1367: Annie Jacobsen | The Genes and Germs of Biological Warfare
Summary
Jordan Harbinger interviews author Annie Jacobson about her new thriller detailing a genetically modified plague weapon designed to induce euphoria for maximum transmission. They discuss the historical reality of the Soviet Union’s illegal bioweapons program, which continued covertly despite international treaties, and the modern threat of dual-use research. The conversation highlights the low barrier to entry for creating biological agents and the severe lack of preparedness among government agencies to handle such catastrophic events.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: LinkedIn and Picatinny Bank
Intro: The Super Plague Weapon Scenario
Guest Intro and The Euphoria Mechanism
Smallpox vs. Plague and Soviet Biological Warfare
The Flaws of Biological Weapons Strategy
Anthrax Attacks and Pneumonic Plague Lethality
Pandemic Exercises and Fomite Transmission
Gain of Function Research and Oversight
Soviet Defector Dr. Davis and Vector Lab
Spy Satellites and Psychological Warfare
The 1989 Conference and Dual-Use Dilemma
Post-Cold War Bioweapons and Sponsor Ads
Sponsor Ads and The Marburg Virus Incident
Lab Accidents and Biosafety Levels
Proliferation of High-Level Bio Labs
Sponsor Ads and Nuclear Response to Bio Threats
Medical Infrastructure and Super Spreader Events
Paranoia, Trust, and Societal Collapse
AI, Gain of Function, and Policy Recommendations
Conclusion, Book Promo, and Outro
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