Gil Durán
@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
Writing a book: “The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Global Democracy.”
The Nerd Reich: http://www.thenerdreich.com
Reposted by Gil Durán
Yes. My theory of the moment is Miller/Vance thought their view that immigrants threaten social solidarity would be widely shared. But ICE raids are driving native-born Americans to show solidarity with immigrants quite courageously. Now Miller is trying to disrupt that alliance with state violence.
Insightful point here: Even if you take Trump seriously - he does not like the optics - they rested on an assumption that communities would welcome ICE as heroes, rather than showing the type of solidarity that Trump inherently cannot understand.
Trump is privately worried about the "optics" of ICE raids and his advisers are looking for ways to soften them, Axios reports. I'm calling bullshit: The terror and violence cannot be hived off from the broader policy agenda. They are 100% intrinsic to it.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2053...
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2053...
January 19, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Yes. My theory of the moment is Miller/Vance thought their view that immigrants threaten social solidarity would be widely shared. But ICE raids are driving native-born Americans to show solidarity with immigrants quite courageously. Now Miller is trying to disrupt that alliance with state violence.
"This is a huge piece of real estate in the Western Hemisphere. It doesn't really make a ton of sense for Denmark to own it...And I think that we can make them an offer that they can't refuse."
David Sacks, Trump's AI and Crypto Czar, on Greenland.
youtu.be/y2NeAef6d30?...
David Sacks, Trump's AI and Crypto Czar, on Greenland.
youtu.be/y2NeAef6d30?...
Iran's Breaking Point, Trump's Greenland Acquisition, and Solving Energy Costs
YouTube video by All-In Podcast
youtu.be
January 19, 2026 at 6:12 PM
"This is a huge piece of real estate in the Western Hemisphere. It doesn't really make a ton of sense for Denmark to own it...And I think that we can make them an offer that they can't refuse."
David Sacks, Trump's AI and Crypto Czar, on Greenland.
youtu.be/y2NeAef6d30?...
David Sacks, Trump's AI and Crypto Czar, on Greenland.
youtu.be/y2NeAef6d30?...
Reposted by Gil Durán
"Buried within the kind of crony capitalist network that has propelled Trump’s imperialism is something far stranger, and far darker, than simply seizing Greenland’s resources for financial gain."
@cjcmichel.bsky.social on the Network State and Greenland.
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
@cjcmichel.bsky.social on the Network State and Greenland.
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
The Oligarchs Pushing for Conquest in Greenland
Trump’s fixation on filching the island territory from Denmark may seem like the demented ravings of a mad king. But to a cohort of plutocrat weirdos, it makes perfect sense.
newrepublic.com
January 17, 2026 at 7:34 PM
"Buried within the kind of crony capitalist network that has propelled Trump’s imperialism is something far stranger, and far darker, than simply seizing Greenland’s resources for financial gain."
@cjcmichel.bsky.social on the Network State and Greenland.
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
@cjcmichel.bsky.social on the Network State and Greenland.
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
Reposted by Gil Durán
recorded this last week
Why Congress Needs to Treat ICE Like the Ku Klux Klan
YouTube video by Takes™ by Jamelle Bouie
youtu.be
January 19, 2026 at 1:11 AM
recorded this last week
Reposted by Gil Durán
‘Brazen’ political influence of rich laid bare as wealth of billionaires reaches $18.3tn, says Oxfam
‘Brazen’ political influence of rich laid bare as wealth of billionaires reaches $18.3tn, says Oxfam
Governments opting for oligarchy while brutally repressing protests over austerity and lack of jobs, charity report says
The world saw a record number of billionaires created last year, with a collective wealth of $18.3tn (£13.7tn), while global efforts stalled in the fight against poverty and hunger.
Oxfam’s annual survey of global inequality has revealed that the number of billionaires surpassed 3,000 for the first time during 2025. Since 2020, their collective wealth grew by 81%, or $8.2tn, which the charity claims would be enough to eradicate global poverty 26 times over. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 12:13 AM
‘Brazen’ political influence of rich laid bare as wealth of billionaires reaches $18.3tn, says Oxfam
...And on the pedestal, these words appear:
"My name is BariMandias, Queen of Queens;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
"My name is BariMandias, Queen of Queens;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
January 18, 2026 at 10:09 PM
...And on the pedestal, these words appear:
"My name is BariMandias, Queen of Queens;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
"My name is BariMandias, Queen of Queens;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
The collapse of the fake "University of Austin" reminds us that, even if the tech fascists win, they will quickly turn on each other.
These people want to remake the entire world...but can't even run a tiny unaccredited college.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
These people want to remake the entire world...but can't even run a tiny unaccredited college.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
They Wanted a University Without Cancel Culture. Then Dissenters Were Ousted.
Inside the civil war at the anti-woke university backed by Bari Weiss.
www.politico.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:18 PM
The collapse of the fake "University of Austin" reminds us that, even if the tech fascists win, they will quickly turn on each other.
These people want to remake the entire world...but can't even run a tiny unaccredited college.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
These people want to remake the entire world...but can't even run a tiny unaccredited college.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Reposted by Gil Durán
If you're following the unbuilding of CBS News, there's a development.
@brianstelter.bsky.social says the Inside CECOT report is to air tonight, "according to sources at CBS."
view.newsletters.cnn.com/messages/176...
This part interested me most: "The promised interview did not materialize."
@brianstelter.bsky.social says the Inside CECOT report is to air tonight, "according to sources at CBS."
view.newsletters.cnn.com/messages/176...
This part interested me most: "The promised interview did not materialize."
January 18, 2026 at 7:02 PM
If you're following the unbuilding of CBS News, there's a development.
@brianstelter.bsky.social says the Inside CECOT report is to air tonight, "according to sources at CBS."
view.newsletters.cnn.com/messages/176...
This part interested me most: "The promised interview did not materialize."
@brianstelter.bsky.social says the Inside CECOT report is to air tonight, "according to sources at CBS."
view.newsletters.cnn.com/messages/176...
This part interested me most: "The promised interview did not materialize."
Reposted by Gil Durán
“many leaders harbor deep concerns about Mr. Trump’s lawlessness, weaponization of the government, and interference in markets. They refrain from public criticism not because they find nothing to criticize but because they’re intimidated”
WSJ Gift link: www.wsj.com/opinion/why-...
WSJ Gift link: www.wsj.com/opinion/why-...
Opinion | Why Have Business Leaders Gone Silent?
Everyone is intimidated by President Trump, but we need to find the courage to stand up against abuses.
www.wsj.com
January 18, 2026 at 12:00 AM
“many leaders harbor deep concerns about Mr. Trump’s lawlessness, weaponization of the government, and interference in markets. They refrain from public criticism not because they find nothing to criticize but because they’re intimidated”
WSJ Gift link: www.wsj.com/opinion/why-...
WSJ Gift link: www.wsj.com/opinion/why-...
Reposted by Gil Durán
I do worry about the rush to claim certain things are definitely AI, which people think they can tell with certainty (they absolutely cannot) will lead to bad outcomes as well. A while back I wrote about the hoops my kid went through to try to avoid sounding like AI, which made the writing worse.
January 18, 2026 at 12:32 AM
I do worry about the rush to claim certain things are definitely AI, which people think they can tell with certainty (they absolutely cannot) will lead to bad outcomes as well. A while back I wrote about the hoops my kid went through to try to avoid sounding like AI, which made the writing worse.
Worth reading:
“His mentor, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, said last year that his protégé is a 'movie star' capable of being elected president—but also that he has never asked Newsom what he believes, 'for fear he doesn’t know!'”
gift link:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
“His mentor, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, said last year that his protégé is a 'movie star' capable of being elected president—but also that he has never asked Newsom what he believes, 'for fear he doesn’t know!'”
gift link:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The Front-Runner
California’s Gavin Newsom would rather be wrong than weak.
www.theatlantic.com
January 17, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Worth reading:
“His mentor, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, said last year that his protégé is a 'movie star' capable of being elected president—but also that he has never asked Newsom what he believes, 'for fear he doesn’t know!'”
gift link:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
“His mentor, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, said last year that his protégé is a 'movie star' capable of being elected president—but also that he has never asked Newsom what he believes, 'for fear he doesn’t know!'”
gift link:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
"Buried within the kind of crony capitalist network that has propelled Trump’s imperialism is something far stranger, and far darker, than simply seizing Greenland’s resources for financial gain."
@cjcmichel.bsky.social on the Network State and Greenland.
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
@cjcmichel.bsky.social on the Network State and Greenland.
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
The Oligarchs Pushing for Conquest in Greenland
Trump’s fixation on filching the island territory from Denmark may seem like the demented ravings of a mad king. But to a cohort of plutocrat weirdos, it makes perfect sense.
newrepublic.com
January 17, 2026 at 7:34 PM
"Buried within the kind of crony capitalist network that has propelled Trump’s imperialism is something far stranger, and far darker, than simply seizing Greenland’s resources for financial gain."
@cjcmichel.bsky.social on the Network State and Greenland.
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
@cjcmichel.bsky.social on the Network State and Greenland.
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
Reposted by Gil Durán
Another data point indicating that Polymarket is not a “prediction market” but a public persuasion operation—here it spreads disinformation about Minnesota and DHS signals boosts the disinformation:
January 16, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Another data point indicating that Polymarket is not a “prediction market” but a public persuasion operation—here it spreads disinformation about Minnesota and DHS signals boosts the disinformation:
Reposted by Gil Durán
Ken Howery (below) is Trump’s ambassador to Denmark. He:
Co-founded PayPal & The Founders Fund w/ Peter Thiel & attended the Jan 2025 inauguration party at Thiel’s mansion.
Thiel’s Oct 2024 Hereticon event included a talk titled: “Manifest Destiny: Greenland, Cuba, & the New American Colony” 1/
Co-founded PayPal & The Founders Fund w/ Peter Thiel & attended the Jan 2025 inauguration party at Thiel’s mansion.
Thiel’s Oct 2024 Hereticon event included a talk titled: “Manifest Destiny: Greenland, Cuba, & the New American Colony” 1/
January 11, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Ken Howery (below) is Trump’s ambassador to Denmark. He:
Co-founded PayPal & The Founders Fund w/ Peter Thiel & attended the Jan 2025 inauguration party at Thiel’s mansion.
Thiel’s Oct 2024 Hereticon event included a talk titled: “Manifest Destiny: Greenland, Cuba, & the New American Colony” 1/
Co-founded PayPal & The Founders Fund w/ Peter Thiel & attended the Jan 2025 inauguration party at Thiel’s mansion.
Thiel’s Oct 2024 Hereticon event included a talk titled: “Manifest Destiny: Greenland, Cuba, & the New American Colony” 1/
"Don't get me wrong—I'm with you."
—Gavin Newsom to Ben Shapiro (re Gaza and Israel)
—Gavin Newsom to Ben Shapiro (re Gaza and Israel)
January 17, 2026 at 3:10 AM
"Don't get me wrong—I'm with you."
—Gavin Newsom to Ben Shapiro (re Gaza and Israel)
—Gavin Newsom to Ben Shapiro (re Gaza and Israel)
Reposted by Gil Durán
The Wall Street Journal poll dropping right now showing Americans blaming Trump for the bad economy on top of this morning’s historically bad CNN poll are setting a narrative that’s gonna be hard for him to climb out of before the midterms.
January 17, 2026 at 12:51 AM
The Wall Street Journal poll dropping right now showing Americans blaming Trump for the bad economy on top of this morning’s historically bad CNN poll are setting a narrative that’s gonna be hard for him to climb out of before the midterms.
I saw “The Secret Agent” last week and am still thinking about it. It’s an intricate and haunting meditation on life under an authoritarian regime. Wagner Moura is great (as always). And it lodged this banger in my head…
youtu.be/fVCMKeeBw-0?...
youtu.be/fVCMKeeBw-0?...
Banda de Pífanos de Caruaru | A briga do cachorro com a onça (Sebastião Biano) | Instrumental Sesc
YouTube video by Instrumental Sesc Brasil
youtu.be
January 16, 2026 at 9:00 PM
I saw “The Secret Agent” last week and am still thinking about it. It’s an intricate and haunting meditation on life under an authoritarian regime. Wagner Moura is great (as always). And it lodged this banger in my head…
youtu.be/fVCMKeeBw-0?...
youtu.be/fVCMKeeBw-0?...
Reposted by Gil Durán
Reporters need to ask Trump at every press availability why he's breaking the law and covering up child rape by not releasing the Epstein files.
January 16, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Reporters need to ask Trump at every press availability why he's breaking the law and covering up child rape by not releasing the Epstein files.
Reposted by Gil Durán
Over the weekend, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security shared posts with a song, "We'll Have Our Home Again."
I dug into the group that performed and popularized it. Its cofounder said his goal was to create "the seed of an eventual government." www.splcenter.org/resources/ha...
I dug into the group that performed and popularized it. Its cofounder said his goal was to create "the seed of an eventual government." www.splcenter.org/resources/ha...
DHS, White House shared white nationalist song in ICE recruitment posts
Multiple accounts run by DHS share references to “We’ll have our home again” song, popularized by a white nationalist group, with a link to join ICE.
www.splcenter.org
January 15, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Over the weekend, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security shared posts with a song, "We'll Have Our Home Again."
I dug into the group that performed and popularized it. Its cofounder said his goal was to create "the seed of an eventual government." www.splcenter.org/resources/ha...
I dug into the group that performed and popularized it. Its cofounder said his goal was to create "the seed of an eventual government." www.splcenter.org/resources/ha...
A relative in East LA reports masked ICE agents kidnapped a longtime local tamale vendor.
“They left all of her food there on the street.”
“They left all of her food there on the street.”
January 15, 2026 at 6:42 PM
A relative in East LA reports masked ICE agents kidnapped a longtime local tamale vendor.
“They left all of her food there on the street.”
“They left all of her food there on the street.”
Reposted by Gil Durán
Walz: "What's happening in MN defies belief. News reports simply don't do justice to the level of chaos & disruption & trauma the federal govt is raining down... This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. Instead, it's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of MN"
January 15, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Walz: "What's happening in MN defies belief. News reports simply don't do justice to the level of chaos & disruption & trauma the federal govt is raining down... This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. Instead, it's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of MN"
The greedy tyrant—desperate to intimidate, ravenous for worship—put his face everywhere.
To ensure no one could escape his sour gaze—not even in the wilderness—he placed it on the annual national parks passes. One day they would serve as poignant relics of a nation under siege.
To ensure no one could escape his sour gaze—not even in the wilderness—he placed it on the annual national parks passes. One day they would serve as poignant relics of a nation under siege.
January 14, 2026 at 6:20 PM
The greedy tyrant—desperate to intimidate, ravenous for worship—put his face everywhere.
To ensure no one could escape his sour gaze—not even in the wilderness—he placed it on the annual national parks passes. One day they would serve as poignant relics of a nation under siege.
To ensure no one could escape his sour gaze—not even in the wilderness—he placed it on the annual national parks passes. One day they would serve as poignant relics of a nation under siege.
Reposted by Gil Durán
New Network State just dropped: Zanzibar.
Everywhere you look, tech bros trying to build weird new cities. Gaza, Greenland, Honduras, Venezuela, Africa—and 10 planned for the USA.
Everywhere you look, tech bros trying to build weird new cities. Gaza, Greenland, Honduras, Venezuela, Africa—and 10 planned for the USA.
January 12, 2026 at 8:50 PM
New Network State just dropped: Zanzibar.
Everywhere you look, tech bros trying to build weird new cities. Gaza, Greenland, Honduras, Venezuela, Africa—and 10 planned for the USA.
Everywhere you look, tech bros trying to build weird new cities. Gaza, Greenland, Honduras, Venezuela, Africa—and 10 planned for the USA.
New Network State just dropped: Zanzibar.
Everywhere you look, tech bros trying to build weird new cities. Gaza, Greenland, Honduras, Venezuela, Africa—and 10 planned for the USA.
Everywhere you look, tech bros trying to build weird new cities. Gaza, Greenland, Honduras, Venezuela, Africa—and 10 planned for the USA.
January 12, 2026 at 8:50 PM
New Network State just dropped: Zanzibar.
Everywhere you look, tech bros trying to build weird new cities. Gaza, Greenland, Honduras, Venezuela, Africa—and 10 planned for the USA.
Everywhere you look, tech bros trying to build weird new cities. Gaza, Greenland, Honduras, Venezuela, Africa—and 10 planned for the USA.
2026: Peter Thiel and Gavin Newsom teaming up against a billionaire tax proposed by a health care workers union...
As Newsom's closest political advisors gorge on lucrative contracts from venture capital.
Unfortunately, it's not just Republicans who are the problem
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...
As Newsom's closest political advisors gorge on lucrative contracts from venture capital.
Unfortunately, it's not just Republicans who are the problem
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...
Thiel Gives $3 Million to Group Seeking to Block California Wealth Tax
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:17 PM
2026: Peter Thiel and Gavin Newsom teaming up against a billionaire tax proposed by a health care workers union...
As Newsom's closest political advisors gorge on lucrative contracts from venture capital.
Unfortunately, it's not just Republicans who are the problem
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...
As Newsom's closest political advisors gorge on lucrative contracts from venture capital.
Unfortunately, it's not just Republicans who are the problem
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...