11 January 2026
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Conor Friedersdorf (The Atlantic, Meeting Triumph and Disaster) and Robert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True)
Conor asks whether Bob might abandon the Democratic Party over national security issues. Bob posits that humans aren’t evolutionarily equipped to evaluate the possibility of blowback in foreign affairs. Conor wonders why Americans aren’t more willing to impose checks on the executive branch—what won’t the public will accept in the name of “security”? They next discuss whether Obama’s mild manner causes people to accept policies that they would object to under a more cowboyish president. Bob presses Conor about what he hopes to gain by voting for Libertarian Party candidates. They conclude with Bob making the case that network effects all but guarantee Facebook’s long-term success—an argument Conor isn’t buying.
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Conor Friedersdorf
Robert Wright
Conor Friedersdorf
Robert Wright
Recorded:Jun 5
Posted:Jun 6, 2012
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Friedersdorf | Jun 6, 2012 | Conor Friedersdorf & Robert Wright
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
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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)
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Nonzero (The Wright Show)
What Era Are We Living In?
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Does Trump have a coherent foreign policy?
Robert Wright reviews the year in US foreign policy with Connor Echols of Responsible Statecraft and Andrew Day of The American Conservative.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Elon, Trump, Fuentes: Bad Men or Trolls or Both?
Robert Wright and Paul Bloom discuss the Brown shooting and Rob Reiner’s murder—and how Musk and Trump responded to them. Plus: Susie Wiles gone wild, Morgan/Fuentes, the Oliver Sacks revelations, and more.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Venezuela, China, and Trump’s Incoherence
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Nonzero (The Wright Show)
The Hard Truth about Peace in Ukraine
Robert Wright and Nikita Petrov discuss the state of Russia-Ukraine—including the latest on peace negotiations and whether Trump’s bargaining strategy is working; the military and economic realities; Zelensky’s corruption scandal and political future; what the Blob is “thinking”; and more.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
The Life and Legacy of William F. Buckley
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