Episode

#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
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3:47:31
Published: Thu Dec 15 2022
Description

Michael Malice is a political thinker, podcaster, author, and anarchist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - House of Macadamias: https://houseofmacadamias.com/lex and use code LEX to get 20% of your first order - InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex to get 20% off - NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour - SimpliSafe: https://simplisafe.com/lex EPISODE LINKS: Michael's Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelmalice Michael's Community: https://malice.locals.com Michael's YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5tj5QCpJKIl-KIa4Gib5Xw Michael's Website: http://michaelmalice.com/about Your Welcome podcast: https://bit.ly/30q8oz1 Books: The White Pill (book) http://whitepillbook.com The Anarchist Handbook (book): https://amzn.to/3yUb2f0 The New Right (book): https://amzn.to/34gxLo3 Dear Reader (book): https://amzn.to/2HPPlHS PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: - Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcast - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) - Introduction (07:43) - Santa and the White Pill (10:30) - Marxism and Anarchism (25:48) - The case for socialism (29:59) - Human nature and ideology (38:20) - Cynicism (54:05) - Twitter (58:46) - October Revolution (1:01:56) - Trotsky, Lenin, and Stalin (1:06:22) - Communism (1:30:08) - Suppression of speech (1:52:04) - Twitter Files (1:59:08) - Self-publishing (2:12:27) - Kulaks and starvation (2:49:42) - The Great Terror (2:58:00) - Lavrentiy Beria (3:04:25) - Joseph Stalin (3:13:00) - Iron Curtain (3:25:29) - Ideologies vs leaders (3:29:21) - Emma Goldman (3:33:41) - White pill moments (3:45:04) - Hope for the future

Chapters
The "Maybe You Will Too" podcast has a new sponsor - House of Macadamias - a company that delivers high quality and healthy macadamia nuts straight to their customer's houses.
00:00 - 02:03 (02:03)
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House of Macadamias
Summary

The "Maybe You Will Too" podcast has a new sponsor - House of Macadamias - a company that delivers high quality and healthy macadamia nuts straight to their customer's houses. The episode also briefly mentions other sponsors.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The speaker praises the craftsmanship and nutritional value of snacks made with love and ingredients cared for, and also talks about their desire for an infinite number of security cameras for a 3D reconstruction project, acknowledging the importance of using the best tools for running a business.
02:03 - 08:13 (06:10)
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Snacks
Summary

The speaker praises the craftsmanship and nutritional value of snacks made with love and ingredients cared for, and also talks about their desire for an infinite number of security cameras for a 3D reconstruction project, acknowledging the importance of using the best tools for running a business.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The concept of the "black pill", which is the idea of giving up on the world due to too much suffering, is discussed, along with the historical context of socialism, communism, and anarchism at the end of the 19th century.
08:13 - 13:21 (05:08)
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Socialism
Summary

The concept of the "black pill", which is the idea of giving up on the world due to too much suffering, is discussed, along with the historical context of socialism, communism, and anarchism at the end of the 19th century.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
In the late 19th century, modernist thinking allowed for intellectualism to flourish, and it was an exciting time for people to explore new ideas.
13:21 - 19:50 (06:28)
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Modernism
Summary

In the late 19th century, modernist thinking allowed for intellectualism to flourish, and it was an exciting time for people to explore new ideas. However, advocating for violent actions could lead to disastrous consequences, as starting a fire could burn the house down.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
This podcast episode discusses the consequences of creating a space for invasion by demagogues or foreign sources due to violence.
19:50 - 23:06 (03:15)
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Violence
Summary

This podcast episode discusses the consequences of creating a space for invasion by demagogues or foreign sources due to violence. The vacuum is usually filled by a harsher figure who doesn't prioritize civil liberties.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The argument for democratic socialism is that the state would take care of everyone and ensure that everyone is taken care of.
23:06 - 32:09 (09:03)
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Democratic Socialism
Summary

The argument for democratic socialism is that the state would take care of everyone and ensure that everyone is taken care of. The argument against democratic socialism is that if the state were to control everything, it could be used as a mechanism for capitalist control, and it's not fair that certain people have advantages in life simply because of their birthright.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The podcast discusses the various winter holidays celebrated in Russia, such as New Year's and Christmas, and their cultural significance to the Russian people.
32:09 - 37:39 (05:29)
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Russian culture
Summary

The podcast discusses the various winter holidays celebrated in Russia, such as New Year's and Christmas, and their cultural significance to the Russian people.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The tendency towards cynicism is a common characteristic in many societies throughout history.
37:39 - 41:05 (03:25)
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Society
Summary

The tendency towards cynicism is a common characteristic in many societies throughout history. People often hide their pessimism behind the label of "realism."

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
In this podcast, the speakers discuss how to deal with negative feedback and how to overcome people who only focus on criticism, rather than constructive feedback.
41:05 - 43:55 (02:50)
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Feedback
Summary

In this podcast, the speakers discuss how to deal with negative feedback and how to overcome people who only focus on criticism, rather than constructive feedback.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The speaker discusses how joy can be found in imperfect things and people, even those who may be flawed.
43:55 - 50:23 (06:28)
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Joy
Summary

The speaker discusses how joy can be found in imperfect things and people, even those who may be flawed.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The speaker discusses the movie "Fight Club", comparing it to the character in the movie who is a "30 year old boy", and mentions how the movie inspired them to write a novel.
50:23 - 55:01 (04:38)
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Fight Club
Summary

The speaker discusses the movie "Fight Club", comparing it to the character in the movie who is a "30 year old boy", and mentions how the movie inspired them to write a novel.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
Joe Rogan discusses the significance of audience-provided context on Twitter to identify and negate propaganda and disingenuous ideas promoted by some individuals in public discourse.
55:01 - 58:40 (03:38)
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Twitter
Summary

Joe Rogan discusses the significance of audience-provided context on Twitter to identify and negate propaganda and disingenuous ideas promoted by some individuals in public discourse.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The establishment of a new government requires a careful and steady pace to adjust and reach the intended goals.
58:40 - 1:05:11 (06:30)
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Government Establishment
Summary

The establishment of a new government requires a careful and steady pace to adjust and reach the intended goals. A historical example of this can be seen in Germany's demand for land occupation after a war, with the government needing to strategically stall to preserve their assets.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The reluctance to think and justify oneself can stem from a mix of fear and anger that is often directed towards others, as seen in Stalin's button to stop applause.
1:05:11 - 1:11:48 (06:37)
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Psychology
Summary

The reluctance to think and justify oneself can stem from a mix of fear and anger that is often directed towards others, as seen in Stalin's button to stop applause. Wearing a Santa outfit may provide acceptance because people dislike being made to think, which threatens their status and power.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
Ideological disputes can serve as a facade for power struggles, which can happen in any type of government or organization, including totalitarian countries.
1:11:48 - 1:18:56 (07:08)
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Ideological Disputes
Summary

Ideological disputes can serve as a facade for power struggles, which can happen in any type of government or organization, including totalitarian countries. The Russian saying, "If there's no water in the tap, who drank it all, the Jews?" exemplifies how scapegoating operates in these situations.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
In discussing atrocities and genocides that have occurred throughout history, it's important to remember that the people involved were just that - people.
1:18:56 - 1:24:44 (05:47)
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Atrocities
Summary

In discussing atrocities and genocides that have occurred throughout history, it's important to remember that the people involved were just that - people. While their actions cannot be excused, it's crucial to recognize the humanity in them and the familial bonds that existed, and acknowledge the tragedy of what happened.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
Comedian Joe Rogan shares his thoughts on the poor understanding in America of the liberal Muslim countries, particularly the fight of women in these countries for their basic rights such as education and dressing as they please.
1:24:44 - 1:29:08 (04:24)
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Women’s Rights
Summary

Comedian Joe Rogan shares his thoughts on the poor understanding in America of the liberal Muslim countries, particularly the fight of women in these countries for their basic rights such as education and dressing as they please.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The podcast explores the concept of Lysenkoism in Soviet biology and how it was a direct result of Marxist ideology's emphasis on materialism over genetics.
1:29:08 - 1:38:07 (08:58)
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Lysenkoism
Summary

The podcast explores the concept of Lysenkoism in Soviet biology and how it was a direct result of Marxist ideology's emphasis on materialism over genetics.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The rise of QAnon believers who subscribe to the belief that Trump is the shadow president and expect mass arrests, highlights the danger of viral misinformation.
1:38:07 - 1:49:13 (11:06)
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Media, Truth, QAnon
Summary

The rise of QAnon believers who subscribe to the belief that Trump is the shadow president and expect mass arrests, highlights the danger of viral misinformation. Ensuring truth in media is important to combat the construction of elaborate, false narratives that make it difficult to discern facts from lies.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The podcast discusses how the philosophy of Albert Camus can provide insight into modern issues regarding relationships and society, similar to Ryan Holiday's books on Stoicism.
1:49:13 - 1:51:47 (02:33)
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Philosophy
Summary

The podcast discusses how the philosophy of Albert Camus can provide insight into modern issues regarding relationships and society, similar to Ryan Holiday's books on Stoicism.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The news and information that people consume on a daily basis can be sculpted, edited, and guided by powerful people who have a vested interest in maintaining their power, leading to the manipulation of facts and misinformation.
1:51:47 - 2:01:03 (09:16)
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Information Manipulation
Summary

The news and information that people consume on a daily basis can be sculpted, edited, and guided by powerful people who have a vested interest in maintaining their power, leading to the manipulation of facts and misinformation. This issue is not politically inclined, and it is important to acknowledge that.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The speaker describes the advantages of self-publishing in the digital age, including the ability to publish a book quickly and directly engage with readers.
2:01:03 - 2:06:26 (05:22)
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self-publishing
Summary

The speaker describes the advantages of self-publishing in the digital age, including the ability to publish a book quickly and directly engage with readers.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The podcast shares childhood beliefs about Santa Claus where the perfect being was just a regular dude and the conversation recalls memories when they first realized the giant person in a red suit was not real.
2:06:26 - 2:11:50 (05:24)
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Childhood Memories
Summary

The podcast shares childhood beliefs about Santa Claus where the perfect being was just a regular dude and the conversation recalls memories when they first realized the giant person in a red suit was not real.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
During the Soviet Union's efforts to collectivize farms, there were grave consequences for being associated with kulaks - wealthier peasants who opposed the government's actions.
2:11:50 - 2:22:12 (10:21)
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Soviet Union
Summary

During the Soviet Union's efforts to collectivize farms, there were grave consequences for being associated with kulaks - wealthier peasants who opposed the government's actions. Calling someone a kulak had potentially lethal effects, leading to people abusing the label for their own gain.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The speaker discusses the consensus in the entertainment industry about Stalin being the good guy and their lack of understanding of what was really going on in Soviet Russia.
2:22:12 - 2:29:11 (06:58)
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Soviet Russia
Summary

The speaker discusses the consensus in the entertainment industry about Stalin being the good guy and their lack of understanding of what was really going on in Soviet Russia.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The collectivization policy of Joseph Stalin in Ukraine caused immense suffering, resulting in a contentious relationship between Ukraine and Russia that persists till date.
2:29:11 - 2:41:29 (12:18)
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Ukraine
Summary

The collectivization policy of Joseph Stalin in Ukraine caused immense suffering, resulting in a contentious relationship between Ukraine and Russia that persists till date. While Stalin may not have intended the suffering, his goals were apparent.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The widespread use of smartphones and camera phones makes it difficult to hide atrocities in the modern era, even though people may be too afraid or too polite to speak out about them.
2:41:29 - 2:46:35 (05:05)
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Atrocities
Summary

The widespread use of smartphones and camera phones makes it difficult to hide atrocities in the modern era, even though people may be too afraid or too polite to speak out about them.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The speaker discusses an incident that they are familiar with, but others find it confusing why a group would kill their own people.
2:46:35 - 2:51:38 (05:02)
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Unfamiliar incident
Summary

The speaker discusses an incident that they are familiar with, but others find it confusing why a group would kill their own people. Additionally, in the past, people were interested in free love because the idea of a private bond between a husband and wife was seen as bourgeois and old-fashioned.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The Soviet Union under Stalin had a culture where everyone was encouraged to turn people in and anyone could be accused of being an enemy of the people, resulting in widespread executions, including the secret police, and the lowering of the death penalty for children as young as 12 or 14.
2:51:38 - 3:01:21 (09:42)
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Soviet Union
Summary

The Soviet Union under Stalin had a culture where everyone was encouraged to turn people in and anyone could be accused of being an enemy of the people, resulting in widespread executions, including the secret police, and the lowering of the death penalty for children as young as 12 or 14.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The closer one is to the top of a hierarchy, the greater ability they have to stop evil actions but also the more freedom they have to do so.
3:01:21 - 3:07:01 (05:40)
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Responsibility
Summary

The closer one is to the top of a hierarchy, the greater ability they have to stop evil actions but also the more freedom they have to do so. However, if a wrong decision is made, it is the job of those surrounding them to address it as the fault of external factors rather than placing the blame solely on the individual.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The Russian culture takes pride in ruthlessness and toughness, to the point that some sufferings are not enough to change opinions.
3:07:01 - 3:12:34 (05:32)
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Russian Culture
Summary

The Russian culture takes pride in ruthlessness and toughness, to the point that some sufferings are not enough to change opinions. Stalin's economic policies failed, but he doubled down and resorted to torture to suppress any criticism.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The Berlin Wall fell 30 years ago, but it didn't happen overnight.
3:12:34 - 3:21:24 (08:50)
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Berlin Wall
Summary

The Berlin Wall fell 30 years ago, but it didn't happen overnight. The Christmas story, as it's known, recounts how it all came together in a moment of complete confusion, fear, and massive crowds on both sides of the wall.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
A man experiences culture shock upon seeing the variety and size of produce available in a U.S. supermarket, despite being taught that Americans were poor and starving.
3:21:24 - 3:27:03 (05:39)
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Culture Shock
Summary

A man experiences culture shock upon seeing the variety and size of produce available in a U.S. supermarket, despite being taught that Americans were poor and starving.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The government having a monopoly on news can lead to a lack of objective discourse and hinder the presence of a feedback loop mechanism for identifying and addressing problems.
3:27:03 - 3:32:33 (05:29)
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News Monopoly
Summary

The government having a monopoly on news can lead to a lack of objective discourse and hinder the presence of a feedback loop mechanism for identifying and addressing problems. The ideologies that promote this concept can appeal to intellectuals who desire the system to work flawlessly.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The accusations that Biden is a communist aroused during the 2020 US elections, causing confusion among the audience, who expected more books on communism, especially regarding Eastern European countries.
3:32:33 - 3:40:31 (07:58)
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US Elections 2020
Summary

The accusations that Biden is a communist aroused during the 2020 US elections, causing confusion among the audience, who expected more books on communism, especially regarding Eastern European countries.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast
The hope for the next generation to have a better life in the country is not unrealistic.
3:40:31 - 3:47:02 (06:30)
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American Politics
Summary

The hope for the next generation to have a better life in the country is not unrealistic. The division in American politics and geopolitics can be overcome with great leadership that inspires people to their better selves, instead of being identified by a culture or government they may not agree with.

Episode
#347 – Michael Malice: Christmas Special
Podcast
Lex Fridman Podcast