Making Sense with Sam Harris Episode #409: "More From Sam"
Release Date: April 16, 2025
Host: Sam Harris
Summary by: [Your Name]
1. Listener Questions: Religion, Social Media, and Community ([02:12] - [05:58])
In this segment, Sam Harris addresses listener-submitted questions focusing on the well-being of young men and teenage girls, the erosion of religious structures, and the implications of social media on community formation. Jaron Lonestein introduces the questions, highlighting concerns raised by Scott Galloway regarding young men and Jonathan Haidt about teenage girls.
Key Points:
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Social Media's Impact: Harris explains his approach to shielding his daughters from the prevalent negative influences of social media by restricting their public-facing online presence. He notes, "We've kept them off social media... only so much control you can exert there" ([02:38]).
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Secularization and Community: Harris reflects on the increasing secularization in America and its consequences on community formation. He observes, "Secular culture needs some things that it doesn't have... a sense of the sacred that is not embarrassing or just kind of new age" ([05:20]).
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Waking Up App: Emphasizing the role of his Waking Up app, Harris discusses efforts to provide a secular framework for community, ethical instruction, and contemplative practices traditionally associated with religious institutions. He acknowledges, "The piecemeal efforts people have been using to be spiritual but not religious often don't make a ton of sense" ([05:45]).
2. Maintaining Balance Amidst Political Divisions ([06:35] - [12:50])
Harris delves into the challenges of maintaining personal relationships in a highly polarized political climate. He shares his experiences navigating friendships with individuals who hold opposing political views, particularly those aligned with the MAGA movement.
Key Points:
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Prioritizing Relationships: Harris underscores the importance of prioritizing personal relationships over political disagreements. He states, "There are certain relationships that... you are not going to sacrifice to the gods of politics" ([08:39]).
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Impact of Public Figures: Discussing figures like Elon Musk and former President Trump, Harris criticizes their influence on societal divisions. He asserts, "Elon has completely lost his way... he's behaving like a psychopath" ([09:02]).
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Trump's Influence: Harris elaborates on Trump's detrimental impact on political discourse, highlighting the spread of unfounded claims about election fraud. He remarks, "The case to be made for Trump at the moment is most often made by simply averting one's eyes and saying, you don't want to talk about politics and let's wait and see what happens" ([12:42]).
3. Douglas Murray on Joe Rogan's Podcast: A Critical Analysis ([16:36] - [25:49])
A significant portion of the episode critiques the appearance of Douglas Murray on Joe Rogan's podcast, examining the broader implications of platforming controversial figures without sufficient scrutiny.
Key Points:
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Audience Reception: Harris notes the overwhelmingly negative response to Murray's appearance, stating, "I can't believe Joe even had him on. Dave Smith's a genius" ([16:36]).
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Platform Responsibility: He criticizes Joe Rogan for hosting individuals who propagate harmful ideologies without challenging misinformation. Harris contends, "He brings none of it to the conversation... he's treating people like really the best popular historian we have at this moment" ([18:51]).
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Comparison with Experts: Highlighting the difference between genuine experts and self-taught enthusiasts, Harris emphasizes the necessity of expertise. He explains, "You still need the experts... you need the real scientists doing the real work who are, you know, really competent to do it" ([36:56]).
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Consequences of Misinformation: Harris connects the spread of misinformation to real-world harms, referencing vaccine hesitancy and its impact on public health. He states, "by my count, there are only three economists on planet Earth that support this tariff policy" ([47:33]).
4. Free Speech vs. Responsible Platforming ([26:13] - [31:55])
Addressing misconceptions about his stance on free speech, Harris clarifies his position and distinguishes it from the irresponsible platforming practices seen on various media platforms.
Key Points:
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Clarifying Free Speech Stance: Harris emphasizes that he is not against free speech but advocates for responsible curation of platforms. He asserts, "I think we are incredibly lucky in America... what I'm criticizing is unrelated to the primacy of the First Amendment" ([26:13]).
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Critique of Platform Policies: He critiques Elon Musk's management of X (formerly Twitter), highlighting inconsistencies and harmful moderation practices. Harris notes, "Elon is the antithesis of free speech absolutist... He slavishly follows the rules set down to him by authoritarian regimes" ([27:11]).
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Universal Curation Responsibility: Harris explains that all platforms engage in some form of content moderation, whether intentional or inherent. He mentions, "everyone is in the curation business... Even 4chan is in that business" ([29:32]).
5. The Importance of Expertise in Public Discourse ([36:26] - [45:19])
Harris underscores the critical role of expertise in ensuring factual and reliable public discourse, warning against the dangers posed by non-experts disseminating misinformation.
Key Points:
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Necessity of Real Experts: He elaborates on the indispensable role of genuine experts in verifying information, using the example of Alex Jones and misinformation about frog biology. Harris states, "You still need the experts... it's like the real scientists doing the real work" ([36:56]).
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Dangers of Pseudo-Experts: Harris criticizes figures like Darrell Cooper for spreading anti-Semitic conspiracy theories without accountability. He remarks, "He is not being nearly as clear as he should be to be ethical in disavowing antisemitism" ([40:31]).
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Platforming Irresponsible Voices: He highlights the irresponsibility of platforms that amplify non-experts without proper vetting, leading to the spread of harmful ideologies. Harris observes, "Darrell Cooper is trafficking in profoundly misleading misinformation about the Holocaust" ([39:51]).
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Consequences in Media: Harris connects the irresponsible platforming to increased anti-Semitism and societal harms, noting, "we're witnessing the greatest explosion of antisemitism in several generations" ([45:19]).
6. Economic Policies: Trump's Tariffs and Bill Ackman's Praise ([47:33] - [48:05])
Towards the end of the episode, the conversation shifts to economic policies, specifically Trump's handling of tariffs and the unexpected praise from financial luminaries like Bill Ackman.
Key Points:
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Tariffs Handling: Harris briefly addresses the praise Trump received from financial experts for his tariff policies, questioning the rationale behind such endorsements. He remarks, "I'm not an economist and this matters... by my count, there are only three economists on planet Earth that support this tariff policy" ([47:33]).
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Critique of Economic Support: He implies skepticism towards the support from figures like Bill Ackman, pointing out the rarity of economists backing Trump's approach. Harris states, "There are only three economists... and Ron Vero" ([48:05]).
Notable Quotes:
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"We've kept them off social media... only so much control you can exert there." – Sam Harris [02:38]
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"Secular culture needs some things that it doesn't have... a sense of the sacred that is not embarrassing or just kind of new age." – Sam Harris [05:45]
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"I think Elon has completely lost his way... he's behaving like a psychopath." – Sam Harris [09:02]
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"The case to be made for Trump at the moment is most often made by simply averting one's eyes and saying, you don't want to talk about politics and let's wait and see what happens." – Sam Harris [12:42]
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"You still need the experts... you need the real scientists doing the real work who are, you know, really competent to do it." – Sam Harris [36:56]
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"Darrell Cooper is trafficking in profoundly misleading misinformation about the Holocaust." – Sam Harris [40:31]
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"I'm not an economist and this matters... there are only three economists on planet Earth that support this tariff policy." – Sam Harris [47:33]
Conclusion:
In Episode #409 of "Making Sense," Sam Harris navigates a range of pressing issues, from the societal impacts of social media and the decline of religious community structures to the responsibilities of modern media platforms in upholding factual discourse. He critically examines the role of expertise in public conversations, emphasizing the dangers posed by non-experts and the ethical obligations of platform curators. Through incisive analysis and thoughtful responses to listener questions, Harris advocates for a more informed and responsible approach to public discourse, community building, and personal well-being in an increasingly polarized world.
Note: For access to the full episode and additional content, listeners are encouraged to subscribe through samharris.org and explore the Waking Up app for resources on mindfulness and community engagement.