On this, our 315th Evolutionary Lens livestream, we discuss war, breaches of promise, and manta rays. Why are we at war in Iran, when this president promised “no new wars”? Removing dictators and strongmen from the world is honorable—but will the Iranian people thrive after this move, or will this look more like Iraq? Can we reconcile what Secretary of State Rubio said about why we started the war, versus what Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said? Then: Kansas has reversed course on letting put a chosen gender identity on official documents rather than your biological sex—to the good—but they did so in a way guaranteed to create havoc and make things very hard for the people who need to get new IDs. These are people who broke no laws, but are being treated badly by the state as if they did. Finally: manta rays are extraordinary and deeply intelligent; we share footage and words about them. Finally, a shout out to Covid Era Stories.

*****

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Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com

Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com

Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AGANGg (commission earned)

Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org

*****

Mentioned in this episode:

Rubio: https://x.com/mtracey/status/2028607181134696564

Netanyahu: https://x.com/DowdEdward/status/2028665196072558794

Kansas law: https://kansasreflector.com/2026/03/04/kansas-anti-trans-law-targets-ids-and-birth-certificates-and-the-right-to-vote/

Covid Era Stories: https://naturalselections.substack.com/s/covid-era-stories

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Bret Weinstein speaks with Jan Jekielek, author of "Killed to Order" and Epoch Times senior editor on the subject of organ harvesting and communism in China.

Find with Jan Jekielek on X at https://x.com/JanJekielek. To find out more about “Killed to Order” visit http://killedtoorder.com.

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Join DarkHorse on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com

Check out the DHP store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://www.darkhorsestore.org

Theme Music: Thank you to Martin Molin of Wintergatan for providing us the rights to use their excellent music.

*****

Mentioned in this episode:

NYT 2003: Bret letter to the editor on organ donation and incentives: https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/18/opinion/he-gave-of-himself-so-that-i-could-live-3-letters.html

Hot mic catches Xi and Putin discussing organ transplants and immortality https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr70rvrd41ko

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Bret Weinstein speaks with Brownstone Institute founder, Jeffrey Tucker about the complexities of public health.

Find Jeffrey Tucker on X at https://x.com/jeffreyatucker and more on Brownstone Institute at https://brownstone.org.

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Sponsors:

Vanman: Go to https://vanman.shop/darkhorse26 and use code DARKHORSE26 for 15%  off your first order.

Puori: Amazingly clean and safe supplements and protein powders, lab tested and guaranteed. Go to http://Puori.com/DarkHorse for 32% off grass-fed whey protein with a subscription. DarkHorse code works on all products!

Xlear: Xylitol nasal spray that acts as prophylaxis against respiratory illnesses by reducing the stickiness of bacteria and viruses. Find Xlear online, or at your local pharmacy, grocery store, or natural products store.

*****

Join DarkHorse on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com

Check out the DHP store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://www.darkhorsestore.org

Theme Music: Thank you to Martin Molin of Wintergatan for providing us the rights to use their excellent music.

*****

Mentioned in this episode:

Toby Rogers on DarkHorse https://youtu.be/QQfIo75KHII

How Long Has Industry Captured Vaccine Regulation?
 https://brownstone.org/articles/how-long-has-industry-captured-vaccine-regulation/

Event 201 https://centerforhealthsecurity.org/our-work/tabletop-exercises/event-201-pandemic-tabletop-exercise

Coronavirus: The Hammer and the Dance https://tomaspueyo.medium.com/coronavirus-the-hammer-and-the-dance-be9337092b56

Bret Weinstein speaking at Brownstone Supper Club in Seattle area March 17th, 2026 https://brownstone.org/event/brownstone-puget-sound-supper-club-march-17-2026-bret-weinstein/#tribe-tickets__tickets-form

2026 Polyface Retreat https://brownstone.org/polyface-retreat-2026

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On this, our 314th Evolutionary Lens livestream, we discuss love, coffee, and AI. For Valentine’s Day, Bret shares his thoughts on myths, love, and soulmates, and we discuss how relationships form—both in the abstract and in our case—and how relationships cannot be antagonistic or about short time horizons. Then: new research finds that drinking moderate amounts of coffee or tea—but not if decaffeinated—slows cognitive decline. And: is AI coming for us, and if so, how soon? How fast are LLM’s evolving, whose work will they disappear, and is concern or hope the more constructive response? We can see some of how AI will change our world; what can we not yet see? Finally: could menial, repetitive work (“drudgery”) have more to recommend it than we know?

*****

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Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com

Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com

Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AGANGg (commission earned)

Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org

*****

Mentioned in this episode:

Zhang et al 2026. Coffee and Tea Intake, Dementia Risk, and Cognitive Function. JAMA published online 2-9-26: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2844764

Something big is happening: https://x.com/mattshumer_/status/2021256989876109403

It was never about AI (we are not our tools): https://x.com/EricMarkowitz/status/2022005480240120229

AI isn’t coming for your future. Fear is: https://x.com/cboyack/status/2021647373571862952

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On this, our 313th Evolutionary Lens livestream, we discuss the Orwellian landscape(s) we find ourselves in, beginning with a reading from 1984. Minneapolis has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; a male school shooter in a dress was referred to as female in several media outlets; and Wikipedia is lauded for its neutrality by (the science journal) Nature, with an example that demonstrates a lack of neutrality at either place. Orwell modernizes Ecclesiastes, then: Epstein: QAnon, Massacre of the Innocents, giant vats of sulfuric acid, jerky, kompromat, and oh by the way, is he still alive? Bret thinks so.

*****

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SaunaSpace: deep radiant heat from red and infrared incandescence—detox and decrease pain, reverse screen fatigue and improve your mood http://Sauna.Space/DarkHorse for 10% off sitewide. 

Xlear: Xylitol nasal spray that acts as prophylaxis against respiratory illnesses by reducing the stickiness of bacteria and viruses. Find Xlear online, or at your local pharmacy, grocery store, or natural products store.

Masa Chips: Delicious chips made with corn, salt, and beef tallow—nothing else—in loads of great flavors. Go to http://masachips.com/DarkHorse, use code DarkHorse, for 25% off.

*****

Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com

Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com

Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AGANGg (commission earned)

Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org 

*****

Mentioned in this episode:

Nobel Peace Prize: https://x.com/cityminneapolis/status/2019879753407148313

Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ten-dead-after-shooting-canadian-province-british-columbia-cbc-news-reports-2026-02-11

The shooter + commentary: https://x.com/JenniferSey/status/2021591862147231781

Nature on Wikipedia: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00074-1

Politics and the English Language (Orwell 1946): https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/politics-and-the-english-language/

Epstein files: https://www.justice.gov/epstein

Dreher on art & Epstein: https://x.com/roddreher/status/2021525549232083275

Lack of prison tapes: https://x.com/alternatnews/status/2020999962054549542

Covid Era Stories: https://naturalselections.substack.com/s/covid-era-stories

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On this, our 312th Evolutionary Lens livestream, we discuss the fact that the centre cannot hold. More Epstein files were released, which included an email from our friend and former mentor, Robert Trivers. We discuss his contributions, his life, and what the email does and does not imply. Also in the Epstein files: pizza, torture, Bitcoin, and the “goyim.” Was it all about blackmail; if not, what? And what is the CEO of TikTok on about, with regard to hate speech? Finally: a silver lining in the madness, as gender clinics close down and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (finally) takes the position that “gender-affirming” surgeries should not be done to people before the age of 19.

*****

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CrowdHealth: Pay for healthcare with crowdfunding instead of insurance. It’s way better. Use code DarkHorse at JoinCrowdHealth.com to get 1st 3 months for $99/month.

ARMRA Colostrum is an ancient bioactive whole food that can strengthen your immune system. Go to http://www.tryarmra.com/DARKHORSE to get 30% off your first order.

Xlear: Xylitol nasal spray that acts as prophylaxis against respiratory illnesses by reducing the stickiness of bacteria and viruses. Find Xlear online, or at your local pharmacy, grocery store, or natural products store.

*****

Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com/

Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com

Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AGANGg (commission earned)

Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org

*****

Mentioned in this episode:
The Second Coming, by Yeats: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43290/the-second-coming 

Epstein files: https://www.justice.gov/epstein

CEO of TikTok: https://x.com/klonnypin_gosch/status/2015692335967826273 

Gender Clinic at Mary Bridge Hospital closing: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/mary-bridge-childrens-hospital-to-close-gender-clinic

ASPS Position on Transing Kids: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/for-medical-professionals/health-policy/position-statements

Leor Sapir on the AMA: https://x.com/LeorSapir/status/2018888126974812652

Covid Era Stories: https://naturalselections.substack.com/s/covid-era-stories

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Bret Weinstein speaks with independent journalist Brandi Kruse about Antifa, gun culture, gun rights in Washington State, socialism, and why Bret still refers to himself as a liberal in 2026.

Find Brandi Kruse on X at https://x.com/BrandiKruse and her show, UnDivided at https://www.undividedpod.com.

*****

Sponsors:

Timeline: Accelerate the clearing of damaged mitochondria to improve strength and endurance: Go to http://www.timeline.com/darkhorse and use code darkhorse for 10% off your order.

Helix: Excellent, sleep-enhancing, American-made mattresses. Act fast, go to  http://www.HelixSleep.com/DarkHorse for 20% off sitewide.

Branch Basics: Excellent, effective, simple, truly non-toxic cleaning supplies. Get 15% off with code DarkHorse at https://branchbasics.com.

*****

Join DarkHorse on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com

Check out the DHP store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://www.darkhorsestore.org

Theme Music: Thank you to Martin Molin of Wintergatan for providing us the rights to use their excellent music.

*****

Mentioned on this Episode:

Roundtable on Antifa at the WhiteHouse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf6Em35gguU 

Andy Ngo on DarkHorse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC4u1zo6OpQ 

Andy Ngo on X https://x.com/MrAndyNgo 

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012 https://www.congress.gov/112/plaws/publ81/PLAW-112publ81.pdf 

Moms for Liberty https://judiciary.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-house-judiciary-republicans-doj-labeled-dozens-of-parents-as-terrorist

The Turtle Island Liberation Front https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/four-defendants-arrested-alleged-anti-capitalist-and-anti-government-plot-bomb-us-companies

Trump sending in Homan to Minneapolis https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/26/trump-border-czar-minneapolis-00746125

Maj Toure on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MajToure 

Wa. 3D Printed Guns: HB2320 https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?billnumber=2320&year=2025&initiative=False#documentSection

Wa.3D Printed Guns: HB2321 https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2321.pdf?q=20260201075249

Brandi Kruse interviews Socialist state lawmaker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=894SIV7Dh5c

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On this, our 311th Evolutionary Lens livestream, we discuss what is happening in Minneapolis. First: research finds that on average, men and women experience empathy differently: men do not have empathy for people who have done wrong; women have empathy for people regardless of context. Then: Was the Alex Pretti shooting by ICE officers in Minneapolis a cold-blooded murder, or a justified homicide? How would we know? Few of us were actual eye-witnesses to the scene, but our modern media environment tricks us into believing, unconsciously, that we know more than we do. This feels like Portland in 2020. We are being manipulated into disjunct narratives, taught to distrust and fear one another, at ever greater distance from simply being good neighbors and fellow citizens. Finally: an invitation to submit Covid Era Stories.

*****

Our sponsors:

Xlear: Xylitol nasal spray that acts as prophylaxis against respiratory illnesses by reducing the stickiness of bacteria and viruses. Find Xlear online, or at your local pharmacy, grocery store, or natural products store.

Caraway: Non-toxic, highly functional & beautiful cookware and bakeware. Save with Caraway’s cookware set, and visit Carawayhome.com/DH10 to for an additional 10% off your next purchase.

Masa Chips: Delicious chips made with corn, salt, and beef tallow—nothing else—in loads of great flavors. Go to masachips.com/DarkHorse, use code DarkHorse, for 25% off.

*****

Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com

Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com

Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AGANGg (commission earned)

Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org

*****
Mentioned in this episode:

Singer et al 2006. Empathic neural responses are modulated by the perceived fairness of others. Nature, 439(7075): 466-469. Draft pdf: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2636868/pdf/ukmss-3669.pdf

Tucker Carlson and Tim Walz: https://x.com/tcnetwork/status/2016539262230184357

Fox on Pretti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX9y3612Rlo

CNN on Pretti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FR-fz57PEU

Covid Era Stories: https://naturalselections.substack.com/p/covid-era-stories

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Bret Weinstein speaks with Del Bigtree on the subject of medical freedom. Del Bigtree is the executive producer behind the new documentary An Inconvenient Study, which covers a study that compares the health of vaccinated vs unvaccinated children. 

Watch An Inconvenient Study for free https://aninconvenientstudy.com

Find Del Bigtree at https://x.com/delbigtree and https://thehighwire.com

*****

Sponsors:

CrowdHealth: Pay for healthcare with crowdfunding instead of insurance. It’s way better. Use code DarkHorse at JoinCrowdHealth.com to get 1st 3 months for $99/month.

Puori: Amazingly clean and safe supplements and protein powders, lab tested and guaranteed. Go to Puori.com/DarkHorse for 32% off grass-fed whey protein with a subscription. DarkHorse code works on all products!

Branch Basics: Excellent, effective, simple, truly non-toxic cleaning supplies. Get 15% off with code DarkHorse at https://branchbasics.com.

*****

Join DarkHorse on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com

Check out the DHP store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://www.darkhorsestore.org

Theme Music: Thank you to Martin Molin of Wintergatan for providing us the rights to use their excellent music.

*****

Mentioned in this episode:

Unsafe at Any Speed: Dr. Toby Rogers on DarkHorse https://youtu.be/QQfIo75KHII

Toby Roger’s doctoral thesis, The Political Economy of Autism for links to studies mentioned https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/handle/2123/20198/Rogers_T_thesis.pdf

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On this, our 310th Evolutionary Lens livestream, we discuss Trump, his presidency, and the state of the country. Disappointments include military interventions and renamings, a failed and politicized DOGE, and the embrace of tech-utopianism and associated heuristics and algorithms. Positive moves have been made in MAHA (e.g. revision of the childhood vaccine schedule, food additives and food pyramid), sex and gender (sex is real, men can’t become women); and, to some degree, constitutional and border protections. We don’t yet know what might be gained by interventions in Iran, and in Venezuela. Two years ago, The Atlantic published an issue predicting what would happen if Trump won a second term; they get a few things right, a lot wrong, and blame Trump for their own personal neuroses. Finally, a review of why we voted for Trump in the last election, where we were right, and where we were wrong.

*****

Our sponsors:

Xlear: Xylitol nasal spray that acts as prophylaxis against respiratory illnesses by reducing the stickiness of bacteria and viruses. Find Xlear online, or at your local pharmacy, grocery store, or natural products store.

ARMRA Colostrum is an ancient bioactive whole food that can strengthen your immune system. Go to http://www.tryarmra.com/DARKHORSE to get 30% off your first order.

CrowdHealth: Pay for healthcare with crowdfunding instead of insurance. It’s way better. Use code DarkHorse at http://JoinCrowdHealth.com to get 1st 3 months for $99/month.

*****

Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com

Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com

Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AGANGg (commission earned)

Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org

*****
Mentioned in this episode:

The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2024/01/

Federal funding of science and elite universities: https://naturalselections.substack.com/p/letter-from-harvard

Open letter to Hegseth: https://hollymathnerd.substack.com/p/an-open-letter-to-sec-hegseth

Rogan on ICE: https://x.com/BretWeinstein/status/2011517588527067319

Heather on voting for Trump: https://naturalselections.substack.com/p/why-i-am-voting-for-trump

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On this, our 309th Evolutionary Lens livestream, we discuss science and scientism, experts and expertise. Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson objects to the reduction in the Childhood Vaccine Schedule, and promises to bring “science” back to the state. In fact, the new recommendations are putting the U.S. more in line with what European countries recommend, and are quite conservative. Also, while Ferguson was the WA Attorney General, he imposed and enforced Covid vaccine mandates; many people lost their jobs and their livelihoods. Also in Washington: Brandi Kruse outs Democratic majority leader Jamie Pedersen as being unclear about the nature of male and female (or unwilling to say what he knows). On Broadway, Dylan Mulvaney, a male, will be playing Anne Boleyn, one of the most famous and influential women in history. Finally: words in honor and memory of Scott Adams.

*****

Our sponsors:

SaunaSpace: deep radiant heat from red and infrared incandescence—detox and decrease pain, reverse screen fatigue and improve your mood. Sauna.Space/DarkHorse for 10% off sitewide.  

Masa Chips: Delicious chips made with corn, salt, and beef tallow—nothing else—in loads of great flavors. Go to masachips.com/DarkHorse, use code DarkHorse, for 25% off.

Xlear: Xylitol nasal spray that acts as prophylaxis against respiratory illnesses by reducing the stickiness of bacteria and viruses. Find Xlear online, or at your local pharmacy, grocery store, or natural products store.

*****

Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com/

Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com

Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AGANGg (commission earned)

Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org

*****
Mentioned in this episode:

Governor Ferguson: https://x.com/govbobferguson/status/2011482561206231340
 
HHS Immunization Assessment: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/assessment-of-the-us-childhood-and-adolescent-immunization-schedule-compared-to-other-countries.pdf
 
New vaccine guideline summary: https://www.hhs.gov/childhood-immunization-schedule/index.html
 
Hanson v Ferguson: https://www.silentmajorityfoundation.org/medicalfreedom
 
Kruse takes on Pedersen: https://x.com/BrandiKruse/status/2010068851858518456
 
Mulvaney to play Anne Boleyn: https://www.iheartradiobroadway.com/content/2026-01-16-six-welcomes-new-queens-on-february-16/
 
Scott Adams: https://x.com/dawnsmission/status/2011123367794118822

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