This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Holly’s newsletter and her work with PauseAI 3:45 The state of AI safety 10:54 Why Holly started PauseAI US 14:55 Is AI acceleration… accelerating? 23:47 What rationalists got wrong about the singularity 29:43 Mechanize Inc. and the danger of AI safety sellouts 40:10 Holly: Here’s why AI should alarm you 48:25 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Holly Elmore ...
May 08, 2025•52 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Which think tanks are anti-Blob? 2:36 What's the real goal of Bibi’s new Gaza “operation”? 7:22 Why can’t (or won’t) the US rein in Israel? 14:51 Who’s undermined the ‘rules-based order’ more—Biden or Trump? 20:35 In search of anti-Blob Dems for 2028 23:46 How neoliberalism seeded Trump’s tariff chaos 29:36 AI, DC, and the x-risk of China-hawkism 41:30 Matt on what most miss about foreign policy 48:38 Heading to O...
May 06, 2025•51 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 Headlines 5:10 Bob joins to discuss Trump's first 100 days 6:50 What the Waltz firing means for Trump's foreign policy 12:27 Has Rubio really dropped his hawkish proclivities? 15:50 Trump's jungle rulebook 21:57 Is Trump putting the US on track for war with China? 25:58 Middle East fires: Yemen, Syria, Iran 37:40 Trump's about-face on Gaza 40:03 Gen Z and the Trump Effect Recorded May 2, 2025. Read this week's edi...
May 03, 2025•45 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 The state of play in Russia-Ukraine 4:02 Anatol: Here’s how the war could end 12:35 Which side wants peace more? 20:18 Why hasn’t Trump used his leverage? 24:37 Anatol’s plan for peace 32:47 What Russia-Ukraine reveals about the military-industrial complex 39:48 What Trump's military purges reveal about his presidency 43:21 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and...
Apr 30, 2025•45 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:15 The new NonZero World 1:24 Headlines 4:39 Stories of the week 17:22 Michael Brendan Dougherty on Pope Francis' foreign policy legacy 18:58 Michael: The pope should be a voice for peace 23:47 A European church no more 27:24 Michael: The Vatican went too far in deal with China 37:10 How the Holy See helped Obama reach out to Cuba 44:40 The pope's moral clarity on Gaza 48:47 A restrainer in the Vatican? Recorded Apri...
Apr 26, 2025•52 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Trump and Elon’s bad week = good news for Bob… 6:01 …but bad news for Canada's prime minister? 18:23 Trump’s crackdown on speech expands 29:28 Debating embryo-screening ethics 42:24 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Paul Bloom (https://smallpotatoes.paulbloom.net, University of Toronto, The Sweet Spot, Against Empathy). Recorded April 24, 2025. Twitter: htt...
Apr 24, 2025•47 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Pratap’s bona fides 3:40 How Pratap ran afoul of Modi (and the price he paid) 13:17 Trump vs Modi: compare and contrast 24:14 India’s birth as a multi-ethnic state 38:09 Pratap on how we got Trump (and Modi) 48:45 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Pratap Bhanu Mehta (Indian Express, Princeton University, The Burden of Democracy). Recorded April 22, 2025. Tw...
Apr 23, 2025•53 min
Audio of the livestream titled “KOSMOPOLITIKA#2: Where Do We Belong?”—the latest installment in an ongoing (and evolving) collaboration between Nonzero and Psychopolitica . INTRODUCTIONS :4:14 Nikita: Leaving Russia. The psychedelic lineage. Humanity is a trip, not a species21:59 16 years ago, Boris took such a good nap after visiting a sacred Ancient Greek site that he still thinks about it 25:25 In The Dark Places of Wisdom: mystical practices at the root of Western civilization 26:57 What mak...
Apr 21, 2025•2 hr 2 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Ron violates retirement dress code 2:25 Trump’s “antisemitism crackdown" 14:28 Is the Israel lobby bad for American Jews? 21:53 The disturbing Tufts detention case 28:59 Why don’t more progressive Jews call out the Israel lobby? 34:24 How bad journalism makes antisemitism worse 45:53 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Ron Kampeas (https://ronkampeas.substack...
Apr 18, 2025•49 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Sam's theory of (some of) Trump's tariffs 18:09 The bad scenario and the less bad scenario 22:58 Scott Bessent's radicalism 25:58 Will Trump display the art of the deal? 28:57 China's trade-war strengths 31:48 An intentional end to American hegemony? 36:10 Sam’s defense of chip restrictions 40:28 Heading into Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Samuel Hammond (Foundatio...
Apr 15, 2025•43 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 Sina's hopes for this weekend's US-Iran talks 4:25 Trump's two-month clock starts ticking 7:09 Iran's growing nuclear leverage 11:20 Trump the dealmaker vs Trump the warmonger 19:14 The myth of a "surgical" military campaign against Iran 28:44 The resurgence of Iran's reformist camp Recorded April 11, 2025. Read this week's edition of the Earthling: https://www.nonzero.org/p/tariffs-tech-and-the-view-from-china ht...
Apr 11, 2025•37 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Paul is Bob's worthwhile Canadian initiative 4:34 The psycho-logic of Trump’s tariff strategy 15:35 Has Trump exposed structural flaws in America? 21:09 Is Musk saying Navarro is dumber than Ivanka? 28:09 On incest 38:35 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Paul Bloom (https://smallpotatoes.paulbloom.net, University of Toronto, The Sweet Spot, Against Empathy)...
Apr 09, 2025•45 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Milton’s epic new comic, “Orson Welles: Warrior of the Worlds” 4:04 Comics culture, then and now 14:02 The real story behind the faux War of the Worlds broadcast 22:07 Why Milton was drawn to Orson Welles 33:33 What (or who) really derailed Welles’s career? 40:07 Will Milton's comic go multimedia? 44:23 Heading to Overtime—with Bob in the hot seat Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True)...
Apr 08, 2025•46 min
Audio of the livestream titled “The Psychopolitics of the Noosphere,” the first installment in an ongoing—and evolving—collaboration between Nonzero and Psychopolitica. Robert Wright, Nikita Petrov, and Boris Shoshitaishvili. Recorded April 4, 2025. https://psychopolitica.substack.com/ https://twitter.com/NonzeroNews https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe...
Apr 07, 2025•2 hr 8 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 The pro-tariff argument: national security, jobs, and leverage 6:58 The four factions shaping US trade policy 11:43 Karthik’s core critique of Trump’s tariff policy 16:18 How tariffs could block development pathways for poor countries 22:52 Is Trump blaming foreign countries for America's own policy mistakes? 30:19 A brutal week for Vietnam Recorded April 04, 2025. Read this week's edition of the Earthling: https:...
Apr 04, 2025•40 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Reid's new book, "Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future" 8:56 Managing technological transitions 16:33 Using AI to build cognitive empathy 20:25 Shaping the coming AI earthquake 29:02 Reid's notion of "co-opetition" with China 40:06 Geopolitics and AI development 44:53 The US chip war on China 50:01 Heading into Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and...
Apr 03, 2025•55 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Almut’s first-hand acquaintance with authoritarianism 2:24 Trump 2.0’s authoritarian hallmarks 19:37 What should worry us most about Trump 2.0? 26:15 Trump 2.0 vs post-Soviet oligarchy: compare and contrast 33:08 Is Trump an ethno-nationalist? 39:02 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Almut Rochowanski (The Quincy Institute, https://discomfortzone.substack.co...
Apr 02, 2025•42 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 The dueling camps in right-wing foreign policy 10:25 Lessons from the Signal snafu 15:42 Are hawks dominating Trump's foreign policy team? 22:58 Can Congress prevent a war with Iran? 31:13 A "smear campaign" against Danny Davis Recorded March 28, 2025. Read this week's edition of the Earthling: https://www.nonzero.org/p/the-untold-stories-of-the-signal https://twitter.com/NonzeroNews https://twitter.com/NonzeroPod...
Mar 28, 2025•39 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Bob and Paul duel over their sleep deficits 5:16 Trump’s Tesla-friendly tariffs 13:16 Who’s favo(u)red to win the Canadian election? 19:56 Tufts and Columbia as authoritarian bellwethers 31:16 Did Bob predict MAGA in 1999? 38:49 God vs Hitler 46:21 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Paul Bloom (https://smallpotatoes.paulbloom.net, University of Toronto, The ...
Mar 28, 2025•49 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 The new JFK documents dump 5:15 The conflict between JFK and the CIA 8:34 The Pentagon false flag plan that JFK vetoed 13:30 How CIA funding shaped the Oswald narrative 17:22 James Jesus Angleton’s handling of Oswald 32:55 Some lies told by CIA officials 42:14 Files the CIA still won’t release Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Jefferson Morley (https://jfkfacts.substack.com/, ...
Mar 27, 2025•51 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 Will Trump get locked into war in Yemen? 8:27 Competing instincts in Trump’s foreign policy team 11:16 How should the restraint movement respond to Trump? 15:11 Justin: Trump's pitch-perfect approach to Europe 23:13 What happens if Trump pulls US troops from Europe? Recorded March 20, 2025. Read this week's edition of the Earthling: https://www.nonzero.org/p/trumps-israel-first-agenda https://twitter.com/NonzeroNe...
Mar 21, 2025•34 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Ross’s new book, Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious 7:17 An argument for cosmic purpose 14:59 The mysterious persistence of weird s**t 18:34 Does human consciousness point to something bigger? 24:33 Tensions between science and Christian orthodoxy 28:03 A few more words about consciousness 34:50 A few more words about weirdness 41:56 Why doesn’t the weirdness show up in controlled studies? 48:44 Heading to ...
Mar 20, 2025•50 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Jeet’s plans for Canadian resistance 3:30 Trump 2.0: Making “autarkic imperialism” great again? 12:01 The hidden logic of Trump’s tariffs 20:19 The historical roots of Trumpism 34:56 How Trump won the GOP civil war 43:36 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Jeet Heer (The Nation). Recorded March 18, 2025. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods...
Mar 19, 2025•46 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:29 Connor’s Cuba adventure 1:41 Chinese-owned Manus AI makes waves 8:35 Is Manus just a fancy ‘wrapper’ for US AI? 15:20 Why Manus makes global AI cooperation more urgent 23:39 Can Trump deport a green card holder over political speech? 34:58 Making sense of Trump's Ukraine strategy Recorded March 14, 2025. Read this week's edition of the Earthling: https://www.nonzero.org/p/the-real-message-from-chinas-latest https:...
Mar 14, 2025•47 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Does Paul have CDS (Chaos Desensitization Syndrome)? 4:06 Worthwhile Canadian backlash 9:54 Elon’s Tesla problem 15:34 Trump 2.0’s free speech crackdown 18:28 The primal psychology of Trump and Elon 26:10 Bezos and university presidents bow to Trump 36:29 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Paul Bloom (https://smallpotatoes.paulbloom.net, University of Toront...
Mar 13, 2025•41 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Is the chaos starting to subside? 11:46 Trump’s tariff strategy (or lack thereof)18:56 Trump’s baffling, backfiring Canada obsession 26:01 Elon’s darkly weird grandfather 38:01 Has America gone full oligarchy? 43:16 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Eric Levitz (New York Magazine, Vox). Recorded March 10, 2025. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods...
Mar 11, 2025•45 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 What could go right with Trump’s foreign policy? 8:11 Trump’s Bibi-pleasing Middle East path 13:49 How would Europe-led defence of Europe work? 15:55 What most miss about the Oval Office blowup 19:44 Has relying on America doomed Ukraine? 26:53 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True), Derek Davison (Foreign Exchanges, American Prestige, Discontents), and Daniel Bessn...
Mar 07, 2025•29 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Dan’s new paper, “Superintelligence Strategy” 2:58 “Mutually assured AI malfunction” 7:46 Does China see America’s AI policy as a grave threat? 14:45 How likely is US-China conflict over superintelligence? 25:26 How America’s chip war makes war over Taiwan more likely 33:45 Why did China-hawkism sweep Silicon Valley? 42:08 Can we avoid AI doom without global governance? 57:26 The key points of Dan’s paper 1:04:56 ...
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr 6 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Andrew’s new gig (and gifts) 3:38 Play-by-play of the Oval Office blowup 9:28 Zelensky’s and Trump’s obsessions 16:55 What are Russia’s red lines? 26:36 Guaranteeing Ukraine’s (and Europe’s) security 33:49 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Andrew Day (The American Conservative). Recorded March 03, 2025. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods...
Mar 04, 2025•35 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 Introduction 2:21 How the Pentagon budget got so big 6:55 How to cut $60 billion in military spending this year 15:11 The privatization of weapons acquisitions 19:12 Prospects for military budget reform under Trump Recorded February 28, 2025. Read this week's edition of the Earthling: https://www.nonzero.org/p/immortality-and-its-discontents https://twitter.com/NonzeroNews https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods...
Mar 01, 2025•33 min
