Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

SCOTUS, Meet The Broligarchs

50 snips
May 10, 2025
Kara Swisher, a renowned tech journalist, discusses the perilous influence of tech billionaires like Elon Musk on U.S. governance, especially concerning privacy and deregulation. Accompanying her is Mary-Rose Papandrea, a constitutional law expert and former clerk for Justice Souter, who honors Souter’s legacy of humility and judicial thoughtfulness. They delve into how big tech's disregard for law raises serious societal implications while reflecting on the intricate power dynamics in democracy and the judiciary's role in addressing them.
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INSIGHT

Tech Billionaires Shape Governance

  • Silicon Valley billionaires like Elon Musk influence government policy, especially in AI, privacy, and deregulation.
  • Their impact extends to fundamental constitutional issues such as mass surveillance and the dismantling of oversight.
INSIGHT

Digital Media as Right-Wing Power

  • The right wing has adeptly utilized digital media, creating extensive networks to spread influence and evade traditional media.
  • Tech elites control critical levers of information, influencing politics and regulation in ways previously underappreciated.
INSIGHT

Data Centralization Threatens Rights

  • Centralizing government data breaks previous safeguards, enabling surveillance and due process erosion.
  • This risks a "Minority Report" style future where people are judged before action, endangering constitutional rights.
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