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Gil Durán

@gilduran.com
51K followers 2.4K following 4.9K posts

California writer. Ida Tarbell stan. Author: NYT Bestselling “The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy.” www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-… Newsletter: www.thenerdreich.com

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Reposted by Gil Durán
Sara Gaiser @akrazia.bsky.social · 22h
This seems potentially bad
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Gazetteer SF @sf.gazetteer.co · 22h
Tonight, 300+ people will gather at Club Fugazi to hear from journalist @gilduran.com, whose bestselling book “The Nerd Reich” has everyone talking about Silicon Valley’s rightward lurch — and what might happen next. We chatted with Gil about the book, his readers’ top FAQ, and his next project.
sf.gazetteer.co
The rise (and rise) of the nerd reich
‘The Nerd Reich’ author Gil Durán connected the dots from Silicon Valley to the White House to the possible end of the world. He may take on Gavin Newsom next
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 23h
The rise (and rise) of the nerd reich, via @sf.gazetteer.co: ‘The Nerd Reich’ author Gil Durán connected the dots from Silicon Valley to the White House to the possible end of the world. He may take on Gavin Newsom next 😈 sf.gazetteer.co/the-rise-and...
sf.gazetteer.co
The rise (and rise) of the nerd reich
‘The Nerd Reich’ author Gil Durán connected the dots from Silicon Valley to the White House to the possible end of the world. He may take on Gavin Newsom next
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The Onion @theonion.com · 29/09/2026
Creatively Tapped-Out Peter Thiel Launches Startup Called ‘Frodo, But Evil’ theonion.com/creatively-tapped-out-…
Creatively Tapped-Out Peter Thiel Launches Startup Called ‘Frodo, But Evil’
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 29/09/2026
I obtained a recording of Peter Thiel's Nashville Antichrist lecture. He was asked to respond to something I wrote in @newrepublic.com epublic (below). He evaded the question, but responded: "I don't think I'm the Antichrist, [maybe I'm] lacking in self-awareness...You shouldn't trust me."
quote from Gil Duran story on Thiel and the Antichrist: Thiel co-founded Palantir, a software company literally named after an all-seeing orb controlled by an evil wizard in The Lord of the Rings. Palantir is partnering with the Trump administration to supercharge government surveillance at a moment when the president openly embraces authoritarianism. The irony is so striking it almost seems like a confession.
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Lexington Herald-Leader @kentucky.com · 29/09/2026
Lexington police say officers used their Flock camera database to try to find a car tied to a road rage case. It led them to the home of Samuel Penn, who had nothing to do with the incident.
bit.ly
Lexington police used Flock cams to find road rage suspect. It led them to an innocent man
Lexington police say officers used their Flock camera database to try to find a car tied to a road rage case. It led them to the home of Samuel Penn, who had nothing to do with the incident.
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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Karl Rove warns that the Texas GOP is being taken over by Nazis. “In the last 48 hours, Ted Cruz has reached out to me and says, ‘We’re losing,’ Ken Paxton has sent me several emails saying, ‘I’m losing, I need your help. Even the Republicans are admitting that they’re behind.”
sacurrent.com
Karl Rove says Republican Party is being taken over by 'Nazis'
The Bush-era GOP political operative also said Republicans would be winning the battle for Texas' U.S. Senate seat if John Cornyn was the nominee.
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 28/09/2026
“We have a cult of radicalized billionaires who believe it is their destiny to rule the 21st century…They know our system is for sale…not only in San Francisco but in Washington.” Read @esksf.bsky.social on how tech oligarchs bought San Francisco. missionlocal.org/2026/09/san-...
missionlocal.org
San Francisco's wealthiest have unprecedented control of city politics
Our city fathers (if you like them) or oligarchs (if you don’t) have never been richer, more brazen or faced weaker opposition
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Crystal Fleming クリスタル @alwaystheself.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Finally got my copy of THE NERD REICH! Excited, daunted, but also grateful to @gilduran.com for his important work 🙏🏽
Me holding a copy of THE NERD REICH
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Nashville Scene @nashvillescene.com · 28/09/2026
Scene staff reporter Eli Motycka was removed from the guest list for Peter Thiel's Nashville Antichrist lectures — and he's not the only journalist who was. 🧵
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 28/09/2026
“We have a cult of radicalized billionaires who believe it is their destiny to rule the 21st century…They know our system is for sale…not only in San Francisco but in Washington.” Read @esksf.bsky.social on how tech oligarchs bought San Francisco. missionlocal.org/2026/09/san-...
missionlocal.org
San Francisco's wealthiest have unprecedented control of city politics
Our city fathers (if you like them) or oligarchs (if you don’t) have never been richer, more brazen or faced weaker opposition
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Data & Society @datasociety.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
For a live, sold-out recording of the @techpolicypress.bsky.social podcast, "The Nerd Reich" author @gilduran.com and D&S Director of Research @alicetiara.bsky.social talk about technology, ideology, and power. Listen now! www.techpolicy.press/gil-durn-map...
techpolicy.press
Gil Durán Maps the Rise of the 'Nerd Reich'
Justin Hendrix and Alice Marwick in conversation with Gil Durán, author of the new book The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy.
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Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Gil Durán says his book "The Nerd Reich" is about "a cult of apocalyptic billionaires who believe it is their destiny to end democracy." He joined Data & Society research director Alice Marwick and me to discuss the book last week at Betaworks. Listen: www.techpolicy.press/gil-durn-map...
techpolicy.press
Gil Durán Maps the Rise of the 'Nerd Reich'
Justin Hendrix and Alice Marwick in conversation with Gil Durán, author of the new book The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy.
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 28/09/2026
What a shock…I have been barred from Peter Thiel’s Nashville Antichrist lectures despite buying a ticket. Was it something I said? As the world’s foremost expert on Thiel’s Antichrist obsession, I take great umbrage. This aggression will be answered.
The Nashville Antichrist
Lectures
Marked as Not Going
The host of the event marked you as not going. We hope you can join next time.
Your ticket has been refunded, and you have been removed from the guest list. Thank you.
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 27/09/2026
Some of us in San Francisco first heard of the Network State and related tech cults from Emily Mills. She documented how these ideas had infused our local politics. It sounded odd at first, but her work sparked mine. On Tuesday, we're onstage together in SF. Tix here: semaphore.thd.org/954-2/
semaphore.thd.org
THE TELEGRAPH HILL DWELLERS PRESENTS: GIL DURAN with Emily Mills
Join Telegraph Hill Dwellers for an evening with journalist and author Gil Duran, in conversation with Emily Mills, discussing his new book, The
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Dan O’Sullivan @osullyville.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Today I saw the new 4 hour documentary Musk, directed by Alex Gibney. There were too many times to count that a sold out theater burst out laughing at Elon Musk, something he said or did, even sometimes just how he looked. I believe that is his worst nightmare come to life.
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Anna Merlan @annamerlan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Journalism gets the goods: Tim Tebow "pauses" his partnership with this wealth seminar company after @kieraevebutler.bsky.social's investigation. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
Tim Tebow “pausing” Christian seminar promotion after our investigation
“I think the allegations are extremely serious."
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Alex Gibney @alexgibneyfilm.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The trailer for my new film, "Musk," has just been released.
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Grady Booch @booch.com · 26/09/2026
I can’t decide if people who assert that contemporary AIs can think or are conscious do so out of fear or out of envy. But I can say that any such people do so either out of emotion or perhaps driven by some pecuniary interest in it being true, not from any fully informed or defensible position.
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 26/09/2026
"Mr. Vice President: Peter Thiel played a decisive role in your life. Recently, he suggested that evil is good and called the Pope a 'useful idiot.' How do you respond to these extreme statements from your benefactor? Do you agree with him?" —Question a DC reporter should ask (but likely won't)
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Amy Westervelt @amywestervelt.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
So....there's a lot of tea spilled about a lot of media outlets' willingness to be tools of corporate propaganda in my book. In hindsight, I probably should NOT have been surprised that many of those same outlets declined to run op-eds pegged to the book. But I kinda was! What thin-skinned babies!
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Duncan Jones @manmademoon.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Mild consideration & curiosity might lead one to think that putting Peter Thiel at the heart of 🇬🇧’s NHS and military logistics might not be prudent…
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James Graham @jamesgraham.theliberati.net · 26/09/2026
The man who brings new meaning to the phrase “every accusation is a confession”.
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 26/09/2026
Peter Thiel praises evil. Peter Thiel hates democracy. Peter Thiel founded Palantir. Peter Thiel owns JD Vance. Peter Thiel is the most powerful billionaire in the United States. Peter Thiel can’t stop talking about the “Antichrist.” Find out why. Read “The Nerd Reich”
Perfect with photos of teal and Judy Vance. Quote from Peter Teal if you’re evil, you’re actually kind of good because at least you’re getting something done.
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🗽LOLGOP🗽 @lolgop.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Data Center Don: Trump’s AI Debacle is a Big Opportunity AI. Crypto. Trump. All three are the same con with different wigs. New from me in @gilduran.com and @george-lakoff.com’s FrameLab There needs to be one party that puts people over data. And it better be Democrats.
theframelab.org
Data Centers Isuse Hurts Trump—If Democrats Pounce
AI. Crypto. Trump. All three are the same con with different wigs.
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Read Books, Not AI Slop @ireadnewspapers.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Evil is good. Should be on the sequel to 1984.
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Ermengarde Gersberms 🏳️‍🌈♠️ @hydrogenandtime.com · 26/09/2026
@gilduran.com's new book is the most rapidly vindicated take in the history of takes
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 26/09/2026
My book exposes Peter Thiel because he's a radical extremist with scary beliefs who has attained stunning political power. He created JD Vance...and is now roaming the Earth, preaching about the "Antichrist." Here is Thiel saying evil is "good"...while receiving an award from Politico's owner.
cover of Nerd REich book by gil duran
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JMFP @jmfpv.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Just received: The Nerd Reich by @gilduran.com and Cyberselfish by Paulina Borsook. Living in Portugal and watching Silicon Valley ideology reshape Europe — these are essential. The problem is well beyond the US. and Big Tech's political project knows no borders.
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 25/09/2026
Now that both "The Nerd Reich" and "End Times Fascism" (by @naomiaklein.bsky.social and @astra.bsky.social) are New York Times best sellers ... it's getting weirder and weirder that certain prominent tech critics have nothing to say on the subject. Stupidity? Cowardice? Complicity? 🤔
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Timnit Gebru @timnitgebru.blacksky.app · 25/09/2026
We had to wait for the....NEW YORK POST to write about this. Y'all know there is so much more where this came from but journalists don't want to dig and people are terrified to speak to any journalist seeing the type of reporting they've been doing
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Jeffrey Vagle @jvagle.me · 25/09/2026
Paulina Borsook described the tech industry in a way it didn’t (and still doesn’t) want to see itself—an extremely hierarchical environment, led almost exclusively by white men who were ideologically right wing, despite their left leaning marketing (which has long since disappeared).
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WIRED @wired.com · 25/09/2026
26 years ago, she published a wildly prophetic book about Silicon Valley. Then she disappeared. What happened to tech writer Paulina Borsook?
wired.com
Who Killed Paulina Borsook’s Career?
A quarter-century ago, Borsook published a wildly prophetic, penetrating book about Silicon Valley called Cyberselfish. Then she disappeared.
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 25/09/2026
Peter Thiel says the "Antichrist" will preach "peace." Now his cronies in the Trump regime are pushing "Pax Silica" ("Silicon Peace"). It's a grandiose name for AI colonialism and imperialism. 1st target: The Philippines. More from @kieraevebutler.bsky.social www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
Tech Bros and the Trump administration are building an AI empire—in the Philippines
Pax Silica aims to lock up rare earths, and hand Silicon Valley the keys.
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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
WATCH: “They’re trying to put a Christian mask on these ideas.” As J.D. Vance’s pimp Peter Thiel brings his secretive Antichrist lectures to NASHVILLE, here’s Gil Duran telling @chrislhayes the tech oligarchs are really “computer-worshipping satanists who don’t believe in God” using Christianity
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Seth Cotlar @sethcotlar.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Good piece on this new variety of American fascist preacher. To my mind, there’s not much that’s original about these guys. This is just old school Christian Identity doctrine ca. 1940-1990s rebranded—the stuff Wesley Swift or Richard Butler were preaching. religionnews.com/2026/09/24/t...
religionnews.com
The rise of the Jim Crow theobros
(RNS) — A group of Reformed pastors and influencers has wedded old-school segregationist theology with the hypermasculinity of the manosphere and the savvy of the attention economy to preach and sell ...
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Greg Pak @gregpak.net · 25/09/2026
Reading about these creepy "network states" in NERD REICH by @gilduran.com right now. Disgusting.
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 25/09/2026
Politico’s owner gave Peter Thiel an award today. Hardly surprising, since Peter Thiel gave the guy’s son $50 million. Have you heard of “The German JD Vance”? www.thenerdreich.com/politico-pet...
thenerdreich.com
Politico's $50M Peter Thiel Problem
Is Axel Springer CEO's son the 'German JD Vance'?
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 24/09/2026
Oh look, folks, the billionaire-funded Network State project of Praxis gets another big story in the New York Times. Not sure how seriously to take this vaporware (story misses key details), but they sure do know how to get into the NYT. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/w...
nytimes.com
These Tech Utopians Want to Build a City for the Post-A.I. World (Gift Article)
After a sprawling world tour, Praxis, a New York-based, crypto-backed “digital nation,” has signed a deal to build a physical city in Uruguay.
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Adam Keiper @adamkeiper.com · 24/09/2026
Jim DeFede of CBS News Miami flagged this over on the other site. @jimdefede.bsky.social x.com/DeFede/statu...
Screenshot of a tweet from @DeFede dated 23 September 2026. It shows the Trump propaganda video (paused in my screenshot to show Trump above the words "Paid for by the U.S. Government"). Jim DeFede's tweet reads: "So I was just watching Fox News and this commercial played during Jesse Watters show. It says 'Paid for by the US Government.' This is clearly a campaign ad. And the singers are just singing over and over again, 'Love me' - over images of Trump.  @CBSMiami @CBSNews" Original link: https://x.com/DeFede/status/2102928979254792260
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Repeater Books @repeaterbooks.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
UK version out next week with our sister imprint, Zer0 Books www.collectiveinkbooks.com/zer0-books/o...
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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
AP Stylebook warns against anthropomorphizing AI systems: “Avoid language that gives them human characteristics… Instead, explain what a system does, how well it performs, who built it and who could be affected by it.”
APStylebook @APStylebook
X.com
Artificial intelligence systems do not think, feel, want or understand. Avoid language that gives them human characteristics. This is called anthropomorphizing, when we ascribe human traits, emotions or behaviors to non-human things, such as animals or inanimate objects.
Instead, explain what a system does, how well it performs, who built it and who could be affected by it.
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New Moon Musings @newmoonmusings.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Stepped into an independent bookstore in rural red Fulton County NY. They'd been sold out of this book for weeks, won't be able to get the second printing in til October. Said it was popular here "among people who read" ;) @gilduran.com
bookshop.org
The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “This transfixing debut from journalist Durán investigates the antidemocratic ideologies espoused by tech billionaires linked to the second Trump administration...It’s an o...
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Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 23/09/2026
Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have prohibited future governors from handing over abortion providers, helpers, and patients to red states for criminal prosecution. The bill also barred extraditions involving transgender care.
motherjones.com
Newsom vetoes bill that would ban extraditions for abortion and gender-affirming care
California’s pro-repro rights governor rejects a key protection that 18 blue states have enshrined into law.
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 22/09/2026
I was ruthlessly defrauded by FlixBus/Greyhound (bought a ticket for a bus that never came—no refund). Should I let it go or declare LinkedIn war on the ceo? Voting is open.
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 22/09/2026
Of the billionaires By the billionaires For the billionaires Newsom 2028
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Carline Tromp @pallaskatt.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Velkommen til min leseklubb, i dag leser vi Gil Durán! Et stykke grøsser-virkelighetslitteratur fra denne merkelige tidslinja vi har havnet på. Durán får ikke bare æren for årets beste ordspill i tittel, men den belegges faktisk i boka. (1/3)
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Fabio Chiusi @fabiochiusi.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
One of the best books of ideological critique I have ever read. @gilduran.com has written THE book to understand techno-fascism and its roots. If you can read only one book this year, I do think it should be this one.
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Faine Greenwood @faineg.com · 22/09/2026
forcing myself to read through a bunch of rationalist twaddle for something I'm drafting, and for people who pride themselves on extensively writing down everything they do and think, they sure aren't much good at, you know, writing
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 22/09/2026
Of the billionaires By the billionaires For the billionaires Newsom 2028
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