Tech Won't Save Us

Spencer Ackerman, journalist and author who covers national security and the Forever Wars, walks through decades of U.S. intervention and rising conflict with Iran. He maps the historical roots from 1953 to recent strikes. He discusses regional alliances, sanctions, Iran’s missile and drone tactics, and why key infrastructure and the Strait of Hormuz matter.

Ed Niedermeyer, automotive journalist and author of Ludicrous, unpacks Elon Musk’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the elite networks linking tech and wealth. He traces Epstein’s cultivation strategies, meetings around SpaceX and Dubai, and how power, PR, and state actors intersect. Short, sharp takes on influence, access, and class solidarity.

Gita Jackson, co-founder and writer at Aftermath known for sharp commentary on games, AI, and digital culture. They dig into why skepticism of AI and big tech is rooted in corporate incentives. Short takes on modular devices, nostalgia for single-purpose gadgets, community alternatives like libraries, and how tech became centralized and extractive.

Tim Schwab, author and journalist who investigates philanthropy and billionaire power, discusses Bill Gates' ties to Jeffrey Epstein and how elite networks operate. He outlines where and when Gates met Epstein, staff fallout at the foundation, and how philanthropy can function as reputation laundering. The conversation spotlights calls for oversight and the broader problem of concentrated wealth.

Lucy Jackson, an early member who helped grow a phone-free student movement, and Amanda Hanna-McLeer, a writer, educator, and documentary director who chronicled the group. They trace the club’s high-school origins, phone-free practices and meetings, its expansion to colleges and abroad, concerns about AI and cognitive offloading, and the making of a documentary that reframes modern Luddism.

James Vincent, journalist and author of Beyond Measure, digs into the surge of humanoid robots and why their human form fuels hype. He explores industry splits between logistics and general-purpose ambitions. Teleoperation, Elon Musk’s spotlight, global competition, and the political risks of outsourcing labor all come into play.

Thea Riofrancos, associate professor and author of Extraction, studies the politics of resource extraction and climate policy. She discusses how renewables need vast new mining, contrasts EVs and fossil systems, examines geopolitical strains around mineral supply chains, and explores how tech growth and countries like Indonesia reshape extraction dynamics.

A.S. Hamrah, film critic and author of Algorithm of the Night, examines what a Netflix takeover of Warner could mean for cinema. He discusses streaming incentives, industry consolidation, threats to independent and foreign films, and how corporate control reshapes access to classic movies and theatrical life.

Kat Tenbarge, an independent journalist who covers image-based sexual abuse and AI deepfakes. She walks through how Grok and X enabled mass non-consensual nudification, platform failures and moderation cuts that amplified harm. They discuss child safety risks, monetization of abusive images, legal and policy gaps, and why leaving or pressuring the platform matters.

Chris Person, co-founder of Aftermath and creator of the Highlight Reel series, dives into the fascinating world of tech hardware and DIY culture. He discusses the impact of AI on consumer electronics, driving up costs like GPU and RAM prices. Chris emphasizes the importance of community-driven hardware mods and explores the intriguing landscape of Chinese manufacturing. With a nod to retro tech's resurgence, he reveals his excitement for upcoming hardware like the Steam machine while critiquing CES's gimmicky devices. A thought-provoking conversation on tech that challenges the status quo!