Tech Won't Save Us Palantir is Thriving Under Trump w/ Caroline Haskins
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Sep 18, 2025 Caroline Haskins, a staff writer at Wired specializing in technology and surveillance, sheds light on Palantir's origins and operations. She discusses Palantir's influence within the U.S. government and major corporations, as well as its ties to controversial clients like ICE. Haskins brings up the company’s military-style culture and its products, Gotham and Foundry, designed to consolidate data. She also delves into the controversies surrounding Palantir, including its public posture and connections to Peter Thiel’s vision, making for a compelling deep dive into a tech giant's impact.
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Roots In Post‑9/11 Intelligence Funding
- Palantir was founded after 9/11 with funding from In-Q and early intelligence clients like the CIA and FBI.
- It grew from tools for organizing complex government data into a major contractor blending big-data and national security work.
Platform Sold As An All‑In‑One Fix
- Palantir sells comprehensive platforms that sit atop an organization's scattered systems and make disparate data usable quickly.
- That all‑in‑one positioning explains its higher price and limited direct consumer visibility.
Gotham Versus Foundry: Different Users
- Gotham targets government investigators by linking case files, arrests, and external sources to build searchable social webs.
- Foundry targets corporations to streamline operations and surface business insights without heavy coding.
