Lex Fridman - David Pakman

1) David Pakman discusses the evolution and confusion surrounding political terms such as "liberal", "progressive", and "Democratic socialism". He explains that liberal has evolved to mean an embodiment of the mainstream Democratic party, while progressive is associated with social democracy rather than Democratic socialism. Pakman also talks about his appearance on the PBD podcast and the intense debate he had with Patrick David, stating that he is accustomed to tense discussions and disagrees with a lot of what David said.

2) David Pakman discusses his different approaches to interviews and the reason why he stopped doing the Michael Knowles show. He also talks about an incident on Twitter that peaked with Donald Trump Jr. tweeting about him, and while he admits to being sarcastic on the platform, he regrets deleting a tweet that caused controversy. The tweet in question was snarkily tongue-in-cheek and criticized the effectiveness of thoughts and prayers after a mass shooting at a Christian school.

3) David Pakman discusses how a controversial tweet he made received a deluge of attention on Twitter, leading to attacks and threats to his family members. He regrets deleting the tweet, which he stands by, and wishes he had left it up instead of trying to get people to stop sending threats. Pakman also reflects on the style of communication on Twitter and how it can be unnecessarily provocative, but acknowledges the necessity of adapting to the platform's limitations. He ultimately does not view Twitter as an unmitigated good for society.

4) David talks about the balancing act between creating content that is sensational and titillating for a larger audience and creating more serious content. He states that he deliberately crafts his show with a mix of both, a decision that he proactively makes to get the best and most out of the hour he creates every day. He worries about the machine fed by Twitter and journalism that wants to divide people, causing drama and tension, and the drug-like addiction to mocking ridiculous people which can overshadow objective, clear thinking. He encourages his audience to practice critical thinking, indulge in primary source reporting and commentary, but reminds them to consume a balanced diet of information to form a strong foundation for their opinions.

5) David discusses his relationship with his audience and how he has not experienced audience capture. He explains that sometimes his core audience disagrees with his views on certain topics, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and vaccines, but he is open to feedback and criticism. Pakman goes on to discuss the potential matchup between Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the 2024 election, stating that he believes Biden would win because Trump has not gained any advantages since the 2020 election.

6) David discusses the importance of a candidate's ability to navigate social media and make quick connections with audiences, often through soundbites and out-of-context clips. He also discusses the positioning of various political figures on the left, including Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and AOC. While he identifies as left of center, he acknowledges that the implementation of policy ideas is more flexible for him than it may be for others, such as Bernie Sanders and AOC. When discussing the DNC's potential manipulation or corruption against Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020, Pakman suggests that the DNC and RNC exist to justify their own existence and assert their own importance, and that he is an independent who does not belong to any particular party.

7) David discusses the 2020 primary and how the DNC plays a role in picking the winner. Pakman, a Bernie supporter, admits thats pending too much time on Reddit and Twitter gave him an inflated sense of Bernie’s popularity within the Democratic Party. He acknowledges that the DNC negotiates and is working behind the scenes and has a favorite; in 2020, that favorite was Joe Biden. Pakman shares the frustration of many who believe that the bias is towards the momentum of the past, which Joe Biden represents, versus new ideas, which Bernie Sanders represents. Pakman also talks about the strengths and weaknesses of Donald Trump, stating that his strengths mainly lie in his superficial presentation and grifting skills.

8) Pakman agrees with the idea that sometimes it takes naive optimism to make progress. He then discusses Trump's approach to North Korea and China and how his personality was not always the problem. While Trump's initial idea of handling North Korea like a business deal had some potential, his lack of understanding of the backstory and his trust in Kim Jong-un led to a flawed approach. Similarly, Trump's tariffs on China can be seen as a risk in the game of geopolitics, but tangible positive outcomes are difficult to identify, and there were negative consequences such as the loss of American jobs. Overall, it is suggested that politics needs to be done differently, as the traditional way of doing things may not always lead to success.

9) While it is acknowledged that he did not initiate any new wars, there are doubts about whether this was purely due to Trump's efforts or whether there were underlying factors at play. He then switches to Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is agreed that Trump's lackadaisical approach to the pandemic was a major shortcoming of his presidency, and that he likely would have won the election if he had taken the pandemic more seriously and taken appropriate action.

10)  David Pakman discusses the changing information regarding COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. He emphasizes the importance of humility and transparency in science and how political leaders' communication affected people's trust. He also acknowledges that the political situation at the time impacted people's beliefs and behaviors regarding the vaccine. Furthermore, he shares his thoughts on Joe Biden's strengths and weaknesses, pointing out that Biden's strengths include his foreign policy record, but his weaknesses are his age and gaffes.

11) David discusses the strengths and weaknesses of Joe Biden as a presidential candidate. While he acknowledges criticisms that Biden is not inspiring and lacks interest in issues important to younger voters, such as cannabis reform and student loans, Pakman believes that Biden's experience in foreign policy and high-level negotiations is a valuable asset. He also notes that while Biden may not be involved in the details of smaller issues, he is involved in the highest level geopolitical and big domestic economic matters. When asked about Biden's cognitive capabilities and whether he is an active executive, Pakman cites sources that indicate he is involved in high-level issues but may not be plugged into the details of lower level matters.

12) David and Lex discussed some of the small policy details that matter in people's lives under both Trump and Biden. Pakman highlighted that while Trump told stories about his accomplishments with the military, little was done besides replacing some regular armaments that were scheduled to be replaced anyways. When asked if it was possible to have a good conversation with either Trump or Biden, Pakman mentioned that political differences wouldn't impede the possibility of a good conversation, but it's often frustrating as handlers try to dictate conversation topics.

13) David Pakman talks about how he handles criticism and debate from people with opposing views and the effects of algorithms on social media platforms. Despite people often crossing the line and pulling his family into the debate, Pakman is always open to having conversations with people who disagree with him on his show, and wishes everyone would have these debates in good faith, rather than for performative purposes. He acknowledges that metrics like views and algorithmic changes can be difficult to navigate and affect one's mentality, but he chooses to use them as a tool and does not obsess over them.

14) David talks about his approach to creating content and how he resists the pressure to always produce "home runs" and focus too much on metrics. He believes it's important to put out a diverse range of content and not solely focus on what will maximize views. Pakman also discusses the difficulties of producing content reacting to news and events outside of his control, such as the seasonality of election cycles. He also shares his thoughts on RFK Jr's candidacy and his anti-vaccine work, which he finds uninteresting. Finally, he talks about his interest in reading books about the COVID-19 pandemic to better understand what went wrong and what is broken in the political system that didn't unite, but rather divided us.

15) David discusses his view on Marianne Williamson's candidacy. Although he acknowledges the need for a greater diversity of backgrounds in elected officials, he finds her background in "woo-woo" stuff off-putting, and he is skeptical of some of the things she says, such as denying the existence of clinical depression. However, he believes that anyone who wants to run for the presidency should run, and he supports the idea of a contested primary with debates, even though he admits that the job of the president is turn off many potential candidates due to its negative aspects.

16) David discusses the potential scenarios for the 2024 Republican presidential candidates, including how Donald Trump still has significant support from the Republican base and how Ron DeSantis has a better chance if Trump doesn't run. Pakman also explains the different categories of Republican voters, such as pro-business low tax Republicans, libertarian Republicans, and religious conservatives, and how Trump introduced a fourth group of voters who were driven by celebrity or grievances but leaned right culturally. He also notes that in 2016, Trump mobilized these voters by identifying real economic problems and using populist rhetoric, but also by scapegoating groups like China and immigrants.

17) David discusses the factors that contributed to Hillary Clinton's loss in the 2016 election, including her long political history, the effectiveness of Trump's branding her as "crooked," the email scandal, and her perceived lack of likability. Pakman also touches upon the existence and appeal of conspiracy theories involving the Clintons, and the psychological attraction of conspiracy theories in general, which offer an explanation for events that otherwise seem random and unpredictable. People may find comfort in the idea that bad events are not random, but rather the result of a planned conspiracy by those who are greedy and corrupted by power.

18) David delves into conspiracy theories and the difficulty in discerning truth in a world where evidence and an absence of evidence can both be used to support conspiracy theories. The discussion then shifts to the events of January 6th and its larger implications. While it may not have been as deadly as the Civil War, the conversation centers around the deeper impact it had on the parameters of valid discussion and activism in the United States. The talk underscores the importance of a shared understanding of how to determine truth.

19) David Pakman discusses the issue of candidates refusing to concede even when they clearly lost and whether this will become a part of the playbook going forward. He believes that while it is extraordinarily saddening that some candidates refuse to accept defeat and continue the grift of lies upon lies, there is currently no sign that people on the left will adopt this tactic. Pakman also shares his thoughts on the Hunter Biden laptop story, stating that there is still zero evidence of any crime, particularly involving Joe Biden, and that it mostly seems to be a story about nude images released without someone's consent. He also believes in theprinciple of free speech but acknowledges that companies have the right to enforce their terms of service and remove illegal content.

20) David discusses the Hunter Biden laptop story and the impact of social media companies on the news we see. Pakman believes that it is less about the content of the story and more about the actions of social media companies that control what we see and what we don't. If a social media company made the same kind of decision about a more impactful story, then his view might be different. He also discusses Tucker Carlson's firing from Fox News, which he thinks was a risk mitigation strategy for Fox in light of the multiple lawsuits against them.

21)   David discusses the concept of "enlightened centrism" and explains why he sees it as a negative thing. He believes that it often leads to a stifled conversation and can suppress voter turnout. He also shares his biased view that the goals of the left are noble and more supportive of individual freedom and liberty, while the goals of the right wing are frightening. Moving on to the topic of "wokeism," Pakman acknowledges that it is a polarizing issue and offers two perspectives - onesees it as an over reaction to perceived injustice, while the other sees it as a real problem that involves censorship, suppression of speech, and the reallocationof resources based on high ethical notions.

22)   According to a recent poll, the "woke perspective" of having not done enough to fix societal problems is more popular than the negative connotation tied to the term. While the right-wing media believes that the "woke" movement has gone too far, most Americans still care about the movement's core beliefs. However, there are instances where the "woke movement" has gone too far, such as in the oppression Olympics and issues with specific languages. While some consider the movement an existential threat, the Biden administration, which is seen as center-left by some, has mostly ignored the "woke movement" during his first twoyears in office.

23)  David discusses the issue of transgender individuals in sports. He believes that the trans issue has become a major concern for the right and it is forcing the left to continue discussing it, even though he thinks it is not as big of an issue as the right makes it out to be. While acknowledging that there is a fair question regarding how to deal with trans women in certain sports, he thinks that leagues with experience in handling this issue should be asked for advice. He also expresses concern about the over-prioritization of diversity and inclusion in institutions such as universities, to the detriment of meritocracy.

24)  Lex and David discuss how people tend to self-censor themselves by not engaging in politics or social issues and just focusing on their work. While Pakman agrees with Fridman that people should be able to focus on their interests, he argues that removing oneself from politics is ultimately limiting and dangerous. They also discuss the changing nature of higher education and the potential for language models, such as OpenAI's GPT-3, to transform how we learn and explore information.

25) Lex and David discuss the transformative effects of AI in education. While educational institutions have traditionally enabled students to explore their passions and develop the skills to contribute to society, AI may offer an alternative path. As AI continues to advance, it could potentially offload the memorization of facts and equations, freeing up students to use their unique capacity for critical thinking to navigate complex issues and ask good questions. However, the purpose of education also extends beyond vocational training, encompassing socialization and relationship building, among other things.

26) David discusses the potential for markets to be more efficient in a digital age, with participants having easier access to information to make more informed decisions. While there are underlying principles of libertarianism that prioritize individual freedom, Pakman explains that there are practical limitations beyond a certain size, which require government intervention, such as in issues that arose in the Agricultural Revolution. He also shares his thoughts on Elon Musk and Tesla, acknowledging their contributions to pushing forward battery and electric vehicle technology, but not subscribing to any cult of personality around individuals and recognizing that nobody has only good ideas.

27) David and Lex discuss Twitter and the "For You" page on TikTok. They note that Twitter used to work by users following people and seeing their posts in reverse chronological order, but now relies more on algorithmic tailoring. The "For You" page on TikTok generates content based on a user's likes, comments, blocks, and mutes. Pakman mentions that the page shows mostly right-wing content, which he finds uninteresting, and wonders if there are left-wing users enjoying similar content. They also discuss the perception of Elon Musk's political views, noting that he has been getting backlash from the left, causing some people to think that he has drifted towards the right. However, Pakman emphasizes that Musk has done some interesting things, and the criticism towards him should be substantive.

28) David discusses how he handles criticism and stays mentally healthy amidst a toxic political news cycle. He limits his exposure to feedback, only spending 15 minutes per day going through social media platforms. Additionally, he tries to remember that it's impossible to please everyone and focuses on providing fresh, genuine views each day. The process of creating his show involves picking six to eight stories each day, using a MediaWiki-type system for notes, and fact-checking by trying to get to primary sources first and foremost. Pakman gets his ideas from subreddits, a private list of journalists on Twitter, and standard news reporting wire services likeAP and Reuters.

29) Lex discusses the difficulty of determining what is true in today's society with David. They note that the problem often arises from people confusing opinions with facts, and the lack of critical thinking and media literacy. The difficulty of defining terms such as "fair" and "better" is a major challenge when trying to determine what is true, especially in complex situations such as elections or tax rates. They also touches on the controversy surrounding the origin of the coronavirus, with both agreeing that the lack of clear evidence has made it difficult to determine what is true and that even the use of the word "truth" in this context can feel divisive.

30) David discusses his views on US foreign policy, which he disagrees with those who see the US as an overall positive force in spreading democracy around the world. While he agrees with Noam Chomsky's critique of US military actions, Pakman also disagrees with Chomsky's view that the US is a uniquely bad actor, arguing that it has more to do with its size and wealth as a global power. Pakman also briefly touches on his interest in gardening and recommends narrative non-fiction as a genre that has been influential in his intellectual and political development, including books on the Shackleton Voyage and Hitler's rise and fall.

31) Lex and David discuss the power of reading and its ability to provide insights into the human psyche. Pakman expresses his appreciation for the book "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" and how its author's direct experience gives it more depth than other history books that are written from a distance. He also shares his love for biographies and the book "Man's Search for Meaning". The conversation takes a turn when Pakman discusses getting attacked for publishing his reading list of 18-19 books per year. Despite the negativity, he believes that the power of reading is overwhelming and exposes him to ideas and perspectives that othersmay not have access to.

32) David discusses the downsides of sharing personal passions publicly and the pressure that comes with it. He reflects on how there are some things that should remain private, such as reading, which he enjoys but sometimes doesn't want to share due to fear of facing backlash. Pakman mentions that he has considered transitioning from politics to travel blogging, but recognizes the potential pressure of having to plan trips and document them, and ultimately decides to stick to what he enjoys. Additionally, he discusses his estate planning and the legacy he wants to leave behind, as he recognizes the unique and uncertain nature of his career as a YouTuber and political commentator.

33) David discusses the potential future of technology and advises young people on starting right away with their goals instead of procrastinating due to perceived difficulties. He also mentions his belief thats pace exploration could lead to learning valuable information that could ultimately improve circumstances on Earth and encourages individuals to consider pursuing things that might seem terrible at first glance. He also believes that as technology advances, it's difficult to predict the biggest threats facing civilization by the end of the century.