I had another delightful conversation with Yassine “Public Defender, Saracen Invader” Meskhout. We discuss his memoir in progress, how we each use AI, our respective political histories, reactions to the new administration, how the Democratic party went wrong in recent years, and much more. We recorded in mid-February, but everything should still be relevant, despite the disorienting pace of recent political developments.
I didn’t record an intro to this conversation—despite claiming I’d do so at the beginning—but at least I’ve got timestamps now! Progress is progress, even if it’s slow.
Below are links to our first conversation, Yassine’s substack, and two of his relevant posts: one on AI and another on the the pro-Palestinian movement.
I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as we enjoyed recording it— more to come!
Timestamps
00:00 : Yassine’s memoir, currently in progress. (apologies for the lag around 4:15-4:20)
4:50 - How we use AI with writing and editing/revision. Using “AI disclaimers” in our writing. Chat GPT vs. my wife. AI helping me write hard-sci-fi.
23:08 - Using AI for a fitness audit and as personal trainer; the satisfaction of weight lifting and strength training; the benefits of having a highly regimented, disciplined schedule
28:00 - Some personal history; me almost joining the military at the height of the Iraq war.
32:48 - HBO’s John Adams, outrage at a police shooting as a formative moment in the US Revolution. Thoughts on the “post-liberalism” discourse.
39:30 - Our reactions to the 2024 Presidential election. Thoughts on how the ideological landscape has changed over the last 20 years.
53:30 - How the left-wing of the Democratic Party went wrong. Tolerance vs. mandatory affirmation. “Live and let live” and “don’t say you’re better than me” as American ideals.
1:02:02 - Yassine on Yarvin on the origins of woke.
1:06:51 - Michael Moore’s masterpiece Canadian Bacon. Should we buy Greenland?
1:15:32 - Our respective voting records
1:31:15 - Thoughts on what the Democratic party can do to win; internal conflicts within the movement, can the Democrats be ideologically diverse again?
1:42:28 - Tactical and strategic failures of the pro-palestinian movement in the US. Yassine’s concerns with the lack of introspection within the American left.
1:56:00 - Wrapping up
Links
Our First Conversation, Dec. 15, 2024:
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