4 March 2026
Will the Iran War Spiral Out of Control?
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.
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In this video:
- Teaser
- Spain: the one country that got it right
- When US rhetoric starts sounding like the Kremlin
- Nukes, regime change, military threat—pick one
- Rubio’s “ridiculous” explanation for attacking Iran
- Iran’s restraint: from Soleimani to Khamenei
- Trump had leverage over Bibi. He didn’t use it.
- Is this Israel’s war or America’s?
- Tommy Vietor goes after the ADL—a political first
- How fear sells papers and starts wars
- The nuclear deal: the last thing America got right
- Nikita: Trump’s dopamine addiction to “starting shit”
- How the Iran strike buried the Anthropic story
- Does Israel want a stable Middle East?
- Heading to Overtime
The AI Apocalypse Cometh?
Robert Wright and Paul Bloom discuss whether reports of AI acceleration are greatly exaggerated—and what’s at stake if they’re not. Plus, in Overtime: Bob’s Epstein files cameos and Paul’s big news.
Agency, AI, and the MAGA Impulse
Nikita Petrov argues MAGA and similar movements are collective responses to a felt lack of agency. Robert Wright warns AI is about to make that feeling universal. Plus: Spanish rituals as a survival model, the “Claude Code hangover,” and Bob’s case for slowing AI development down.
Is the Singularity Near?
Robert Wright and Timothy B. Lee, author of the Understanding AI newsletter, discuss recent AI developments (more autonomous agents, more automated coding in the labs, Moltbook, etc.) that have fostered a sense that things are speeding up.
The Meaning of Moltbook
Psychologist and Small Potatoes EIC Paul Bloom joins Robert Wright to discuss the Moltbook phenomenon, the latest Epstein Files release, and more.
The Case Against AI
Alex Hanna and Emily Bender, co-authors of the book The AI Con, join Robert Wright to discuss and debate AI—including whether LLMs are more than “stochastic parrots” (a term Emily coined), AI’s present and future impact on society, and more.
AI After Us
Robert Wright and Daniel Faggella, host of the podcast The Trajectory, discuss the fate of humankind in a world of increasingly powerful AI—including the “succession” scenario.
The Minneapolis Shooting Rorschach Test
Robert Wright and Paul Bloom discuss the killing of Renee Good—and what it says about the state of the nation. Plus: Trump & Hitler compared (carefully); Elon & a madman compared (less so); Should professors fear AI?
AI Consciousness: The Hard Problem
Robert Wright and AI researcher Cameron Berg discuss whether AIs are (or may someday be) sentient–including why it matters, why it’s such a hard question to answer, and what Cameron’s innovative LLM experiments tell us about it.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Will Trump Pull the Trigger on Iran?
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?
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
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
The Grand Unified Theory of MAGA
Robert Wright and Nikita Petrov discuss whether MAGA can be seen as a coherent global phenomenon. Plus: The paradox of international nationalism; Burkean conservatism vs. Silicon Valley libertarianism; and the crumbling rules-based order.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
New World Disorder
Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner of the American Prestige podcast join NonZero’s Robert Wright to discuss Trump’s latest foreign policy eruptions.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
The Past and Future of Digital Media
Robert Wright talks with Mike Pesca, host of the long-running daily podcast The Gist, about new technological challenges to independent journalists and the perils of opining on Israel.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Is Space Still the Final Frontier?
