Robinson’s Podcast
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Über den Podcast
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between. https://linktr.ee/robinsonerhardt
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304 - Professor Jiang: Trump Was Never The Real Problem | On Musk, Secret Societies, & Conspiracy Theories
Support the Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxwneBx6apV1mQ7CbWKfXQ/joinJiang Xueqin, known online as Professor Jiang, is a Chinese-Canadian educator and the creator of Predictive History on YouTube and …
Shownotes
Support the Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxwneBx6apV1mQ7CbWKfXQ/joinJiang Xueqin, known online as Professor Jiang, is a Chinese-Canadian educator and the creator of Predictive History on YouTube and Substack. In this second of three conversations, Jiang and Robinson discuss secret societies, conspiracy theories, and the relationship between money and political power. They talk about Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sam Altman, as well as capitalism, the Opium Wars, the Spanish conquest of Mexico, and Sabbatean Frankism. Throughout the conversation, Robinson challenges Jiang on the evidence for his claims, the limits of historical analogies and thought experiments, and what would distinguish a plausible story from an established explanation.Jiang’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PredictiveHistoryJiang’s Substack: https://predictivehistory.substack.com/OUTLINE00:00 Introduction09:10 Who Can Tell the President No?18:50 The Bank of England and the British Empire26:20 Conquistadors and the Opium Wars36:09 What Counts as Historical Evidence?43:33 Elites and Counterelites48:25 Secret Societies and the Rothschilds55:54 Jiang’s Account of the Sabbatean Frankists1:05:35 Sabbatai Zevi and Messianic Movements1:11:18 The Kabbalah1:17:27 Esther, Jacob Frank, and Redemption Through Sin1:27:55 How Would Historians Assess Jiang’s Account?1:35:10 Are Secret Societies Active Today?1:43:05 Can People Coordinate Without Meeting?1:49:49 Could Trump’s Comeback Have Been Predicted?1:58:05 Zuckerberg, Altman, and the Meaning of Genius2:07:24 Facebook’s Investors, Data, and Control2:11:53 Business Success or Conspiracy?2:20:29 Skull and Bones: Existence vs. Influence2:31:06 The Gilded Age and Foreign Capital2:37:29 Which Conspiracy Theories Are Credible?2:47:52 OutroFURTHER READINGThese scholarly histories provide context and alternative accounts of topics raised in the interview. I’m not a specialist in these subjects, and I offer them as starting points for further reading. They do not resolve every claim made in the conversation.Matthew Restall, Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquesthttps://global.oup.com/academic/product/seven-myths-of-the-spanish-conquest-9780197537299Paweł Maciejko, The Mixed Multitude: Jacob Frank and the Frankist Movement, 1755–1816https://www.pennpress.org/9780812204582/the-mixed-multitude/A. B. Bosworth, Conquest and Empire: The Reign of Alexander the Greathttps://www.cambridge.org/core/books/conquest-and-empire/EBAE6ADF5821A05DA6B3ADE3BC49F356Context from Robinson: Virtually every speculative conclusion Jiang reaches strikes me as unsupported, or less well-supported than a competing explanation. The existence of social connections or a historical movement does not establish that a particular group is secretly coordinating to control institutions. Listening to a guest or granting a premise for the sake of argument does not mean that I accept it.Disclaimer: Robinson’s Podcast is a forum for open discussion. Guests’ views are their own and do not necessarily reflect Robinson’s. Hosting a guest does not imply that he endorses the views or opinions they express.Robinson’s Website: https://robinsonerhardt.com/Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
303 - Professor Jiang: Trump Picked the Wrong War | On Iran, Israel, and America’s Decline
Support the Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxwneBx6apV1mQ7CbWKfXQ/joinJiang Xueqin, known online as Professor Jiang, is an educator and the creator of the YouTube channel Predictive History. In this …
Shownotes
Support the Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxwneBx6apV1mQ7CbWKfXQ/join
Jiang Xueqin, known online as Professor Jiang, is an educator and the creator of the YouTube channel Predictive History. In this episode, Jiang and Robinson discuss the war in Iran, the limits of American power, and the economic and political pressures facing China. More particularly, they talk about Trump’s strategy in the Middle East, Israel, the Strait of Hormuz, the Houthis, Saudi Arabia, and Jiang’s predictions about the war’s consequences for the global economy. They also discuss Xi Jinping, Chinese corruption and debt, Richard Wolff and Michael Hudson’s views on China, and how to test Jiang’s approach to history and geopolitical forecasting.
Jiang’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PredictiveHistory
Jiang’s Substack: https://predictivehistory.substack.com/
OUTLINE
00:00 Introduction
05:53 Can the Iran War End America's Empire?
09:20 How America Lost Its Global Appeal
18:55 America's Three Pillars of Soft Power
29:54 Why Jiang Calls China Neoliberal
34:08 From Rural China to Yale and Back
41:05 Jiang's Critique of Wolff on China
51:28 China's Property Bubble and Debt Crisis
58:44 What Unites Trump, Xi, and Putin?
1:08:49 From Mao to Xi: China's Power Struggle
1:17:01 Zero-COVID and China's Economic Crisis
1:24:14 Taiwan, Uyghurs, and Chinese Rule
1:27:53 Criticizing China While Living There
1:32:57 Arendt, Kafka, and Authoritarianism
1:37:12 Why Jiang Calls Canada Authoritarian
1:43:06 How Jiang Predicted the Iran War
1:51:01 Israel and the Clean Break Memo
1:54:44 Trump's Coalition and the Iran War
1:57:18 Jiang's Original Iran War Forecast
2:02:01 Why Regime Change in Iran Is So Hard
2:07:41 Can Drones and Insurgents Beat Empires?
2:12:02 Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
2:14:45 How the Houthis Disrupt Global Trade
2:18:59 Why Saudi Arabia Struggles in Yemen
2:25:36 Could the Iran War Trigger Collapse?
2:31:02 Would Elites Let the System Collapse?
2:36:55 Rat Utopia and Social Collapse
2:41:01 Canada: Breakup or US Annexation?
2:44:52 Could the Iran War Become a World War?
2:49:30 Jiang on Wolff, Hudson, and Collapse
2:53:27 Conspiracies and Testing Jiang's Ideas
3:02:49 The Iran War: What Can't Be Predicted?
3:07:49 What Would Prove Jiang Wrong?Robinson’s Website: https://robinsonerhardt.com/
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
Disclaimer: Robinson’s Podcast is a forum for open discussion. Guests’ views are their own and do not necessarily reflect Robinson's. Hosting a guest does not imply that he endorses the views or opinions they express.
302 - Michael Hudson: Trump Is Looting America | On Billionaires, Wall Street, and the Oil Wars
Support the Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxwneBx6apV1mQ7CbWKfXQ/joinMichael Hudson is an economist, financial historian, and distinguished research professor of economics at the University of …
Shownotes
Support the Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxwneBx6apV1mQ7CbWKfXQ/join
Michael Hudson is an economist, financial historian, and distinguished research professor of economics at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. In this episode, Michael and Robinson discuss how financialization has changed the American economy, why working for a living has become harder, and the growing power of billionaires. More particularly, they talk about Trump and political influence, oil wars involving Iran and Russia, their consequences for fuel and food prices, and Hudson’s argument that China is using the industrial model America abandoned. They also discuss private equity, public banking, de-dollarization, AI, ancient debt jubilees, and the difference between creating wealth and collecting economic rent. Michael’s most recent published book is Temples of Enterprise (2024).
Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.com/
Temples of Enterprise: https://michael-hudson.com/2024/05/temples-of-enterprise/
OUTLINE
00:00 Highlights
00:39 Inherited Wealth and Earning a Living
07:03 Financialization, Bank Bailouts, and Private Equity
13:05 Industrial Capitalism, Banking, and Colonial Debt
25:39 Public Investment, Technology, and the Managerial Class
33:18 Reagan, Thatcher, and Privatization
46:35 Oil Wars, Fuel Shortages, and Food Prices
54:06 Debt Jubilees and the Rise of Ancient Oligarchies
1:00:42 Empire, Oil, and Economic Dependence
1:06:24 De-Dollarization, BRICS, and Public Money
1:13:08 Economic Rent, Value, and the Cost of Living
1:27:51 Neoliberalism and the Rejection of Classical Economics
1:39:19 Pension Funds and the Financialization of Retirement
1:45:06 China’s Industrialization and Public Banking
1:59:15 China’s Property Bubble and Evergrande
2:11:16 Billionaires and Wealth Concentration
2:15:22 Trump, Political Influence, and Regulatory Capture
2:26:59 AI, Intellectual Property, and Social Costs
2:30:58 Billionaires in China and Russia
2:36:21 Gulf Monarchies, Oil Wealth, and the United States
2:45:45 Democracy, Oligarchy, and US Foreign Policy
2:55:41 Alternatives to the Rentier Economy
3:01:16 Michael’s Outlook for the Next Few Years
Robinson’s Website: https://robinsonerhardt.com/
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
Disclaimer: Robinson’s Podcast is a forum for open discussion. Guests’ views are their own and do not necessarily reflect Robinson's. Hosting a guest does not imply that he endorses the views or opinions they express.
301 - Jessica Tarlov: Trump’s Economy Is Pricing You Out | On Fox News, Healthcare, Billionaires, and 2026
Support the Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxwneBx6apV1mQ7CbWKfXQ/joinJessica Tarlov is a political strategist and co-host of The Five on Fox News and Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway. She holds a …
Shownotes
Support the Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxwneBx6apV1mQ7CbWKfXQ/join
Jessica Tarlov is a political strategist and co-host of The Five on Fox News and Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway. She holds a PhD in political science from the London School of Economics. In this episode, Jessica and Robinson discuss Trump’s political vulnerabilities, the Democrats’ prospects in the 2026 midterms, and how to argue across political divides. More particularly, they talk about immigration and ICE, healthcare costs, the debate over billionaire donors, and Jessica’s view that Trump’s corruption is catching up with him. They also discuss Democratic purity tests, criticism of Trump from the right, Jessica’s career on Fox News, and the cases for James Talarico, Abdul El-Sayed, Jon Ossoff, and Mary Peltola. Jessica’s latest book is I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends (Random House, 2026).
Jessica on Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/person/t/jessica-tarlov
Raging Moderates: https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/raging-moderates
I Disagree: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803493/i-disagree-by-jessica-tarlov/
OUTLINE
00:00 Is Immigration Trump’s Greatest Strength?
03:34 Why Admitting You’re Wrong Makes You More Persuasive
06:04 What Do Democrats Stand For?
08:32 How to Disagree Without Losing Friends
10:10 Healthcare, Billionaires, and the Democrats’ Dilemma
12:25 Why Do Billionaires Back Democrats?
17:39 How Jessica Tarlov Found Her Voice on Fox News
26:19 Can Democrats Win Over Conservative Voters?
27:21 Should Voting Be Mandatory?
32:59 Why Talarico Wants to Turn Texas Purple
34:47 How to Win Progressives Without Passing Every Purity Test
39:02 Nick Fuentes, Trump’s Weakness, and the Limits of Debate
42:01 Why Jon Ossoff Is a Democrat to Watch
44:42 Why Jessica Tarlov Is Backing Mary Peltola
47:16 Bobby Pulido, Cait Conley, and the Democrats to Watch
54:42 The Case for El-Sayed and Talarico
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
Disclaimer: Robinson’s Podcast is a forum for open discussion. Guests’ views are their own and do not necessarily reflect Robinson's. Hosting a guest does not imply that he endorses the views or opinions they express.
300 - Richard Wolff, Cornel West, & Norman Finkelstein: America Is in DENIAL | On Mamdani, Tucker, & Trump
Support the Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxwneBx6apV1mQ7CbWKfXQ/joinRichard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and co-founder of Democracy at Work …
Shownotes
Support the Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxwneBx6apV1mQ7CbWKfXQ/join
Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and co-founder of Democracy at Work. Cornel West holds the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary. Norman Finkelstein is a political scientist and author who received his PhD in politics from Princeton University. In this episode, Richard, Cornel, Norman, and Robinson discuss the crisis of the American left and whether it can rebuild its political power. More particularly, they discuss Zohran Mamdani’s compromises, Cornel’s warning that he could become another Barack Obama, and their disagreements over working with Tucker Carlson. They also discuss Donald Trump and American decline, Bernie Sanders and class politics, Cornel’s break with Jill Stein and the Green Party, immigration, Gaza, and where to draw moral lines when building political coalitions. Their recent books include Richard’s Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024), Cornel’s Truth Matters, coauthored with Robert P. George (Post Hill Press, 2025), and Norman’s Gaza’s Gravediggers: An Inquiry into Corruption in High Places (OR Books, 2026).
Richard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.com/
Understanding Capitalism: https://www.democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalism
Cornel’s Website: https://www.cornelwest.com/
Truth Matters: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Truth-Matters/Robert-P-George/9798888451700
Norman’s Website: https://www.normanfinkelstein.com/
Gaza’s Gravediggers: https://www.orbooks.com/catalog/gazas-gravediggers/
OUTLINE
00:00 Introduction
01:06 What Do Elections Actually Change?
05:47 How Enthusiasm Turned Into Disappointment for Zohran Mamdani
09:36 The Deep Denial in the United States
14:11 Is Another New Deal Still Possible?
17:27 The Repression of American Colonialism
23:49 Is America’s Decline Irreversible?
30:25 Cornel West on Bernie, Mamdani, and Colonialism
42:12 America Fears Socialism—But for How Long?
44:36 Neoliberalism Is a Curse on Socialism
49:06 Jill Stein and Why Cornel West Left the Green Party
52:15 Bernie Sanders and the Holocaust
59:52 Is Tucker Carlson Dangerous for the Left?
1:06:53 Can Immigration Be Fixed?
1:11:04 How Capitalism Destroyed Itself in Germany
1:15:21 Do Blacks Have Legitimate Complaints About Immigrants?
1:19:23 International Relations
1:21:04 Biden, Obama, and Red Lines
1:25:09 What If Our Heroes Were Racist?
1:27:27 Will the Rest of Us Ever Be Prosperous Again?
1:42:29 Who Is Pumping Denial Down America’s Throat?
1:48:55 John Stuart Mill on Truth
1:50:34 Rick’s Biggest Mistake in Life
1:57:00 Cornel’s Biggest Mistake in Life
2:01:49 The Academy Caved to Biden, Trump, and IsraelRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
299 - Robert Pape: Trump Is Making Iran STRONGER—and America WEAKER
Support the Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxwneBx6apV1mQ7CbWKfXQ/joinRobert Pape is Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and director of the Chicago Project on Security and …
Shownotes
Support the Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxwneBx6apV1mQ7CbWKfXQ/join
Robert Pape is Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats. In this episode, Robert and Robinson discuss why the Iran war has become an escalation trap for Donald Trump, the United States, and Israel. More particularly, they talk about Pape’s argument that the war has strengthened Iran while weakening America’s regional position, Iran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, and how cheap drones and precision weapons are changing the balance of military power. They also discuss how the 2026 midterms could prolong escalation, the limits of predicting war, how AI could make political assassinations easier, and the risks of weapons operating without human oversight. Robert’s latest book is Our Own Worst Enemies: America in the Age of Violent Populism (The New Press, 2026).
Robert’s Substack (Prof Robert Pape): https://professorrobertpape.substack.com/
Robert’s Substack (Escalation Trap): https://escalationtrap.substack.com/
Robert’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfRobertPape
Our Own Worst Enemies: https://thenewpress.org/books/our-own-worst-enemies/
OUTLINE
00:00 Introduction
00:45 Why the Iran War Is Nowhere Near Over
08:08 How Iran Can Defy a Superpower
15:22 How Cheap Drones Changed the Balance of Power
20:31 Is America Building Weapons for the Wrong War?
29:00 Why War Experts Must Risk Being Wrong
40:25 Has Pape Been Wrong About Iran?
45:33 How Time Shifts the Balance of Power
51:23 Why the 2026 Midterms May Prolong the Iran War
55:16 How a Leader’s Health Can Change a War
1:01:40 How Assassinations and Elections Can Upend the World
1:05:28 Is AI Making Iran’s Attacks More Deadly?
1:07:38 Could AI Make Assassinations Easier?
1:13:36 Could Hezbollah Shut Down Israel’s Ports?
1:18:25 When Weapons Act Without Human ControlRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
298 - Rick Wilson: Trump Killed the Republican Party | On MAGA, Tucker Carlson, and 2028
Rick Wilson is a political strategist, author, and co-founder of The Lincoln Project. After decades working in Republican politics, he became a prominent conservative critic of Donald Trump. In this episode …
Shownotes
Rick Wilson is a political strategist, author, and co-founder of The Lincoln Project. After decades working in Republican politics, he became a prominent conservative critic of Donald Trump. In this episode, Rick and Robinson discuss the Republican Party Rick believes Trump has destroyed, America’s changing position in the world, and the struggle to defeat Trumpism. More particularly, they talk about the GOP’s competing factions, Trump’s relationships with Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin, and American policy toward Iran and Venezuela. They also discuss divisions among Democrats, Bernie Sanders and the progressive left, Abdul El-Sayed and James Talarico, the influence of podcasts and social media, and the prospects for the 2026 and 2028 elections. Rick’s books include Running Against the Devil (Forum Books, 2020).
Rick’s Website: https://www.therickwilson.com/
Running Against the Devil: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/623822/running-against-the-devil-by-rick-wilson/
OUTLINE
00:00 Introduction
00:47 The Best Reasons for Voting Trump
02:16 The Republican Party Is Broken into Three Pieces
09:16 Why Rick Left the Republican Party
13:58 The United States' Fall from Grace
24:27 How Netanyahu Plays Trump
28:21 Deconstructing Trump's Takeover of Venezuela
31:43 Why Democrats Can’t Get Their Act Together
35:35 Why Progressives Struggle to Win the Presidency
39:46 El-Sayed Has 'The Gift'
42:40 Podcasts and Elections
45:06 Nick Fuentes and the Groypers
51:58 Will Trump Be President Forever?
53:33 Talarico and the Republicans' Loss
56:38 Why Trump Could Cost Republicans 2028Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
297 - Anne Applebaum: Trump Is Building an Autocracy | On Putin, Kushner, and America’s Future
Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and staff writer at The Atlantic. Her work focuses on authoritarianism, democracy, and the history of Central and Eastern Europe. In this episode, Anne and …
Shownotes
Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and staff writer at The Atlantic. Her work focuses on authoritarianism, democracy, and the history of Central and Eastern Europe. In this episode, Anne and Robinson discuss corruption, foreign policy, and the threat of autocracy in Donald Trump’s America. More particularly, they talk about Anne’s assessment of unprecedented corruption, Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin, and Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff’s involvement in diplomacy and business negotiations. They also discuss China’s mass surveillance system, the power of tech companies to suppress political campaigns, retaliation against political opponents, and whether the 2026 elections can slow America’s democratic decline. Anne’s recent book is Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World (Doubleday, 2024).
Anne’s Website: https://www.anneapplebaum.com/
Autocracy, Inc.: https://www.anneapplebaum.com/book/autocracy/
OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:40 Trump’s Latest Corruption Is Unprecedented07:56 Trump’s Foreign Policy Has No Strategy10:41 Trump Is Anti-Isolationist13:32 Donald Trump’s Greatest Enemies18:57 Trump’s USA Is Becoming an Autocracy26:17 Trump Is Copying China’s Mass Surveillance31:09 How Tech Billionaires Secretly Control Politicians35:46 Are Assassinations Coming to the USA?39:22 The 2026 Elections Will Limit Donald Trump42:41 Will Trump’s USA Become a New Russia?
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
296 - Norman Finkelstein: Gaza SHATTERED Israel’s Story | October 7, Three Years Later
Norman Finkelstein is a political scientist and author who received his PhD in politics from Princeton University. His work focuses on political theory, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the Holocaust. In this …
Shownotes
Norman Finkelstein is a political scientist and author who received his PhD in politics from Princeton University. His work focuses on political theory, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the Holocaust. In this episode, Norman and Robinson discuss Gaza, Israel, and the Middle East three years after October 7. More particularly, they talk about changing public opinion, free speech on American campuses, Norman’s rejection of the claim that Netanyahu knowingly allowed the attacks, Israel’s goals in Gaza and the wider region, and Iran’s confrontation with Israel and the United States. They also discuss Donald Trump’s political appeal, Bernie Sanders, China’s role in the conflict, Hannah Arendt, Norman’s mother’s testimony at a Nazi war-crimes trial, and his friendship with Noam Chomsky. Norman’s recent book is Gaza’s Gravediggers: An Inquiry into Corruption in High Places (OR Books, 2026).
Norman’s Website: https://www.normanfinkelstein.com/
Gaza’s Gravediggers: https://orbooks.com/catalog/gazas-gravediggers/
OUTLINE
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:02 What We’ve Learned Since October 7, 2023
00:06:00 The Sheer Insanity of Israel’s War on Gaza
00:09:06 Why Young People See Themselves in Gaza
00:12:51 Jewish-Muslim Unity
00:14:02 How Free Speech Crumbled Over Gaza
00:24:05 Why Won’t Anyone Review Norman Finkelstein’s New Book?
00:29:04 Did Netanyahu Allow Hamas to Attack on October 7th?
00:35:31 Why Israel Still Backs Netanyahu
00:41:12 Finkelstein: Israel Is a Lunatic Society
00:53:55 How Did Hamas Get Past Israeli Intelligence?
00:59:06 Israel’s Three Goals After October 7
01:07:53 What Hezbollah Lost With Nasrallah
01:09:32 Think Twice Before You Play with Iran
01:11:10 Can Anyone Control Israel?
01:13:36 Israel Underestimated Iran’s 5,000-Year-Old Civilization
01:30:01 The Two Things Trump Really Cares About
01:40:17 Trump Isn’t Media-Savvy—His Opponents Are Phony
01:54:43 Talking About Trump Is a Waste of TimeRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
295 - Richard Wolff: Trump’s America Is OVER
Richard D. Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor in the Graduate Program in International Affairs at The New School. He is also co-founder …
Shownotes
Richard D. Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor in the Graduate Program in International Affairs at The New School. He is also co-founder of Democracy at Work and host of Economic Update. In this episode, Richard and Robinson discuss Donald Trump, socialism in the United States, and Richard’s disagreements with Victor Davis Hanson. More particularly, they talk about Richard’s case against Trump, his criticisms of Hanson’s understanding of socialism, American power, European colonialism, Russia and NATO, and Israel. They also discuss James Talarico and Abdul El-Sayed, the history of American socialism, the minimum wage, money in politics, Thomas Massie, JD Vance’s relationship with Peter Thiel, and Richard’s experience running for city council. Richard’s books include Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024).
Richard’s Website: rdwolff.com
Democracy at Work: democracyatwork.info
Understanding Capitalism: democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalism
OUTLINE00:00:00 Introduction00:01:03 Republicans Should Vote (About) Trump!!!00:07:05 America Is Getting Weaker!00:11:53 Trump’s America Is Over00:14:14 Trump’s America Has Forgotten Its History00:19:12 Is There Still a Good Case for Trump?00:26:23 Trump’s Promises He Cannot Keep!00:34:53 Recap: Richard Wolff vs Victor Davis Hanson 202600:41:06 The Red Scare in the Cold War00:44:23 Victor Davis Hanson Doesn’t Understand Socialism!00:48:06 Victor Davis Hanson Equates Socialism and Immigrants01:05:01 Trump and Europe’s Colonialism Is Over!01:08:48 Russia Is a Victim of NATO01:11:24 Israel Has Been Bombed01:15:52 Richard Wolff’s Problem with James Talarico01:25:22 Socialists Ruled the United States01:28:28 The Rich Screwed the Poor on the Minimum Wage01:33:08 Why Don’t Socialists Want Trump’s Free $5,000?01:35:18 Why Money Must Get Out of Politics01:44:41 Does Abdul El-Sayed Have “the Gift”?01:48:27 French Socialism vs American Socialism01:54:43 Why Americans Can’t Get into Socialism02:03:16 Richard Wolff Is Struck by Thomas Massie02:04:50 When Richard Wolff Ran for City Council02:09:20 JD Vance Is Funded by Peter Thiel!02:16:53 What Is Democracy at Work?
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
294 - Michael Hudson: Iran, Oil, and Global Depression
Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and …
Shownotes
Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, economic history, and the role of debt in shaping economies and societies. In this episode, Michael and Robinson discuss the war in Iran and Michael’s prediction that it will cause a global depression. More particularly, they talk about oil and the Strait of Hormuz, which countries Michael thinks will suffer most, his skepticism about the changes the 2026 elections can deliver, and his criticisms of how economists describe the American economy. They also discuss AI and the future of employment, Donald Trump’s foreign policy, China’s role in the international economic order, instability in Europe, and the future of the United States. Michael’s recent book is Temples of Enterprise (ISLET, 2024).
Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.com
Temples of Enterprise: https://a.co/d/a3c53dm
OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:23 Iran War Will Cause a Global Depression10:57 The 2026 Elections Mean Nothing19:45 2026 Voters Can Do Nothing About AI, Israel, or Iran30:51 Economists Are Lying About the State of the Economy38:02 Different Economic Metrics42:25 AI and an Employment Collapse48:35 Trump Is Choking the World's Oil59:32 The Strait of Hormuz1:04:16 The Iran War Will Destroy These Countries First1:12:27 Trump Wants the World to Pay Tribute1:17:43 Is China the Hero?1:28:16 Destabilization in Europe1:37:32 Anti-Protest Drone1:40:20 What Does Chinese Dominance Look Like?1:46:15 Where Does History Go from Here?1:55:39 Where Does the United States Go from Here?
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
293 - Justin Wolfers: AI, Inflation, & The 2026 Elections
Platypus Economics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlatypusEconomicsJustin Wolfers is Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of Michigan, where his research spans macroeconomics, labor …
Shownotes
Platypus Economics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlatypusEconomics
Justin Wolfers is Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of Michigan, where his research spans macroeconomics, labor economics, political economy, and behavioral economics. He is also affiliated with the Brookings Institution, Peterson Institute for International Economics, and National Bureau of Economic Research, and in 2026 launched Platypus Economics, a new media platform devoted to making economics accessible to a broad audience. In this episode, Robinson and Justin discuss the intersection of economics, technology, and American politics. More particularly, they talk about Elon Musk and the influence of extreme wealth on elections, how artificial intelligence could transform the labor market, whether current economic data accurately reflects Americans’ experiences, and political bias in economics. They also discuss inflation, Justin’s criticisms of the Trump administration’s economic policies, proposed $5,000 checks, and how economic considerations shape political choices.
Platypus Economics: https://platypuseconomics.com
Justin’s University of Michigan Profile: https://fordschool.umich.edu/faculty/justin-wolfers
Justin’s X: https://x.com/JustinWolfers
Justin’s Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/justinwolfers.bsky.social
Platypus Economics Newsletter: https://newsletter.platypuseconomics.com
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Elon Musk Can Buy ANY Election He Wants
07:21 AI Could DESTROY Jobs If We Don’t Do This
14:28 Is Current Econ Data Misleading?
19:36 Political Bias in Economics
28:35 Corruption in the Trump Admin
36:33 Understanding Inflation and Cheap Candy
44:58 Is Trump Personally Responsible for Inflation?
51:40 Trump’s 5k Checks Are IDIOTIC LIES
56:50 How to Vote If Trump Were on Ballot
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
292 - Jason Stanley: Breaking Down Trump’s Propaganda
Jason Stanley is the Bissell-Heyd-Associates Chair in American Studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto, where he is also Professor of Philosophy. Before moving …
Shownotes
Jason Stanley is the Bissell-Heyd-Associates Chair in American Studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto, where he is also Professor of Philosophy. Before moving to Toronto in 2025, he was the Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy at Yale University. Jason’s work focuses on propaganda, authoritarianism, democracy, free speech, and political language. In this episode, Robinson and Jason discuss Jason’s account of how political propaganda has changed during the Trump era. More particularly, they talk about soft and hard propaganda, social media and political bots, Trump’s political communication, Jason’s decision to leave Twitter and later the United States, and the effects of online attacks. They also discuss artificial intelligence and democracy, the political influence of tech billionaires, Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, and Jason’s transition toward the philosophy of propaganda. Jason’s most recent book is Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future (Atria/One Signal, 2024).
Jason’s Website: https://jasonstanley.org
How Propaganda Works: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Jason+Stanley+How+Propaganda+Works
Erasing History: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Jason+Stanley+Erasing+History
OUTLINE
00:00 How Propaganda Has Changed with Donald Trump
10:42 Soft and Hard Propaganda
13:56 Defining Propaganda
25:01 Is Trump Trying to Broaden Popular Support?
30:12 Trump Is Ruining Democracy
33:15 Social Media is Political Theater for BOTS
45:39 Why Jason Left Twitter
49:54 Attacks Against Jason on Twitter
53:20 The Terrible Cost of Leaving the US
01:04:56 How AI Threatens Democracy
01:08:26 Tech Billionaires Want to Wipe Out Humanity
01:12:02 Elon Musk's Secret Plans
01:14:30 Does Peter Thiel Want All Humans Dead?
01:17:37 Jason's Transition to Philosophy of Propaganda
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
291 - Daron Acemoglu: AI Is Destroying American Democracy
Daron Acemoglu is an Institute Professor of Economics at MIT and a recipient of the 2024 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, which he shared with Simon Johnson and James Robinson for research on how …
Shownotes
Daron Acemoglu is an Institute Professor of Economics at MIT and a recipient of the 2024 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, which he shared with Simon Johnson and James Robinson for research on how institutions shape prosperity. He is also the bestselling co-author of Why Nations Fail, The Narrow Corridor, and Power and Progress. In this episode, Robinson and Daron discuss the future of liberal democracy in an age of artificial intelligence. More particularly, they talk about how AI could undermine democratic institutions, whether tech billionaires have accumulated too much power, and why Daron believes current approaches to AI could produce an increasingly unequal, two-tier American society. They also discuss the importance of the 2026 elections, Zohran Mamdani, disagreements between the center and far left, and Daron’s proposal for a renewed “working-class liberalism.” Daron’s latest book is What Happened to Liberal Democracy?: Remaking a Politics of Shared Prosperity (Dutton, 2026).
Daron’s Website: https://www.daronacemoglu.com
What Happened to Liberal Democracy?: https://a.co/d/0f0qGMxt
OUTLINE
00:00 What Is Liberal Democracy?
09:30 How Does AI Undermine Democracy?
18:30 Are the Tech Billionaires Out of Control?
24:50 AI Is an Existential Threat
27:18 How AI Will Turn the USA into a Two-Tier Dystopia
35:17 Other Views on AI
38:19 Why the 2026 Elections Are So Important for the Left
42:30 What Makes Mamdani a Great Politician?
45:58 The Far Left vs the Center Left: Who Should Win?
52:00 Working Class Liberalism
290 - Nicholas Humphrey: Why Does Beauty Exist?
Why Is the World So Beautiful?: https://a.co/d/0d3LsupANicholas Humphrey is a theoretical psychologist and Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the London School of Economics, where his work has focused on the …
Shownotes
Why Is the World So Beautiful?: https://a.co/d/0d3LsupA
Nicholas Humphrey is a theoretical psychologist and Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the London School of Economics, where his work has focused on the evolution of intelligence and consciousness. Among his many contributions, he was the first to demonstrate “blindsight” in monkeys, studied mountain gorillas with Dian Fossey, and developed influential theories about the social evolution of intelligence. In this episode, Robinson and Nicholas discuss the evolutionary origins of beauty and why human beings are so drawn to it. More particularly, they talk about rhyme, pattern-recognition, the adaptive value of aesthetic experience, the relationship between beauty and social life, and the methodology of evolutionary psychology. They also discuss whether beauty implies agency or creation, difficult cases for an evolutionary theory of aesthetics, spirituality and transcendence, and why some art is deliberately ugly. Nicholas’s upcoming book is Why Is the World So Beautiful? Our Minds in Search of Nature’s Rhymes (MIT Press, 2026).
Nicholas’s Website: https://humphrey.org.uk
OUTLINE
00:00 Why Is the World So Beautiful?
08:48 What Is Rhyme?
18:47 The Utility of Beauty
24:09 Beauty and Pattern-Recognition
34:26 Beauty and Society
41:21 The Methodology of Evolutionary Psychology
49:20 Creation and Agency
56:24 Problem Cases
01:02:26 Spirituality and Transcendence
01:07:34 Ugly Art
289 - Joe Henrich: How Culture Made Humans Weird
Joe Henrich is the Ruth Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology and Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. His research focuses on cultural evolution, human psychology, sociality …
Shownotes
Joe Henrich is the Ruth Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology and Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. His research focuses on cultural evolution, human psychology, sociality, prestige, cooperation, and the emergence of complex societies. In this episode, Robinson and Joe discuss how culture transformed human evolution and enabled our species to build increasingly large and complex societies. More particularly, they talk about the tools of paleoanthropology, hunter-gatherer societies, the rise of massive cities, and why Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic—or WEIRD—people are psychologically unusual. They also discuss dominance hierarchies, attractiveness and prestige, the evolution of morality, and the importance of punishment in human societies. Joe’s most recent popular book is The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2020).
Joe’s Website: https://henrich.fas.harvard.edu
The WEIRDest People in the World: https://amzn.to/3F3wUY7
OUTLINE
00:00 Tools of Paleoanthropology
07:31 Two Hunter-Gatherer Societies
13:12 How Culture Enabled Massive Cities
19:08 The WEIRDEST People in the World
25:59 Dominance Hierarchies
35:40 Attractiveness and Prestige
46:01 The Evolution of Morality
52:33 Punishment
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
288 - Richard Wrangham: How Humans Caught Fire
Richard Wrangham is the Ruth Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology, Emeritus, at Harvard University. A primatologist and biological anthropologist, he has studied wild chimpanzees in Uganda since 1987 and …
Shownotes
Richard Wrangham is the Ruth Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology, Emeritus, at Harvard University. A primatologist and biological anthropologist, he has studied wild chimpanzees in Uganda since 1987 and is known for his work on human evolution, the origins of violence, and the role of cooking in shaping our species. In this episode, Robinson and Richard discuss how humans diverged from our primate ancestors and the evolutionary importance of learning to control fire. More particularly, they talk about Richard’s cooking hypothesis, how cooking may have transformed the human brain and body, the relationship between fire and culture, and what chimpanzee behavior can teach us about the origins of human violence. Richard’s books include Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human, Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence, and The Goodness Paradox: The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution.Richard’s Harvard Profile: https://heb.fas.harvard.edu/people/richard-w-wranghamCatching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human: https://a.co/d/0iaxEBhyOUTLINE00:00 Puzzles Posed by Human Beings09:32 The Cooking Hypothesis17:54 Cooking and the Brain22:12 Diverging From Our Ancestors28:27 Playing with Fire35:19 How Cooking Shaped Culture51:29 What Does Chimpanzee Warfare Look Like?01:04:50 Chimpanzee vs Human ViolenceRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
287: Daniel Lieberman: Evolution and the Human Diet
Daniel Lieberman is the Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, where he studies the evolution of the human body and its relevance …
Shownotes
Daniel Lieberman is the Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, where he studies the evolution of the human body and its relevance to health. In this episode, Robinson and Dan discuss the evolution of the human diet. More particularly, they talk about our last common ancestors with chimpanzees, how changes in the gut shaped human evolution, what Homo sapiens actually ate during the Paleolithic, and the transformative role of cooking. They also discuss whether there is such a thing as a natural human diet, why junk food is so appealing, and what an evolutionary perspective can teach us about weight loss and eating well. Dan’s latest book is Fed Up: What Evolution Reveals About Food, Diet, Health, and Eating Well (Knopf, 2026).
Fed Up: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593537998
OUTLINE
00:00 Dan’s Interest in Human Evolution
04:43 Why Our Heads Don’t Topple Over When We Run
07:41 Human Evolution and “Fed Up”
10:40 Understanding the Evolution of the Human Diet
19:12 Our Last Common Ancestors with Chimpanzees
30:05 Evolutionary Changes in the Gut
38:51 Homo Sapiens and the Paleolithic Diet
48:18 The Transformative Power of Cooking
54:30 The Most Important Diets
59:19 Why Are Junk Foods So Appealing?
01:03:19 Weight Loss
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.286: Adam Mockler: Trump, Newsom, and the Dark Future of American Politics
Adam Mockler is a liberal political commentator, YouTube host, and digital media creator who has become one of the most prominent Gen Z voices in American political media. He hosts The Adam Mockler Show and has …
Shownotes
Adam Mockler is a liberal political commentator, YouTube host, and digital media creator who has become one of the most prominent Gen Z voices in American political media. He hosts The Adam Mockler Show and has built an audience of more than two million subscribers on YouTube, where he produces daily political commentary and reporting. In this episode, Robinson and Adam discuss the changing relationship between politics, media, and the internet. More particularly, they talk about Adam’s liberal values, why independent media can outperform legacy media, the battle for attention online, how clipping has become a new form of political canvassing, and what Democrats need to do to win elections in 2026. They also discuss Charlie Kirk, political conspiracy theories and death threats, what Nick Fuentes is doing effectively as a communicator, Gavin Newsom’s media strategy, and whether Generation Alpha speaks a fundamentally different political language.
Adam’s Website: https://www.adammockler.com
Adam’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adammockler/
Adam’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@adammockler
Adam’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adammockler
Adam’s X: https://x.com/adammocklerr
OUTLINE
00:45 Adam’s Expertise
10:53 Adam’s Liberal Values
14:30 Why Independent Media Beats Legacy Media
18:26 Clipping Is the New Canvassing
20:39 The Battle for the Attention Economy
26:06 How to Win Elections in 2026
31:16 What Constraints Are There on Independent Media?
38:44 On Charlie Kirk, Conspiracies, and Death Threats
41:46 What Is Nick Fuentes Doing Right?
47:18 Gavin Newsom’s Media Strategy, Explained
52:46 Does Gen Alpha Speak a New Political Language?
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
285 - Richard Wolff & Michael Hudson: The Destruction of Modern Nations
Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s …
Shownotes
Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s twelfth appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. This is Michael’s eighth appearance on the show. In this episode, Robinson, Richard, and Michael discuss colonialism and the death of modern nations. More particularly, they discuss the evolution of capitalism toward socialism, whether colonialism has officially ended, Russia, China, Israel, Iran, Trump, Putin, and the United States. Richard’s latest book is Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024). Michael’s most recent book is Temples of Enterprise (ISLET, 2024).
Understanding Capitalism (Book): https://www.democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalism
Richard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.com
Economic Update: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdate
Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.com
Temples of Enterprise: https://a.co/d/a3c53dm
OUTLINE
00:00 Is Capitalism Evolving into Socialism?
07:20 Is Today the Post-Colonial Period?
18:10 How Colonialism Divided the World
28:54 China and the Revenge of Feudalism
41:06 Productive vs Unproductive Labor
49:24 Overcoming the “Discipline” of Academia
01:01:17 The Danger of Education
01:13:19 Will the United States Break Up?
01:21:22 Why the EU and NATO Will Break Up
01:29:15 Why Michael Believes the US Will Remain United
01:38:37 Trump’s Army and the Militarized Police
01:46:49 Is the US Turning into a Police State?
01:48:49 The Choice Before a Declining Empire
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
284 - Steve Keen: The Economics of Global Warfare
Steve Keen is an economist and was most recently Head of the School of Economics, History and Politics at Kingston University in London. He has done research on a wide variety of topics, including Marxist …
Shownotes
Steve Keen is an economist and was most recently Head of the School of Economics, History and Politics at Kingston University in London. He has done research on a wide variety of topics, including Marxist economics, debt, complexity theory, and systems dynamics. In this episode, Steve and Robinson discuss his economic framework in relation to wars around the globe. More particularly, the discuss the importance of oil in the Iran War, the cold war with China, the war in Ukraine, and more.
OUTLINE
00:00 The Crucial Importance of Oil in the Iran War
08:54 Systems Dynamics and Economics
14:22 How Much Inflation Will the Iran War Cause?
18:17 Will the Iran War Cause Famine?
28:56 Conspiracy and the Iran War
30:48 Tariffs and Trade Deficits
46:03 Will Trump’s Tariffs Bring Manufacturing Back to the United States
52:49 Steve’s Motivation
59:25 The Crucial Flaw in Marxism
01:12:43 Understanding the War in Ukraine’s Impact on Europe
01:16:38 On Putin’s Motivations in Ukraine
01:26:32 Understanding Trump through Narcissistic Personality Disorder
01:32:52 Trump and the Takeover of Venezuela
01:38:11 Economists Misunderstand Everything About China
01:53:01 Why Will China Survive Global Warming?
01:57:18 AI and the Future Economics of the World
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
283 - Timothy Snyder: Donald Trump and the End of America
Timothy Snyder holds the inaugural Temerty Chair in Modern European History at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Snyder’s work has appeared in forty languages and …
Shownotes
Timothy Snyder holds the inaugural Temerty Chair in Modern European History at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Snyder’s work has appeared in forty languages and has received a number of prizes, including the Emerson Prize in the Humanities. Snyder was a Marshall Scholar at Oxford, has received the Carnegie and Guggenheim fellowships, and holds state orders from Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland. He is researching a family history of nationalism and finishing a philosophical book about freedom. In this episode, Robinson and Timothy discuss the future of the United States. More particularly, they delve into AI, rebellion, conspiracy theory, our relationship with Russia and Ukraine, Donald Trump, and more. Timothy’s most recent book is On Freedom (Crown, 2024).
Timothy’s Website: https://timothysnyder.org
On Freedom: https://timothysnyder.org/books/
OUTLINE
00:00 Will the United States Cease to Exist?
13:47 Is Trump Breaking the United States Apart?
21:09 Will AI Prevent Armed Rebellion Against the Government?
30:20 Trump, Conspiracy Theories, and the Politics of Small Numbers
39:46 Putin Does Not Think Ukraine Is Real
45:57 What Are Trump’s Soft Spots?
50:26 How Tim Organizes His Thought
57:59 Donald Trump and the Superloser
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
282 - Richard Wolff: China, Russia, Iran, and World War III
Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s …
Shownotes
Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s eleventh appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In this episode, Richard and Robinson discuss the ongoing war in Iran, as well as the war in Russia and Ukraine, our cold war with China, and the future possibilities of World War III. Richard’s latest book is Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024).
Understanding Capitalism (Book): https://www.democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalism
Richard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.com
Economic Update: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdate
OUTLINE
00:00 China, Iran, and the Implosion of the West
13:00 The Irreconcilable Gulf Between Russia and the West
16:01 Europe’s Hard World War II Lesson
21:20 Europe’s Final Collapse Is Coming
28:42 How China Is Methodically Conquering the World
35:44 Russia’s Siberian Advantage
39:15 Marx, War, and Economic Decline
52:39 Why Iran Will Always Control the Strait of Hormuz
01:02:02 How the United States Already Failed in Iran
01:06:37 What the United States Can Learn from the Collapse of the British Empire
01:12:19 Why the War in Iran Will Not Lead to Nuclear War
01:14:44 John Mearsheimer’s Escalation Ladder and the Threat of Nuclear War in Russia
01:29:53 What Would World War Look Like in the 21st Century?
01:36:17 Donald Trump, The Isolator
01:41:40 The Sad Legacy of the League of Nations
01:51:04 Is World War III Inevitable?
281 - Michael Hudson: How Debt Destroys Empires
Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and …
Shownotes
Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. This is Michael’s Seventh appearance on the show. On past episodes, including with Richard Wolff, he and Robinson have neoliberalism, industrial capitalism, the rentier economy, Marxism, and the role of economics in political history. In this episode, Michael and Robinson talk about debt and the destruction of empires. Michael’s most recent book is Temples of Enterprise (ISLET, 2024).
Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.com
Temples of Enterprise: https://a.co/d/a3c53dm
OUTLINE
00:00 Keeping Governments Under Control
07:01 Understanding the Church
17:27 Why Debts Grow Too Fast to Be Paid
22:57 Understanding the BRICS
26:50 How Can Countries Get Rich?
32:47 Where Is the United States’ Debt Dragging Us?
46:26 Why Michael Hudson Is Not a Mainstream Economist
48:59 The Historical Approach to Economics
01:06:01 Controlling Governments Through Tax Policy
01:23:55 How Michael Researches
01:33:31 The Myth of Economic Rent
01:38:47 The United States’ Hereditary Oligarchy
01:41:04 Why the United States Can’t Go Bankrupt
01:44:42 Closing Thoughts
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
280 - David Albert & Jacob Barandes: Debating the Foundation of Quantum Mechanics
David Albert is the Frederick E. Woodbridge Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, director of the Philosophical Foundations of Physics program at Columbia, and a faculty member of the John Bell …
Shownotes
David Albert is the Frederick E. Woodbridge Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, director of the Philosophical Foundations of Physics program at Columbia, and a faculty member of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. Jacob Barandes is Senior Preceptor in Physics at Harvard University, where he works widely across the philosophy of physics, with focuses on the foundations of quantum mechanics, the philosophy of spacetime, and the metaphysics of laws. In this episode, Robinson, Jacob, and David discuss Jacob’s novel Indivisibility Approach to quantum mechanics. After beginning with an introduction from David, the conversation touches on the measurement problem, completeness, scientific realism, the purpose of physics, and more. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life.
Jacob’s Website: https://www.jacobbarandes.com
A Guess at the Riddle: https://a.co/d/6qcsidl
The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org
OUTLINE
00:00 The Problem with the Wave Function
05:30 The Indivisibility Approach
17:28 What Is Indivisibility?
25:13 The Measurement Problem
32:18 The Incompleteness of Jacob’s Theory
42:20 Completing the Theory
47:12 Realism in Quantum Mechanics
01:03:13 The Fundamental Task of Physics
01:10:57 The Structure of the Indivisibility Theory
01;22:26 Summarizing and Calculating
01:40:01 The Game of Fundamental Physics
01:46:31 Can Bohmian Mechanics Work?
01:56:26 A Version Including David’s Theory
02:04:49 What Is the Wave Function?
02:15:33 Where We’ve Ended Up
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
279 - Paul Davies: The Second Quantum Mechanics Revolution
Paul Davies is a theoretical physicist and Regents’ Professor at Arizona State University. Paul works on quantum mechanics, astrophysics, and cosmology, with emphasis on the origin and early stages of the …
Shownotes
Paul Davies is a theoretical physicist and Regents’ Professor at Arizona State University. Paul works on quantum mechanics, astrophysics, and cosmology, with emphasis on the origin and early stages of the universe, the quantum properties of black holes and the nature of time. He is interested in the nature and origin of life – including extraterrestrial life – beyond Earth, and in complex systems. In this episode of Robinson’s Podcast, Paul and Robinson discuss the second revolution in quantum mechanics. Among other things, they dig into the origin of quantum theory, how we should interpret it, various quarks of quantum physics, such as teleportation and entanglement, quantum computing, and more. Paul’s recent book is Quantum 2.0 (Pelican, 2025).
Quantum 2.0: https://a.co/d/0ckzsWav
OUTLINE
00:00 Why Quantum Mechanics?
11:59 How Should We Interpret Quantum Mechanics?
22:22 Complexity and Quantum Theory
30:59 What Will Be the Next Quantum Revolution?
39:59 The Next Generation of Quantum Technology?
49:47 Can Quantum Teleportation Move Macroscopic Objects?
52:47 Supercomputers vs Quantum Computers
01:04:16 The Fine-Tuning Problem?
01:12:37 Do We Have a Scientific Theory of Life?
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
278 - Priyamvada Natarajan: The Mystery of Dark Matter
Priyamvada Natarajan is the Joseph S. and Sophia S. Fruton Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Physics at Yale University, where she is also the Chair of Astronomy. Priya researches broadly across …
Shownotes
Priyamvada Natarajan is the Joseph S. and Sophia S. Fruton Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Physics at Yale University, where she is also the Chair of Astronomy. Priya researches broadly across astrophysics and cosmology; some topics she has worked on include gravitational lensing, black hole physics, the philosophy of science, and dark matter. In this conversation, Priya and Robinson largely stick to the latter. They discuss her interest in cosmology writ large, as well as how the scientific community tackles the unknown. Priya’s most recent book is Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas that Reveal the Cosmos (Yale, 2016).
Mapping the Heavens: https://a.co/d/02HPcMB1
OUTLINE
00:00 A Paradox of Cosmology
06:16 Investigating Invisibilia
11:25 The Sociology of Astrophysics
16:52 Phenomenology in Physics
19:47 What Is the Mystery of Dark Matter?
29:07 The Problem of Dark Energy
36:38 Models and Simulations
46:17 Modifying the Standard Model to Explain Dark Matter
58:20 The Crisis in Dark Matter
01:12:22 Alternative Explanations of Dark Matter
01:19:51 Fine-Tuning and the Multiverse
01:25:24 Black Holes
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
277 - Tim Maudlin: What Is Philosophy?
Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at NYU and Founder and Director of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. In this episode, Robinson and Tim discuss the nature of philosophy. More …
Shownotes
Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at NYU and Founder and Director of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. In this episode, Robinson and Tim discuss the nature of philosophy. More particularly, they discuss philosophy’s origin, its connections to physics, what characterizes some of its well-known sub disciplines, and some of its biggest problems. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life.
Tim’s Website: www.tim-maudlin.site
The John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.org
OUTLINE
00:00 The Beginning of Philosophy
06:53 Where Physics and Philosophy Diverged
14:07 Quantum Gravity
18:30 Physicists and Philosophers on Space and Time
23:10 Is Metaphysics Different From Physics?
34:54 Why Don’t Universities Have Departments of Metaphysics?
49:27 Are Numbers Real?
01:07:50 What Are Continental and Analytic Philosophy?
01:14:58 The Age-Old Puzzle of the Statue and the Clay
01:28:05 What Is Epistemology?
01:38:57 Is the World Around Us an Illusion?
01:49:13 What Are the Biggest Open Problems in Philosophy?
01:57:00 A John Bell Institute Update
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.276 - Craig Callender: Lab-Grown Meat, De-Extinction, and the Tolman-Ehrenfest Effect
Craig Callender is Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Institute for Practical Ethics at UC San Diego, where he is a leading philosopher of science and physics. Craig also appeared on episode 73, in …
Shownotes
Craig Callender is Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Institute for Practical Ethics at UC San Diego, where he is a leading philosopher of science and physics. Craig also appeared on episode 73, in which he and Robinson discussed pseudoscience and conspiracy theories, and epidote 114, where he, Robinson, and Tim Maudlin discussed the philosophy of time, including the reality of the past, present, and future, the direction of time, its relationship to relativity and quantum mechanics, and time travel. In this episode, Robinson and Craig turn to a different assortment of topics. They talk about disinformation, lab-grown meat, de-extinction, scientific communication, quantum mechanics, and the Tolman-Ehrenfest Effect.
Craig’s Website: https://www.craigcallender.com
OUTLINE
00:00 Craig’s Interest in Lab-Grown Meat
04:25 Disinformation and the Philosophy of Science
18:18 The Root of the Error
23:43 The Importance of Science Communication
31:12 What Is De-Extinction?
47:28 What Is the Tolman-Ehrenfest Effect?
1:00:00 Tolman-Ehrenfest, Continued
01:15:07 A Philosopher’s Perspective
01:23:05 What Is The Problem with Quantum Mechanics?
01:24:56 What’s the Best Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics?
Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
275 - Nate Soares: AI Will Kill Us All If We Don’t Change Course
Nate Soares is the President of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, and plays a central role in setting MIRI’s vision and strategy. Soares has been working in the field for over a decade, and is the …
Shownotes
Nate Soares is the President of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, and plays a central role in setting MIRI’s vision and strategy. Soares has been working in the field for over a decade, and is the author of a large body of technical and semi-technical writing on AI alignment, including foundational work on value learning, decision theory, and power-seeking incentives in smarter-than-human AIs. Prior to MIRI, Soares worked as an engineer at Google and Microsoft, as a research associate at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and as a contractor for the US Department of Defense. In this episode, Nate and Robinson discuss the problems of AI from the ground up. They touch on how AI is trained, why it will surpass human intelligence, why this is dangerous, how it could wipe out humankind, and more. Nate’s recent book, co-written with Eliezer Yudkowsky, is If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies (Little, Brown and Company, 2025).
If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies
Nate’s X: https://x.com/So8res
MIRI: https://intelligence.org
OUTLINE
00:00 Nate’s Existential Dread
07:11 What’s the REAL Problem with Artificial Intelligence?
11:39 How Is AI Trained?
17:15 The Vital Importance of Interpreting AI
20:53 Why AI Will Soon Surpass Human Intelligence
32:58 Why Solving the AI Alignment Problem is Crucial to Human Survival
38:40 Will AI Render Human Software Engineers Obsolete?
48:03 Does It Make Sense to Say AI Has Goals?
01:00:02 Why AI Consciousness Is Unimportant
01:11:33 How, Realistically, Could AI Wipe Out Humanity?
01:35:27 A Sci-Fi (But Realistic) AI Doomsday Scenario
01:44:34 Is There Hope that Humans Will Survive AI?
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