Shadi Hamid and Annie Laurie Gaylor debate whether religion is a force for good. They discuss the positive impact of religion on individuals and society, as well as the historical conflicts and discrimination it can perpetuate. The conversation explores gender roles in Islam, harmful consequences of extreme religious beliefs, and the need for human intervention over relying solely on prayer for healing.

Shadi Hamid, a Middle East politics expert, discusses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the ceasefire, pro-Israel stance, and challenges to establishing a Palestinian state. The speakers also touch on the forever culture war, free speech on universities, and the schism within conservatism.

Shadi Hamid and Matthew Kaemingk discuss the moral and ethical challenges in the Israel-Hamas war, exploring religious perspectives, collective morality, Christian ethics, and the complex dynamics of money, power, and privilege. They express concern for the ongoing conflict in Gaza and its potential spread.

Shadi Hamid and Matthew Kaemingk discuss tribal loyalties and influences on Gaza positions. Hamid's Muslim identity and Kaemingk presses on tribal perspective. Exploring evangelical views on Israel, end times, and group identity shaping political beliefs. Delve into complexities of differing views on Israel and managing disagreements in relationships. Emphasize on empathy, self-criticism, and dialogue in divisive times.

Sarah Haider, Shadi Hamid, and Murtaza Hussain discuss the effects of the Israel-Palestine conflict on geopolitics and American culture, including eliminationist rhetoric, the divide between the West and the Global South, and potential changes in American foreign policy. They also address the impact of the conflict on American culture, cancel culture concerns, offensive rhetoric, the perception of the conflict in the US, and the compatibility of being a Zionist and a feminist or humanitarian. Additionally, they delve into personal experiences, Twitter personas, age gap discourse, the fracture of the American cultural left, and the importance of humanity amidst escalating tensions.

On this episode of Unsupervised Learning, Razib hosts three guests, Sarah Haider of A Special Place in Hell, Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Institute and Murtaza Hussain of The Intercept. Razib, Haider, Hamid and Hussain discuss the current state of the culture from the perspective of “brown” observers of the public sphere dominated by woke vs. anti-woke factions. Despite ideological differences, all four are skeptical of the ideological orthodoxies regnant in American culture, even though one, Hamid, identifies strongly as a partisan Democrat who is liberal. In a wide-ranging conversation (which begins with a review of how to pronounce each other’s names), they discuss the case of Raquel Evita Saraswati, a woman Haider knew casually from the social activism sphere, who represented herself as a queer Muslim of Arab, Latino and South-Asian background. Saraswati, a Muslim who somewhat perplexingly co-opted the name of a Hindu goddess as her surname, was born Rachel Elizabeth Seidel and is of British, German and Italian ancestry. Due to her fifteen years of lying about her ethnic background, she was recently forced out of a position as chief equity and inclusion officer for the American Friends Service Committee. Haider and Hamid, in particular, discuss the pressure felt in some social justice movements for people to present incongruous backgrounds, like being a “queer Muslim,” and how it has created a demand that is being satisfied by grifters like Saraswati. Saraswati highlights the role of religion and how it is inextricably connected to brown identity in the US, whether it is coded Muslim or Hindu. Razib and Haider, both atheists from a Muslim background, and Hamid and Hussain, both believing Muslims, discuss the American religious scene in the wake of New Atheism and the social and functional value of religion in an age where moral frameworks have been overthrown and updated. Hamid questions Haider on her views on the value of religious wisdom in maintaining and perpetuating social norms that she supports, like the idea that there are two sexes and her deemphasis on the importance of “gender identity.” Hussain explains that religion, in a philosophical sense, should be considered distinctively from a more primal and animistic set of intuitions. All four meditate on the fact that they are outsiders not by dint of their race or immigrant background (or parental immigrant background), but their dissent from the dominant social norms of the ascendant professional-managerial class.

Shadi Hamid, a Washington Post columnist and author, returns to discuss pressing issues surrounding recent acts of violence and their implications. He explores the intersection of mental illness and homelessness, advocating for urgent systemic reforms in New York City. The conversation shifts to the moral complexities of the Israel-Hamas conflict, addressing military strategies and humanitarian concerns. Hamid also critiques U.S. healthcare debates and the inefficiencies of public systems, illuminating the nuanced challenges in American society amidst political inertia.

Shadi Hamid, a Washington Post columnist and co-host of the 'Wisdom of Crowds' podcast, dives into Israel's military tactics and their complex ethical dimensions. He questions America's approach to warfare compared to Israel's strategies and discusses the significant military operation against Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons. Hamid also sheds light on Nauru's political maneuvers, opting for alliances with Australia over China, offering an intriguing perspective on international relations in the Pacific.

In this enlightening discussion, Richard Reeves, founder of the American Institute for Boys and Men, joins columnists Theodore Johnson and Shadi Hamid to delve into the modern masculinity crisis. They explore the challenges of health, education, and workforce participation facing men today. The conversation highlights the need for role models and community connection while advocating for a redefined masculinity centered on support and collaboration. They also humorously use Hannibal Lecter to critique traditional masculine ideals.

Two Post Opinions columnists, Shadi Hamid and Jason Willick, discuss American identity amidst societal changes, exploring the impact of identity politics, navigating friendships with opposing views, and reflecting on the role of identity politics in society. They delve into white identity, American values, political realignment, and advocating for big ideas amidst election dynamics.