23 April 2025
Trump, Modi, and the Authoritarian Playbook
Robert Wright and political scientist and author Pratap Bhanu Mehta compare and contrast the authoritarian tendencies of the American and Indian leaders.
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The myth of a ‘surgical’ military campaign against Iran
Ahead of this weekend’s US-Iran talks, Sina Toossi explains to Connor Echols why diplomacy is the only way to guarantee Iran doesn’t get a nuclear weapon.
The Psycho-logic of Trump’s Tariffs
Robert Wright and psychologist Paul Bloom try to make sense of Trump’s trade tactics. Plus: a would-be worthwhile Canadian initiative, Musk-MAGA infighting, the US’s (arguably) flawed structure, and more.
The Real (And Fictional) Orson Welles
Robert Wright and comics writer Milton Lawson discuss the life and legacy of the famous filmmaker—as well as Milton’s sci-fi graphic novel, “Orson Welles: Warrior of the Worlds”.
The logic behind Trump’s tariffs
Karthik Sankaran and Connor Echols discuss how the administration’s new levies could reshape the global economy.
Varieties of Authoritarianism
Almut Rochowanski of the Quincy Institute and Robert Wright discuss how Trump’s second term compares to authoritarian and oligarchic regimes abroad—and how Americans should respond.
Tesla, Tufts, and More Trump Chaos
Robert Wright and psychologist Paul Bloom discuss Trump’s Tesla-friendly tariff strategy, his Israel-friendly crackdown on free speech, Canada’s close election, and more.
Will Trump get locked into war in Yemen?
Justin Logan of the Cato Institute and Connor Echols discuss the renewed campaign of airstrikes against the Houthis.
Does God Exist?
New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, author of the new book Believe, lays out his case for an affirmative answer to Robert Wright.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Trump’s Anti-antisemitism Crusade
Journalists Ron Kampeas and Robert Wright discuss the president’s deportation push and campus speech crackdown—what’s driving them, their effects, and potential blowback on the Jewish community.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Untangling Trump’s Tariff Logic
Robert Wright and Samuel Hammond, chief economist at the Foundation for American Innovation, try to make sense of Trump’s tariffs.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Reid Hoffman’s p(bloom)
Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder and author of the new book Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future, offers an optimistic view of the coming AI earthquake.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Lessons from the Signal snafu
Kelley Vlahos and Connor Echols break down what leaked messages tell us about the intra-MAGA battle over Trump’s foreign policy.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
CIA vs JFK
JFK researcher Jefferson Morley and Robert Wright discuss the implications of newly released documents that bear on the Kennedy assassination.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Trump 2.0: Making “autarkic imperialism” great again?
