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29 March 2026

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Kevin Glass (Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity) and Zoë Carpenter (The Nation)

On Rational Actors, Kevin and Zoë debate conservative critiques of Obamacare. They clash over whether the law is raising or lowering costs. Kevin says that the conservative vision of health care reform would prioritize lowering costs over expanding access. Next, they discuss a new report that excoriates the Obama administration’s record on press freedom. Zoë says that a shield law for journalists must be part of the solution. What could stop the trend of increasing government secrecy?

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Recorded:Nov 5    Posted:Nov 5, 2013
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Rational Actors | Nov 5, 2013 | Kevin Glass & Zoë Carpenter

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

The Iran War and the Singularity

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Robert Wright and Nikita Petrov connect the Iran war to the AI crisis: If tribal psychology keeps launching stupid wars, how will we coordinate globally on superintelligence? Plus: Trump’s hypnotic confidence, $20k drones vs. million-dollar missiles, Russia’s sovereign internet, Spanish cannabis clubs, and more.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

Israel, America, and the Iran War

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Robert Wright and journalist Ron Kampeas discuss the (il)logic of the Iran war, Joe Kent’s resignation, the MAGA rift over the Iran war, whether anti-antisemitism efforts are backfiring, and more.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

The Allure and Danger of Agentic AI

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Robert Wright and AI pause advocate (and Doom Debates host) Liron Shapira discuss Claude Code, OpenClaw and other AI developments—and whether they’ve brought us closer to doom. Plus: A civil(-ish) debate on Israel-Palestine.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

What’s Israel Thinking?

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Robert Wright and British–Israeli Middle East expert Daniel Levy discuss Bibi’s aims for the Iran war—and how he’s using the Trump moment to pursue them. Plus: Iran’s strategy, Israel’s ongoing radicalization, the Gulf States’ dilemma, and more.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

Iran’s War for a New Middle East Order

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Hooman Majd, author of the memoir Minister Without Portfolio, joins Robert Wright to discuss Iran’s strategic goals, the prospects for regime survival, and the US’s missed opportunities for entente with Iran.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

Israel, Iran, and Antisemitism

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Robert Wright and Peter Beinart, publisher of The Beinart Notebook, discuss how Trump and Bibi’s war with Iran risks fueling antisemitism. Plus: Tucker vs Fuentes on Israel, the ADL’s counterproductive speech policing, the Epstein effect, and more.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

Trump’s Gulf War

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Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner of the American Prestige podcast join NonZero’s Robert Wright to discuss evolving US war aims and their chances of success.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

Will the Iran War Spiral Out of Control?

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Robert Wright and Nikita Petrov unpack the logic—and illogic—behind Israel’s and America’s strikes on Iran. Plus: the dopamine theory of MAGA foreign policy, how the Anthropic story got buried by the bombings, and more.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

Will Trump Pull the Trigger on Iran?

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Robert Wright and Middle East expert Joshua Landis discuss the logic (or lack thereof) behind air strikes—and the implications for the US, Israel, and the wider region.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

Is Anthropic Misanthropic?

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Holly Elmore, executive director of PauseAI US, makes the case for naming and shaming people who are fueling an AI race whose perils they understand