QAnon
A conspiracy theory movement, compared to the Epstein story as being appealing to certain segments of the MAGA base.
Common Themes
Videos Mentioning QAnon
The War in Ukraine: A Conversation with Yaroslav Trofimov (Episode #358)
Sam Harris
Mentioned as an example of conspiracy thinking with analogues in Russia, involving false beliefs about pedophile cannibals and adrenochrome.
#159-Peter Hotez MD, PhD.: The anti-vaccine movement, causes of autism, & COVID-19 vaccine update
Peter Attia MD
Far-right conspiracy theory movement linked to anti-mask and anti-vaccine protests in Europe.
Ep. 196: Shutting Down Anxiety, Seinfeld on Friction, and Taming WhatsApp
Cal Newport
Mentioned as an example of how conspiratorial thinking can provide a sense of meaning.
A Few Thoughts For A New Year (Episode #229)
Sam Harris
Referred to as the 'crazy core' of Trumpism.
A.J. Jacobs — How to Be Less Furious and More Curious | The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss
Described as a puzzle gone wrong, where people believe they have solved it but resist counter-evidence, fitting the dangerous side of puzzle obsession.
Republic Of Lies (Episode #225)
Sam Harris
Described as a conspiracy theory that the sitting U.S. president is associated with, highlighting the degradation of political discourse.
Tim Dillon: Comedy, Power, Conspiracy Theories, and Freedom | Lex Fridman Podcast #156
Lex Fridman
Conspiracy theory group discussed for their evolving, improvisational nature and the recent decline in belief following the 2020 election.
A Conversation with Andrew Sullivan (Episode #223)
Sam Harris
A conspiracy theory cult whose followers are considered unreachable by rational arguments, representing a segment of Trump's base.
The Trouble with AI: A Conversation with Stuart Russell and Gary Marcus (Episode #312)
Sam Harris
Mentioned as an example of misinformation that AI models can be induced to generate, illustrating the potential for abuse by bad actors.
Welcome To The Cult Factory: A Conversation with Tristan Harris (Episode #218)
Sam Harris
A far-right conspiracy theory movement discussed as an example of how social media platforms can facilitate the spread of extreme beliefs and radicalization.
Tyler Cowen: Economic Growth & the Fight Against Conformity & Mediocrity | Lex Fridman Podcast #174
Lex Fridman
Mentioned as an example of the 'weird' things the internet allows people to connect to.
American Division: A Conversation with David French (Episode #285)
Sam Harris
A far-right conspiracy theory movement, mentioned as a benchmark for how far the Republican party has moved towards embracing conspiracy theories.
The Religion of Anti-Racism: A Conversation with John McWhorter
Sam Harris
Mentioned as a movement associated with white supremacy and the events following the Trump presidency.
The Reckoning to Come: A Conversation with Balaji Srinivasan (Episode #259)
Sam Harris
Mentioned as an example of a downward deviation facilitated by the internet, contrasted with upward deviations like Satoshi Nakamoto.
E17: Big Tech bans Trump, ramifications for the First Amendment & the open Internet
All-In Podcast
A conspiracy theory that is brought up in comparison to potential 'left versions of crazy conspiracy theories' following the Capitol riot.
In the Groves of Misinformation: A Conversation with Zeynep Tufekci (Episode #233)
Sam Harris
A conspiracy theory movement discussed as an example of how misinformation and groupthink have taken hold, leading people to distrust experts and institutions.
Political Extremism & Cracks in the MAGA Cult (Making Sense #428)
Sam Harris
A conspiracy theory movement, compared to the Epstein story as being appealing to certain segments of the MAGA base.
Sam Harris: Trump, Pandemic, Twitter, Elon, Bret, IDW, Kanye, AI & UFOs | Lex Fridman Podcast #365
Lex Fridman
A conspiracy theory that is identified as a 'cult' and a source of extreme misinformation, leading people to believe in outlandish falsehoods.
The Digital Multiverse: A Conversation with David Auerbach (Episode #319)
Sam Harris
A conspiracy theory that gained traction online, discussed as an example of how online communities can reinforce specific beliefs and form 'narrative bunkers'.
Western Culture and Its Discontents: A Conversation with Douglas Murray (Episode #281)
Sam Harris
Mentioned as an example of a conspiracy theory prominent on the right, contributing to the derangement of culture.
Cal Newport: Deep Work, Focus, Productivity, Email, and Social Media | Lex Fridman Podcast #166
Lex Fridman
A conspiracy theory, discussed in the context of how low-friction platforms like Twitter can rapidly spread such theories, in contrast to the distributed curation of older blog-based internet.