The Bulwark Podcast

Anne Applebaum: Planning for a Techno-Oligarchic Regime

101 snips
Dec 13, 2024
Anne Applebaum, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Atlantic staff writer specializing in authoritarianism, joins Tim Miller for a compelling discussion. They explore how billionaires backing Trump risk undermining democracy for business interests. Applebaum highlights the potential for regimes to collapse quickly, referencing the chaos in Syria. The conversation delves into the intersection of technology and power, examining how disinformation threatens democratic integrity and how elite complicity could reshape political landscapes.
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INSIGHT

Oligarchs' Surrender

  • The wealthy are accommodating Trump's return to power, believing his influence is inescapable.
  • They hope to leverage his ego for personal gain, underestimating potential risks.
INSIGHT

Power and Business

  • Empowering an unchecked executive, while seemingly beneficial to business in the short term, is ultimately detrimental.
  • Undermining the rule of law erodes trust and creates unfavorable investment environments, as seen in Hungary.
INSIGHT

Techno-Oligarchy

  • Peter Thiel believes the liberal order is over and envisions a techno-oligarchic regime.
  • This regime, potentially with Trump as a figurehead, would diminish ordinary people's political influence.
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