PATREON PREVIEW: The Extropians
Dystopia Now
To hear the full ep sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow In the 1990s, at the height of the Grunge Era, a small but ambitious group calling themselves the Extropians dreamed of transcending the limits of the human body and mind, through technology, radical life extension, and an unapologetically libertarian vision of the future. In this episode, we trace their journey from obscure online mailing lists to their outsized influence on today’s transhumanist movement, Silicon Valley techno-utopianism, and AI ideology. We’ll unpack their proactionary principle, ties to...
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Simone and Malcolm Collins: TESCREAL Parents
Dystopia Now
To become a Patreon subscriber go here: https://www.patreon.com/DystopiaNow This week we go on a dark journey of TESCREAL parenting with Simone and Malcolm Collins, the rationalist pro-natalism advocates who are raising their kids on an all AI diet. Strap in as we explore their secular religion, their runs for office, and "Future Day." By the end of this episode you may never want to have 10 kids. We also covered Jim Acosta's interview with an AI Parkland survivor, Elon's sex chatbot, and Èmile's new newsletter, Real Time Techpocalypse. Further reading Intro ...
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PATREON PREVIEW: The Zizians Part 3: The Murder Spree
Dystopia Now
This is the final installment of our series on the Rationalist Death Cult, the Zizians. This three part series unpacks the twisted story of the Zizians, a fringe group born out of the Bay Area rationalist and effective altruism subcultures that descended into violence and murder. Blending a belief in utilitarianism with extreme accelerationist ideology, the Zizians started with an AI Doom fixation and ended up justifying a string of brutal killings in the name of a supposed greater good. To hear the series, become a member here: In "A Cult Within a Cult" We discuss the origins of...
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Mark Zuckerberg: Bunker Boy
Dystopia Now
To become a supporter, visit us at https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we explore the weird world of Mark Zuckerberg and billionaire bunkers. FURTHER READING: Meta, Zuckerberg, and AI Meta Q2 earnings beat forecasts, pushes toward AI “personal superintelligence” Inside Meta’s plans for a new AI lab focused on superintelligence Meta’s growing dominance in AI Zuckerberg responds to Cambridge Analytica scandal How Facebook contributed to genocide in Myanmar Zuckerberg grilled in Congress on Facebook’s origins Zuckerberg’s Hawaii Estate and Land Development...
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Tech and Hasbara
Dystopia Now
To become a supporter and keep the show going, visit us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we were joined by of Citizen’s Impeachment and , a staff researcher at Dropsite News to discuss how tech has assisted propaganda campaigns to further the genocide in Gaza. Articles and Media Mentioned:
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Mind Uploading and Life Extension
Dystopia Now
Become a subscriber and join our listener chat: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week, we explored the tech billionaire fixation with cryonics, mind uploading and life extension. We’re just a couple of decel deathists! (You’ll see what we mean) In the intro this week, we talked about Superman’s critique of tech billionaires, Mountainhead, and we read a very special poem. Plus, a Meta AI data center in Georgia leads to rationing of water for local residents. Who needs a shower when you can have a bad search engine? FURTHER READING: Billionaire Immortality and...
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Ecomodernism and Nuclear Energy
Dystopia Now
To join us on Patreon, go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we talked to professors Kyle Keeler and Nathaniel Otjen about the Breakthrough Institute, ecomodernism nuclear energy and AI. Does nuclear come with some downsides? (Yes) Futher Reading: Links between AI, tech, nuclear energy “” How Nuclear Got a Positive Image Issue with nuclear power and AI Degrowth Intro Topics:
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Thiel is the Antichrist with Will Menaker
Dystopia Now
To become a supporter and help keep our show going: (An earlier version of this show was posted, we fixed a sound problem with the file and reposted) Back from our short break. This week we analyzed Peter Thiel's interview with Ross Douthat and then sat down with Will Menaker from Chapo Trap House to talk about Zohran and fighting the tech billionaires. Further Reading:
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Pro-Natalism, Anti-Natalism and Efilism with Briahna Joy Gray
Dystopia Now
To join us on Patreon go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we were joined by Briahna Joy Gray to talk about natalism and Efilism. We also had a great discussion about the philosophy of human extinction. Bad Faith Podcast / Briahna Joy Gray Bad Faith Podcast: “Episode 479: Promo — Truth in Fiction w/ Cory Doctorow” Bad Faith Podcast: “Episode 445: Promo — From Merit to Eugenics: Elon Musk’s…” Pronatalism / Natalism Discourse Mother Jones — “This Is a War, and Natalism Is Our Sword and Shield” The Guardian — “Natal Conference in Austin, Texas, and...
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The Crapture: Transhumanism and Christianity
Dystopia Now
Please support our show at patreon.com/dystopianow This week, we explore the growing relationship between Christianity and transhumanism and how they may be merging in the MAGA movement into an end-times fantasy that can satisfy everyone! Surveillance, Policing, and Immigration Tech Waymo Faces Data Privacy Protests in Los Angeles Waymo's Driverless Cars Revealed to Be Narcs as Cops Use Them to Probe Crimes Los Angeles ICE Raids Spark Concerns Over Immigration Conditions Democrats Face Backlash Over Resolution Thanking ICE Trump Leans on Palantir to Build Massive Database of Americans ...
info_outlineTo become a Patreon supporter go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow
With guest Nathan Robinson, Editor of Current Affairs, we dive into the career and ideology of Matt Yglesias and his confidently wrong opinions about everything. Yglesias has helped shift mainstream liberalism toward a colder, more cynical worldview that prioritizes elite consensus and data-driven “pragmatism” over solidarity and human dignity. From Sam Bankman-Fried and crypto, to housing, to Palestine, he’s the voice of technocratic centrism beloved by Silicon Valley elites. His views reflect a shallow utilitarianism that strips politics of moral urgency and empathy, and we are here to drag that shit.
We explore how Yglesias has become a key ideological bridge between neoliberal Democrats and the techno-libertarian right.
Nathan J. Robinson – Articles & Book
- The Opinions of Matt Yglesias Should Be Ignored – Current Affairs
- Why Effective Altruism and Longtermism Are Toxic Ideologies – Current Affairs
- We Should Be Neither Anti-Natalist Nor Pro-Natalist – Current Affairs
- The Dangerous Ideas of Longtermism and Existential Risk – Current Affairs
- The Myth of American Idealism – Book by Noam Chomsky & Nathan J. Robinson
Articles Mentioned in Intro:
- Democrats, Influencers, and Trump – NYT
- Charity for Shrimps? Ronny Chieng Explores the Limits of Effective Altruism | The Daily Show
- Biden’s PSA Test and Political Fallout – NYT
Matt Yglesias – Writings & Critiques
- The Troubling Rise of Hitler Revisionism – Slow Boring
- Some Thoughts on the FTX Implosion – Slow Boring
- Reds in the Family – Slow Boring
- Matt Yglesias’s Crypto Opinions – Revolving Door Project
- Matt Yglesias in Biden’s Washington – Washington Post
- Embarrassing Fans of the Super Rich – Jeet Heer
- Silicon Valley Patronage – Citations Needed
- Group Chats That Changed America – Semafor
Sam Bankman-Fried & Effective Altruism
- FTX’s Collapse and Media Fallout – Semafor
- How SBF Sweet-Talked the Media – NY Mag
- Inside the Crazy World of FTX – The Guardian
- SBF Guilty Verdict – Semafor
- EA Group Debated SBF’s Ethics in 2018 – Semafor
Breakthrough Institute
- Homelessness Meets Cluelessness – Prospect on Michael Shellenberger
- Ted Nordhaus – The Breakthrough Institute
- Bad Science in Apocalypse Never – Yale Climate Connections
Empathy, Musk
Additional Resources