Politics Weekly America

The ‘Nerd Reich’: how tech billionaires infiltrated the White House

24 snips
Aug 22, 2025
Gil Duran, journalist and author of 'The Nerd Reich', dives into the unsettling rise of tech billionaires in U.S. politics. He discusses how figures like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel blend Silicon Valley's clout with governance, challenging traditional democratic values. Duran critiques the mainstreaming of extremist ideologies and the concept of 'network states' that threaten democracy. He also reflects on the political landscape in California, particularly Gavin Newsom's ambitions and the ongoing struggle between state and federal authority.
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ANECDOTE

Musk Reopened Tesla During Lockdown

  • Gil Duran recounts Elon Musk reopening a Tesla factory during COVID lockdowns in defiance of local orders.
  • He used that episode to question why powerful tech figures faced little consequence for breaking rules.
INSIGHT

Tech Bros Embrace Punitive 'Strict Father' Politics

  • Duran identifies a 'strict father' ideological bent among tech backers favoring punitive policies despite data against them.
  • He notes the contradiction of data-driven tech figures supporting policies that ignore empirical evidence.
INSIGHT

Wealth Fuels Tech Supremacy And Contempt

  • Duran argues massive tech wealth amplified a superiority complex among mostly white male founders.
  • That mix of ego and money fostered ideologies of tech, male, racial, and wealth supremacy.
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