27 May 2026
The Pope Takes On AI
Robert Wright and Nikita Petrov discuss Pope Leo XIV's warnings about AI's role in war and consolidation of power, and look at how Ukraine's drone-powered "Kill Zone" is changing rules of warfare.
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In this video:
- A Greek pilgrimage, a mystery guest, and a Discord revival
- The first Papal encyclical devoted to AI
- Pope Leo: just war theory is outdated, and AI lets humans dodge accountability
- Anthropic tells the Pope about “mysterious, even unsettling” things inside AI
- Inside the “Kill Zone”: How drones changed the Russia-Ukraine front
- Who gets replaced first: the soldier or the commander?
- Russia’s hypersonic missiles and nuclear signaling
- Do drones favor the underdog? Plus a warning on Taiwan
- The Iran ceasefire wobbles as Israel pushes back
- Heading to Overtime: Greek mystery cults, Teilhard de Chardin, and Blade Runner
- Enter the Mystery Guest: Jeremy Eliosoff, Pause AI Canada
Rethinking China
Zhengyu Huang, author of the new book Rethinking China, joins Robert Wright to discuss whether prevailing US narratives about China—on IP theft, chips, AI, Taiwan, human rights, and more—hold up to scrutiny.
Is the AI Takeoff Starting?
Timothy B. Lee, author of the Understanding AI newsletter and host of the AI Summer podcast, joins Robert Wright to discuss whether AI is a “normal technology” or something much, much more.
The New Middle East
Annelle Sheline of the Quincy Institute and Robert Wright look at ways the Iran war could change the Middle East. New fissures among Gulf states? New Turkey-Iran bonding? Israel’s Waterloo? America’s?
Trump Lost the Hormuz Round
Robert Wright explains why Iran won the latest round in Hormuz and why Trump’s counter-blockade was never going to work. Nikita Petrov reports on a domestic crisis brewing inside Russia—with drone attacks, mobile internet shutdowns, and frustration boiling up where it didn’t before.
Why Mattering Matters
Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of the new book The Mattering Instinct, joins Robert Wright to discuss the human need to justify one’s own existence, the different ways we do that, and how these differences can divide us.
Can Trump and Iran Make a Deal?
Robert Malley—a lead negotiator for Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal with Iran—and Robert Wright discuss what kind of deal between Trump and Iran is conceivable and what kinds of leverage both sides have.
Can AI Stop Wars?
Robert Wright and Nikita Petrov discuss whether AI could help resolve international conflicts as the world edges toward catastrophe. Plus: Trump’s “act of war” in the Strait of Hormuz, a case for an Iranian tollgate, the AI model so dangerous Anthropic delayed its release, and more.
Sizing up the AI Titans
Shakeel Hashim, editor of the Transformer newsletter, joins Robert Wright to assess Sam Altman, Dario Amodei, and Demis Hassabis—and to discuss the senses in which their character does and doesn’t matter.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Can Rituals Save Us?
Robert Wright and Bruce Feiler, author of Walking the Bible and the Council of Dads, gather to discuss the role of ritual in humanity’s past, present and future—the subject of Bruce’s new book, A Time to Gather: How Ritual Created the World—and How It Can Save Us.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Understanding Iran
Social scientist Hamidreza Azizi, author of The Axis of Resistance, joins Robert Wright to discuss the forces that shaped the Iranian regime and its attitude toward the US and Israel.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Mythos and the Future of AI Arms Races
Tech analyst Lennart Heim joins Robert Wright to discuss Mythos, the new superhacking AI from Anthropic, and what it means for US-China relations and global stability.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
The Future of Intelligence
Psychologist Paul Bloom joins Robert Wright to discuss Paul’s cute new baby, our uncertain AI future, whether eugenics is making a comeback, whether intelligence is overrated, and more.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Iran and the Demise of US Hegemony
Robert Wright and American Prestige hosts Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner discuss the latest Middle East developments—including whether Trump and Iran can reach a peace deal, who’s winning the Hormuz blockade duel, and what it all means for America’s global standing. Plus: Is Anthropic’s Mythos really scary?
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
The Iran War: A Debate
