The Billionaires Strike Back

Let’s talk about the billionaires backing Trump and the power over all of us they seek.

Several folks have sent me the YouTube video of Bari Weiss interviewing Peter Thiel about the election. I had to laugh at her title, “Peter Thiel on the Triumph of the Counter-Elites.” The descriptive text is even more ridiculous. A choice quote:

“A bunch of oddball outsiders ran against an insular band of out-of-touch elites supported by every celebrity in Hollywood—and they won. And they are about to reshape not just the government but also the culture in ways we can’t imagine.” 

If you’ve heard about the conversation, it’s probably because Thiel, one of the wealthiest men in the world, has the audacity to refer to the left as the Empire from Star Wars and he and his pro-Trump peers as the Rebel Alliance. Thiel actually says, “rag-tag rebel alliance.”

I listened to the interview (all two hours of it!), and if nothing else, it’s a reminder of how Thiel and his peers see the world and his belief that the rich should rule the rest of us. Thiel decries the elites and institutions that make up civil society. Thiel is a longtime anti-democracy neo-reactionary who believes in the so-called natural order. AKA a world where rich and powerful men can do whatever they please and there is no civil society or institutions to create friction for them, much less try to stop their agenda or hold them accountable for their actions. He doesn’t often sit down for interviews.

In the interview, Thiel praises Musk for having the courage to step into the arena, saying that every CEO in Silicon Valley was sick of “woke” and knew that “woke” wasn’t working (for them, not their workers whose needs obviously didn’t figure in), but they needed someone to go first and give them cover. 

Thiel is hinting at something I’ve been thinking about ever since the election. Billionaires lined up behind Trump in an unusually public way. I’m thinking about Bezos instructing the Washington Post, the paper he owns, not to endorse a presidential candidate specifically, but there are a handful of other examples. Mark Zuckerberg called Trump a “badass” and how that led to Trump deciding he likes Zuckerberg more now. Marc Andreessen supported Trump with millions because Joe Biden was pro-regulation and anti-trust.

Every billionaire wasn’t a Trump supporter, but most of the election’s megadonors gave millions to support Trump’s campaign and super PACs. Some, like Thiel, have always had insane political views, while others were fine with Biden until they realized that rather than just be a caretaker president, the Biden Administration was planning to take back some power for the people through things like anti-trust efforts and empowering the National Labor Relations Board. 

Billionaires whining about “woke” has always been code for really what pissed them off: attempts to check their power. It’s not just about their bottom line but a firm belief that they should be able to do what they like (and treat workers and consumers however they want) without consequence. Some, like Thiel, embrace Trump’s fascism and desire to destroy federal institutions from within. And as Anil Dash points out on his blog, “They're just as prone to becoming swept up in stupid conspiracized thinking as, well, everyone else in their demographic seems to have been.” Others might not be thrilled, but they’ll take a fascist hellscape over even minor checks on their power and influence. 

Or, as The Verge’s editor-in-chief Nilay Patel put it in an interview recently: “I don’t think there’s a trend towards actual conservatism in the Valley — there’s a trend towards monopoly and corruption, and that’s led a bunch of VCs directly to Trump.”

Meanwhile, the rest of us are mere cannon fodder. The MAGA coalition has made it clear they’re coming to destroy every aspect of American government, culture, and life. They seek to own all the media, control academic institutions, and purge the federal government of career civil servants. They have the resources to enact their whims and a values system that allows them to justify every action as might makes right. It’s a scary time to be a non-billionaire in America.

But before you think all hope is lost, Patel also points out that “All of these men are now hopelessly trapped in a problem their own platforms and algorithms created: they have to manipulate Trump’s narcissism to secure tariff exceptions and regulatory largesse, while knowing that the vast majority of their employees and half of their customers will see any engagement as moral bankruptcy.”

I agree. Alliances with Trump tend not to last long, and those who manage to stick around are always at the mercy of his whims. This is a man who sent the mob to hang his last Vice President and went out of his way to fire White House staff and Cabinet Secretaries who had fallen out of his favor in the most humiliating ways possible. Trump demands absolute loyalty from his cronies and offers little in return for their devotion. I think a lot about how much fun his inevitable fallout with Elon Musk will be, but the reality is that Trump will fall out with many of these guys. Certainly, it will make for dramatic fights among the gods. 

One more thing. Right now, these guys are emboldened by their win and more willing than ever to give the game away, letting their true feelings come out in public forums. Thiel’s interview with Weiss may one day come back to haunt him, but he’s not the only one. Just this week Marc Andreessen talked to Joe Rogan for three hours, pontificating on everything under the sun.  

It’s a strategic opportunity. We can and should find ways to make them fight, ridicule them, and use their own words to expose them. Take every opportunity to drive the wedge. Weaken them and their alliances with one another. Attack their reputations—anything to damage them and derail the MAGA coalition and agenda. 

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ICYMI

This week, in lieu of news articles, I wanted to share some resources to help you prepare for the next Administration. If I didn’t include your favorite resource, feel free to reply to this email with your suggestions. I’m always on the hunt for resources to help my readers. 

Surveillance Self-Defense. Tips, Tools, and How-tos for Safer Online Communications (Electronic Frontier Foundation)

If you’re politically engaged, now is a good time to review your personal security and do some basic threat modeling. EFF’s guide is a good starting point with proactive advice and does a good job of creating the right mindset.

Online Harassment Field Manual (PEN America)

This one is handy before, during, and after any attacks. There’s also a section for employers. I like how accessible this guide is. It’s written with journalists and writers in mind but is a helpful resource for advocates and anyone with a presence online.

Breaking News USA (Oliver Willis)

A news aggregator of independent lefty news media created by Oliver Willis. It recreates the experience of an RSS reader and is a fantastic way to catch up on the news without using social media. 

Authoritarianism, Explained (Protect Democracy)

Protect Democracy’s explainer on what authoritarianism is and what to expect as an authoritarian government takes power is no-nonsense and clear-eyed. A good one to review and send to friends and family who have questions.

Indivisible: a Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink (Indivisible)

The new Indivisible Guide is out. If you want to oppose the Trump Administration at the Federal level or in your own backyard, this guide is the best possible starting point for how to do that. I’d also consider joining or forming an Indivisible chapter in your community.

Want even more content? Subscribers receive bonus posts early on Fridays. 

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Coda

I’ve created a Starter Pack on Bluesky with suggested follows that CARD readers will find interesting. You can also follow me.

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That’s all for now. Talk to you again next week!