Uncanny Valley | WIRED WIRED Roundup: Groypers Going Mainstream
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Sep 26, 2025 Jake Lahut, a Senior Politics Writer for WIRED, dives into the shifting tides of American politics. He discusses the chilling implications of Customs & Border Protection collecting DNA from citizens. Lahut explores tech titan Larry Ellison’s secretive clout in the White House and his connections to OpenAI. Most strikingly, he unpacks the rise of Nick Fuentes, detailing how the influencer has surged into the mainstream, exploiting gaps left by others in the political landscape. This discussion offers a profound insight into the merging of tech and political power.
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Border Patrol DNA Collection Concerns
- CBP collected DNA from at least 2,000 people, including American citizens, and uploaded profiles to CODIS over four years.
- Georgetown's analysis suggests the program operated outside statutes and without adequate oversight.
Ellison's Quiet Political Power
- Larry Ellison has moved from peripheral donor to a major influencer with deep White House access and media-adjacent holdings.
- His control over data infrastructure and entertainment assets gives him outsized political leverage without public showmanship.
Stargate's Scale And Local Tradeoffs
- OpenAI's Stargate plan will add massive power and server capacity via Oracle and SoftBank partnerships.
- Local support often stems from promised jobs, while communities remain concerned about power and environmental impact.