"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg

E127: The Tech Right and How The Left Can Fix Itself w/ Jon Askonas

25 snips
Mar 20, 2025
Jon Askonas, an assistant professor of politics and senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation, joins to discuss the unexpected coalition between MAGA supporters and Silicon Valley tech leaders. They delve into the evolution of political alignments, tensions within the tech right, and emerging issues like immigration and biotechnology. Askonas highlights the need for the left to better engage younger audiences and navigates the complexities of political transformations, including the implications of cryptocurrency and AI on future governance.
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INSIGHT

Tech Elite Realignment

  • Silicon Valley's political shift is driven by a broader realignment, with tech elites diverging from the Democratic Party.
  • The 2024 election saw a substantial defection of tech elites towards the Republican Party, marking a significant change.
ANECDOTE

Coinbase and X as Turning Points

  • Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong's "no politics" stance foreshadowed tech's rightward shift, highlighting the clash between company values and employee activism.
  • Elon Musk's acquisition of X (formerly Twitter) accelerated the trend, leading to a rapid rise of the "tech right."
INSIGHT

The New Right Coalition

  • The new right coalition comprises the tech right, MAGA, and the "Make America Healthy Again" (Maha) movement.
  • These groups are united by a perceived "existential fight" against established institutions (the "Cathedral").
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