Overview of #455 — More From Sam: Guns, Propaganda, AI, and Power Unbound
In this short, free portion of a longer subscriber-only episode, Sam Harris responds to recent news and cultural moments. He focuses primarily on a deadly Minneapolis shooting by federal immigration agents (identified in the transcript as Alex Preddy), sharply criticizing the lack of outrage from American gun-rights advocates and the official narrative that followed. He also touches on Iran’s protest casualties, climate skepticism (including a Candace Owens anecdote), a tongue-in-cheek reference to Trump and hurricanes, and a brief cultural note about Nicki Minaj appearing with Donald Trump. The episode includes host housekeeping: tour dates, Waking Up app recognition, and a subscription prompt.
Key topics discussed
- Killing of Alex Preddy (transcript spelling) by federal immigration/Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis
- Sam’s critique of the officers’ conduct and training
- The official narrative blaming the victim vs. what the video shows
- The surprising silence of pro-gun communities
- Media and public reaction
- Megyn Kelly’s televised take blaming the victim and Sam’s rebuttal
- Broader concerns about propaganda and government denial
- Iran protests
- Updated casualty estimates (from ~12–15k to possibly 30k)
- Sam’s view that outside help to topple the regime may be warranted
- Climate and public attention
- Climate risk deprioritized amid immediate crises
- A mocking reference to a tweet by Candace Owens about unusual ice
- Political and cultural moments
- Nicki Minaj appearing with Donald Trump (brief mention)
- Satirical comment about Trump renaming the Gulf of Mexico as “Gulf of America” and hurricanes “disappearing”
- Podcast business notes
- Waking Up app named App of the Day in Apple Store
- Upcoming tour dates and subscriber-only full-episode access
Main takeaways
- Sam finds the Minneapolis killing both grotesque and emblematic of deeper problems: poor vetting/training of federal agents and a worrying collapse of public accountability.
- The muted reaction from committed gun-rights constituencies to a federal law-enforcement killing undermines the rhetoric that the Second Amendment is a safeguard against government tyranny.
- Video evidence, Sam argues, undermines official claims about the victim’s behavior as justification for lethal force—he stresses that once a person is restrained and disarmed, killing them is unconscionable.
- On Iran, casualty estimates have risen sharply; Sam leans toward supporting efforts to help topple the regime despite the uncertainty of aftermath.
- Climate remains an existential, slow-moving crisis, but public and political attention have shifted to more immediate or sensational issues; this is a problematic trend.
- Cultural and political theatrics (celebrity endorsements, renaming maps) are used to satirize or distract from substantive policy failures.
Notable quotes / insights
- “This, more than anything that has happened in my lifetime, is a complete repudiation of the Second Amendment.” — on gun-rights advocates’ silence after the killing
- “He was fully disarmed, restrained, and then they shot him.” — summary of what the footage shows, and why Sam finds the killing indefensible
- “Where the hell are they?” — Sam asking why armed civilian defenders haven’t responded to federal overreach (as they say they would)
- On climate: “It would be great if we lived in a world where we could look at things that subtle, but we’ve got… it’s like the house is on fire.” — arguing climate risks are being deprioritized
Context and caveats
- The transcript uses the name “Alex Preddy”; transcript-based names may be misspelled. The summary preserves that spelling with that caveat.
- This episode excerpt is the free portion; Sam indicates the full conversation (including additional topics like AI and power) is available to subscribers at samharris.org.
- Some commentary is conversational and rhetorical (satire about Trump and hurricanes); readers should note the tone shifts between serious critique and humor.
Calls to action / practical next steps
- For listeners who want the full discussion (including extended thoughts on AI and power), subscribe to the Making Sense Podcast at samharris.org.
- If interested in in-person events, check samharris.org for tour dates and tickets.
- Consider reviewing the available footage and reputable reporting on the Minneapolis incident and Iran casualty estimates for fuller context before forming conclusions.
Episode metadata
- Host: Sam Harris
- Episode title: #455 — More From Sam: Guns, Propaganda, AI, and Power Unbound
- Format: Short free excerpt of a longer subscriber episode (full episode behind paywall)
- Notable housekeeping: Waking Up app recognized as Apple App of the Day; tour announcement for multiple North American cities