The Phoenix Project
@phoenixprojnow.bsky.social
Uncover the Bay Area’s astroturf network and dark money trail.
Learn more: https://linktr.ee/phoenixprojectnow
Learn more: https://linktr.ee/phoenixprojectnow
Lurie may take a bruise but move on; Alcaraz faces lasting fallout and possible legal trouble. The episode dents Lurie’s competence narrative and renews questions about his judgment—echoing concerns raised by his choice of Sam Altman for his transition team.
November 28, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Lurie may take a bruise but move on; Alcaraz faces lasting fallout and possible legal trouble. The episode dents Lurie’s competence narrative and renews questions about his judgment—echoing concerns raised by his choice of Sam Altman for his transition team.
Alcaraz resigned just eight days in—making her one of the shortest-tenured supervisors in city history. Critics say Lurie’s office failed to vet her, pushing an unprepared woman into a high-profile role and leaving her to bear the fallout alone.
November 28, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Alcaraz resigned just eight days in—making her one of the shortest-tenured supervisors in city history. Critics say Lurie’s office failed to vet her, pushing an unprepared woman into a high-profile role and leaving her to bear the fallout alone.
SF Mayor Daniel Lurie’s fast-unraveling appointment of political newcomer Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz to the Board of Supervisors exposed major cracks in his promise of competence. Reports of tax improprieties and a poorly run pet store quickly engulfed his pick.
November 28, 2025 at 9:38 PM
SF Mayor Daniel Lurie’s fast-unraveling appointment of political newcomer Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz to the Board of Supervisors exposed major cracks in his promise of competence. Reports of tax improprieties and a poorly run pet store quickly engulfed his pick.
Even his ties to AOC are less substantial than advertised, with the congresswoman silent on his run. As Supervisor Connie Chan enters the race, Chakrabarti faces growing scrutiny over contradictory positions that may hinder his bid to become SF’s next progressive standard-bearer.
November 20, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Even his ties to AOC are less substantial than advertised, with the congresswoman silent on his run. As Supervisor Connie Chan enters the race, Chakrabarti faces growing scrutiny over contradictory positions that may hinder his bid to become SF’s next progressive standard-bearer.
Roughly 70% of his campaign is self-funded, with most outside donations coming from wealthy tech figures. His prior support for Bilal Mahmood and Michael Lai — candidates aligned with SF’s right flank — undercuts his progressive branding, as does his vote for Daniel Lurie.
November 20, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Roughly 70% of his campaign is self-funded, with most outside donations coming from wealthy tech figures. His prior support for Bilal Mahmood and Michael Lai — candidates aligned with SF’s right flank — undercuts his progressive branding, as does his vote for Daniel Lurie.
Chakrabarti contrasts sharply with rival Scott Wiener, pledging no corporate money and offering charisma over specificity. Yet his own record troubles critics: limited involvement in local progressive causes and a tech-elite résumé that mirrors the city’s conservative donor class.
November 20, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Chakrabarti contrasts sharply with rival Scott Wiener, pledging no corporate money and offering charisma over specificity. Yet his own record troubles critics: limited involvement in local progressive causes and a tech-elite résumé that mirrors the city’s conservative donor class.
At a packed Richmond District event, congressional hopeful Saikat Chakrabarti drew a crowd with his AOC credentials and progressive pitch. But as San Francisco tilts right, questions are mounting about whether the Stripe co-founder matches the movement he invokes.
November 20, 2025 at 11:14 PM
At a packed Richmond District event, congressional hopeful Saikat Chakrabarti drew a crowd with his AOC credentials and progressive pitch. But as San Francisco tilts right, questions are mounting about whether the Stripe co-founder matches the movement he invokes.
Cheng and Neighbors were fined nearly $54,000 by SF’s Ethics Commission for campaign finance violations. For a candidate pitching outsider status, Wolff sure seems to have deep ties to some powerful political insiders.
November 19, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Cheng and Neighbors were fined nearly $54,000 by SF’s Ethics Commission for campaign finance violations. For a candidate pitching outsider status, Wolff sure seems to have deep ties to some powerful political insiders.
Cheng now works on Wolff’s campaign. He told Politico Wolff plans to spend up to $5 million to win, combining his personal wealth with support from affluent donors.
November 19, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Cheng now works on Wolff’s campaign. He told Politico Wolff plans to spend up to $5 million to win, combining his personal wealth with support from affluent donors.
Another close Wolff ally is Jay Cheng, executive director of Neighbors for a Better San Francisco—a group backed by GOP donor William Oberndorf. It led the 2022 recall of progressive SF officials.
November 19, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Another close Wolff ally is Jay Cheng, executive director of Neighbors for a Better San Francisco—a group backed by GOP donor William Oberndorf. It led the 2022 recall of progressive SF officials.
In 2011, Wolff—a former chess grandmaster—founded Grandmaster Capital, a hedge fund in which Thiel was an early investor. The two reportedly bonded over chess. The fund closed in 2015.
November 19, 2025 at 1:38 AM
In 2011, Wolff—a former chess grandmaster—founded Grandmaster Capital, a hedge fund in which Thiel was an early investor. The two reportedly bonded over chess. The fund closed in 2015.
Thiel is also known for backing controversial ideas. He’s a supporter of Curtis Yarvin, who has called for tech elites to abandon democracy and form their own sovereign states.
November 19, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Thiel is also known for backing controversial ideas. He’s a supporter of Curtis Yarvin, who has called for tech elites to abandon democracy and form their own sovereign states.
Among them: Peter Thiel, billionaire tech investor and early Trump backer. Thiel bankrolled JD Vance’s Senate run and was part of the push to make Vance Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate.
November 19, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Among them: Peter Thiel, billionaire tech investor and early Trump backer. Thiel bankrolled JD Vance’s Senate run and was part of the push to make Vance Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate.
Patrick Wolff is running for California Insurance Commissioner as a political outsider. But his campaign is supported by some of the most influential right-leaning donors in California and beyond.🧵
November 19, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Patrick Wolff is running for California Insurance Commissioner as a political outsider. But his campaign is supported by some of the most influential right-leaning donors in California and beyond.🧵
In 2011, Wolff—a former chess grandmaster—founded Grandmaster Capital, a hedge fund in which Thiel was an early investor. The two reportedly bonded over chess. The fund closed in 2015.
November 19, 2025 at 1:10 AM
In 2011, Wolff—a former chess grandmaster—founded Grandmaster Capital, a hedge fund in which Thiel was an early investor. The two reportedly bonded over chess. The fund closed in 2015.
Thiel is also known for backing controversial ideas. He’s a supporter of Curtis Yarvin, who has called for tech elites to abandon democracy and form their own sovereign states.
November 19, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Thiel is also known for backing controversial ideas. He’s a supporter of Curtis Yarvin, who has called for tech elites to abandon democracy and form their own sovereign states.
Among them: Peter Thiel, billionaire tech investor and early Trump backer. Thiel bankrolled JD Vance’s Senate run and was part of the push to make Vance Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate.
November 19, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Among them: Peter Thiel, billionaire tech investor and early Trump backer. Thiel bankrolled JD Vance’s Senate run and was part of the push to make Vance Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate.
Schools targeted for closure disproportionately served low-income Black and Latine students—after years of disinvestment. Critics say billionaire-backed school-choice advocates seek to privatize public assets, turning campuses into charter sites or real estate deals.
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Schools targeted for closure disproportionately served low-income Black and Latine students—after years of disinvestment. Critics say billionaire-backed school-choice advocates seek to privatize public assets, turning campuses into charter sites or real estate deals.
Officials cited budget deficits and declining enrollment, but SFUSD admitted closures would save little money. Pandemic-era data distorted the enrollment picture, and with 82,000 new homes planned by 2031, demand for public schools is poised to rise.
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Officials cited budget deficits and declining enrollment, but SFUSD admitted closures would save little money. Pandemic-era data distorted the enrollment picture, and with 82,000 new homes planned by 2031, demand for public schools is poised to rise.
Sacks, William Oberndorf, Arthur Rock and Garry Tan bankrolled the 2022 recall of three progressive School Board members. Realtors also donated, eyeing school property as valuable land. Their replacements later advanced plans to close 11 schools.
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Sacks, William Oberndorf, Arthur Rock and Garry Tan bankrolled the 2022 recall of three progressive School Board members. Realtors also donated, eyeing school property as valuable land. Their replacements later advanced plans to close 11 schools.
Tech investor David Sacks, now Trump’s crypto/AI czar, lives in a Pacific Heights mansion built on a former public school site—an irony given his role in funding efforts to weaken San Francisco’s public schools.🪡
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Tech investor David Sacks, now Trump’s crypto/AI czar, lives in a Pacific Heights mansion built on a former public school site—an irony given his role in funding efforts to weaken San Francisco’s public schools.🪡
Mayor Lurie’s San Francisco is the ideology’s civic experiment. “Efficiency,” “modernization,” and “velocity” mask a theology of control—public process replaced by private power. The Bay’s new faith is order itself: a polite, procedural authoritarianism.
November 8, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Mayor Lurie’s San Francisco is the ideology’s civic experiment. “Efficiency,” “modernization,” and “velocity” mask a theology of control—public process replaced by private power. The Bay’s new faith is order itself: a polite, procedural authoritarianism.
At Stanford, Balaji Srinivasan’s Network State proposed “founder-led” digital nations. Curtis Yarvin’s “neocameralism” imagined a CEO-run state. Their ideas now shape Silicon Valley’s elite worldview: hierarchy as virtue, equality as defect.
November 8, 2025 at 10:22 PM
At Stanford, Balaji Srinivasan’s Network State proposed “founder-led” digital nations. Curtis Yarvin’s “neocameralism” imagined a CEO-run state. Their ideas now shape Silicon Valley’s elite worldview: hierarchy as virtue, equality as defect.
Their gospel starts on Sand Hill Road. Andreessen’s Techno-Optimist Manifesto glorifies domination and rejects “constraint.” His allies—Elon Musk, Ben Horowitz, Michael Moritz—preach a creed where democracy is inefficiency and billionaires are humanity’s stewards.
November 8, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Their gospel starts on Sand Hill Road. Andreessen’s Techno-Optimist Manifesto glorifies domination and rejects “constraint.” His allies—Elon Musk, Ben Horowitz, Michael Moritz—preach a creed where democracy is inefficiency and billionaires are humanity’s stewards.
When Salesforce’s Marc Benioff called for the National Guard in San Francisco, many were shocked. But it was no aberration. The city’s billionaire class has completed its evolution—from technocrats to theocrats of a new, corporate American order. 🪡
November 8, 2025 at 10:22 PM
When Salesforce’s Marc Benioff called for the National Guard in San Francisco, many were shocked. But it was no aberration. The city’s billionaire class has completed its evolution—from technocrats to theocrats of a new, corporate American order. 🪡