dystopian tech fascism playlist to work/have a panic attack to

In this episode, Whitney is joined by UH contributor Max Jones to discuss the influence of the PayPal Mafia's Peter Thiel on Trump's HHS, the likely policies of a RFK-led HHS, and what the expansion of the contracts between HHS and the Thiel-founded Palantir portend for the expansion of the surveillance state.

Show notes: https://unlimitedhangout.com/2025/02/resources/show-notes/the-paypal-presidency-pt-1-biotech-and-biosurveillance-with-max-jones/

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The PayPal Presidency Pt. I: Biotech and Biosurveillance with Max Jones

 “Israel built an ‘AI factory’ for war. It unleashed it in Gaza,” laments the Washington Post. “Hospitals Are Reporting More Insurance Denials. Is AI Driving Them?,” reports Newsweek. “AI Raising the Rent? San Francisco Could Be the First City to Ban the Practice,” announces San Francisco’s KQED.

Within the last few years, and particularly the last few months, we’ve heard this refrain: AI is the reason for an abuse committed by a corporation, military, or other powerful entity. All of a sudden, the argument goes, the adoption of “faulty” or “overly simplified” AI caused a breakdown of normal operations: spikes in health insurance claims denials, the skyrocketing of consumer prices, the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians. If not for AI, it follows, these industries and militaries, in all likelihood, would implement fairer policies and better killing protocols.

We’ll admit: the narrative seems compelling at first glance. There are major dangers in incorporating AI into corporate and military procedures. But in these cases, the AI isn’t the culprit; the people making the decisions are. UnitedHealthcare would deny claims regardless of the tools at its disposal. Landlords would raise rents with or without automated software. The IDF would kill civilians no matter what technology was, or wasn’t, available to do so. So why do we keep hearing that AI is the problem? What’s the point of this frame and why is it becoming so common as a responsibility-avoidance framing? 

On today’s episode, we’ll dissect the genre of “investigative” reporting on the dangers of AI, examining how it serves as a limited hangout, offering controlled criticism while ultimately shifting responsibility toward faceless technologies and away from powerful people. 

Later on the show, we’ll be speaking with Steven Renderos, Executive Director of MediaJustice, a national racial justice organization that advances the media and technology rights of people of color. He is the creator and co-host, with the great Brandi Collins-Dexter, Bring Receipts, a politics and pop culture podcast and is executive producer of Revolutionary Spirits, a 4-part audio series on the life and martyrdom of Mexican revolutionary leader Francisco Madero.


Episode 217: A.I. Mysticism as Responsibility-Evasion PR Tactic

Tech reporter Mike Isaac returns to the show for a round-up of the latest AI news. From collegiate cheating to funeral planning, Mike helps us make some sense of how this wonderful emerging technology is reshaping human society in so many delightful ways, and certainly is not a madness rune chipping away at what little sanity remains in our population’s fraying psyche.  

We’re doing another call-in show with Matt for the midweek, so if you have any questions or comments, send an UNDER 30 SECOND voice recording to calls@chapotraphouse.com

We also have some new merch going up at chapotraphouse.store this Weds, May 14. So keep your eyes out for that!


933 - We Can Grok It For You Wholesale feat. Mike Isaac (5/12/25)

Abby and Robbie Martin talk to investigative journalist Whitney Webb, editor of Unlimited Hangout, and author of One Nation Under Blackmail, about the PayPal mafia of rebranded neocons, and how they’re ushering us into a neofuedal tech dictatorship

Check out Whitney Webb's work at https://unlimitedhangout.com/

Access over 55 hours of exclusive content by becoming a Patreon subscriber to Media Roots Radio @ patreon.com/mediarootsradio

This episode was originally released on May 1st 2025 for Media Roots Radio Patreon subscribers.

How You Are Being Played By Silicon Valley Oligarchs w/ Whitney Webb

Candice Bernd returns to This Is Hell! to discuss her recent writing at The American Prospect, "The Crypto Racket." After the interview, we hear a classic "Moment of Truth" from Jeff Dorchen.

Check out Candice's article here: https://prospect.org/power/2025-05-09-crypto-racket-texas-bitcoin-mining/



Subsidizing Crypto in the Climate Crisis / Candice Bernd

This Is Hell!