Dave Smith — Dave Smith is an outspoken anti-war libertarian (anarcho-capitalist), stand-up comedian, and host of the 'Part of the Problem' podcast. A longtime Ron Paul devotee, he is known for high-profile debates on Israel-Palestine, Ukraine, and US foreign policy.
The gist
Lex Fridman and Dave Smith hold a long, philosophical conversation centered on war, morality, and US foreign policy from a libertarian perspective. Smith traces his worldview to Ron Paul, arguing that military intervention generates more of the enemies it targets ('insurgent math') and that the military-industrial complex profits from manufacturing conflict. They dig deeply into Israel and Gaza, the morality of killing civilians, the occupation since 1967, Hamas, and Netanyahu's strategy. The discussion expands to Ukraine and Russia (NATO expansion, who bears responsibility for the war), World War II revisionism and Daryl Cooper, antisemitism online, the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, and Joe Rogan's cultural impact. Smith closes on 'Epstein's case for radical optimism'—that seemingly permanent evils like slavery and the Soviet Union collapsed faster than anyone expected—and his hope for the future.
Big reveals
- Smith says Netanyahu had an open strategy of propping up Hamas for years, insisting Qatari cash flow to them in briefcases to keep Palestinians divided and prevent pressure for a two-state solution.
- Smith argues Israel cannot call itself a democracy while millions of Palestinians under its control since 1967 have no voting rights, calling it 'an apartheid state.'
- He cites four-star general Wesley Clark's claim of an Israeli-funded plan to topple seven countries in five years, framing many US wars as fought on Israel's behalf.
- Smith points to Alex Acosta's reported statement that Epstein 'belonged to intelligence' as key evidence, leaning toward Epstein being connected to Mossad and possibly the CIA.
- He demands to know 'where are the tapes,' arguing Epstein was clearly filming powerful people for blackmail and that the lack of mass resignations indicts the entire system.
- Smith claims NATO chief Stoltenberg admitted Putin sent a draft treaty in late 2021 offering not to invade if Ukraine's NATO membership were ruled out in writing, and NATO refused.
- Despite his criticisms of US policy, Smith states clearly that full responsibility for the invasion of Ukraine lies with Vladimir Putin, who launched the war.
- Smith argues the regime has lost its monopoly on propaganda; the 2002 Iraq war media campaign 'could not get away with that today' because of Rogan, Tucker, and independent media.
Things worth remembering
- General Stanley McChrystal coined 'insurgent math'—10 minus 2 equals 20—to describe how killing fighters creates more enemies among their relatives.
- Smith says so-called 'targeted' drone strikes killed innocents 96% of the time, yet Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula kept growing in Yemen from 2009 to 2015.
- He recalls neocon writing in the 1990s (Charles Krauthammer's 'unipolar moment') openly stating America should periodically put a 'puny little country' up against the wall to show it means business.
- Smith notes Israel has maintained a full blockade of Gaza since 2007, barring 'dual use' items like potatoes and sugar on grounds they could be used for rockets.
- He cites Benny Morris's words from his book '1948' that 'the Zionist Project always knew it was going to involve transfer,' and that 700,000-800,000 Arabs were forcibly evicted.
- Smith jokes that the Chinese government officially rated Mao Zedong as '70% correct,' with the other 30% being among the worst mass killing in human history.
- He explains Daryl Cooper's provocative Tucker Carlson claim that Winston Churchill was 'the chief villain of World War II,' which Lex calls revisionist and dead wrong.
- Smith references George Kennan's 1998 warning to Thomas Friedman that NATO expansion would provoke a Russian reaction that hawks would then cite as justification.
- Smith estimates it takes roughly 40-50 hours of consuming someone's long-form content before a one-way 'relationship' forms and 'you do see into their soul.'
- Smith shares that his son had a congenital heart defect and open-heart surgery at three days old, surviving thanks to medical advances that would have meant losing the child 20 years earlier.
Recommended in this episode
Books, products and media the guest or host genuinely endorsed here — with the buy link.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War
Benny Morris
“as Norm Finkelstein called out Benny Morris uh for writing in his book 1948, which is a great book” — Dave Smith 01:06:12Find it on Amazon