The Good Fight

In this engaging conversation, James Loxton, a Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics at the University of Sydney, delves into the intricacies of authoritarian regimes. He defines the big three types: military, single-party, and personalist. Loxton highlights how internal constraints, informal institutions, and elite purges shape leadership dynamics. They discuss the durability of regimes, challenges in governance, and the enduring value of democracy. The talk also examines the pitfalls of information in authoritarian states and what causes their eventual collapse.

William MacAskill, a moral philosopher and cofounder of the effective altruism movement, engages in a thought-provoking discussion about maximizing good through charity. He critiques typical donor behaviors and advocates for evidence-backed giving. The conversation explores the risks posed by AI, ranking it as a top concern alongside pandemics and climate change. MacAskill also highlights the importance of preparing for advanced AI and the potential for a future where technology enhances human flourishing.

In this insightful discussion, Shadi Hamid, a columnist at The Washington Post and senior fellow at Georgetown University, explores the necessity of American power. He shares his evolution from anti-war activism to advocating for responsible engagement in foreign policy. Hamid argues that America can promote democracy and improve outcomes abroad, while also addressing critiques from the left and realists. They delve into how democratic accountability can rectify U.S. actions, and why he believes that democracies, despite challenges, may outlast autocracies.

In a compelling dialogue, George Packer, award-winning author and staff writer at The Atlantic, shares insights on the interplay of fiction and political decline. He explores the motivations behind authoritarian movements and the risks of utopian ideals turning coercive. Packer delves into the emotional core of his novel 'The Emergency,' discussing family dynamics, societal collapse, and how humanist values can persist amid chaos. Finally, he offers advice on how liberals can contend with Trumpism while preserving decency and moral integrity.

Join Mike Pesca, host of The Gist, renowned for his sharp news analysis, along with Christine Rosen, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Sam Kahn, associate editor at Persuasion. They dissect the implications of recent election outcomes for the Democrats, explore Zoran Mamdani's promise amidst political challenges, and examine the controversies surrounding the Heritage Foundation's anti-Semitism issues. Lastly, they reflect on Dick Cheney's complex legacy in relation to the Iraq War, offering insights into the evolving political landscape.

Join Joseph Heath, a Toronto philosophy professor and public intellectual, as he tackles the decline of Western Marxism. He explores how Rawlsian liberalism shifted the discourse away from Marxist solutions to economic inequality. Heath highlights the challenges of equalizing welfare and discusses the complexities of responsibility-sensitive egalitarianism. He also argues for a practical approach to equality, emphasizing the welfare state as collective insurance rather than mere redistribution. It's a thought-provoking dive into modern political philosophy!

Damon Linker, a political science lecturer and newsletter author, Sabina Ćudić, an elected member of the Bosnian Parliament, and Richard Aldous, a history professor and podcast host, delve into pivotal political themes. They assess the Democratic Party's future amid midterms and the rise of Zohran Mamdani. The panel discusses authenticity in politics, the implications of government shutdowns, and the recent Trump-Xi summit. They also explore the conflict between populism and traditional strategies, questioning whether authenticity can truly be manufactured.

In a compelling discussion, Geoffrey Hinton, the 'godfather of AI' and 2024 Nobel Prize winner, dives into the intricacies of AI and its risks with Yascha Mounk. They explore how neural networks surpass traditional AI by focusing on perception, the significance of intuitive versus deliberate reasoning, and the critical role of self-supervised learning in language models. Hinton also addresses concerns about local optima in gradient methods and articulates how AI can evolve through scaling and innovative architectures, challenging traditional symbolic approaches.

Francis Fukuyama, a senior fellow at Stanford and author, joins Mona Charen, a syndicated columnist and policy editor at The Bulwark, to delve into hot topics. They discuss Trump's controversial East Wing demolition and the implications of personalizing power. The conversation shifts to the potential U.S. military actions in Venezuela and the challenges of intervention, emphasizing risks of entanglement. They also explore social media’s role in the rise of populism, linking it to a broader global trend that reshapes politics today.

Lulu Cheng Meservey is the founder of Rostra, advocate of going direct, and writer of Flack. In this week’s conversation, Yascha Mounk and Lulu Meservey explore why the traditional communications playbook is no longer effective, why so many politicians come across badly on TV, and how to be a great leader. If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone. Email: leonora.barclay@persuasion.community Podcast production by Mickey Freeland and Leonora Barclay. Connect with us! Spotify | Apple | Google X: @Yascha_Mounk & @JoinPersuasion YouTube: Yascha Mounk, Persuasion LinkedIn: Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices