The Last Archive

With Earth Day coming up, we wanted to share a classic TLA episode about the climate crisis. Jill Lepore proposes an alternate reality in which Americans ratified an environmental rights amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting representation to the natural world. That never happened... but what would the world look like if it had? For more episodes of The Last Archive about the environment, check out For the Birds and Parakeet Panic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, delves into the paradox of his relationship with AI, declaring it humanity’s greatest existential threat while simultaneously pioneering its development. Jill Lepore explores a century of AI fears, linking Musk's visions to science fiction cautionary tales. They discuss the duality of innovation and fear in technology, examining the implications of Musk’s pursuits on society. Through analyzing cultural influences, they highlight the urgent need for caution in the face of advanced AI developments and the concentration of technological power.

Rebecca Lamov, a Harvard historian specializing in brainwashing and mind control, joins Gad Saad, an evolutionary behavioral scientist, to delve into the intriguing idea of the 'woke mind virus.' They explore its origins linked to Cold War anxieties and Musk's controversial bid for Twitter. The conversation touches on the psychological effects of historical fears of mind control, the Sharpeville massacre's aftermath, and how social media impacts public discourse. Their insights reveal how the past informs today's struggles with freedom of speech and societal manipulation.

Explore the world of gender reveal parties and their extreme consequences. Delve into Elon Musk's and Grimes' unique approach to parenting X, challenging traditional gender norms. Analyze how science fiction often neglects women’s narratives while celebrating Ursula Le Guin’s inclusive storytelling. Discover the ethical dilemmas of AI amidst Silicon Valley's biases. Finally, appreciate a fresh perspective on AI through Indigenous frameworks, emphasizing kinship and respect for technology's societal impact.

In 2021, Elon Musk started calling himself The Dogefather to signal his support for Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency based on a joke meme about a dog. That dog is now wagging the tail of the world’s economy. In this episode, Jill Lepore looks at Silicon Valley's cryptocurrency craze through the lens of some very old science fiction. Like everything else about Muskism that purports to be futuristic, this idea is a relic, whose history serves as a warning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2008 Tesla Motors launched its first car, the completely electric Roadster. Tesla was a great story — something genuinely new, an engineering marvel. Musk became a media darling, on the cover of countless magazines under headlines like ‘Elon Musk, AKA Tony Stark, Wants to Save the World’. Within the logic of Muskism, talking about saving the world was a business strategy, a way to sell cars without ads. Why did so many people buy what Musk was selling?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk is a rocket man. He wants humans to become ‘a multi-planetary species’ and talks about establishing human settlements on Mars. As President Trump talks up the Mars program while dismantling aid initiatives around the globe, Jill Lepore traces how Silicon Valley's existential catastrophism led to Musk’s extraterrestrial vision of capitalism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk is reinventing himself as a kingmaker for the United States and the world. He wants to shape the future. But in this episode, Jill Lepore goes back to his past — to his childhood, his strange family history, and his fascination with Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk’s origin story keeps changing. First, he was Tony Stark, or Iron Man. Not too long ago, he compared himself to Batman. Arguments started online over whether or not Musk is a real-life Bruce Wayne. In this episode, Jill Lepore looks at the original ‘Caped Crusader’, created back in 1939. Batman’s origin story is bound up with fascism. And every time Musk is compared to Batman it raises a very old question about the Dark Knight: is Batman fighting fascism, or is Batman — a brooding, fabulously wealthy vigilante — somehow, himself a fascist?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1960s, a right-wing organization led by a former candy tycoon rose to fame in America for their anti-communist campaigns. They called themselves the John Birch Society. Then, they tried to take over the Parent-Teacher Association. This week, what the battle between the two organizations tells us about the fate of American politics, and the history of your Halloween candy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.