gilduran.com
California writer. Ida Tarbell stan. Beat: tech fascism, billionaire extremism, network state, crypto cartels.
Writing a book: “The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Global Democracy.”
The Nerd Reich: http://www.thenerdreich.com
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Trump's has promised 10 "Freedom Cities" on federal land. But the Network State isn't about "freedom"—it's about escape. Billionaire bunker systems to opt out of democracy and public accountability. www.techpolicy.press/trumps-gaza-...
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Always
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8/ And finally for this week, why do Trump and some of his most fervent tech billionaire backers want to take land and create privately-controlled zones? @gilduran.com says we’re watching the rise of a new anti-democratic extremism—networked, crypto-financed, and cloaked in the language of freedom:
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The Network State vision: Private, corporate-controlled cities that operate as "startup nations"—places where democracy, regulations, and taxes don't apply. Think company towns, but with drone defense systems and unregulated biotech. www.techpolicy.press/trumps-gaza-...
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Balaji Srinivasan calls his idea "tech Zionism"
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I wrote this piece for "Ideologies of Control," a series on tech politics and the crisis of democracy, sponsored by @techpolicypress.bsky.social and @datasociety.bsky.social
Read more here: www.techpolicy.press/tech-power-a...
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Remember: Trump's Fascist Cities are straight out of the Network State playbook. Here's a 5 minute video explainer:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCj_...
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Trump has fantasized about creating a new fascist zone in Gaza (with Trump hotels).
We're watching networked, crypto-financed anti-democratic extremism cloaked in innovation language.
Fascism disguised as disruption.
Sovereignty sold to the highest bidder. www.techpolicy.press/trumps-gaza-...
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Trump's has promised 10 "Freedom Cities" on federal land. But the Network State isn't about "freedom"—it's about escape. Billionaire bunker systems to opt out of democracy and public accountability. www.techpolicy.press/trumps-gaza-...
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The idea comes from Balaji Srinivasan's book "The Network State" and Curtis Yarvin (Peter Thiel's "house philosopher"). Two strategies: capture governments through elections (Voice) or acquire new land and build from scratch (Exit) www.techpolicy.press/trumps-gaza-...
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Who backs these Network State ideas? Marc Andreessen, Sam Altman, Peter Thiel, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, and Palmer Luckey.
Not fringe figures—these are the people reshaping global policy with venture capital and ideology. www.techpolicy.press/trumps-gaza-...
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The Network State vision: Private, corporate-controlled cities that operate as "startup nations"—places where democracy, regulations, and taxes don't apply. Think company towns, but with drone defense systems and unregulated biotech. www.techpolicy.press/trumps-gaza-...
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Oh, I know
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It's a good sign that influencers are trying to tap in to this story. But there are plenty of verifiable facts that are shocking enough.
Spreading unverified rumors will only "ridiculize" the topic and help the Network State billionaires — a very real and dangerous force — evade scrutiny.
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In the influencer's defense, she does start the video by telling viewers not to trust her or quote her.
And then the video proceeds to go viral.
The MAGA people aren't the only ones with MAGA brains. Let's do better!
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As one of the few journalists who writes on this subject, let me tell ya: It's very hard to get people listen to the basic, verifiable facts. Establishment media and political types won't touch it/
When an influencer attaches it a ridiculous & unverified rumor, it gets even harder to break through.
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Fascism is shorter. Not sure many people remember feudalism means.
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An unverified rumor from someone on TikTok who literally opens by saying “don’t quote me on this”?
Let’s have a higher standard than that.
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California Forever. They are still trying to do it — despite massive local opposition.
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I think the biggest problem is that politicians and the media won't talk about it. It's right in their faces, there's no denying it — but they just won't say it. They refuse to acknowledge the degree to which there is an organized ideological project.
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Nerd Reich is!
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I love how the algo picks my most dramatic half-second facial expression