multifaceted world of authoritarianism. She breaks down the characteristics of autocratic regimes and discusses how they erode individual rights and manipulate laws. Applebaum highlights the alarming shift toward autocracy in the U.S., emphasizing the need for civic engagement to combat modern propaganda. The conversation touches on the influence of technology and the dangers of polarizing political rhetoric that threaten democracy.

Guests include investigative journalists, military experts, and policy analysts. Topics discussed include drug pricing negotiations, the parallels between Medicare negotiation and Costco, history of communism, white supremacist violence, war in Ukraine, rise of hate-motivated attacks, challenges in addressing domestic terrorism, Biden's prescription drug pricing win, resumption of student loan interest, and Texas politics and education inequality.

Kara and Scott on interest rates, new Airbnb features, and the text that got Tucker Carlson fired. AI CEOs are headed to the White House as the FTC puts the industry in its crosshairs, and Scott redefines LLM. Plus: the growing movement to censor kids' theater programs. Today's Friend of Pivot is Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, with the latest on Ukraine.You can find Anne on Twitter at @anneapplebaum, and can read her cover story here.Send us your questions! Call 855-51-PIVOT or go to nymag.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices