Making Sense with Sam Harris

Episode #455 — More From Sam: Guns, Propaganda, AI, and Power Unbound
Release Date: January 30, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of “Making Sense”, Sam Harris and his guest host conduct a sweeping, candid examination of the state of American gun culture, the ramifications of recent federal law enforcement violence, propaganda in the media, geopolitical crises, and the fading sense of existential urgency about climate change. With signature skepticism and dry wit, Harris scrutinizes not only political actors and media personalities but also the collective silence of groups supposedly dedicated to core constitutional principles.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Federal Killing in Minneapolis & the Second Amendment (01:26–07:43)

• Incident Discussion: The episode opens with a dissection of the killing of Alex Preddy by poorly trained ICE officers in Minneapolis and the surprisingly muted response from American gun owners.
• Sam’s View on Gun Culture:
  • Harris is dumbfounded by the lack of outrage:

    “I’m as astonished by this lack of outrage as by anything that’s happened in this last year or so. Because this, more than anything that has happened in my lifetime, is a complete repudiation of the Second Amendment.” (02:42)

  • He points out that many gun owners claim to own firearms to protect against government tyranny, but their silence now undermines their own rationale:

    “They’ve been preparing for this moment their entire lives, or so they’ve said. And where the hell are they, right?” (03:13)

  • Suggests that if this killing had happened under a Democratic administration, gun activists would have responded with open hostility toward federal agencies.
• On Political and Media Response:
  • Harris criticizes the “full court press” from political leaders and right-wing media, who instead of defending gun rights, align with the agencies’ use of violence.
  • The government’s swift vilification of Preddy is labeled “insane” and deeply troubling.

Notable Quote

• Sam Harris on government and gun rights:

  “If you are carrying firearms in any kind of proximity to federal law enforcement, that is very likely a death sentence and should be. Right? … Where is gun culture on this? It’s completely insane.” (04:01)

2. Media Propaganda and Megyn Kelly’s Reaction (04:34–06:26)

• Media Coverage & Public Narrative:
  • The hosts discuss and play a clip representing mainstream media’s framing of Preddy, with BBC facial recognition confirming his identity near ICE agents weeks before his death.
  • The guest host shares Megyn Kelly’s commentary blaming Preddy for “provoking” authorities and framing him as reckless.
• Sam Harris’s Response:
  • Harris dismisses any justification for killing a disarmed, restrained individual, regardless of prior provocation or criminality:

    “It doesn’t matter what happened 11 days before. It doesn’t matter who he is … Once he is restrained … they don’t kill him.” (05:25)

  • He challenges the logic that even problematic protest behavior could remotely justify a fatal outcome.

Notable Quote

• Sam Harris on due process:

  “Even if he was the worst person on Earth, the way he was killed, the fact that he was killed and the subsequent statements about that killing are shocking. … That half of America that cares so deeply about gun rights … where the hell are they?” (06:52)

3. Rapid Update on Iran and U.S. Foreign Policy (07:43–08:48)

• Deaths in Iran:
  • The number of people killed reportedly surpasses 30,000, up from previous estimates of 12–15,000; sources are unclear.
• Harris’s Perspective:
  • Decries U.S. inaction:

    “…Trump’s demand that they not kill their protesters went unheard, and perhaps we’re getting ready to respond to that atrocity.” (08:00)

  • Advocates for toppling the Iranian regime, acknowledging uncertainty about aftermath but calling the status quo “in no sane person’s interest”.

4. Candace Owens, Climate, and Public Perception (08:48–09:42)

• Candace Owens’s Weather Confusion:
  • Host recounts a viral tweet in which Owens is baffled that ice isn’t melting at 30°F (below freezing).
  • Harris lampoons her history of climate denial:

    “She never understood much about climate. … there’s a famous clip where she was on Joe Rogan’s podcast many years ago pretending to be a Climatologist.” (09:15)

• Existential Climate Risk:
  • Harris notes that concern for climate risk has “fallen out of the top 10” existential threats:

    “Nobody’s got time to worry about that. It’s too slow moving and it’s too hypothetical. It would be great if we lived in a world where we could look at things that subtle, but it’s like the house is on fire and worrying about the climate is … I can’t even imagine.” (09:42)

5. Satirical Political Banter & Cultural Moments (10:07–11:13)

• Gulf of America Joke:
  • The hosts joke about Trump renaming the Gulf of Mexico and personally “eliminating” hurricanes with a Sharpie, mocking political absurdities around science.
• Pop Culture Meets Politics:
  • Reference to Nicki Minaj appearing with Trump at a public event, demonstrating the blending of celebrity and political cults of personality.
• Sam as ‘Prognosticator’:
  • The host teases Harris about a 2016 prediction, drawing parallels to modern-day conspiracy theorists.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:26–04:34] — Minneapolis Killing and Gun Rights
• [04:34–06:26] — Media Narratives and Megyn Kelly Reaction
• [07:43–08:48] — Iran Death Toll & U.S. Response
• [08:48–09:42] — Candace Owens, Weather, and Climate
• [10:07–10:38] — Satirical Political Commentary
• [10:45–11:13] — Celebrity Politics & Podcast Meta-Humor

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On American gun culture’s silence:

  “Where is gun culture on this? It’s completely insane. … I’m as mystified by this as anything I’ve seen so far.” (04:01)

• On rationalizing state violence:

  “It doesn’t matter what happened 11 days before. … Once he is restrained … they don’t kill him.” (05:25)

• On existential risk shifting priorities:

  “Nobody’s got time to worry about [climate]. It’s too slow moving and it’s too hypothetical. … It’s like the house is on fire and worrying about the climate is … I can’t even imagine.” (09:42)

• On political absurdity:

  “If push comes to shove, [Trump] can just draw a different path to the hurricane and save many, many lives that way.” (10:29)

Conclusion

This episode is a brisk and wide-ranging critique of modern American discourse, blending outrage, dismay, and mordant humor as Sam Harris skewers the inconsistencies of political and cultural reactions to power, violence, and truth. With a keen eye for hypocrisy and a relentless focus on rationality, Harris continues to provoke listeners to re-examine cherished ideas—especially when the stakes are highest.