Episode Details

This is our reality. I suppose we have to talk about it.

Everyone in a position to know is freaking out about AI potentially killing everyone this decade and wants to pace the frontier, and people are finally listening.

It only took a few days for the conversation to fully pivot to the counteroffensive, where the Usual Suspects and those they recruited attacked anyone and everyone who dared point out that we are in danger, with every attack they can think of, usually without substance or any attempt at understanding.

Sigh. I knew what I signed up for.

Table of Contents

1. Hold Your Fire.
2. If You Don’t Like the Weather.
3. Trump Does Not Take Kindly.
4. Trump Goes Full ‘Hoax’.
5. This Is Not About Data Centers, Mr. President.
6. I Am The Hoax Buster, I Am The Hoax Buster, I Am The Walrus.
7. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Is a Lying Liar.
8. Trump Quietly Draws Key Distinction.
9. Calling For Pacing the Frontier Is Bad For AI Stock Prices.
10. People On The Internet Sometimes Lie.
11. Origins of Cynicism.
12. Ineffective Egoism.
13. The McCarthyist Faction Attacks [...]

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Outline:

(00:44) Hold Your Fire

(01:37) If You Don't Like the Weather

(02:33) Trump Does Not Take Kindly

(05:12) Trump Goes Full 'Hoax'

(06:36) This Is Not About Data Centers, Mr. President

(08:06) I Am The Hoax Buster, I Am The Hoax Buster, I Am The Walrus

(10:10) Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Is a Lying Liar

(14:20) Trump Quietly Draws Key Distinction

(15:21) Calling For Pacing the Frontier Is Bad For AI Stock Prices

(19:05) People On The Internet Sometimes Lie

(19:54) Origins of Cynicism

(22:18) Ineffective Egoism

(24:53) The McCarthyist Faction Attacks METR

(32:25) Other Key Republicans React

(36:49) David Sacks Stops Being Plausibly Constructive

(37:39) Federal Trade Commission Chooses Danger

(38:39) Chris Lehane Heel Face Turn

(40:43) A Matter of Trust

(41:55) China Calls It Fearmongering

(43:17) Pick Up The Phone

(47:41) If You Want To Beat China So Badly You Should Act Like It

(48:49) Never Go Full Hoax

(49:55) Trump Uses AI For Things

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First published:
September 16th, 2026

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Kqgco8vLFMeBhdrQY/trump-goes-full-hoax-on-ai-existential-risk

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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Images from the article:

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