Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx
Silicon Valley wants to shape our future, but why should we let it? Every Thursday, Paris Marx is joined by a new guest to critically examine the tech industry, its big promises, and the people behind them. Tech Won’t Save Us challenges the notion that tech alone can drive our world forward by showing that separating tech from politics has consequences for us all, especially the most vulnerable. It’s not your usual tech podcast.
Episodes
Mentioned books
14 snips
Apr 9, 2026 • 1h 3min
Take A Break From The Feed w/ Amanda Mull
Amanda Mull, senior reporter and columnist at Bloomberg Businessweek, explores our habit of constantly “monitoring the situation.” She traces the rise of live dashboards and feeds, explains why endless real-time updates fuel anxiety and false certainty, and discusses how journalism and curated sources can help people step back and reclaim focus.
15 snips
Apr 2, 2026 • 60min
Why Iran is Attacking Data Centers w/ Sam Biddle
They discuss why data centers are becoming military targets and how cloud infrastructure can host wartime operations. They explore AI and cloud services shaping target selection and accountability questions. They examine tech companies' ties to defense contracts and the geopolitical risks of concentrated data hubs.
13 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 1h 7min
The Long History of the US War on Iran w/ Spencer Ackerman
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.
35 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 1h 19min
Elon Musk and Jeffrey Epstein w/ Ed Niedermeyer
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.
20 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 1h 3min
The Left Doesn’t Hate Technology w/ Gita Jackson
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.
47 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 58min
Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein w/ Tim Schwab
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.
19 snips
Feb 26, 2026 • 55min
The Luddite Club is For Everyone w/ Amanda Hanna-McLeer & Lucy Jackson
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.
64 snips
Feb 19, 2026 • 59min
What’s Driving the Push For Humanoid Robots w/ James Vincent
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.
5 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 1h 2min
The Green Transition Needs So Much Mining w/ Thea Riofrancos
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.
Feb 5, 2026 • 55min
Netflix Buying Warner Would Be a Disaster w/ AS Hamrah
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.
