It's not obvious that the best way to reduce existential risk is to actually work on the problem. Imagine if every farmer put down his plow and came to the university to study artificial intelligence research. Everyone would starve. It may well be that someone's best contribution is to continue to write software to do billing for health insurance, because that helps keep society running, which causes increased wealth, which then funds and supports people who specialize in researching risks among other fields.

I suspect that actually, only a small percentage of people, even of people here, could usefully learn the political truths relevant to existential risk mitigation via the kind of discussion you are proposing. Very few people are in a position to cause political change. The marginal utility gain for the average person to learn the truth on a political matter is practically zero due to his lack of influence on the political process. The many arguments against voting apply to this question as well, of seeking political truth; and even more so, because it's harder to ascertain political truths than to vote.

Most interest in politics is IMO similar to interest in sports or movies. It's fun, and it offers an opportunity to show off a bit, gives something to talk and socialize about, helps people form communities and define their interests. But beyond these kinds of social goals, there is no true value.

Most of the belief that one is in a position where knowing political truths is important, is likely to be self-deception. We see ourselves as being potentially more important and influential than we are likely ever to become. This kind of bias has been widely documented in many fields.

To me, politics is not so much the mind-killer as the mind-seducer. It leads us to believe that our opinions matter, it makes us feel proud and important. But it's all a lie. Politics is a waste of time and should be viewed simply as a form of entertainment. Now entertainment can be good, we all need a break from serious work and politics may be as valid as any other form of recreation, but we here should recognize that and not inflate its importance.