The Nerd Reich and the War on Democracy with Gil Durán

The Nerd Reich and the War on Democracy with Gil Durán

Author: Caitlin Begg August 24, 2026 Duration: 50:08

Social media was once sold to us as "fun"—years later, the Big Tech leaders who sold us on it flaunt their authoritarian alignments.

Gil Durán and I discuss his new book, "⁠The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy"⁠.

We speak about what "technofascism" is and its origins; "The Nerd Reich" and its similarity to the Third Reich; the "religion of technicity"; Gil's permanent ban from X and suppression on Meta platforms which drew headlines; Peter Thiel (ranging from "Zero to One" to his current obsession with the antichrist to his relationship with JD Vance); fringe philosophers' impact on Big Tech leaders & the U.S. government; DOGE and RAGE; Palantir and 9/11; the challenge of imagination in today's world; how professionals can navigate the job market with so many open roles coming from Big Tech; whether it is possible to work in Big Tech and still make a difference; and more.

Gil Durán is a San Francisco-based journalist covering tech extremism.

⁠⁠Buy the book⁠⁠

⁠More about Gil Durán⁠

⁠The Nerd Reich Newsletter⁠


There's a quiet but persistent feeling that something essential is getting lost in our digital shuffle. Progression to Analog is a space to examine that feeling, hosted by sociologist and Authentic Social founder Caitlin Begg. This isn't a nostalgic retreat, but a thoughtful exploration of how reintroducing analog elements-whether in communication, work, or leisure-can reshape our daily experience toward something more intentional and, ultimately, more human. Each conversation in this podcast moves beyond simple tool-swapping to ask deeper questions about presence, connection, and the architecture of our attention. You'll hear discussions that weave sociological insight with practical reflection, considering how the textures of a less-mediated life can influence our relationships, creativity, and sense of self. New episodes arrive every Monday, offering a regular pause to consider the pace and quality of the everyday. Tune in for a series that treats the analog not as an antiquated concept, but as a meaningful progression.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 46

Hypercommunication
Podcast Episodes
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In this mini episode, I detail my four principles of sociotechnical design. Sociotechnical design works to improve the relationship between people and technology, prioritizing joint optimization. I speak about psychogeog…
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Whipsmart Media and Get Started With AI founder Jonathan McCrea and I speak about the future of AI, how to close the gap in AI knowledge between big businesses and small enterprises, technology and communication, AI tran…
Psychology of Virality with Professor Steve Rathje [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Steve Rathje, Incoming Assistant Professor of Human Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University, joins us to kick off season three of Progression to Analog! You may know Steve from his TikTok @stevepsychology (1M+…
Swipe: Being Online 24/7 with Ieva Jakusa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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I came across Swipe: Being Online 24/7 at McNally Jackson in lower Manhattan a few months ago and was drawn by the unique nature of the book. Swipe presents questions about the smartphone that the users may not have aske…
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"I think we have a listening problem" -Stephanie from NYC (name changed) I interview six people, explore expert opinions (and share my own) re: why it can be tough to have difficult conversations today.
D̶o̶o̶m̶scrolling is good for you? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:11
Can scrolling be good for you? Yes, if you take out the doom. I explore different perspectives on scrolling, based on Harvard Medical School research, and a perspective from a UVA Professor on 'hope scrolling'. NYC volun…
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Duration: 9:02
From a ⁠Baudrillardian (versus ⁠Bostrum-esque)⁠ angle of simulation theory, I discuss why we live in a simulation, what that means in terms of everyday life, and how we can deal with it. "THE SIMULACRUM IS NEVER WHAT HID…
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Duration: 13:09
A year ago today, I launched the trailer for Progression to Analog. Twelve months later, I'm reflecting on what a year it was—speaking about Progression to Analog at conferences and universities across the United States…