Making Sense with Sam Harris #459 — More From Sam: Corruption, Immigration, The End of White-Collar Work, and More
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Feb 13, 2026 
Jaron, a frequent conversational partner who discusses current events and cultural topics, joins Sam for a wide-ranging chat. They tackle Trump’s UAE crypto deal and national security concerns. They debate rapid AI timelines and the looming end of many white-collar jobs. They also cover immigration impacts on population, potential U.S. action in Iran, and recent cultural controversies.
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Selling Security For Personal Gain
- Trump's reported UAE crypto deal appears to have traded U.S. national security for private profit.
- Sam Harris argues this deal materially undermines U.S. leadership and military preparedness for personal gain.
Chips, Allies, And Strategic Risk
- The UAE deal included U.S. AI chips that we explicitly don't want China to possess.
- Sam highlights the danger of giving advanced chips to partners who conduct military exercises with China.
AI Timelines Are Accelerating
- AI timelines are compressing as industry leaders predict rapid capability gains.
- Sam finds Mustafa's projection of near-term white-collar automation credible and socially alarming.