Join journalist Eoin Higgins, author of "Owned," as he exposes how tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel are reshaping journalism and public discourse. Higgins discusses the alarming trend of influential journalists, such as Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi, shifting to right-wing narratives driven by funding and influence. The conversation dives into the hypocrisy of 'free speech' being weaponized while genuine dissent is suppressed and how traditional media struggles against billionaire-funded platforms. It's a candid look at the evolving landscape of media and democracy.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Book's Genesis
Eoin Higgins's book, "Owned," stemmed from articles he wrote about tech billionaires' media control and journalists' shift to the right.
The book evolved to cover the history of tech, politics, and the increasing influence of billionaires.
insights INSIGHT
Journalistic Shift
Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi, once left-leaning journalists, now serve right-wing interests.
Their transformations illustrate a broader trend of wealthy individuals manipulating media narratives.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Taibbi's Downfall
Matt Taibbi's criticism of the Russia-gate narrative and subsequent "cancellation" led to a rightward shift.
His anti-vaccine stance and involvement with the "Twitter Files" solidified his new political alignment.
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How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left
Eoin Higgins
I can't breathe
Matt Taibbi
Matt Taibbi's 'I Can't Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street' provides a detailed narrative of Eric Garner's life and death, highlighting the complexities of his personal history and the systemic issues that led to his tragic demise. The book explores themes of policing, racial disparity, and social justice, offering a critical examination of the events surrounding Garner's death and its broader implications for American society.
Hate Inc.
Why Today’s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
Matt Taibbi
In this book, Matt Taibbi provides an insider's guide to the ways in which today's mainstream media distorts the news. He argues that the news has become a twisted wing of the entertainment business, where media companies master the art of monetizing anger, paranoia, and distrust. Taibbi, drawing from his extensive experience covering elections, offers a rich taxonomic survey of American political journalism's dirty tricks and how the media has evolved into a form of entertainment that fosters division and conflict[1][2][5].
Palo Alto
A History of California, Capitalism, and the World
Malcolm Harris
In 'Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World,' Malcolm Harris provides a detailed and critical history of Silicon Valley. The book spans 150 years, from the era of railroad barons to the modern tech industry, and explores how Northern California evolved into a powerful engine for economic growth and global influence. Harris examines the ideologies, technologies, and policies that have shaped the region, including the impact of settler colonialism, racialized labor, and the conversion of public resources into private assets. The book also delves into the lives of key figures such as Leland Stanford, Herbert Hoover, and Peter Thiel, and offers a radical proposition for how society might change course in the face of the current economic and technological landscape.
In Episode 3 of the Nerd Reich podcast, Gil Duran and journalist Eoin Higgins unpack the growing influence of tech billionaires over modern media. Based on Higgins’ explosive book "Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left," the conversation exposes how figures like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Marc Andreessen are not just funding platforms—they're reshaping public discourse and redefining journalism itself.
They explore how journalists like Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi shifted toward right-wing platforms, chasing influence and profit amid a changing media ecosystem. From the weaponization of “free speech” to the hypocrisy of Silicon Valley libertarianism, Duran and Higgins confront the dangerous feedback loop between wealth, ideology, and media control.
This episode is a deep dive into how billionaires are buying silence, reshaping narratives, and threatening the foundations of democratic discourse.
Key Takeaways:
Owned reveals how right-wing tech billionaires bought influence and suppressed dissent.
The transformations of Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi mirror larger media trends.
Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover reshaped global information flow.
Peter Thiel’s media investments are strategic tools of influence.
“Free speech” is being weaponized to protect reactionary politics.
Traditional journalism is being eclipsed by billionaire-funded alternatives.
The myth of objectivity is eroding in a hyper-politicized media landscape.
The future of journalism is at a crossroads—and public vigilance is critical.
The Nerd Reich 
