The Rule of Idiots and the Fall of Empires explores how the collapse of civilizations is marked not by random chaos—but by the deliberate ascent of the incompetent, the corrupt, and the reality-detached. Based on the writings of Pulitzer Prize–winner Chris Hedges, this episode examines the rise of “idiots” to power—not due to lack of intelligence, but a loss of moral clarity and connection to reality.

We dive deep into the symptoms of a society in decay: demagogues who reflect the pathology of a diseased culture, the destruction of institutions rooted in truth and expertise, and a political class driven by grievance, spectacle, and greed. From the fall of Rome to the fragility of modern empires, we connect the dots between history and our current moment of crisis.

Featuring philosophical insights from Eric Voegelin, Hannah Arendt, Søren Kierkegaard, and others, this episode is a wake-up call to the dangers of thoughtlessness, spectacle, and moral inversion in a society sleepwalking toward collapse.

🔊 Whether you’re a student of history, a critic of power, or someone just trying to make sense of the madness, this one’s for you.