Leonard Susskind is Felix Block Professor of Physics at Stanford University. Along with other accomplishments, he is among the fathers of such revolutionary concepts in physics as string theory, black hole complementarity, the holographic principle, and the string-theoretic landscape. He was also the guest on episode #217, where he and Robinson discussed the fine-tuning problem and the physics of the multiverse. In this episode, Leonard and Robinson get into another topic—black holes and the information paradox. More particularly, they talk about important figures like Stephen Hawking and Gerard ’t Hooft, singularities, chaos, whether the cosmos is a hologram, the end of the universe, and more. For further details, check out Leonard’s book on the title: The Black Hole War (Back Bay Books, 2009).The Black Hole War: https://a.co/d/3eTOHoZThe Theoretical Minimum: https://theoreticalminimum.comOUTLINE00:00 Introduction05:21 Black Holes and the War Between Relativity and Quantum Mechanics11:18 Is The Singularity at the Heart of a Black Hole Real?21:51 Demystifying the Puzzle of Quantum Information28:27 What Does The Famous Phrase “It From Bit” Mean?38:47 Can Information Be Stored on the Surface of a Black Hole?47:11 Was Stephen Hawking a Good Physicist?56:21 How Will The Universe End?1:00:49 What Is the Black Hole Information Paradox?1:10:47 What Is the Holographic Principle?1:20:01 How Leonard Susskind Won the Black Hole War Against Stephen Hawking1:25:09 What Is the Infamous AdS/CFT Correspondence?1:32:29 Is Physics in a Deep Crisis?1:39:29 Are String and M-Theory Totally Wrong?1:43:05 Is String Theory the Theory of Everything?1:47:43 Is String Theory a Failure?1:50:15 Does Our World Have Extra Dimensions?1:53:34 Could Our World Be a Hologram?Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University.

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Richard Wolff, Professor Emeritus of Economics at UMass Amherst and expert in Marxist economics, shares his insights on the future of America under Trump's potential presidency. He discusses the growing discontent among voters, the decline of unions, and the economic factors influencing voter behavior. Wolff critiques Trump's rhetorical strategies and the interwoven narratives of nationalism and economic paradigms. He also delves into U.S.-China relations, emphasizing the complexities of global trade, climate issues, and the potential shifts in American leadership.

Victor Davis Hanson, a celebrated classicist and military historian from Stanford's Hoover Institution, shares insights on Donald Trump's presidency and the challenges ahead. He discusses the unexpected minority support for Trump and the complexities within the MAGA movement. The conversation dives into Trump's unique rhetorical style and its implications for political discourse. Additionally, Hansen addresses international relationships, focusing on China's influence in Latin America, and highlights California's water crisis as a pivotal local issue.

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