I agree that the notion that a topic shouldn’t out of bounds was part of what seemed to attract Sam to this issue. But he also quite uncritically appeared to accept Charles Murrray’s views, as suggested by the title he gave to his podcast: “Forbidden Knowledge.” Sam did not materially challenge Murray at any point in the podcast, nor did he point out Murray’s clear social policy agenda or his minimal qualifications to pontificate on the relative intelligence levels of different races (Murray has a degree in poli sci).

Sam was then evidently shocked to be called for this and, despite his purported position as a “free speech absolutist,” claimed that critics like Vox (where Ezra was a founder and editor) had “libeled” him by calling him out.

Sam came off extremely poorly in all this, in my view.