The Political Scene | The New Yorker
The “Cognitive Élite” Seize Washington
Mar 15, 2025
Gil Duran, a San Francisco-based journalist and writer of "The Nerd Reich," dives into the controversial world of the cognitive elite. He discusses how tech moguls like Elon Musk are reshaping governance with advanced technologies, including A.I. and cryptocurrency. Duran highlights the ideological shift and the troubling alliance between Silicon Valley and politics, revealing how this 'gray tribe' challenges traditional norms. The episode also examines how wealth concentration impacts American democracy, raising crucial questions about the future of governance.
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Quick takeaways
- The cognitive elite aims to reshape governance using AI and cryptocurrency, challenging traditional democratic structures and authority.
- Their ideology represents a fusion of tech elitism with far-right politics, creating significant fractures within existing political landscapes.
Deep dives
The Rise of Tech-Driven Ideology
A notable political movement emerging from Silicon Valley, referred to as the tech right or cognitive elite, seeks to reshape government structures to promote advancements in artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. This ideology, characterized by a belief in the power and superiority of the tech elite, aims to create alternative forms of governance or dismantle existing ones. Key figures in this movement, including Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, have cultivated the idea that traditional state mechanisms are outdated and should be replaced by innovations stemming from technology. The core belief is that this cognitive elite holds the knowledge and capability to rule, as they perceive themselves to be the architects of the future.
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