The Gist Quico Toro: "Charlatans Burrow Into Your Life and Don't Leave."
Dec 22, 2025
Quico Toro, a journalist and environmental commentator, delves into his book about charlatans and their enduring tactics. He explores the historical lineage of grifters from 16th-century alchemists to modern swindlers, highlighting how loneliness and the internet create ripe conditions for these manipulators. The conversation pivots to climate policy, questioning the misleading 'green halo' around renewable energy while advocating for a more balanced approach that includes nuclear power. Together with Mike, he critiques the partisanship hampering real progress in environmental solutions.
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Upsell Over Substance
- Trump University exemplified charlatanism by promising expertise but delivering constant upsells and no real training.
- Quico Toro notes no one launched a real estate career from Trump University and many lost life savings.
Parasitic Versus Transactional Fraud
- Charlatans burrow into lives and cause lasting harm, unlike one-off scammers.
- Toro says victims' identities become entangled with the charlatan, deepening damage.
Venice's Official Alchemist
- Quico recounts Mamunga, Venice's official alchemist, who promised a return to past glory.
- The state funded his parties while elites hoped his claims would restore Venice's power.