The Brian Lehrer Show What the Next Dark Ages Could Look Like
Jun 9, 2025
Cullen Murphy, Editor at large at The Atlantic and a historian specializing in the Roman Empire, discusses the unsettling trends in U.S. governance. He explores how increasing privatization may hint at a modern-day feudalism, reminiscent of the Middle Ages. The conversation dives into the troubling parallels between American politics and ancient Rome, especially under the Trump administration. Murphy raises ethical concerns about privatized national security, questioning the implications of outsourcing critical government functions to private entities.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Privatization Leads to Feudalism
- Feudalism involves privatization of power and fragmented authority in a hierarchy of private officials.
- The U.S. is moving towards feudalism as private actors control what government functions remain.
Private Military Contractors as Mercenaries
- The government outsources most intelligence gathering and many military functions to private firms like Palantir.
- Private military contractors act like medieval mercenaries, with global reach and vast influence.
Privatized Detention and Deportations
- Eric Prince, Blackwater's founder, proposed a private military entity to Trump for immigration roundups and camps.
- Private companies already manage many immigration and prison services, making privatized deportation camps plausible.
