"The Emergency" by George Packer - Sam Harris praises this novel as extraordinarily good, alarming, unnerving, and a fable that grabs the reader from the first page.
"Behold, America: The Entangling of Europe and America" by George Packer - This book is mentioned as a narrative based on the assumption that deindustrialization and economic hardship were driving people to political extremes.
Articles & Papers
"America’s Zombie Democracy" by George Packer - This article is the primary focus of the discussion, arguing that the US has slid into an authoritarian state characterized by the erosion of democratic norms rather than overt displays of power.
"The Harper's Letter" - This letter, a statement of support for freedom of expression, is mentioned as having been signed by many people across the political spectrum and subsequently criticized.
People Mentioned
George Packer (Author, Journalist) - Guest on the podcast, author of "The Emergency" and "America's Zombie Democracy."
James Comey - Former Director of the FBI, mentioned in relation to political charges filed against him.
President Trump - Mentioned extensively as a central figure in the discussion of authoritarianism and corruption.
Merrick Garland (Attorney General) - Mentioned in the context of the appointment of a special prosecutor.
Pete Hegseth (Fired Senior Military Leader) - Mentioned as someone Trump would potentially have in a leadership role, indicating a willingness to fire military leaders based on political dislike.
Hillary Clinton - Mentioned in the context of speaking fees and perceived indiscretions, contrasted with current levels of corruption.
Barack Obama (Former President) - Mentioned in relation to a Netflix deal.
Elon Musk (CEO) - Mentioned as an example of a public figure who is shameless and can overcome scandals.
Al Franken (Former Senator) - His resignation is recalled as an example of a politician who apologized for wrongdoing.
James Mattis (Former Secretary of Defense) - Mentioned as someone who upheld military non-partisanship.
Nick Fuentes (White Nationalist) - Discussed as a figure mainstreamed by Tucker Carlson and representing a schism on the right.
Tucker Carlson (Journalist, Demagogue) - Discussed for his role in mainstreaming Nick Fuentes and his transformation from a writer to a demagogue.
J.D. Vance (Senator) - Discussed as a figure splitting the difference on the right and his accommodation of white nationalism.
Rod Dreier (Journalist) - Mentioned as a critic of the direction of the Republican party and his concerns about J.D. Vance.
Josef Stalin - Mentioned as someone Nick Fuentes is a fan of.
Adolf Hitler - Mentioned as someone Nick Fuentes is a fan of.
Lawrence Summers (Economist) - His name appearing in Epstein-related emails is noted.
Mitt Romney (Senator) - Mentioned as a contrast to the current Republican party's embrace of ugliness.
George W. Bush (Former President) - Mentioned as a contrast to the current Republican party's embrace of ugliness.
Peter Thiel (Venture Capitalist) - Mentioned in relation to the "dark clique" around him and J.D. Vance.
Baghdad Bob (Iraqi Information Minister) - Used as an analogy for politicians denying reality.
AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) - Mentioned as an example of a figure associated with "social justice hysteria" and "moral panic."
Mamdani (Congresswoman) - Mentioned in the context of her campaign focus shifting to affordability.
Margaret Atwood (Author) - Mentioned as a signatory of "The Harper's Letter."
David Remnick (Editor) - Mentioned as a signatory of "The Harper's Letter."
Noam Chomsky (Linguist, Activist) - Mentioned as a signatory of "The Harper's Letter."
Wynton Marsalis (Musician) - Mentioned as a signatory of "The Harper's Letter."
Organizations & Institutions
The Atlantic - Publication where George Packer frequently writes.
FSG (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) - Publisher of George Packer's novel.
Justice Department - Mentioned in the context of political charges and the rule of law.
White House - Mentioned in relation to the President's actions and the Justice Department.
US Aid - Mentioned as a program Trump can eliminate.
USAID - Mentioned as a program Trump can eliminate.
Department of Defense - Discussed in the context of its potential use as a partisan tool.
Wall Street Journal - Mentioned as a publication read by people who may not share concerns about democracy's fate.
The Sierra Club - Mentioned in relation to an "equity language guide" and banned words.
Stanford University - Mentioned as having produced a list of banned terms.
The New York Times - Mentioned in the context of their coverage of AI and job displacement.
Fox News - Mentioned as a platform where J.D. Vance made statements about the economy.
The Republican Party - Discussed extensively in its transformation and embrace of various ideologies.
The Democratic Party - Discussed in relation to its historical role and potential future direction.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) - Mentioned as a potential "personal police force" for the administration.
The European Union - Mentioned for contrast with American attitudes towards economic inequality.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner - Mentioned as a place where George Packer met Tucker Carlson.
Silicon Valley - Mentioned in relation to technology, AI, and its influence.
Websites & Online Resources
Substack - Platform where Rod Dreier wrote a piece about J.D. Vance.
TikTok - Platform where Mamdani focused his campaign efforts.
Other Resources
Kindle - E-reader mentioned as a digital reading platform.
iPad - Tablet mentioned as a digital reading platform.
Audiobooks - Mentioned as a format for consuming books.
Physical Books/Hard Covers - Emphasized as a preferred format for reading.
Meme Coins - Mentioned as a mechanism for foreign agents and criminals to pay the Trump family.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) - Discussed in relation to its potential impact on jobs and the economy.
Cryptocurrency - Mentioned in relation to deregulation and its potential future.
Vinyl Records - Mentioned as a retro trend embraced by younger generations.
Equity Language Guides - Mentioned as tools used by nonprofits and activist organizations to define acceptable language.
Adrenochrome - Mentioned in the context of conspiracy theories related to Jeffrey Epstein.
