Fate of the West
Where Western civilization is headed. History, demography, culture and power, with serious attention to both decline and renewal.
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This reading list brings together items from the sources selected for Fate of the West. Open each item at its original source for the complete article, episode or video. This is a selection of current coverage, not a complete archive.
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498 — More From Sam: Bond Villains, Useful Idiots, Firing Squads, and More
In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss Alex Gibney's documentary on Elon Musk, Dara Horn's insights into antisemitism, the Democrats' Hasan Piker problem, Abdul El-Sayed and Zohran Mamdani, the Pentagon's plan to livestream a military execution, Trump's $5,000 voter promise, tech leaders' capitulation to Trump, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.
Allie Beth Stuckey and Deja Foxx: Do We Need Feminism?
Is feminism still helping women in 2026? Or is the movement holding them back?
Liaquat Ahamed on Financial Crises, Gold, and the Lessons of 1873
Liaquat Ahamed has spent years making central bankers into compelling characters. His 2009 book Lords of Finance won the Pulitzer Prize for its account of the bankers whose decisions helped cause the Great Depression; his new book, 1873: The Rothschilds, the First Great Depression, and the Making of the Modern World, tells a stranger story — a severe deflationary crisis that barely dented global growth but poisoned politics for a generation.
Will Israel Ditch Netanyahu? With Haviv Rettig Gur
Israelis are at a crossroads. The country is voting for the first time since October 7. Haviv Rettig Gur breaks down what’s on the ballot.
Podcast: Human and Artificial Intelligence
Noah Carl is joined by Geoffrey Miller, evolutionary psychologist and intelligence researcher. They begin by discussing Miller’s work on the evolution of human intelligence before shifting to his perspective on AI. Geoffrey is one of few conservatives who has spoken out about the risks AI poses to “everything we know and love”. He and Noah discuss students’ anxiety about their career prospects, what Steven Pinker gets wrong, and the perils of recursive self-improvement.
David Deming on the Future of Universities in the Age of AI
Yascha Mounk and David Deming discuss how artificial intelligence will transform research, teaching, and the economic foundations of higher education.
When, Not If: The Baltics Prepare for War
Lithuanian and Latvian leaders won’t say when they expect war with Russia, but they’re planning as if it’s already begun.
The Bible Story Every Atheist Should Read, with Megan Phelps-Roper
Watch now (70 mins) | She spent her childhood protesting funerals in the name of God. Now she can’t stop reading His book.
497 — The Confidence Man
Sam Harris speaks with Alex Gibney about his new documentary, Musk. They discuss Sam’s former friendship with Musk, the line between visionary and con man, the myth of Tesla’s founding, the staged self-driving video, Musk’s lurch to the right, DOGE and the dismantling of USAID, his feud and reconciliation with Trump, Starlink and the war in Ukraine, the case for future investigations, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at .
How the New Middle East Was Made | Bari Weiss and Simon Sebag Montefiore
The Middle East has dominated the American mind, shaped our foreign policy, and become a fixture of Western discourse. So why do we still misunderstand so much of the region?
Elon’s Harem, Russian Plague, and Dolly Parton’s Arms-Dealing Nephew
Watch now (34 mins) | Suzy and Dan salute Alix Earle for never reading a book. Plus: pangolin borscht and Chinese double agents.
Rebuilding America’s War Machine
Michael Cadenazzi is the man tasked with reviving America’s weapons production capacity. He explains how the Pentagon is investing billions to save the defense industry.
496 — The Oldest Lie
Sam Harris speaks with Dara Horn about antisemitism, Jewish identity, and the failure of institutions. They discuss Horn’s new book, why Jews predate the categories of religion and nationality, antisemitism as a lie rather than an ordinary form of bigotry, why DEI failed Jewish students, the history of anti-Zionism, whether the word “Zionism” is still useful, Horn’s time on Harvard’s antisemitism advisory group, Nazi influence in the Arab world, and other topics.
Michael Oren: October 7 and the Cost of Defending Israel
The former Israeli ambassador on Israel’s deepening domestic divide, and why no Israeli government will bring the troops home from Gaza, Lebanon, or Syria.
What the Dutch Empire Reveals About America Today
Today on “School of War,” former National Security Council official Alexander Bick shares lessons from history about trade and war for Trump’s America.
495 — Foreign Policy for Sale
Sam Harris speaks with Anne Applebaum about corruption, authoritarianism, and America’s retreat from the world. They discuss her Atlantic cover story, the revolutionary project behind Trump’s second term, US support for Europe’s far right, the AfD, European rearmament, the state of the war in Ukraine, Russian propaganda, Witkoff and Kushner’s deal-making in Moscow, Venezuela as a union of kleptocracies, JD Vance’s nativism, the midterms, the challenge of depoliticizing institutions, and other topics.
Is Social Media Making Us Crazy?
Psychotherapist Joe Nucci spends his time debunking myths about mental health. He explains what phones are doing to our brains in 2026.
How the Middle East Got So Screwed Up, with Simon Sebag Montefiore
A sweeping conversation about nationalism, revolution, religion, and the history behind today’s Middle East.
America’s Aging Shipyards Are a Crisis Waiting to Happen
America builds 0.1 percent of the world’s ships. China builds 53 percent. Shipbuilding executive Alex Wong says he knows how to fill the gap.
494 — A Coin Toss for the Future
Sam Harris speaks with Ryan Greenblatt about AI misalignment and the risk of losing control of increasingly capable systems.
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