Wisdom of Crowds

Jonny Thakkar, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Swarthmore and founding editor of The Point, challenges the left’s focus on equality as uninspiring. He and the hosts debate whether liberal neutrality empties politics, why longing migrated to the tech right, and how visions of human flourishing, capacities, and concrete public goods might reconnect politics with meaning.

Cameron Kasky, activist who co-founded March for Our Lives and shifted into Palestine advocacy, joins to map changing American politics. He recounts Parkland’s impact, explains his turn to pro‑Palestine positions, and discusses insurgent primary strategy. They debate money, AIPAC influence, Rubio’s Iran remarks, and whether Democrats can reshape foreign‑policy and party dynamics.

They unpack alarming trends in young adults retreating from dating, marriage, sex and parenthood. They highlight demographic and political risks from low fertility and reduced immigration. They explore the rise of looksmaxxing and the “Clavicular” manosphere as men turn inward. They debate whether prosperity, technology or community rebuilding will reshape these shifts.

Henry Shevlin, a Cambridge philosopher focused on AI ethics and consciousness research, explores agency in modern systems and the line between tools and moral entities. He discusses agentic coding, examples of autonomy, and experiments showing emergent agent behavior. The conversation covers hallucinations, types of creativity in AI, recursive self-improvement, and the need for careful governance.

This episode features a full-length debate between Shadi Hamid and Trita Parsi —two thinkers who fundamentally disagree about the role of American power in the world. Released jointly with The Disagreement podcast and hosted by Alex Grodd, the conversation reflects a shared Wisdom of Crowds ethos — one that treats disagreement not as a failure of understanding, but as a tool for thinking more clearly about first principles. Rather than trading talking points, Hamid and Parsi engage each other’s strongest arguments in a sustained, good-faith exchange.Shadi draws on themes from The Case for American Power to defend a position that has fallen out of favor across much of the political spectrum: that American power, when used with moral purpose, can still play a necessary role in reducing global suffering. His argument is aimed in part at a disillusioned left that has come to see U.S. power primarily as a source of harm rather than a potential instrument of humanitarian good. Against this, Trita — one of the most incisive critics of American interventionism — offers a sustained challenge, grounded in historical failures, unintended consequences, and the limits of even well-intentioned power.Does the world need the United States to act, and if so, when — and at what cost? How should past disasters constrain present ambitions? And if American power is curtailed, what realistic alternatives exist, and who bears responsibility when things go wrong? This debate doesn’t resolve those questions — but it models what it looks like to take them seriously, in conversation with someone who sees the world very differently.Required Reading/ Listening: * The Disagreement podcast. * Shadi Hamid, The Case for American Power. (Amazon) * Shadi’s 2024 debate with Daniel Bessner hosted by The Disagreement. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wisdomofcrowds.live/subscribe

Laura K. Field, political theorist and author of Furious Minds, maps the intellectual currents behind the MAGA new right. She outlines core ideas like economic nationalism and strict borders. The conversation traces how essays become policy, dissects factional schisms, and probes liberalism’s blindspots and how that opened space for radicalized boundaries.

The discussion dives deep into the U.S. intervention in Venezuela, exploring the tension between power and morality. Shadi and Damir debate the implications of foreign policy decisions and the risk of chaos following military action. They question whether U.S. interests prioritize oil over democracy and examine the role of shared values in alliances. Concerns arise about the legality of abducting leaders and the potential impact on global powers like China and Russia. The conversation wraps up with reflections on American resilience amid political fractures.

As the year winds down, Shadi and Damir hosted Michael McFaul, a professor at Stanford University and former special assistant to President Obama and U.S. ambassador to Russia. His new book, Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder is as good a start as any in trying to figure out how U.S. foreign policy could — and should — develop in the wake of a second Trump presidency.Required Reading:* Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder, by Michael McFaul (Amazon).* The Case for American Power, by Shadi Hamid (Amazon). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wisdomofcrowds.live/subscribe

Osita Nwanevu, journalist and author of 'The Right of the People', argues for a new American founding, highlighting democratic deficits and disenfranchisement in institutions. Sam Goldman, a political scholar from the Hamilton School, defends the Constitution’s stability and unity. The discussion unveils the balance between democratic ideals and historical inequalities while examining the Constitution’s role as a civic covenant. Both delve into the prospects of reforming the system while addressing fears of political upheaval and the importance of representation.

Nils Gilman, an intellectual historian and editor specializing in modern politics, joins the discussion to explore why some political movements, like Trump’s nationalism, resonate more than others, such as climate action. He delves into the decline of communal structures and institutions, linking them to increasing social alienation. Gilman also examines the role of charisma in political mobilization, debating the need for compelling narratives to unite societies and inspire collective action in today's fragmented world.