Making Sense with Sam Harris · August 25, 2026 · 0h 24m

#490 — Lies, Bulls**t, and the Rule of Law

Sam Harris and Preet Bharara examine the erosion of good-faith political debate in America. They explore how fragmented media incentivizes tribalism, why legal attacks on Trump often backfire and strengthen him, and the crucial distinction between lying and bullshitting as described by philosopher Harry Frankfurt. The conversation also diagnoses the Democratic Party's failures and considers what it would take to restore institutional norms ahead of 2028.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Preview

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Lying vs. Bullshitting in Politics00:00:00

Bharara and Harris distinguish between lying—which requires knowing the truth and deliberately contradicting it—and bullshitting, which reflects indifference to whether statements are true or false, as described by Harry Frankfurt.

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Why Anti-Trump Legal Actions Backfire00:00:00

Bharara and Harris observe that the rush to prosecute Trump after he left office often backfired, with indictments generating sympathy and reinforcing his support base.

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