Phelim Kine writes a profile of Jacob Helberg, the 36-year-old French-born Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs who is applying a Silicon Valley "move fast and break things" playbook to build the Pax Silica coalition — now 24 countries strong — aimed at severing China's chokehold on critical minerals essential to the AI and quantum computing race. A former Google search policy lead and Palantir senior adviser, Helberg has become the Trump administration's point person for tech diplomacy, threatening to expel members who join rival Chinese groupings while pitching allies that democratic nations must unite or surrender 21st-century power to Beijing.
- Helberg sold millions of dollars in OpenAI, Palantir, Tesla, and Meta stock in late 2025 and early 2026 while holding a Senate-confirmed position
- He was the behind-the-scenes architect of the 2024 TikTok divestiture bill, meeting with dozens of members of Congress to push passage
- In a Brussels speech he condemned the EU's "Caligulan bureaucracy" and warned Europe faces a "civilizational emergency" over its failure to embrace digital technology
- He married VC Keith Rabois in 2018 in a ceremony officiated by Sam Altman; Rabois belongs to the "PayPal mafia" alongside Musk and Thiel
- Born in Paris within hours of the Berlin Wall's fall, Helberg describes being targeted by "anti-Americanism" among French teachers during the Iraq War era
- He credits both the pandemic and October 7 with his conversion from Democratic donor to self-declared "MAGA all the way" loyalist
- Helberg sold millions of dollars in OpenAI, Palantir, Tesla, and Meta stock in late 2025 and early 2026 while holding a Senate-confirmed position
- He was the behind-the-scenes architect of the 2024 TikTok divestiture bill, meeting with dozens of members of Congress to push passage
- In a Brussels speech he condemned the EU's "Caligulan bureaucracy" and warned Europe faces a "civilizational emergency" over its failure to embrace digital technology
- He married VC Keith Rabois in 2018 in a ceremony officiated by Sam Altman; Rabois belongs to the "PayPal mafia" alongside Musk and Thiel
- Born in Paris within hours of the Berlin Wall's fall, Helberg describes being targeted by "anti-Americanism" among French teachers during the Iraq War era
- He credits both the pandemic and October 7 with his conversion from Democratic donor to self-declared "MAGA all the way" loyalist
This Decoder podcast episode features host Jon Fortt interviewing author Gil Duran about the growing influence of ultra-wealthy tech billionaires and their potentially anti-democratic ideologies. Duran latest book, *The Nerd Reich*, argues that tech billionaires are increasingly acting like dictators, and illustrates the dangers that poses to democracy.
Duran argues a group of billionaires (Thiel, Musk, Andreessen, Altman, etc.) are pushing a "Dark Enlightenment" or "neo-reactionary" philosophy – essentially advocating for a shift away from democracy towards a system resembling tech-led feudalism. This ideology, inspired by figures like Curtis Yarvin, envisions a future where tech corporations wield significant power, potentially even governing territories with limited individual freedoms.
Duran connects this movement to the rise of Donald Trump and the current political climate, suggesting a dangerous alliance between the far-right and tech elites. He believes these billionaires are not simply ideologues, but actively seeking to reshape government to suit their vision.
The conversation also touches on the historical parallels to Ayn Rand's philosophies, the potential for emergency powers to be abused, and the role of Silicon Valley’s culture of self-importance. Duran criticizes the lack of critical coverage in mainstream media and calls for a broader public discussion about these issues.
Ultimately, Duran expresses concern about the concentration of power and wealth, and argues that a robust political movement is needed to counter this trend and preserve democratic values. He believes a future where technology serves the majority, rather than a select few, is still possible, but requires active engagement and a rejection of this emerging "corporate dictatorship."
Duran argues a group of billionaires (Thiel, Musk, Andreessen, Altman, etc.) are pushing a "Dark Enlightenment" or "neo-reactionary" philosophy – essentially advocating for a shift away from democracy towards a system resembling tech-led feudalism. This ideology, inspired by figures like Curtis Yarvin, envisions a future where tech corporations wield significant power, potentially even governing territories with limited individual freedoms.
Duran connects this movement to the rise of Donald Trump and the current political climate, suggesting a dangerous alliance between the far-right and tech elites. He believes these billionaires are not simply ideologues, but actively seeking to reshape government to suit their vision.
The conversation also touches on the historical parallels to Ayn Rand's philosophies, the potential for emergency powers to be abused, and the role of Silicon Valley’s culture of self-importance. Duran criticizes the lack of critical coverage in mainstream media and calls for a broader public discussion about these issues.
Ultimately, Duran expresses concern about the concentration of power and wealth, and argues that a robust political movement is needed to counter this trend and preserve democratic values. He believes a future where technology serves the majority, rather than a select few, is still possible, but requires active engagement and a rejection of this emerging "corporate dictatorship."
An article discussing Gil Duran's interview on The Verge's Decoder podcast, focusing on the silence of Silicon Valley CEOs regarding authoritarianism and their potential complicity. It highlights Duran's critique of their lack of public opposition and links to the podcast and related articles.
A website featuring articles and podcasts focused on Silicon Valley tech billionaire politics, often with a critical and conspiratorial perspective. Recent topics include Trump's crypto company, Peter Thiel, AI, and the potential erosion of democracy.
From the former news policy lead at Google, an 'informative and often harrowing wake-up call' that explains the high-stakes global cyberwar brewing between Western democracies and the authoritarian regimes of China and Russia. Jacob Helberg, who led Google’s efforts to combat disinformation and foreign interference, discusses the escalating technology cold war between democracy and autocracy, focusing on the control of software and hardware that shapes the world’s balance of power.
The article discusses the implications of Sam Altman's proposal to modify the social contract in light of advancements in AI, emphasizing the potential risks to marginalized communities and democratic values. It critiques the exclusionary nature of traditional social contract theories and questions the role of tech leaders in shaping societal norms.
From meteor showers to the potential return of the northern lights, here are the celestial spectacles to watch for in 2025 visible from Silicon Valley. The article discusses various astronomical events, including planetary movements, lunar eclipses, meteor showers, and the possibility of seeing the northern lights.
| Date | Event |
|---------------|--|
| January 13 | Moon passing in front of Mars (Occultation) |
| February 25 - March 1 | Best time to spot Mercury in the sky |
| March 13 | Full lunar eclipse |
| Various dates | Meteor showers (Quadrantids, Lyrids, Eta Aquariids, Draconids, Leonids, Geminids) |
| Date | Event |
|---------------|--|
| January 13 | Moon passing in front of Mars (Occultation) |
| February 25 - March 1 | Best time to spot Mercury in the sky |
| March 13 | Full lunar eclipse |
| Various dates | Meteor showers (Quadrantids, Lyrids, Eta Aquariids, Draconids, Leonids, Geminids) |
The 'Books' page of FelsenSigns presents a book titled 'Me and My Big Ideas – Counterculture, Social Media, and the Future'. The book chronicles the author's journey through the evolution of social media from the 1960s to the 1980s, exploring its origins, politics, and the need for better information exchange. The author hopes to educate readers on how social media was structured for corporate benefit and how it can be reimagined for societal good.
Lee Felsenstein, a key figure in the evolution of personal computers, explores the rise of social media, AI’s shortcomings, and the golden age of engineering in his new book.
A Senate hearing revealed that leading AI companies are actively pursuing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Whistleblowers warned of potential risks and the need for regulatory oversight. Public opinion is shifting to recognize the imminence of AGI, with policymakers and the public urged to take action.
