Today's Top Episodes
AI Bubble, Inflation, and the Limits of Monetary Policy | Jason Furman
Is the AI boom a bubble waiting to burst? Dive into the economic forces shaping our future, from inflation to the limits of central banks.
James Tour: Super Humans, Genetic Engineering, Cloning, Lies of Evolution, and What Really Is Life?
A nanotechnology expert dares to question the very foundations of life, evolution, and genetic engineering. What if everything you thought you knew was wrong?
Jailbreaking AGI: Pliny the Liberator & John V on AI Red Teaming, BT6, and the Future of AI Security
Beyond the hype: discover the hidden war being waged to break and secure AI, and what it means for our future.
#262 Aliia Roza - Russian Sex Spy on Seduction Perfumes, Sexpionage and Honeypot Tradecraft
From seduction to defection: A former Russian sex spy reveals the dark art of 'honeypot' espionage and how it targets the powerful.
Everything is gambling now
Is every decision becoming a bet? Explore how 'prediction markets' are turning everything into a gamble, and what it means for our society.
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Tiny Cars and 70’s Problems with Ben Sasse | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution
Duration: 01:07:31
December 10, 2025
- Former Senator Ben Sass argues that Congress suffers from "underreach," with members prioritizing punditry and avoiding difficult decisions, leading to the executive branch filling the power vacuum.
- The discussion highlights a significant decline in public trust across various institutions, with higher education and Congress showing the most rapid erosion, partly attributed to social media's amplification of misinformation and institutional missteps.
- The conversation delves into the systemic issues within higher education, including underprepared students, a focus on DEI over merit, and the need for institutional reform beyond current models, with the University of Austin and Hamilton School at UF presented as potential exemplars.
Viewer Mail: War & Peace, Reading & Writing, Why Babies Are Good, and Thanksgiving Memories | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution
Duration: 01:01:28
November 26, 2025
- The discussion critically examined analogies for a potential Trump-Putin agreement on Ukraine's fate, suggesting that while historical parallels might seem apt, the current situation is distinct due to Ukraine's prolonged resistance and significant inflicted losses on Russia.
- Experts debated whether economic and political freedom are mutually exclusive, with China's development cited as a challenge to the traditional view, though underlying economic weaknesses in authoritarian systems were also highlighted.
- The conversation explored the evolving nature of warfare and military technology, specifically addressing the continued relevance of tanks in the face of drone warfare and the need for adapting defense budgets and strategies to maintain a qualitative edge.
Cyber Rattling & Socialism: Anne Neuberger on Future Wars, Mayor Mamdani, and a Big Deal at the BBC | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution
Duration: 01:02:00
November 14, 2025
- Technology is outpacing military strategy, creating an asymmetry in warfare driven by advancements like drone technology and cyber capabilities.
- The United States faces a significant cyber gap with China due to its democratic system's inability to monitor private sector networks, which house critical infrastructure.
- The future of warfare will likely involve a combination of cheaper, commercially procurable systems in greater numbers, alongside sophisticated "exquisite" capabilities.
Trick or Treat? A Fight Between Good and Evil with Michael McFaul | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution
Duration: 00:56:56
October 29, 2025
- The conversation highlights the complex relationship between autocracies and democracies, emphasizing how regime type and individual leaders, alongside power, shape global dynamics and international relations issues like the Ukraine conflict and competition with China and Russia.
- A key theme is the misinterpretation by various US administrations of Vladimir Putin's motivations, often attributing them to security concerns rather than a deeper ideological drive for Russian imperial restoration and the dismantling of the liberal international order.
- The podcast contrasts the Soviet Union's economic weakness during the Cold War with China's current economic strength, suggesting that the US faces a more challenging competition because its primary adversary is now not an economic basket case and the US itself is not performing as well economically as it could.
It’s The Economy, Israel and Tariffs, Stupid | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution
Duration: 01:02:18
October 18, 2025
- The Trump administration's Middle East peace plan, while having early successes like hostage release, faces significant challenges due to Hamas's non-compliance and the lack of detailed planning for a stabilization force and Palestinian governance.
- A prevalent view suggests that the Abraham Accords represent a paradigm shift in Middle East diplomacy, prioritizing economic cooperation and regional stability over traditional peace processes, potentially sidelining the Palestinian issue.
- Despite concerns about potential crashes, current economic conditions do not mirror the preconditions of 1929; however, rising global debt levels and the geopolitical weaponization of trade, particularly between the US and China, pose significant long-term risks.
Who’s Going To Win The Future? Dan Wang on China’s Engineers vs. America’s Lawyers | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution
Duration: 01:07:33
October 3, 2025
- The discussion centered around China's advancements in engineering and manufacturing, suggesting that the US needs to prioritize building and innovation to remain competitive.
- China's internal vulnerabilities, such as a declining population and social engineering concerns, were acknowledged as potential long-term challenges to its continued rise.
- The panel debated the US approach to competing with China, including selective industrial policy and strategic engagement, rather than a complete replication of China's state-controlled system.
Turning Points: Kyiv, Kirk, Kimmel, and the Sundance Kid | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution
Duration: 00:38:49
September 19, 2025
- Neil Ferguson reported that morale in Kyiv is somber and grim due to increased Russian air strikes, but Ukrainians remain resolved to resist Putin's terms.
- The conflict in Ukraine has significantly evolved into a drone war, where Ukraine's technological superiority in drone warfare provides a strategic advantage.
- The panel agreed that the potential "canceling" of Jimmy Kimmel raises concerns about free speech and the influence of government regulation, prompting calls to abolish the FCC to prevent political cronyism.
Drones, Dictators & Debt: India Flirts, Ukraine Fights, Trump Takes on The Fed | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution
Duration: 01:04:14
September 5, 2025
- The US-India relationship is complex, marked by a historical "schizophrenia" between fear of abandonment and entrapment, further complicated by India's need to hedge against China and Pakistan and current trade policies.
- The panelists debated the potential for strategic bombing in the Russia-Ukraine war, with emphasis on whether it effectively undermines morale versus solidifying resolve, and its impact on Russia's ability to sustain the war.
- A key concern, discussed in the context of US investment in Intel, is whether government intervention in the private sector leads to inefficiencies and crony capitalism, as well as distorting market forces.
The Eternal Optimist: H.R. McMaster on Combat, Faith, and Turning Down the Funk
Duration: 50:41:00
August 26, 2025
- The influence of a Philadelphia sports legend and youth biographies sparked General McMaster’s early desire for military service and leading soldiers.
- General McMaster shared previously untold stories illustrating the importance of faith and spirituality for soldiers preparing for and recovering from battle.
- Despite opportunities for advancement, General McMaster prioritized serving as National Security Advisor and cautioned against partisan politics influencing the military.
Boss Time: Summits, Cold Wars, and Universities, with Condoleezza Rice | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution
Duration: 01:20:05
August 13, 2025
- This episode featured a discussion on the upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, with Condoleezza Rice offering her analysis that Putin's agreement stems from feeling "his back is against the wall."
- Neil Ferguson discussed his interview with Argentinian President Javier Milei, highlighting Milei's radical free-market policies and their surprisingly positive economic and political impact on the country.
- The Goodfellows debated the merits and drawbacks of Trump's tariff policies, touching on their potential impact on national security, international relations, and the overall economy.