The 2024 Presidency, Joe Biden’s Age, Gigantism, & Facing Reality | Dean Phillips | EP 437

Tour Update: Konstantin Kisin (00:00:00)

• Konstantin Kisin and Jordan Peterson will be going on a tour called "We Who Wrestle with God".
• The tour will involve discussions about God and religion.
• Peterson invites Kisin to come armed with his sharpest arguments and hold nothing back.
• Peterson wants Kisin to offer critical responses to his arguments so that he can identify any holes in his reasoning.

Coming up (00:00:59)

• The two-party system in the United States prevents competition by setting the rules in all 50 states and at the federal level.
• The two parties make decisions that have significant consequences not only for the United States but also for its neighbors and the entire world.

Intro (00:01:26)

• Dean Phillips is an American businessman and congressman who has served as the representative of Minnesota's Third District since 2019.
• Peterson met Phillips several years ago and found him to be an intelligent and moderate Democrat.
• Phillips ran for president on the Democrat side but dropped out of the race about a week and a half ago.
• Phillips faced monolithic opposition and his campaign was scuttled in various complex ways.
• Peterson believes that Phillips would have been a credible alternative to the aging Biden and acceptable to the Democratic elite and public.
• Phillips' failure to gain traction in the race speaks volumes about the state of political affairs in the US.
• The discussion will explore what Phillips' experience signifies for understanding the political realm in the US and the West.
• They will also investigate the comparative pathologies of the Democrat and Republican sides.

The moment in 2016 that changed Dean Phillips' life (00:03:32)

• Former U.S. Representative Dean Phillips announces his decision to run for president in 2024.
• Phillips' background includes losing his father in the Vietnam War, being raised by a single mother, and later being adopted into a successful family.
• Motivated by the fear he saw in his daughter's eyes due to Donald Trump's character, Phillips ran for Congress in 2016.
• Concerned about the crisis of participation in politics, Phillips joined the Problem Solvers Caucus to promote bipartisanship and believes competition is essential for a healthy democracy.
• Phillips decided to run for president due to President Biden's declining approval ratings and the lack of a strong alternative candidate.
• Phillips emphasizes the importance of standing up for one's principles and challenging the status quo, even when the odds are stacked against success.
• He describes engaging in respectful conversations with Trump supporters outside a rally, highlighting the need for civility and finding common ground despite political differences.
• Phillips believes that success in politics can be achieved through invitation, getting to know others, finding common ground, and engaging in respectful debate without resorting to confrontation.
• Despite the challenges he faced, Phillips expresses his willingness to repeat his presidential run, driven by his mission to promote civility and understanding in politics.

Practical concerns to replace Joe Biden as president (00:10:56)

• Dean Phillips expressed concerns about Joe Biden's age and its impact on his viability as a presidential candidate.
• Phillips criticized the Biden administration's handling of the southern border, calling it a tragic oversight and a national security crisis.
• He advocated for fiscal responsibility, criticizing both Trump and Biden for increasing the national debt.
• Phillips proposed implementing zero-based budgeting and employing an international consulting firm to assess federal agencies.
• He expressed concerns about chaos and high costs affecting families and communities across the country, highlighting that 40% of Americans are unable to afford a $400 repair.
• While acknowledging some positive aspects of Biden's presidency, Phillips emphasized that there are opportunities and needs of Americans that require attention.

American Dream Accounts: a proposition for investing in the next generation (00:16:22)

• Proposes "American Dream Accounts" to invest in the next generation.
• The federal government would provide a $5,000 investment account to every baby born in the US.
• The account would be invested in an S&P 500 Index Fund in the US Equity Market.
• Young people would have an app to track their investments and classes in school to learn about financial management and entrepreneurship.
• Upon graduating high school, the account would vest, providing young Americans with $20,000 to $25,000 to start their lives.
• This could reduce expenditures on incarceration and other challenges in the country.
• Believes new leaders of the next generation can better address issues like social media and artificial intelligence regulation.
• Argues that leaders like Donald Trump and Joe Biden may not have the same life experience and context as younger generations to effectively handle these challenges.
• Mentions running against Joe Biden in a Democratic primary to advocate for generational change and restore respect and decency in politics.

Hubert Humphrey, political heroes and the historic fight against anti-semitism (00:18:28)

• Dean Phillips' political orientation was influenced by his Jewish family's support for the Democratic Party and his admiration for Hubert Humphrey, a former mayor of Minneapolis and a civil rights advocate.
• Phillips criticizes Humphrey for compromising his principles by supporting the Vietnam War as Lyndon B. Johnson's vice president.
• Phillips emphasizes the importance of courage and independence in politics, inspired by John Anderson's speech about money and independence in politics.
• The Democratic Party has historically represented marginalized and oppressed groups.
• The Listening App is a convenient tool that converts text into audio, making it easier to learn and study on the go.
• The Listening App offers lifelike AI voices with emotion and intonation for a realistic listening experience.
• The Listening App has a note-taking feature and can help reduce motion sickness experienced while reading during travel.
• Listeners of the Jordan B Peterson podcast can get a one-month free trial of the Listening App by using the code "Jordan" at checkout.

Discussing the prolonged cultural impact of U.S. slavery (00:25:24)

• The author discusses the rise of anti-Semitism in the Western world and its connection to the left's focus on equity.
• The author argues that the left's emphasis on equity, which analyzes people by their affiliated groups and attributes over-representation in positions of authority to systemic oppression, can be problematic.
• The author contends that dividing people into groups can lead to endless dimensions of oppression and that using statistical over-representation as an indicator of systemic bias can unfairly target successful minorities like the Jews.
• The author suggests that the equity doctrine can be misused to demonstrate moral virtue by simply allying oneself with the hypothetically oppressed, contributing to the culture war and anti-Semitism.
• The speaker believes that equity and meritocracy can coexist, and that society has an obligation to provide opportunities to those who have been historically disadvantaged.
• The speaker expresses concern about the perception that Jewish people are now seen as oppressors, despite their own history of persecution and discrimination.
• The speaker believes in the redistribution of opportunity, not necessarily wealth, to those who have been denied it for reasons beyond their control.

The relative nature of oppression, equity versus equality (00:34:19)

• The dimensions of potential inequality are innumerable and calculating them all is a complex task.
• Postmodern Marxism has expanded the dimensions of oppression and inequality, making it easier to find ways in which individuals can be seen as oppressors.
• Equity means equality of outcome, which is a socialist or communist ideal that does not work well in practice.
• Many moderate Democrats aspire to equality of opportunity, but the radical left is pushing for equality of outcome, which threatens the moderate Democrat mission.
• Moderate Democrats need to define when the left goes too far in order to maintain their appeal to voters.
• The speaker believes that the current spate of anti-Semitism is the result of an evil seed.

The complexities surrounding the historic oppression of the Jews (00:39:51)

• The definition of oppression as disproportionate representation in positions of privilege puts Jews at risk of persecution.
• Jewish traditions, such as the Bar Mitzvah, promote confidence, ambition, and success.
• Systemic oppression is not the fundamental problem; it is deeper and related to first principles.
• Communities founded on fundamental principles are more likely to avail themselves of opportunities that lift their members out of poverty.
• An act of equity may be necessary to escape the past and build a platform for meritocracy.
• The radical left assaults the institutions that provide for equality of opportunity, such as the nuclear family.
• Dean Phillips discusses the importance of equity and the blessings he received from being adopted after losing his father in the Vietnam War.

The biggest inhibitor to Phillips' campaign, “no platform” (00:47:39)

• Former Democratic congressman Dean Phillips from Minnesota discusses his experience running for president in the 2024 election.
• Phillips argues that the Democratic Party needed alternatives to President Joe Biden, whom he believes is too old and lacks broad appeal.
• Phillips criticizes the Democratic Party for preventing competition and the media for deplatforming him.
• Phillips believes he could have performed well in the New Hampshire primary if the Democratic Party had not taken away its first-in-the-nation primary status.

The two party duopoly (00:53:04)

• The two-party system in the US prevents competition by setting rules that protect incumbents.
• These private institutions make decisions that have significant consequences for the US and the world.

Why so many are taking a risk on Trump, temperament and approach (00:54:03)

• People are attracted to Trump's unpredictable nature and willingness to challenge the status quo.
• Trump and RFK share similarities in temperament and approach, despite their differences in public presentation.
• People believe Trump will break the domination of behind-the-scenes actors and challenge the collusion between legacy media and powerful interests.
• Musk's purchase of Twitter and reinstatement of banned accounts, including the speaker's, is seen as a positive step in challenging the behind-the-scenes narrative.

The perverse incentives need to be exposed (00:56:45)

• There is a lack of incentive for politicians to go against their party, as it can impede their career progression.
• Behind the scenes, many Republican colleagues despised Trump, but publicly supported him.
• The same applies to Joe Biden, with many privately concerned about his chances of winning but publicly supporting him.
• The media also faces similar incentives, as they rely on access to information and talent from the White House, which can be jeopardized if they criticize the administration.
• This results in a situation where the incentives of politicians and the media are aligned with the two parties' mandates and objectives, but misaligned with the majority of center-right and center-left Americans.
• It is important to separate individuals from their political views and have respectful conversations about these issues.
• The duopoly or "unip party" has misalignments and perverse incentives that need to be exposed, discussed, and rectified.
• Many politicians, despite their differences, want to change the system because it is no longer working effectively.

Why are people still supporting a “losing candidate” in Biden? (01:01:08)

• The media and Democrat platform share a natural alignment, creating a system of perverse incentives in politics.
• Individuals close to power prioritize their proximity to power above the well-being of citizens, and the absence of consideration for a next-generation leader suggests strings controlled by individuals whose mandate may not be in the country's best interest.
• Sleep is essential for health, and Beam Dream Powder is a natural sleep aid that helps people fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed without grogginess.
• Short-term interests often prevail over long-term interests due to low incremental costs for the former and high costs for individuals.
• The US's political division, with close election results at the federal level, makes it plausible for the incumbent to win, reducing the incentive for radical changes.

Something changed when the parties realized they could monetize anger (01:07:08)

• Media has taken advantage of people by turning politics into a competitive sport, dividing the country.
• Legacy media, such as cable news, has contributed to this division by presenting biased and sensationalized news, making it difficult to discern facts from fiction.
• This phenomenon is more pronounced in the United States compared to Canada, where the gap between left and right is narrower and there is less antipathy.
• Joe Biden is 79 years old and will be 82 at the end of his first term if re-elected.
• Some people are concerned about his age and fitness for office, while others believe he is still capable of serving as president.
• Biden has said he intends to run for re-election in 2024.

The strange classism levied against Trump, why he’s unscripted (01:10:13)

• The Democratic Party prioritizes winning over addressing the concerns of the people, leading to a disconnect with voters.
• Donald Trump's ability to connect with people, especially those who feel unheard, is a key factor in his appeal.
• People prefer authenticity and relatability in politicians, even if it means accepting their flaws.
• The political divide in America is driven more by the desire to be affirmed and heard than by policy differences.
• Democrats need to listen more, show up in small towns, and avoid professorial language to reconnect with voters.
• Joe Biden is perceived as lacking empathy and understanding, while Donald Trump has been successful in making people feel heard.
• Democrats need to focus on making people feel heard and appreciated to reconnect with voters.

“CNN would not give me a town hall,” being blackballed by the establishment news (01:17:15)

• Dean Phillips discusses his experience of being blackballed by the establishment news during his campaign.
• He believes that the Legacy Media broadcasters failed to focus on his campaign because they were concerned about losing access to the establishment.
• Phillips found that new media platforms, especially long-form podcasts, were more open to giving him a platform and allowed him to connect with voters in a more meaningful way.
• Despite his success on new media platforms, Phillips was disappointed by the mainstream media's lack of coverage, particularly CNN's refusal to give him a town hall.
• He contrasts his experience with that of other Republican challengers to Donald Trump, all of whom were given town halls on CNN.
• Phillips argues that this disparity in coverage was due to the mainstream media's desire to protect their access to the establishment and their lack of interest in candidates who were not considered viable contenders.
• Phillips discusses Joe Biden's age and its potential impact on his ability to serve as president.
• He notes that Biden is the oldest president in American history and that his age has been a topic of discussion and concern.
• Phillips argues that Biden's age is a legitimate issue to raise and that it is important to consider whether he has the physical and mental stamina to handle the demands of the presidency.
• He also discusses the possibility of Biden stepping down before the end of his term and the implications of this for the country.

What the legacy media could offer if they aimed upward (01:21:20)

• The collusion between Democrats, legacy media, and big tech companies is a significant concern, as it leads to the suppression of opposing views and the manipulation of users' ideas and facts.
• YouTube removed interviews and throttled the account of Dean Phillips for discussing controversial topics, while Google's AI system, Gemini, was trained on a left-leaning corpus and retooled user prompts to inject presumptions of the "Dei Squad" into questions.
• The speaker expresses concern that these issues and the structural inadequacies that enable the emergence of a monolith against opposing views could lead to Donald Trump's return to the presidency.
• The speaker emphasizes the need for intentional perspectives from both sides of a subject in legacy media and calls for a platform that allows for open and respectful dialogue across different political ideologies.
• The media should promote and offer platforms to opposing views, but there is a lack of this on both the left and the right, leading people to tune in to what feeds their own need for affirmation, which is dangerous.
• The YouTube ecosystem emerged as a liberal-conservative alternative to the legacy media, and many podcasters have shifted towards a more conservative libertarian direction due to their experiences attempting to engage in straightforward conversations.

The psychogenic epidemic the left ignores (01:28:41)

• The speaker discusses the recent takedown of some of his YouTube videos after he started questioning the trans narrative.
• He believes that the surgical transition of children is a form of child abuse and that it is causing a psychogenic epidemic of sexual confusion among young women.
• He cites clinical evidence to support his claims and argues that the evidence for gender-affirming care is lacking.
• He also mentions that several European countries have recently stopped providing gender-affirming care to minors due to the lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness.

Where is the line for bodily autonomy and self harm? (01:31:59)

• The speaker believes that gender transformation surgery should be stopped at any age due to its potential dangers.
• He argues that while people should be free to make their own choices, there are limits to what should be allowed, such as consenting to harmful medical procedures.
• He also mentions that some people are now requesting extreme surgeries, such as double genitalia or the removal of all genitalia.

Censorship predominantly comes from the progressives, when does the left go to far? (01:33:36)

• The speaker criticizes surgeons who profit from gender-affirming surgeries, comparing it to the Nuremberg trials and calling it a form of barbarism.
• The speaker expresses frustration with the progressive left's censorship and their inability to answer straightforward questions about the limits of their ideology.
• The speaker believes individuals should be free to make their own decisions as long as they don't harm others, but the medical community should be held accountable for the potential harms of gender-affirming surgeries.
• The speaker warns that people motivated by profit, whether in politics, medicine, or other fields, will often take advantage of others.
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of discerning what is just, right, and reasonable, and of recognizing who is operating authentically and who is not.

Gigantism is systemic and winning, but it doesn't have to (01:38:29)

• The Libertarians fear big government, while progressives fear big corporations, both fearing regulatory capture by large organizations.
• The rise of the internet has led to a winner-take-all dynamic where a few individuals, like Elon Musk, have significant global influence, challenging traditional nation-states.
• The lack of competition in various sectors, including big tech, politics, and voting, negatively impacts society, while promoting competition improves value, quality, and choice.
• The absence of genuine debate in today's media and the lack of productive discourse in Congress, with hearings replacing debates, are significant challenges.
• The greatest obstacle lies in the undue influence of wealthy and connected individuals over politicians, highlighting the need for campaign finance reform to change the current dynamic and reward system.
• Positive change requires collective effort, with individuals contributing to the process to reap the benefits in the future.