#474 — More From Sam: Hasan Piker, Islamism, Making Sense Community, and More

In this episode of 'More From Sam,' Sam Harris discusses the launch of his new community platform, designed as a civility-focused alternative to Reddit, where users will engage under real names and prioritize meaningful dialogue. He reflects on recent high-profile interviews, particularly with Ben Shapiro, acknowledging that he could have pressed harder on Trump's damage to U.S. global standing, though he notes Shapiro’s ideological rigidity on Israel and 'wokeness' limited the debate. Harris expresses deep concern over the mainstreaming of Hassan Piker by The New York Times and liberal media, condemning Piker’s endorsement of Hamas, his claim that Hamas is 'a thousand times better' than Israel, and his use of the term 'genocide' to describe Israel’s actions in Gaza—claims Harris calls a deliberate moral distortion. He argues that true genocide involves the intent to eradicate a people, which he says Israel does not have, citing evacuation warnings, humanitarian corridors, and post-war reconstruction as evidence. Harris warns that this semantic manipulation, embraced by 77% of Democrats and major media outlets, undermines both moral clarity and political viability for future Democratic candidates. He also critiques Andrew Sullivan’s position, suggesting it reflects a broader leftward moral confusion.