Today's Top Episodes
#490 – State of AI in 2026: LLMs, Coding, Scaling Laws, China, Agents, GPUs, AGI
Curious about where AI is heading in 2026? Dive deep into the latest breakthroughs, global competition, and the future of intelligent systems with Lex Fridman.
The Sixth Bureau, Episode 1: Your Friend From Nanjing
An undercover FBI agent, a Chinese spy, and stolen jet engine secrets. Uncover the true story of how the US unmasked a major espionage ring.
Gisèle Pelicot Tells Her Story
Her husband drugged her for years. Discover the shocking true story of Gisèle Pelicot and the betrayal that rocked her family.
Jason Fried, 37signals (makers of Basecamp, HEY and ONCE)
Tired of subscriptions? Jason Fried of 37signals reveals why 'pay once' software might be the future and how to build a business that truly lasts.
TIP791: Best Quality Stock Idea Q1 2026 w/ Clay Finck
Discover why Visa acts like a 'toll booth' on global commerce and how its powerful network effects make it a top-tier investment opportunity.
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Something better than USDC for your Ethereum?
- Liquidity is a governance-free Ethereum protocol that allows users to borrow a decentralized dollar (BOLT) against ETH at self-set interest rates, with 100% of borrower fees going directly to stablecoin holders.
- The protocol's unique market-driven interest rate mechanism aligns borrowers and stablecoin holders, utilizing a redemption system where low-rate borrowers are targeted if the stablecoin de-pegs to maintain stability.
- Liquidity's value proposition centers on offering a DeFi stablecoin with no counterparty risk, providing users with greater control, transparency, and predictability compared to traditional or other decentralized options.
The Sixth Bureau, Episode 1: Your Friend From Nanjing
- An undercover FBI agent contacted G, who works for China's Ministry of State Security, to warn him about the arrest of his handler and instruct him to cease communications with his network.
- The arrest of G's handler, Shu Yan Jun, was a significant event as he was the first intelligence officer from China's MSS to be arrested and tried in the US, providing unprecedented insight into the agency's operations.
- The primary focus of Shu Yan Jun's espionage activities was the theft of advanced technology, particularly jet engine secrets, which China prioritized for national development and to gain a competitive edge over the US.
The Stablecoin Liquidity Trap
- The current lack of movement in altcoins is primarily due to liquidity being concentrated in Bitcoin, a natural consequence of institutional investors prioritizing safer, more liquid assets first.
- Scarcity of new capital and a shift from risk-free, cheap money to a higher-interest rate environment means that liquidity is rotating rather than expanding, preventing the "overflow" effect needed for altcoin rallies.
- The absence of a compelling new narrative is also suppressing altcoin activity, as interest and liquidity tend to follow strong storylines and emotional engagement rather than just technological advancement.
Jason Fried, 37signals (makers of Basecamp, HEY and ONCE)
- The guest emphasizes that starting is only the beginning, and the real challenge lies in sustaining and continuously improving upon a project despite inevitable plateaus and the natural progression from exciting launch phases to more mundane, incremental work.
- The discussion highlights the importance of listening to one's gut feeling and intuition in decision-making, arguing that while data is important, human judgment, built on experience, is ultimately what drives crucial choices in business.
- The conversation explores a "pay once" software model as an alternative to subscriptions, driven by a frustration with recurring fees and a desire for ownership, offering products like Campfire and Writebook as examples of this approach.
Gisèle Pelicot Tells Her Story
- A father was discovered to have sexually abused his wife by drugging her over a decade and taking explicit photos and videos of her.
- This abuse was uncovered accidentally when the father was arrested for taking unauthorized photographs of women in a supermarket.
- The revelation caused immense shock and betrayal to his children, who had previously trusted him implicitly.
TIP792: Vital Lessons From History’s Strangest Financial Stories w/ Kyle Grieve
- Investors should practice masterly inactivity by holding onto high-quality businesses, as short-term hiccups are often resolved by strong management and company fundamentals.
- Be wary of correlation bias, where seemingly related events are mistaken for cause-and-effect, leading to poor investment decisions based on media narratives rather than fundamental data.
- The value of deferred gratification is crucial, as exemplified by contracts with delayed payments that compound over time and can lead to significant financial gains, while a lack of it can expose investors to risky or fraudulent schemes.
The Bitcoin Rotation No One Sees Coming | Jordi Visser
- "Metals mania" is driven by silver's critical role as an industrial mineral for technology like drones, rather than just a precious metal.
- The conversation draws parallels between the explosive moves in assets like silver and high-bandwidth memory stocks, suggesting a broader market rotation into utility and scarcity.
- The rapid advancements and integration of AI, particularly in the automotive and robotics sectors, point towards a future of increased automation and significantly reduced production costs.
'The Interview': The Woman at the Center of the French Rape Trial That Shocked the World
- Ghislaine Maxwell discusses her life in isolation and her thoughts on public perception.
- Maxwell reflects on her time spent in prison and her ongoing legal battles.
- The conversation touches on the impact of the Epstein scandal and Maxwell's role in it.
Becoming Unsloppable, Anthropic’s Series G, The Mansion Section | Diet TBPN
- The rapid advancement and massive funding of AI companies are creating significant pressure on existing software businesses, forcing them to re-evaluate their sources of competitive advantage.
- The concept of an "unsloppable" business is emerging, defined by durable moats beyond just proprietary code, such as network effects, economies of scale, and strong brands, in an era of declining marginal costs for software development.
- The wealthy are increasingly investing in privatized and highly customized security measures for their homes and lives, reflecting a growing distrust in traditional public safety and a desire for fortified personal domains.
“Red Dawns” and Skiing on Stolen Land, with Frank Dikötter | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution
- The rise of Chinese Communism is depicted not as a peasant revolution, but as a complex historical period characterized by unrelenting violence and the CCP's strategic manipulation of conditions to gain power.
- The narrative of a Chinese social revolution, particularly through "land reform," is a persistent myth that doesn't align with archival evidence of the period and the CCP's actual land policies.
- The discussion highlights the ongoing debate and historical revisionism surrounding the founding of nations, with a particular focus on the complexity and often brutal realities hidden beneath simplified national narratives.