Episode 500: What a Long Strange Trip it's Been | Dave Rubin

22 Nov 2024 (26 days ago)
Episode 500: What a Long Strange Trip it's Been | Dave Rubin

Intro (0s)

  • Saying the truth and nothing else can lead to immense adventure and existential crisis, as stated by Jordan Peterson, and this concept is reflected in the idea that life is a constant process of death and rebirth (9s).
  • The importance of speaking one's mind is emphasized, as the consequences of not saying what needs to be said can be more frightening than the potential backlash from others (31s).
  • The 500th episode of the podcast is a special occasion, marking a significant milestone with a lot of learning and growth over the years (49s).
  • Dave Rubin is the guest on this episode, and he was one of the first podcast notables to bring the host's concerns to a broader international audience back in 2016 (1m11s).
  • The host and Dave Rubin have a long-standing friendship that began after their initial encounter, which led to a joint tour in 2018, visiting numerous cities and speaking to hundreds of thousands of people (1m31s).
  • Both the host and Dave Rubin have been at the center of the podcast revolution and the new media revolution, which has contributed to the decline of legacy media (1m54s).
  • The conversation with Dave Rubin aims to reflect on the past eight years, make sense of the journey, and celebrate the radically strange trip that it has been (2m5s).

“We Who Wrestle With God,” the weight of stories (2m26s)

  • The 500th episode of the podcast is being celebrated, and the host is giving away a book that is being released that week, which is about wrestling with God through writing (2m28s).
  • The book is more difficult and demanding than the previous two books, but less demanding than "Maps of Meaning", and the author is curious to see its impact (3m18s).
  • The book explores the idea that people see the world through a story, and it's essential to get the story straight, as it influences how people prioritize their attention and actions (3m42s).
  • Research from multiple disciplines suggests that people perceive the world through a story, which is a description of how someone prioritizes their attention and actions (4m1s).
  • When people watch a movie or engage with a story, they see the protagonist's priorities and actions, and they can infer their frame of reference and occupy their value frame (4m11s).
  • Humans are good at seeing the world through other people's eyes, which is why their eyes have evolved to be maximally visible, allowing them to infer others' value structures (4m33s).
  • People prioritize their attention by weighing the things they interact with, and they communicate about these strategies through stories (4m58s).
  • The question then becomes what the story should be, and the postmodernist insistence that the story is one of power is not considered true, as power is self-devouring and can't sustain itself (5m29s).
  • Other stories, such as those of sexuality and Hedonism, are also considered self-devouring and not useful, and the biblical narrative suggests that the fundamental story of the community is one of sacrifice (6m3s).
  • Sacrifice is considered a necessary aspect of relationships, as individuals must sacrifice their own centrality to enter into a relationship with someone (6m31s).

Dave Rubin on his marriage, his kids, and working with Jordan since the beginning (6m38s)

  • The person's decision to have kids was influenced by Jordan Peterson's consistent message on tour about the importance of having children to live a fully actualized life, and the need to experience being a parent and eventually a grandparent (7m50s).
  • The person was on tour with Jordan Peterson in 2018, performing over 120 shows in 20 countries, and during this time, Peterson would often lecture about the importance of having children (6m51s).
  • The person's husband, David, also wanted to have kids, and with Peterson's message and the person's own relationship with David, they decided to have children (9m28s).
  • The person now has two two-year-old children, and one of their children's middle name is Jordan, which was chosen as a tribute to Jordan Peterson (9m55s).
  • The person had previously struggled with the idea of marriage and having children due to growing up in a time when gay marriage was not widely accepted, but ultimately decided to have kids with the support of their husband and Peterson's influence (9m8s).
  • The person is now going back on tour with their new book, "We Who Wrestle with God", which explores biblical stories and their significance in understanding human civilization (8m15s).
  • Having children can be a life-changing experience that brings new maturity and perspective, as it forces individuals to confront and deal with their own issues and priorities, and this realization came after having a child who was two months old and had to be taken to the hospital due to illness (10m10s).
  • The experience of having children can make individuals realize that there is something more important than themselves, and this realization can bring a sense of responsibility to be the best version of themselves for their children (11m46s).
  • Becoming a parent can change one's perspective on life, making them realize that they need to be a good role model for their children and strive to be the best version of themselves (12m7s).
  • It is possible for individuals to find fulfillment in their careers, but it is rare for people to be able to put all their energy into their work or art without feeling unfulfilled in other areas of their lives (13m4s).
  • Having a family can bring a sense of balance and fulfillment to one's life, and it is not necessary to choose between having a family and pursuing a career or artistic passion (13m11s).
  • The experience of having children can make individuals realize that they need to prioritize their family and be present for their children, rather than getting caught up in work or other pursuits (12m27s).
  • Becoming a parent can be a transformative experience that helps individuals grow and mature, and it is not something that can be fully understood until it is experienced firsthand (11m7s).
  • Having children can make individuals realize that they are not the center of the universe and that there are more important things in life than their own desires and needs (11m49s).
  • The experience of having children can bring a sense of joy and wonder, as children see the world with fresh eyes and bring new excitement and energy to their parents' lives (11m59s).
  • A collection of poems by Donald J. Trump has been compiled from his most prolific period, transforming his memorable tweets into poetic form (13m43s).
  • The collection is a result of Trump's reshaping of presidential communication and his ability to captivate a nation (13m39s).
  • The poems are available at dailywire.com, where they can be purchased as part of a collection titled "The Collected Poems of Donald J. Trump" (13m50s).

You don’t fully mature until you have a child, Jacob’s ladder (13m59s)

  • Having a child is a catalyst for maturity, as it makes someone else more important than oneself, which is a crucial aspect of growing up (14m26s).
  • The sacrificial element of parenthood is evident in the willingness to take on troubles and make sacrifices for one's child, as seen in the example of taking a son to the hospital (14m0s).
  • Psychologists have discovered that negative emotion words, such as grief, disappointment, frustration, anxiety, and pain, are closely linked and form a single "tree of negative emotion" (14m58s).
  • Self-consciousness is tightly associated with negative emotions, and being concerned with oneself is linked to suffering, which challenges the hedonistic idea of pleasing oneself (15m27s).
  • Focusing on others or something higher than oneself can help alleviate negative emotions and promote personal growth (16m20s).
  • Building something that goes beyond oneself, such as a family or a legacy, can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment, as illustrated by the concept of "Jacob's Ladder" (16m47s).
  • Having children can motivate individuals to make positive changes in their lives, such as improving their health and well-being, in order to be able to care for and spend time with their children (17m15s).
  • Creating a sense of order and welcoming others into one's life can be an extension of building something that goes beyond oneself (17m53s).

The story of Abraham, the Covenant (18m13s)

  • The story of Abraham is about an upward spiraling process that brings one to more sophisticated plateaus of unity, and it's a story that, once understood, is never forgotten (18m17s).
  • Abraham is a privileged infant, 70 years old but never having to lift a finger due to his wealth, and God comes to him as the spirit of adventure, making a deal known as the Covenant (19m26s).
  • The Covenant is a contract between Abraham and God, proclaiming that human beings exist in a contractual relationship with the Divine, and also with each other, as seen in marriages, business arrangements, and friendships (19m59s).
  • God's contract with Abraham involves leaving his zone of comfort, going out into the world, and putting his heart into it, in exchange for being a blessing to himself and having a good reputation among others (20m30s).
  • The deal has three parts: being a blessing to oneself, making a name among other people that is justified, and establishing something permanent, such as a dynasty (21m18s).
  • Having a good reputation is different from fame, as one can attain fame by being disreputable, but a good reputation is the safest place to store value, as stated in the gospel (21m47s).
  • The Kingdom of Heaven, as described by Christ, is a reputational storehouse, where the safest place to store value is in one's reputation (21m53s).
  • Abraham is considered the father of Nations, and a new idea emerges that the pattern of following the spirit of Adventure is the same pattern that makes for the best fatherly mode of being, having a multigenerational effect (22m29s).
  • Embodying the father properly can radically increase the probability of the paternal success of children, and this idea is related to Dawkins' theory of The Selfish Gene, which implies that reproduction takes priority, but there's a difference between reproduction and sex, especially among human beings (23m2s).
  • Human beings are high investment parents, and their multigenerational investment is why they live as long as they do, including grandparental investment (23m30s).
  • To maximize the reproductive success of offspring, one has to instantiate the pattern of the father, which is the Divine pattern of the father, and God tells Abraham to pursue the spirit of Adventure to embody that pattern (23m49s).
  • Pursuing the spirit of Adventure and embodying the pattern of the father can be of benefit to everyone else, and this is seen biologically in children's impetus to master the world (24m8s).
  • Establishing a separate and encouraging relationship with each child, despite their differences, is crucial for a good father, and this relationship is common in its encouraging nature (24m24s).
  • Embodying the encouraging relationship optimally well is what makes someone the father of Nations, according to God's promise to Abraham, and this equation makes the case that the instinct that calls a child out into the world is the same spirit that produces maximum social and reproductive benefit (24m47s).

How you order the world, Dave’s first encounter with Dr. Peterson (25m26s)

  • A person's life can be completely transformed if they do what they are supposed to do, as seen in the hundreds of people who were helped by a particular individual, with some even being in tears due to positive changes in their lives, such as getting off drugs or mending relationships (25m26s).
  • An incident in Dublin is recalled, where a father and son who had not spoken in eight years made amends after independently attending a show and seeing each other there, illustrating the impact one person can have on others (25m50s).
  • The idea that if a person orders themselves, they will order the world, is discussed, referencing a line from Carl Jung that emphasizes the importance of taking the call for adventure and not being left with nothing but neurosis and pointless suffering (27m4s).
  • The concept of neurosis and pointless suffering is further explored, with the example of interesting and cool people who are left with only suffering due to not taking the call for adventure (27m26s).
  • The meeting between the speaker and Jordan Peterson eight years ago is recalled, where they had a Skype conversation despite technical difficulties, and the speaker was left wondering if Peterson was brilliant or completely insane (27m47s).
  • The speaker reflects on the past eight years since meeting Peterson, having had the privilege of being around many interesting people, and notes that it has been eight years since their first conversation, which took place in November 2016 (27m38s).
  • Hallow, the number one prayer app, is launching a special Advent prayer challenge called "For God So Love the World" that promises to be a transformative spiritual journey, featuring guides such as Bear Grylls and Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen, Pastor Francis Chan, Jeff Cavins, and actor Kevin James, along with beautiful Advent music from award-winning artists including Gwen Stefani, Lauren Daigle, and Matt Maher (28m43s).
  • The Advent prayer challenge is an invitation to experience God's love, mercy, and healing in a deeper way, and users can get 3 months of Hallow for free at hallow.com (29m23s).
  • Over the past eight years, the individuals involved have been on various adventures that have sometimes collided and sometimes gone separately, but they are now sitting in a good place, having done what they were supposed to do and spoken the truth, even in the face of challenges (29m35s).
  • The individuals involved believe that they had a role in getting people to wake up to what was going on in the world, with one person focusing on the psychological and personal front, and the other on the political front (30m13s).
  • Despite the challenges, there is a sense of hope for the future, with a belief that a more hopeful world is coming (30m25s).

Cane and proper sacrifice, you choose the spirit which possesses you (30m29s)

  • The story of Cain and Abel illustrates a fundamental pattern of human life, where human beings discovered that sacrificing the present for the future and themselves for the community can be a successful long-term strategy (30m29s).
  • Cain's failure is attributed to his decision to make second-rate sacrifices, not bringing his best to the table, which is a luciferian trait characterized by intellectual arrogance (30m31s).
  • Cain's response to his failure is to become bitter and blame the structure of reality, rather than taking responsibility for his actions and rectifying his fault (31m44s).
  • God's conversation with Cain reveals that if Cain had brought his best to the table, he would have succeeded, which requires faith and trust in the process (32m42s).
  • God also tells Cain that he is blaming his suffering on his failure, but that's not entirely accurate, and that there were many ways Cain could have reacted to his failure, but he chose to give in to sin and vengeful bitterness (33m48s).
  • The idea is presented that sin is a choice, and that it "crouches at your door like a sexually aroused predatory animal," waiting to be let in, and that Cain chose to let it in (34m24s).
  • The story highlights the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions and choosing the right path, rather than blaming external circumstances or becoming bitter and vengeful (34m39s).
  • The story of Cain and Abel is a complete story of human degeneration and a covenantal account, as Cain violates the Covenant with God by not bringing everything he has to bear on the situation (34m47s).
  • Cain's actions lead to a false invitation to Abel, resulting in Abel's death, and his descendants become more and more murderous, with his grandchildren making weapons of war (35m11s).
  • The counter-proposition to Cain's actions is that one can succeed by hedging their bets, but this approach is based on the idea that one is smart enough to deceive others and God (35m46s).
  • This approach often leads to a spirit of fratricide and genocide, and is a common way that people operate on a day-to-day basis (36m12s).
  • The question of conscience for everyone is to consider whose fault it is when things are not going their way, and to realize that if it is their own fault, they can do something about it (36m33s).
  • If the problem is within oneself, one can take action to change it, such as cleaning up their own life and straightening out what they can control (37m3s).
  • This approach has been shown to be effective for many people, and is a key reason for continuing to share and discuss these ideas (37m16s).
  • Ultimately, it is up to each individual to take responsibility for their own life and to make positive changes, as it is their own adventure (37m37s).

Performing at the Orpheum Theater (37m48s)

  • The first relatively large podcaster to talk after everything blew up in Canada was likely the person being addressed, as they had established themselves on YouTube as a commentator and had left the left, still fighting for liberal values but finding it impossible to use the word "liberal" due to its changed association (37m53s).
  • At that point, the person being addressed was going independent for the first time, having bought their first house and building a TV-ready studio, with a home studio setup that was at the front end of what could have been replicated in major networks (38m18s).
  • The main thing being harped on politically at the time was free speech, due to the hysteria of the left and the observation of Twitter's dynamics, which led to an interest in talking to Jordan Peterson (39m9s).
  • The first interview with Jordan Peterson was done via Skype, as the studio was not yet ready, and this was likely the first Skype interview ever done (39m30s).
  • The person being addressed decided to go all in on the free speech issue, knowing it was right and feeling it was deeply important (39m47s).
  • The decision to come on tour was almost a joke, stemming from a show at the person's house in January 2018 with Ben Shapiro, where it was suggested to come on stage and crack a few jokes, which eventually led to joining the tour (40m3s).
  • The show at the person's house was a three-hour show with Ben Shapiro, and the person being addressed had a big theater show at the Orum in LA that night, which was sold out and had the largest audience they had ever performed in front of (40m36s).
  • A significant moment in the past involved a show that was considered amazing by two agents, who offered to take it on tour, which completely changed the person's life (41m16s).
  • The person's role in the show was to be funny and make the audience feel relaxed for the first 10-15 minutes, allowing Jordan Peterson to then share his impactful content (41m45s).
  • The goal was to create a complete show that would leave the audience feeling like they had a great time, rather than just being impacted by the hardcore content (41m57s).
  • The approach seemed to work, as the audience has matured over time, with many of them now in better relationships, having kids, and being more put together (42m58s).
  • A notable example of this transformation was a man in Sweden who bought his first suit to attend a Jordan Peterson show, and was even called out on stage that night (42m49s).
  • The person believes that the show's approach of balancing humor and impactful content helped to create a loyal and mature audience (42m11s).
  • Jordan Peterson's audience has undergone a significant transformation, from largely young men with various issues to a more mature and put-together group of people (42m20s).

How the divine is characterized, adventure and truth (43m11s)

  • The Abrahamic story describes the deterioration of the psyche and society through patterns of insufficient sacrifice, inviting the spirit of Luciferian bitterness and resentment, as seen in the story of Cain and Abel (43m12s).
  • The story of the flood represents degeneration in the direction of chaos, while the Tower of Babel symbolizes degeneration into totalitarianism, showcasing the pathology of chaos and the degeneration of the individual in society (43m34s).
  • The story of Abraham serves as an antidote to these pathologies, with Abraham representing a new Abel who forgoes comfort to follow the spirit of adventure (43m54s).
  • The Divine is characterized in the Old and New Testaments as the truth that will set you free, with adventure and truth being reflective of the same unified thing (44m18s).
  • There is no better adventure than the truth, as it touches on fundamental aspects of human existence and provides a sense of purpose and direction (44m34s).
  • When seeking something from someone, crafting words to achieve a desired outcome may not always be successful, and even if it is, there is no guarantee that the desired outcome is the right thing (44m47s).
  • An alternative approach is to speak one's truth and make the presumption that whatever happens as a consequence is the best thing that could happen, which can be seen as an act of faith (45m12s).

Throwing yourself into the fray, the power of recorded long-form discussion (45m26s)

  • The early days of online discussions and the "Intellectual Dark Web" movement involved honest conversations, disagreements, and agreements on various topics, with no other outlet or agenda, and this freedom allowed for unique and exciting discussions (46m5s).
  • The movement was characterized by people talking openly and sharing their thoughts, with no clear direction or goal, and this lack of a clear agenda made it difficult to turn it into a formal network or show (46m36s).
  • The rise of long-form interviews and podcasts was a response to the trend of short-form content on platforms like Snapchat and Vine, which was seen as dumbing down conversations and limiting meaningful discussions (47m21s).
  • The early adopters of podcasting and online discussions, including Dave Rubin and Joe Rogan, were able to leverage technology to reach a wider audience and create new opportunities for conversation and connection (48m1s).
  • The growth of online media has changed the way people consume information and has created new opportunities for creators and thinkers to reach a wider audience, but it has also raised questions about the role of mainstream media and the impact of technology on society (48m20s).
  • The recent election was seen as a turning point in the way people consume and interact with information, with online media playing a significant role in shaping public discourse and opinion (48m35s).
  • The election highlighted the divide between people who believe in the reality presented by the media and those who question it, with many still believing in the lies spread by the "machine" despite evidence to the contrary (48m37s).
  • The divide has brought together people from different backgrounds and ideologies, such as RFK, Tulsi, Russell Brand, and others, who may not agree on everything but share a common goal of challenging the status quo (49m2s).
  • The world has become so out of control that it has pushed people with different views together, creating unlikely alliances (49m14s).
  • The national debt is a major issue facing the country, with the nation's finances resting on a precarious foundation that cannot be quickly stabilized (49m36s).
  • Having a safe haven for savings is essential, and converting an IRA or 401K into a physical gold IRA with a company like Birch Gold Group can provide a tangible asset to protect savings (49m50s).
  • Birch Gold Group has earned a reputation for trustworthy service as the exclusive gold partner of The Daily Wire for the past 8 years (50m8s).
  • The company is offering a free info kit and a free 1oz Silver Eagle for every $5,000 purchased through Black Friday (50m14s).

Trump paid attention to the right movements, Joe Rogan (50m32s)

  • The last month of the presidential election was capped off by Donald Trump's appearance on various podcasts, including Joe Rogan's, which was likely facilitated by Barron Trump's knowledge of the podcast world and Trump's entrepreneurial and risk-taking nature (50m33s).
  • Trump's decision to appear on Rogan's podcast was seen as courageous and wise, as no other politician would have done a three-hour unedited interview (51m10s).
  • The Legacy Media and Democrats have consistently portrayed Rogan as a fringe figure and a gateway to the right, which is seen as ignorant and preposterous (51m22s).
  • Rogan's views are not typically associated with the right, as he is gay, mostly liberal, and pro-choice, but his willingness to talk to people from different perspectives has led to him being labeled a gateway to the right (51m51s).
  • The media is now trying to create their own version of Rogan, but they had previously tried to get him kicked off Spotify and refused to talk about him (52m24s).
  • The media's attempt to create their own Rogan is seen as hypocritical, as they had previously tried to silence him and are now trying to replicate his success (52m25s).

Gregg Hurwitz, the Democrats routinely say no to honest conversation (52m36s)

  • Gregg Hurwitz, a consultant and messenger to the Democrats, sent an invitation to Democrats in 2017 to appear on shows, stating that the reason they were not on the shows was because they said no, not because they were not invited (52m37s).
  • Dozens of high-ranking Democrats were invited to appear on a podcast, but all of them said no, with some willing to talk privately but not publicly (53m0s).
  • In March, an invitation was extended to 20 Republicans and 20 Democrats to discuss a bipartisan border deal, with 19 Republicans accepting and only one Democrat, Ilhan Omar, responding with a no (53m29s).
  • The Democrats' refusal to engage in conversations is seen as a reason for their declining influence in the media, with many turning to alternative platforms (54m12s).
  • The cultural apparatus, which the Democrats once had, is now being ignored, and they are struggling to adapt to the changing media landscape (54m15s).
  • The success of alternative media platforms, such as those hosted by Joe Rogan, is attributed to their willingness to engage in conversations and question things, which has been put on steroids with the rise of new technology (56m20s).
  • The Democrats' refusal to participate in these conversations has led to their decline, and they have themselves to blame for their current situation (57m9s).
  • The destruction of the Democrats' influence is seen as an opportunity for change, but it will likely take years for them to adapt and recover (56m6s).
  • The importance of having conversations and finding alliances is emphasized, with the goal of providing context and understanding to the audience (55m29s).
  • The role of storytelling in media is highlighted, with the aim of crafting a narrative that provides context and insight, rather than just presenting a series of facts (54m50s).

“Don’t Burn This Book” and “12 Rules For Life,” mainstream media would not acknowledge success (57m22s)

  • The first book, "Don't Burn This Book," became a New York Times bestseller, although its ranking may have been altered, and despite this success, the author could not get on MSNBC, CNN, or other mainstream media outlets, except for Fox (57m49s).
  • The book "12 Rules For Life" is believed to be the biggest selling non-fiction book in Canadian history, but it was not acknowledged by the New York Times, and the author did not receive any mainstream media interviews in the United States (58m18s).
  • The author's interview with Kathy Newman was a pivotal moment, gaining significant attention online and sparking a wide range of emotions, but it was largely ignored by mainstream media (58m37s).
  • Channel 4 posted the entire interview with Kathy Newman online without hesitation, which was surprising, and Kathy Newman initially seemed unbothered by the interview, even taking a selfie in her car, but later attempted to play the victim after realizing how poorly she was perceived (59m10s).

“If they had been 10 percent better, Kamala would be president” (59m31s)

  • The mainstream media ignored online discussions and trends, leading to a lack of understanding of the situation and an inability to perform a proper postmortem analysis, as seen in MSNBC's claims that certain groups are white supremacists (59m32s).
  • If the mainstream media had been 10% better, Kamala Harris might be the president-elect, as most people are willing to overlook certain issues, but the media's lies and misinformation went too far (1h0m3s).
  • Barack Obama gave a speech two days before the election, repeating the debunked hoax that Donald Trump said there were "very fine people on both sides" at a white supremacist rally (1h0m24s).
  • The hoax was previously debunked, but Obama ran with it again, and it was first addressed in mainstream media by a specific individual on Real Time, where James Carville was confronted with reality and struggled to respond (1h0m42s).
  • The incident suggests that Obama either believed the hoax, which is unlikely, or knowingly lied, thinking the ends justified the means (1h1m15s).
  • The election was, in part, a reaction to the lies and misinformation spread by the media and politicians, with Trump becoming an avatar for the backlash against these lies (1h2m11s).
  • Kamala Harris became an avatar for the machine that perpetuated these lies, and the last month of the election saw many radical events surrounding Trump (1h2m16s).

Trump’s coalition and the unifying principle (1h2m25s)

  • A diverse and unlikely coalition has formed around Donald Trump, including individuals such as Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy, and J.D. Vance, which is considered strange and comical (1h2m26s).
  • The unifying principle behind this coalition is their love for America, which is a low-resolution but common thread among them (1h3m17s).
  • This phenomenon is analogous to the formation of the new media, where a diverse group of individuals came together due to their devotion to open discourse and conversational freedom (1h3m51s).
  • The new media, which includes individuals like Joe Rogan, is characterized by their agenda-free conversational approach and a willingness to figure out what's going on without a predetermined narrative (1h4m16s).
  • The individuals in this group, including those who have gathered around Trump, are often unconventional and have started their own initiatives, which sets them apart from traditional organizations (1h4m47s).
  • The legacy media is experiencing its "death throes" due to its partisan and deceitful approach, which has led to a loss of credibility and trust among the public (1h4m59s).
  • Some exceptions to this trend include the New York Post and Fox News, which are trying to maintain a more balanced approach, but the liberal end of the legacy media has largely doomed itself to irrelevance (1h5m5s).
  • The legacy media's failure to adapt to the new media landscape and its willingness to lie and deceive the public has led to its downfall, with some individuals like Joe Scarborough and Joy Reid being accused of lying and promoting divisive rhetoric (1h5m41s).

Why we stopped falling for hoaxes - the information environment (1h6m59s)

  • The main difference between old media and new media is that old media corporations have frontmen who are not independent investigative journalists, whereas new media personalities like podcasters can be seen as the equivalent of investigative journalists, albeit not in the classical sense (1h7m0s).
  • The reason some individuals, including the speaker, did not fall for various hoaxes, such as the Jesse Smollett incident and COVID-19 misinformation, is not because they are geniuses, but possibly due to their independence from corporate influence and their ability to scavenge for information (1h8m17s).
  • The speaker notes that they did not immediately fall for the Jesse Smollett hoax, unlike some public figures like Kamala Harris, who tweeted that the incident proved America is a white supremacist nation (1h8m31s).
  • The speaker acknowledges that they, like others, were initially misled by COVID-19 information and even got vaccinated, but soon realized that the government would not leave people alone (1h9m5s).
  • The independence of new media personalities from corporate influence and advertisers is seen as a key factor in their ability to provide unbiased information and avoid falling for hoaxes (1h9m34s).
  • The information environment surrounding new media personalities, which allows them to scavenge for information and think independently, is also seen as a crucial factor in their ability to provide accurate information (1h9m46s).
  • The speaker notes that people on the cutting edge of the technological world, such as those in online media, are more likely to be aware of the latest information and trends (1h10m2s).
  • Information scavengers gather information from various sources, making it challenging to do so, and the information pipeline is not a Legacy Media monolith (1h10m11s).
  • Many people in the information ecosystem are not outright purveyors of falsehoods, but rather part of a monoculture where everyone thinks the same, making it difficult for them to see the truth (1h10m27s).
  • A video was created in 2019 stating that Joe Biden had the beginnings of dementia or something cognitively wrong with him, which was met with lies and denial (1h10m55s).
  • The amount of time spent looking at media information can be significant, with some people spending a couple of hours a day within the Twitter ecosystem (1h11m16s).
  • Taking time off from the information grid, such as the "August Off the Grid" approach, can help stay sane and avoid the hamster wheel of constant information consumption (1h11m26s).
  • The issue of Joe Biden's cognitive health was repeatedly denied and lied about, with people being told not to believe what they saw (1h11m40s).

Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and legacy (1h11m44s)

  • Joe Biden is still the president, but it seems like something has changed, and he is starting to realize he has a legacy to figure out in the next two months (1h11m44s).
  • If Biden is smart, and with the help of people like Jill, he has an incredible opportunity to take advantage of the situation and build a legacy (1h11m59s).
  • Biden was brought in as a moderate, but he governed like a radical, and now the left is trying to screw him by forcing him out (1h12m15s).
  • Biden has two months to say he has no reason to play with the left anymore and can build a legacy by doing things like winding down the Iraq war, helping Israel win their war, or getting American hostages back (1h12m30s).
  • Biden's legacy could be that he took the country to the precipice of hell but then did something right in the last two months of his administration (1h12m58s).
  • Some people think it's a good idea for Biden to do something right in the last two months to help the Democrats get back on track (1h13m26s).
  • In the last month of the campaign, strange people aggregated around Trump, which was a game-changer in putting concerns about a Trump administration to rest (1h13m33s).
  • Trump turned to the podcast world, which was a success, and he did shows like The Joe Rogan Experience, which was great, but YouTube tried to censor it (1h14m22s).
  • YouTube's attempt to censor the interview was beyond comprehension, and it's surprising that they still tried to do it despite knowing they would get caught (1h14m28s).
  • The issue is not that they lie, but that they put themselves in an ecosystem where lies become pervasive, and they still do it despite knowing they will get called out (1h14m45s).
  • YouTube took down an interview with RFK during the presidential election, which is surprising given the Democrats' concerns about Russian collusion and election interference (1h15m0s).
  • The connection between the Democrats and YouTube is evident in their willingness to censor an actual presidential candidate with an actual 2-hour interview (1h15m24s).
  • The Democrats' lack of access to new media is not a valid concern, given their ability to influence platforms like YouTube (1h15m33s).

Hit-pieces and total hypocrisy while rejecting new media (1h15m37s)

  • Mainstream media outlets, including The New York Times, have published hit-pieces targeting individuals with certain views, while also being hypocritical in their reporting (1h15m38s).
  • A 2019 New York Times cover story featured individuals such as Jordan, Thomas Sowell, Milton Friedman, and Tim Pool, labeling them as "YouTube leaders of the alt-right" and claiming that YouTube algorithms were driving people to the right (1h15m46s).
  • Despite having control over the narrative and the platforms, these media outlets accused individuals of manipulating the system, when in reality, they were the ones using their influence against those with opposing views (1h16m12s).
  • The situation has since changed, with some individuals facing consequences for their actions, and the importance of free speech has been highlighted as a result (1h16m21s).
  • The value of free speech in America is emphasized, particularly in comparison to other countries where it may not be as protected (1h16m27s).

Canada’s war against their own economy (1h16m36s)

  • The Canadian Liberal party has become interesting due to the current state of the world, with the party's politics now being noteworthy despite traditionally being seen as uneventful (1h16m37s).
  • The Minister of Environment, Gilbo, has been waging war against the resource economy in Canada, which is a significant part of the country's economy (1h16m56s).
  • Gilbo recently publicly declared himself a socialist, which is unusual given that the Liberal party was traditionally a centrist party, and the socialist party in Canada is actually the NDP (1h17m7s).
  • This declaration suggests that the Liberal party has been taken over by progressives and has shifted left of the Socialist Party, with this change now being openly acknowledged (1h17m31s).
  • The fact that the Liberal party has been taken over by progressives and is now openly proclaiming its socialist leanings may indicate a weakness or psychological issue within the party (1h17m39s).

The “good liberal,” and what Jordan has come to understand about Liberalism (1h17m45s)

  • The concept of the "good liberal" is discussed, with the idea that liberal individualism only works when the collective is well-established and can be taken for granted (1h17m45s).
  • This means that as long as the self-evident truths remain self-evident, liberal individualism can thrive, but when these truths are no longer self-evident, they need to be explained and defended (1h18m20s).
  • The idea is illustrated using the example of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, where the Shire is protected by the Striders, allowing the Hobbits to live freely inside the walls (1h18m44s).
  • The importance of defending the perimeters of society is emphasized, with the idea that freedom can only exist inside the walls if the borders are protected (1h19m12s).
  • The speaker has come to understand that the self-evident truths are no longer self-evident and need to be explained and defended, which has led to a shift towards conservatism (1h19m30s).
  • The speaker criticizes liberals for not confronting the chaos and instead letting the "crazy people" run around, and for not defending those who are holding the door against the chaos (1h20m33s).
  • The example of Alex Jones being taken off Twitter is given as an instance where people should have spoken out louder, but instead remained silent, thinking it would never come for them (1h21m25s).
  • The idea that Trump's main line, "they're not coming for me, they're coming for you," is relevant to this situation, as the speaker believes that the kicking off of Trump from Twitter was a perfect example of this (1h21m37s).
  • The speaker reflects on their own experience of being called to meet with Elon Musk at Twitter, but the context and outcome of this meeting are not specified (1h21m52s).

When Elon Musk wanted to meet Dave, breaking the censorship system (1h22m0s)

  • A meeting with Elon Musk took place at Twitter headquarters around 12:30 a.m., a week or two after he bought the platform, where Musk appeared tired with bloodshot eyes and was dressed casually (1h22m19s).
  • Musk expressed interest in discussing the issues with the speaker's Twitter account, offering to meet that night or the next day, showing his willingness to address the problem (1h22m40s).
  • The next day, the speaker met with a group of engineers who explained that the entire Twitter system was built to shadowban users, using filters and tags to limit their visibility and connections (1h23m0s).
  • The system was designed to silence certain users and promote others, contradicting the testimony of former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who claimed under oath that the platform did not shadowban users (1h23m18s).
  • Although Dorsey may have avoided legal trouble by using a technical loophole, as "shadowban" is not a technical term, the fact remains that the system was built to censor certain users (1h23m29s).
  • The discovery of this system and its intentions is seen as a significant revelation, highlighting the efforts to silence certain voices and promote others on the platform (1h23m41s).

Poilievre will be the next Prime Minister of Canada, Bill-C63 (1h23m58s)

  • Canada's current state is described as being taken over by radicals, with the country's per capita GDP being at 60% of that of Mississippi residents, despite having twice as expensive real estate (1h24m26s).
  • The current prime minister, Trudeau, is expected to be replaced by PO, and the liberals, who have shifted to the left, are predicted to be demolished in the next election (1h24m52s).
  • Trudeau is described as a wounded narcissist, who was initially charming and good-looking but lacked competence and the ability to see his own limitations (1h25m25s).
  • Trudeau's cabinet was set up with half women in 2015, which was seen as virtue signaling, and he failed to surround himself with experts despite his lack of knowledge (1h26m49s).
  • Trudeau's narcissism has led to a desire for revenge as his popularity declines, and he has tabled a bill, Bill C63, which aims to register news organizations and reduce online harms, but is seen as totalitarian (1h27m41s).
  • Bill C63 is considered more extreme than Bill C16, which was previously objected to, and is seen as a threat to freedom of speech (1h27m52s).
  • The bill has passed its first reading and is on its way to becoming law, which is a cause for concern (1h27m46s).
  • A bill has been proposed that initially aims to protect children from sexual predators online but also establishes a new bureaucracy with judiciary powers that can expand infinitely and is not bound by standard evidence rules (1h28m7s).
  • This bureaucracy has unlimited powers of seizure, investigation, and punishment, including life imprisonment for hate crimes against protected groups (1h28m30s).
  • A provincial magistrate can order electronic surveillance and house arrest for up to a year if they believe someone might commit a hate crime in the future, based on their social media activity (1h28m52s).
  • Individuals can be required to provide bodily fluid samples when requested to ensure they are not engaging in certain behaviors, such as smoking pot, although this requirement seems to be more relevant to domestic abuse cases (1h29m20s).
  • The proposed bill raises concerns about pre-crime punishment, similar to the concept in the movie Minority Report, where individuals can be penalized for potential future actions rather than actual crimes (1h29m8s).
  • The bill's provisions seem to be overly broad and could be used to target individuals for their online activities or perceived potential to commit hate crimes (1h30m3s).

Trudeau still has time to make things much worse (1h30m11s)

  • The current situation in Canada is concerning, with the potential for things to worsen under Trudeau's leadership, especially with his extended time in power, which could lead to revenge and damage to the country (1h30m12s).
  • Steven Guilbeault, a progressive politician, is already declaring war on the western provinces, particularly Alberta, despite Quebec's dependence on Alberta's financial support (1h30m36s).
  • The next year will be challenging for Canada, and when Poilievre takes power, he will face significant difficulties in addressing the country's problems, which are worse than Canadians believe (1h31m5s).
  • Canadians are still trapped in a centrist-progressive mindset, unaware of the dangers of radical leftists, and many are fleeing the country, with a notable increase in "snowbirds" staying in Florida (1h31m36s).
  • There are signs of improvement, such as Daniel Smith, the premier of Alberta, and Poilievre, who seem to have the spine to stand up for working-class people and may bring about positive change (1h32m21s).
  • The Democrats' decision to abandon the white working class under Hillary Clinton's leadership was a calculated risk for power, which ultimately led to Trump's rise and understanding of working-class people (1h32m53s).
  • The fragmentation of news sources and the rise of new fringes on the internet can be a challenge, but the mainstream media's role in keeping the "Overton window" in check is a valid argument (1h33m26s).
  • The current state of the world is being compared to a dance, with the addition of AI being the next challenge, indicating a significant shift in the way things are done (1h33m40s).
  • A picture of Jordan Peterson and the host was shown, which was taken a couple of weeks ago, and they both looked better in the picture than in real life due to Photoshop (1h33m59s).
  • The host mentioned that they have a team of people who can do various tricks with images, including using AI filters to make their eyes appear wider (1h34m15s).
  • The host and Jordan Peterson have a long history of working together, including building a tech company and trying to do other projects together (1h34m31s).
  • When Jordan Peterson was starting to get sick, he had an idea for a project, and the host invested $100,000 in it, but Jordan Peterson later told the host to take the money back because he wouldn't be able to be involved in the project (1h34m51s).
  • The host used the money to start Locals, which ended up working out well, and they were able to be on stage together with RFK and Tulsi just weeks before the election (1h35m10s).
  • The host and Jordan Peterson reflected on the wild and crazy ride they've been on, and how it's not over yet (1h35m29s).
  • The conversation with the host, Dave Rubin, will continue on the Daily Wire side, and viewers are invited to join and support the Daily Wire, which has been a staunch defender of free speech (1h35m42s).

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