The Distant Future: 2025 Expectations versus Reality
Dystopia Now
Is AGI right around the corner, again? How's the AI bubble doing? What happened to climate activism? We're closing out the year with a round up of the many predictions made about technology by 2025 and share some of our own guesses. Support the show on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow Further Reading Émile's rundown of 2025 predictions: NYT on the AI bubble: Book mentioned: The Discovery of the Future - H.G. Wells
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Epstein Part 2: Transhumanism & Eugenics with Keira Havens
Dystopia Now
This week, we're joined by Keira Havens, director of and former scientist to discuss Jeffery Epstein's transhumanist, eugenicist beliefs, their roots in hierarchy, and his influence in funding scientific research. Further reading: TBA
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Epstein Part 1: Chomsky Struggle Session
Dystopia Now
In a 2-part series on Jeffery Epstein, we'll explore Epstein's ties to the TESCREAL ideologies. This week though, we're talking about his ties to one of our intellectual heroes who really let us down. Further reading: Émile's article "Noam Chomsky is a Scumbag": Jeffrey Epstein Met With Harvard Professor Martin Nowak and Noam Chomsky in 2015 in Harvard Office: Lawrence Krauss and Epstein:
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Escaping Effective Altruism
Dystopia Now
Support the show on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/dystopianow How did Émile get involved in Effective Altruism and what was it like beginning to turn away? In this week’s episode, we touch on Palantir CEO Alex Karp’s political journey, a review of longtermism, and what first sounded the alarm bells on EA for Émile. Further reading: Emile's article "Against longtermism": Karp's swordsmanship:
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Algospeak, Vibes, and Post-Rats with Adam Aleksic (Etymology Nerd)
Dystopia Now
This week, we’re joined by Adam Aleksic, also known as @etymologynerd to discuss his new book . We talk everything from 67, slop, rationalists versus post-rationalists, teleology, vibes, and Silicon Valley slang. Further Reading Buy Adam’s book Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language at your local book store or online: Find Adam Aleksic @etymologynerd on Instagram and TikTok, and check out his Substack at More on slop: Adam’s website: Book recommendation: Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed (1998) by...
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Fan Fic at the End of the World
Dystopia Now
This week, we dive into the horrifying world of Eliezer Yudkowsky, AI Doomer, Rationalist, and Harry Potter fan fiction author in light of his recently published NYT bestseller with Nate Soares, "If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies." Further reading:
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How Tech Billionaires Bought the Narrative with Eoin Higgins
Dystopia Now
In this episode, we talked to journalist Eoin Higgins about his book which examines how Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, and Elon Musk have used their wealth to shape media narratives, especially through journalists Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi. Eoin Higgins: Eoin’s Substack: Eoin’s book: Become a supporter of the show on Patreon!
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Is Saving Shrimps Effective Altruism? w/ Guest Comedian Josh Gondelman
Dystopia Now
In this episode, we explore the Shrimp Welfare Project, featured on the Daily Show several months ago: Comedian Josh Gondelman -- a former writer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver -- joins us for laughs and some serious reflection on which types of beings should be included within our circles of moral concern. Info on the Shrimp Welfare Project can be found here: A critique of Effective Altruism (written by Émile Torres) is here: Find Josh's special Positive Reinforcement on YouTube and his newsletter at
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Peter Thiel's Antichrist Lectures
Dystopia Now
To become a supporter, go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we explored Peter Thiel's Antichrist Lectures. Other than trying to prove he's not the Antichrist, what is this guy up to? Newsletter piece on the topic, titled "The Political Power of Eschatological Thinking: This Is Why Peter Thiel Is Talking About the Antichrist": If people want to learn more about the "dispensationalist" view of the end of the world, see chapter 12 of Emile's book The End: Gil Duran on Thiel's Antichrist obsession: SF Chronicle article on protests outside the Thiel...
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Bryan Johnson, Mortal
Dystopia Now
This week, we explored the anti-aging obsession of Bryan Johnson. From erection measuring to NDA's, join us for a weird ride. Futher reading: How Bryan Johnson, Who Wants to Live Forever, Sought Control via Confidentiality Agreements – The New York Times Bryan Johnson and Matt Bruenig Are Fighting Over NDAs – New York Magazine Bryan Johnson Is Going to Die – WIRED How to Live Forever and Get Rich Doing It — The New Yorker Bryan Johnson Before and After: How Exec Became Antiaging-Obsessed — Business Insider Just being well is not enough at Bryan Johnson’s Don’t Die...
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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