E125: How Bureaucracy Took Over Everything - w/ Barry Lam

Philosophy professor and Hi-Phi Nation host Barry Lam joins Jesse to discuss his new book Fewer Rules, Better People. They dive into the rise of bureaucracy in American life, from healthcare to housing, and examine how complex rules and compliance culture are quietly reshaping society. Topics include:

• Legalism, both ancient and modern
• The spread of bureaucratic thinking into universities, medicine, and tech
• The hidden power of prosecutors in the justice system
• Whether AI will make bureaucracy better—or worse
• Why Americans trust machines more than humans (and when they shouldn't)
• How to push back by restoring discretion and judgment

A provocative conversation about rules, responsibility, and what it means to be human in an increasingly automated world.

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