The Wright Show

In this engaging discussion, Joe Allen, author of *Dark Aeon* and tech editor at Steve Bannon's War Room Podcast, dives into the interplay between MAGA politics and AI. He explores the skepticism around technology within the MAGA coalition and the philosophical roots of transhumanism. Topics include the impact of the pandemic on tech perceptions, the conservative case for AI regulation, and Palantir's polarizing role in national security. The conversation also spotlights geopolitical tensions with China and the importance of community action in shaping future AI policies.

Tensions rise in Gaza as a potential military operation looms, prompting discussions on Israel's one-state solution. The podcast scrutinizes Trump's withdrawal from negotiations in both Israel and Ukraine, exposing the complicated landscape of his foreign policy. There's also a look at the security guarantees necessary for Ukraine amidst ongoing conflicts and the implications of U.S. support. Lastly, the conversation touches on unexpected global challenges, including the peculiar rise of invasive ant species connected to budget cuts.

In this lively discussion, Paul Bloom, a Canadian psychologist known for his work on morality, pleasure, and empathy, joins Robert Wright to tackle AI's evolution. They humorously contemplate the implications of GPT-5 versus GPT-4 while reflecting on personal stories. Bloom shares insights on moral concepts from history, addressing how societal norms have shifted. The duo also navigates the absurdities of political loyalty and critiques modern media's role in shaping discourse, all peppered with playful banter and engaging anecdotes.

George Beebe, Director of Grand Strategy at the Quincy Institute and former CIA head of Russia analysis, offers deep insights into U.S.-Russia negotiations. He discusses the strategic significance of Trump and Putin's impending meeting in Alaska and the delicate balance of power between the EU and NATO regarding Ukraine. Beebe warns of the risks of bad deals and emphasizes that while sanctions hurt, they aren’t decisive. The evolving dynamics in European and Ukrainian negotiations reveal an intricate dance of diplomacy that could shape future peace deals.

In this insightful discussion, Nathan Lambert, an AI researcher at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, sheds light on the future of open source AI. He tackles the complexities surrounding its definition and implications, especially in light of recent breakthroughs like China’s DeepSeek. Nathan shares his passion for building a robust open source ecosystem in the U.S. and discusses his ATOM Project aimed at supporting American models. The conversation also delves into the ethical dilemmas of AI centralization and the geopolitical rivalry with China.

Epstein's Israel connections ... Epstein's history of blackmail ... Was it suicide? ... Epstein's creepy relationship with Trump ... Why won’t Trump release the files? ... The Israel connection(s) ... Some Epstein-Wexner weirdness ... What’s the deal with Ghislaine? ... Was it suicide? (cont’d) ... Mickey plays pundit defender ... Influence operation or personal fetish operation? Or both? ... How Biden made war in Taiwan more likely ... Epstein's strangely light 2008 sentence ... The political cost for Trump ... How dangerous is Trump? ...

Jordan Schneider, host of the ChinaTalk podcast, dives deep into the complexities of America’s views on China. He questions whether fears over China’s global ambitions are justified. The discussion explores the nuances of the AI arms race and its geopolitical implications, including China’s relationship with Russia and the Ukraine War. They dissect the influence operations of both nations and whether the U.S. perspective is an echo chamber, ultimately calling for a thoughtful approach to navigating U.S.-China relations.

Substack glory and livestream anxiety ... Reading eugenics into a dopey jeans ad ... Does Sydney Sweeney spell the end of “inclusive marketing”? ... Bob vs. Paul on IQ and “general intelligence” ... Paul reviews the new Billy Joel documentary ... The Epstein prison video snafu: a Bayesian take ... Ghislaine gets a free upgrade ...

Why Gaza’s famine is the "most intense" in decades ... From food secure to starvation: How Gaza unraveled ... Blinken's willful blindness to Israel's obstruction of aid ... How the US muzzled its own famine warning system ... The political power of the term "famine" ... What starvation does to the body—and to society ... The perverse logic of starvation as warfare ... How the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation puts aid in Hamas's hands ... Evaluating Israel's accusation against UNRWA ... How many Gazans are dying of starvation? ... What a real aid response would take now ...

Derek and Danny plug their new Crusades series ... This week’s shift in Gaza discourse ... The real danger Gaza poses for Israel ... Does the left’s rhetoric on Israel miss the mark? ... Elite media’s think tank problem ... Is American imperialism really the problem? ... Heading to Overtime ...