Biden, Psychedelics, Twitter, My New Book — and So Much More

As I head into a three-month book leave, I wanted to take some time to address a wide array of listeners’ questions. My column editor, Aaron Retica, joins me for a conversation that ranges from the content of my forthcoming book and President Biden’s climate record to the simulation hypothesis and legalized psychedelic therapy.

We also discuss what the I-95 collapse — and remarkably quick repairs — tell us about government’s ability to build quickly, the problems with everything-bagel liberalism, what it would mean to treat climate change like the emergency that it is, why I dislike analogies between Biden and Franklin Roosevelt, why health care reform has receded from the center of American political debate, whether liberals are being too soft on Hunter Biden, why I am staunchly against term limits for Congress, what kinds of work are most undervalued in American society, why I’ve become less pessimistic about artificial intelligence disinformation, why I left Twitter but have been enjoying Threads, the challenges of keeping a Sabbath practice and more.

This episode contains strong language.

Note: Starting next week, “The Ezra Klein Show” will be releasing episodes only once per week, every Tuesday, until Ezra returns from his book leave in early November. These episodes will be hosted by a range of guest hosts.

Mentioned:

“The Problem With Everything-Bagel Liberalism” by Ezra Klein

“The Book I Wish Every Policymaker Would Read” by The Ezra Klein Show, with Jennifer Pahlka

“Two Theories of What I’m Getting Wrong” by Ezra Klein

“The Greens’ Dilemma” by J. B. Ruhl and James E. Salzman

“Not Everyone Should Have a Say” by Jerusalem Demsas

We’ve Got You Covered by Liran Einav and Amy Finkelstein

“This Is Your Brain on ‘Deep Reading.’ It’s Pretty Magnificent.” by The Ezra Klein Show, with Maryanne Wolf

“Elon Musk Got Twitter Because He Gets Twitter” by Ezra Klein

“Sabbath and the Art of Rest” by The Ezra Klein Show, with Judith Shulevitz

Music Recommendations:

“Orange” by Caroline Shaw and Attacca Quartet

Fred again..: Tiny Desk Concert on NPR Music

“USB” by Fred again..

“Midas” by Maribou State

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.

You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.

This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Annie Galvin. Fact checking by Mary Marge Locker and Kate Sinclair. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld. Our senior editor is Rogé Karma. The show’s production team also includes Emefa Agawu, Rollin Hu and Kristin Lin. Original music by Isaac Jones. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. And special thanks to Sonia Herrero.

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