Robb raises an intriguing question about whether recent developments pose a threat. He quickly answers his own inquiry:
To the extent that they aim to weave networked decision-making into the existing frameworks, there’s a potential threat. The Republican, or “red,” network currently steers this transition—primarily because they’re the only ones giving it full attention. Others don’t seem to grasp the situation. The red network holds the reins of power. The Republican Party, in this context, functions as a legacy institution serving this network.
Gil Duran, a former editorial page editor for the Sacramento Bee and the San Francisco Examiner, expresses strong criticism towards these developments through his tech industry newsletter. In a spirited email, Duran states:
Recognizing the power of money in shaping politics, tech billionaires are now attempting a full-scale takeover of the U.S. government. This unprecedented move, with Elon Musk as their emblematic figure, is openly dismantling the government and ignoring the Constitution. They pose a dire threat to American democracy, viewing this as their opportunity to seize control.
Many of these tech moguls, who have aligned themselves with Trump, perceive democracy as an outdated operating system needing replacement. They’re envisioning a future where tech elites, powered by advanced AI, dominate global governance.
Duran contends that these tech oligarchs pose a severe threat to democracy. Just look at what’s on the news. It’s bizarre for a government to deliberately derail the economy while allowing an unelected, foreign-born billionaire to unravel its fabric. Such actions defy all political norms. Despite Trump’s declining poll standings, he seems unmotivated to make a course correction. The situation reflects a suicide mission’s illogicality.
These tech moguls, according to Duran, are deeply entwined with Trump’s MAGA faction, but their aspirations don’t end there. “The Republican Party is merely the host for the tech fascism parasite,” Duran writes, asserting that this isn’t solely a Republican issue. The tech authoritarians are making inroads into the Democratic Party too.
Duran highlights the example of newly elected Democratic Senators Elissa Slotkin and Ruben Gallego, noting:
Both benefited significantly from the Fairshake PAC, which Big Crypto bolstered with nearly $200 million in 2024. This same PAC has targeted Democrats like Sherrod Brown and Katie Porter.
Fairshake’s top strategists are Democrats, not Republicans. Having aided the Republican Party’s capture, Big Crypto is now trying to sway the Democrats. It’s pivotal to recognize that any Democrat now supporting crypto is aligning with tech billionaires.
Daron Acemoglu from M.I.T., a 2024 Nobel laureate in economics, shared via email:
It seems a bit disingenuous for Democrats and their allies in the press to suddenly lament over oligarchy. A tech oligarchy already wielded immense power before Trump’s second term. President Obama, in fact, played a vital role in magnifying their influence.
Acemoglu further elaborated, highlighting a pressing concern:
Elon Musk’s sway extends well beyond traditional oligarchy. More worrisome is his direct involvement in data operations and policy crafting. This crosses a significant boundary—there, I fully stand with Democrats and liberal commentators.
He emphasized that while Musk and DOGE’s activities raise alarm, a more pressing danger looms:
Trump presents a genuine, critical threat to U.S. institutions. His aim is to establish absolute rule, commandeering the F.B.I., D.O.J., and others meant to remain independent of presidential whims, transforming them into instruments of personal ambition and corruption. Compared to this, Musk’s actions are minimal in threat level.
Margaret Levi, from Stanford and a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute, concurs that Musk’s initiatives threaten democracy but insists the menace of overreach by tech luminaries is bipartisan.
“The political clout of these tech billionaires is undeniable, especially during Trump’s second term,” she remarks. “Musk’s direct wielding of power—unaccountably via DOGE—illustrates irresponsible and sometimes unlawful influence.”
Levi also notes the indirect methods these billionaires use to exert influence: “through PACs, board appointments at universities, their nonprofits, on social media, and other venues.”
“Billionaires from both parties, like Republicans and Democrats, play a role here,” Levi adds:
The issue isn’t their political or scientific leanings; it’s their establishment of an oligarchy where substantial wealth translates to significant power. The protections meant to shield against such oligarchical tendencies in America are rapidly eroding.
A major contributor to the sprawling influence of tech oligarchs in policy-making is the invisibility of their power to everyday voters.
