Summary
Overview
Sam Harris and his co-host discuss various political and cultural topics in this Thanksgiving week episode, including reactions to controversial political figures, the nature of public personas versus private character, the disconnect from social media, and philosophical questions about luck, compassion, and societal responsibility. The conversation covers figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Elon Musk, and Tucker Carlson, examining their public behaviors and potential character defects.
Live Show Updates and Portland Ticket Sales
Sam reflects on his recent Chicago show and discusses upcoming tour dates for 2026. The conversation takes an interesting turn when addressing Portland's notably slow ticket sales compared to other cities like New York, which sold out rapidly. Sam candidly warns Portland audiences that if sales don't improve, the show may be canceled with full transparency about the reason.
- Chicago show was Sam's best performance yet, with the material being about 20% different and tighter than the original
- New York tickets sold out in about two hours, reaching 80% capacity almost immediately
- Portland ticket sales are significantly underperforming, raising concerns about show viability
" If you don't come out, we will cancel Portland and we will not lie about why we canceled it. We will say that we didn't sell enough tickets in Portland if that's what happens. "
Marjorie Taylor Greene's Apology and Political Character
The discussion turns to Marjorie Taylor Greene's recent apology to Dana Bash about her role in divisive politics. Sam expresses deep skepticism about the authenticity of her transformation, given her history with conspiracy theories including Jewish space lasers and QAnon. He questions whether people with such extreme views can genuinely change within a short news cycle.
- Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared entirely normal in a six-minute clip apologizing for her divisive political role
- Sam notes it's impossible to exaggerate how extreme her past conspiracy theories have been
- Similar pattern observed with Matt Gaetz appearing normal on Bill Maher's show despite his controversial reputation
" She was out there with Jewish space lasers and QAnon. It's hard to exaggerate. It's actually impossible to exaggerate how crazy she's been. "
📚 6 more sections below
Sign up to unlock the complete summary with all insights, key points, and quotes
Get this summary + all future Making Sense with Sam Harris episodes in your inbox
100% Free • Unsubscribe Anytime
Sign up now and we'll send you the complete summary of this episode, plus get notified when new Making Sense with Sam Harris episodes are released—delivered straight to your inbox within minutes.