Episode Details

Air Date 7/9/2025

It's an old joke that "military intelligence" is a good example of an oxymoron so I just asked an AI chatbot to finish a joke about what a military becomes when they implement artificial intelligence. It said, "an oxymoron squared - or as the generals call it, "strategically enhanced stupidity with a confidence interval of 95%" which is not funny but still managed to be pretty on point regarding the dangers of overconfidence that inevitably follows from the implementation of new technology.

Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Full Show Notes

Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!

Join our Discord community!

KEY POINTS

KP 1: Empire of AI w/ Karen Hao - Why Is This Happening - Air Date 6-3-25

KP 2: The REAL Reason Investors Are Going All In on Palantir - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-24-25

KP 3: The New Military Industry Complex w Sam Biddle Part 1- Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 6-5-25

KP 4: Jeff Hauser on DOGE After Musk, Katya Schwenk on Boeing Deal - CounterSpin - Air Date 6-6-25

KP 5: Resisting "Cop City" in America's Most Surveilled, Unequal City w/ Micah Herskind Part 1 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 6-25-25

KP 6: Empire of AI: Karen Hao & Roger McNamee Expose Sam Altman, Musk & Big Tech - The Nerd Reich - Air Date 6-16-25

KP 7: Is AI Productivity Worth Our Humanity w/ Prof. Michael Sandel - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-26-25

(00:55:20) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On the coming merger between big tech and the military

DEEPER DIVES

(01:00:39) SECTION A: SURVEILLANCE

A1: Ray Brescia, The Private Is Political: Identity and Democracy in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism Part 1 - New Books in Political Science - Air Date 2-17-25

A2: The Shady World of Surveillance Pricing (Ft. Lina Khan) - Robert Reich - Air Date 6-10-25

A3: The Trump Administration Is Building a National Citizenship System - Trump's Terms - Air Date 6-30-25

A4: Empire of AI w/ Karen Hao Part 2 - Why Is This Happening - Air Date 6-3-25

A5: Cool Science Radio - Air Date 1-16-25