The Bulwark Podcast Casey Newton: Lawlessness and Danger in Tech's Brave New World
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Oct 8, 2025 
Casey Newton, a noted technology journalist and founder of Platformer, discusses the intriguing and chaotic landscape of tech today. He breaks down the implications of Trump's TikTok deal, labeling it crony capitalism with broader geopolitical implications. Newton also warns of the potential dangers of AI, likening Silicon Valley's ambitions to create 'machine gods' to impending catastrophe. He critiques tech figures' shifting political stances and explores the risks of AI deepfakes, urging a careful watch on its economic impact and ethical concerns.
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Presidential Power Shapes Tech Outcomes
- The Trump administration is overriding a law and reshaping the TikTok outcome through extra‑constitutional pressure.
- That creates a precedent where presidential will, not law, can determine major tech deals.
TikTok Sale Looks Like A Windfall
- The reported TikTok sale price would be an enormous discount to ByteDance's valuation and look like open theft.
- That deal would concentrate power and assets into a small group of Trump allies.
China Has Bigger Trade Priorities
- China may accept a TikTok carve‑out because it has larger trade priorities and can extract ongoing payments.
- Geopolitics and trade leverage can outweigh platform control in Beijing's calculus.