logo

31 January 2026

logo

Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post) and Sean T. Collins (Rolling Stone, Wired.com, Attentiondeficitdisorderly)

On a spoiler-filled episode of Critic Proof, Alyssa and Sean voice their disappointment with the series finale of Breaking Bad. Alyssa suggests that the finale is an example of why television is seen more as entertainment than great art. What was the point of introducing neo-Nazis into the story? Alyssa and Sean praise the show’s visual ambitions, which are more reminiscent of comic books than other prestige TV dramas, but they mock the finale’s use of Badfinger’s “Baby Blue” to spell out exactly what Walter White is thinking. Finally, Sean considers whether the show’s critics have gotten too moralistic.

Play entire video
Recorded:Oct 1    Posted:Oct 2, 2013
Download:
mp3
Critic Proof | Oct 2, 2013 | Alyssa Rosenberg & Sean T. Collins

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

The Grand Unified Theory of MAGA

playvideo screenshot

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)

The Case Against AI

playvideo screenshot

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.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

New World Disorder

playvideo screenshot

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)

AI After Us

playvideo screenshot

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.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

The Past and Future of Digital Media

playvideo screenshot

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)

The Minneapolis Shooting Rorschach Test

playvideo screenshot

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?

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

AI Consciousness: The Hard Problem

playvideo screenshot

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)

Is Space Still the Final Frontier?

playvideo screenshot

Robert Wright and Joel Achenbach, author of a recent Slate deep dive on America’s new moon program, discuss the history and future of NASA—and its Elon-friendly new chief. Plus: The prospects for a Star Trek future, Mars, aliens, and more.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

2025: A Year-End (And Quarter-Century-End) Reckoning

playvideo screenshot

Robert Wright and Paul Bloom look back on the past year, and the past quarter century, and ahead to 2026—and 2050.

Nonzero (The Wright Show)

What Era Are We Living In?

playvideo screenshot

Robert Wright and Nikita Petrov grapple with the weirdness of our time—discussing whether Covid broke reality, the alienness of AI, the prospect of human obsolescence, why we need planetary unity pronto, and more!