
They want to make DUNE real
Jan 11, 2026
Explore the parallels between modern politics and the Dune universe. A deep dive reveals how Trump embodies a comic villain's traits, mirroring feudal power struggles of Houses. Scarcity is compared to spice, illustrating how capitalism thrives on choke points. The dangers of AI monopolies and hydraulic despotism are examined, reshaping our understanding of control in the digital age. The discussion also touches on elite cycles and narrative warfare, emphasizing the influence of wealth on global infrastructure. A call to defend democracy against tyranny closes the conversation.
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Trump As Theatrical Villain
- Damien Walter links Trump's theatrical cruelty to Baron Harkonnen as a symbol of power that refuses to disguise its evil.
- This bluntness exposes why many Americans react with profound anger and disgust.
Choke Points Not Abundance
- Walter argues modern empire hides extraction behind noble rhetoric like 'democracy' and 'security'.
- He reframes capitalism as controlling scarcity choke points, not producing abundance.
Spice Symbolises Techno-Feudalism
- The spice in Dune models oil as the ultimate choke point that enforces feudal power.
- Herbert warns technology won't free people if elites capture the choke points and enforce techno-feudalism.




