Tech Won't Save Us

Paris Marx is joined by Ben Tarnoff and Quinn Slobodian to discuss their new book Muskism which explores how Elon Musk exemplifies a new economic system shaping our lives, similar to Fordism in the twentieth century. Ben Tarnoff & Quinn Slobodian are the authors of Muskism. Ben is a writer and technologist based in Massachusetts and the author of Internet for the People. Quinn is professor of international history at Boston University, and the author of books like Crack-Up Capitalism. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: For listeners who are feeling extra academic, here is the Milton Friedman economics paper, “The Methodology of Positive Economics.” Quinn discusses his struggle to find any reporting on Jared Leto and the Optimus robot media stunt (that goes deeper than commenting on the virality).

Paris Marx is joined by Brian Merchant to discuss Apple’s announcement that Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO, including his history and legacy, and what may be next for the company. Brian Merchant is the author of The One Device and Blood in the Machine and writes a newsletter of the same name. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Brian’s most recent newsletter covers Tim Cook’s stepping down, as well as Palantir’s manifesto. Brian has previously written about Foxconn’s working conditions. Brian mentioned Patrick McGee’s book Apple in China.

Paris Marx is joined by Karl Bode to discuss how tech journalists coupled with corporate interests are irresponsibly boosting the profile of tech CEOs, further damaging public trust in institutional journalism and highlighting the need for publicly funded media organizations. Karl Bode is a freelance reporter and writes The Fine Print newsletter. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Karl wrote about how the press mythologizes tech CEOs. The New Yorker published a brutal article on Sam Altman’s compulsive lying to get ahead. OpenAI’s Pentagon deal led to a large user migration. Shout out to Karen Hao’s book Empire of AI Allbirds, the shoe company, is now entering the AI space. Here is the latest on the attacks on Sam Altman’s home. Meta has been found to amplify hate and contribute to genocide, something that is an ongoing concern with the platform. And we can’t forget about attempts to force their ‘Free Basics’ internet on India.

Paris Marx is joined by Dara Kerr to discuss how Elon’s decision to prioritize aesthetics over safety has created a safety crisis causing people to burn alive in their Cybertrucks and other Tesla vehicles. Dara Kerr is a technology reporter at Guardian US. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Dara wrote about fiery, deadly crashes involving Cybertrucks. Bloomberg has tracked the wider problem of Tesla door handles trapping occupants in their vehicles. Here is a report that supports the suggestion that Musk doesn’t like the colour yellow. Here is an analysis comparing the Cybertruck to the Ford Pinto. Cybertrucks are not approved for sale in the EU or UK. China is the first nation to legislate that handles must be mechanically functional from both sides of a vehicle door.

Paris Marx is joined by Amanda Mull to discuss the effects of constantly “monitoring the situation” through custom news, social, or live feeds, including higher rates of anxiety and disconnection, and what can be done to recalibrate. Amanda Mull is a senior reporter at Bloomberg Businessweek and writes the Buying Power column. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Amanda wrote about what it means to be monitoring the situation. Feeling overwhelmed by technology? There’s a club for that. Looking for a source of tech news? Checkout Aftermath, or Disconnect. Friend of the pod Casey Johnston has written about her DIY dumbphone method and reducing social media use.

Paris Marx is joined by Sam Biddle to discuss what it means for data centers to become targets in a war, and how Silicon Valley is aiding the US war against Iran. Sam Biddle is a technology journalist at The Intercept. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code SAVEUS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/saveus The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Send your questions to mailbag [at] techwontsave [dot] us! Sam wrote about Iran’s attacks on data centers and its legality. Here is Sam’s most recent piece about Palantir and NYC public hospitals. The Intercept is also covering the role of social media in the US-Iranian war.

Paris Marx is joined by Spencer Ackerman to discuss the US and Israeli war on Iran, including the history that led to this moment and what we might see from here. Spencer Ackerman is the author of Reign of Terror: How the 9/11 Era Destabilized America and Produced Trump and the forthcoming book The Torture and Deliverance of Majid Khan. He also write the Forever Wars newsletter. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: You can now watch episodes of Tech Won’t Save Us on YouTube! Spencer has written about the regime change in Iran, and the targeting of data centers in the conflict. Further reading on Iran’s ‘infrastructure war’. Here is the latest on discussions between the USA and Iran as of Monday March 23rd.

Paris Marx is joined by Ed Niedermeyer to discuss the years-long relationship between Elon Musk and Jeffrey Epstein, and how their relationship sheds light on the murky inner workings of the one percent. Ed Niedermeyer is the author of Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors and a co-host of the Autonocast. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Go to surfshark.com/SAVEUS to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN, plus there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee or just punch in code SAVEUS at checkout! Also mentioned in this episode: Ed has written two recent pieces about Elon Musk’s relationship with Epstein. Here’s more information on Juleanna Glover’s relationship with Epstein.

Paris Marx is joined by Gita Jackson to discuss why the left’s hatred of AI is justified, why a different approach to technology is necessary, and how they’re reassessing their own relationships with digital tech. Gita Jackson is a co-founder of Aftermath. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Gita wrote about why the left doesn’t hate technology. Gita also wrote about downloading digital music onto a Snowksy Fiio Echo Mini. Chris Person wrote about the Boox Palma eReader as an alternative to Kindle. Learn more about Mike Pondsmith and his Cyberpunk TTRPG. Gita will one day get Paris to watch Frieren.

Paris Marx is joined by Tim Schwab to discuss the evolving story of Bill Gates and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, as well as the issues that arise from allowing billionaires to use philanthropy to push personal political agendas and launder their reputations. Tim Schwab is the author of The Bill Gates Problem: Reckoning with the Myth of the Good Billionaire. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Tim wrote about why Bill Gates should be removed from the foundation over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Here is the interview Melinda French Gates did with NPR Here is the Wall Street Journal article covering Bill Gates apology to Gates Foundation staff for his relationship with Epstein

Paris Marx is joined by Amanda Hanna-McLeer and Lucy Jackson to discuss the story of The Luddite Club, from its beginnings as a high school organization to its pivot into a non-profit and growth into an international movement. Amanda Hanna-McLeer is a writer, educator, and director of The Luddite Club documentary. Lucy Jackson is an early member of the Luddite Club. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Go to surfshark.com/SAVEUS to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN, plus there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee or just punch in code SAVEUS at checkout! Also mentioned in this episode: The original New York Times article featuring the club Amanda shouts out Brian Merchant’s book The One Device and Jenny Odell’s How to Do Nothing The film discussed was John Carpenter’s 1988 sci-fi horror film They Live

Paris Marx is joined by James Vincent to discuss why we’re seeing humanoid robots everywhere, the motivations to pursue an all-purpose robot, how close we are to achieving that goal, and the social implications if we were to achieve it. James Vincent is a UK-based journalist and author of Beyond Measure: The Hidden History of Measurement from Cubits to Quantum Constants. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan at https://incogni.com/saveus. Promo Code SAVEUS Also mentioned in this episode: James wrote about what kicking robots can tell us about the state of modern robotics Rodney Brooks makes a case for the difficulty in teaching robots human dexterity Here is an in-depth look at what Agility Robotics has been working on Shout-out to the 2008 movie Sleep Dealer Japanese convenience stores are using robots run by offshore operators This is what a toilet cleaning robot looks like

Paris Marx is joined by Thea Riofrancos to discuss the global struggle to move away from fossil fuels and the future of the green transition, including the limitations of existing supply chains, geopolitical tensions, and the tech industry's role in the growth of extractive industries. Thea Riofrancos is the author of Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism. She is also Associate Professor of Political Science at Providence College and Strategic Co-Director of the Climate and Community Institute. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Thea has written about Trump’s resource nationalism and the resources needed for a green transition. The Climate and Community Institute has done a lot of research on mining and transportation. Indonesia has been building out a ton of coal plants to power its nickel industry.

Paris Marx is joined by AS Hamrah to discuss the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros Discovery merger and what it might mean for the state of decline already facing modern cinema. AS Hamrah is a film critic at n+1 and the author of Algorithm of the Night and Last Week in End Times Cinema. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: AS Hamrah wrote the piece Time to Face Reality on reality television, and this piece on the state of modern cinema New York Magazine published a feature on the Ellisons and their vision for Hollywood after taking over Paramount Here’s the latest on the Netflix-Warner deal Here’s more information on the ruling on Paramount Consent Decrees

Paris Marx is joined by Kat Tenbarge to discuss the explosion of abusive deepfakes on X, including how Elon Musk is profiting from the sexual exploitation of women and children while his followers use Grok to engage in gender-based violence. Kat Tenbarge is an independent journalist who writes Spitfire News. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Kat has been thoroughly covering the Grok and XAI deepfake and sexual abuse story Paris wrote about why the Grok scandal shows we need more comprehensive tech regulation The deepfake documentary mentioned was called Another Body You can see the result of Megan Thee Stallion’s defamation lawsuit here Grok was blocked in Indonesia and Malaysia in response to its generation of explicit images

Paris Marx is joined by Chris Person to discuss the state of hardware and manufacturing in the tech industry, ways to hack your stuff, options to undermine Microsoft’s software dominance, and how the AI boom is making consumer electronics more expensive. Chris Person is a co-founder of Aftermath and makes Highlight Reel. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: CES showcased some weird gadgets this month. Chris recently wrote about how AI is affecting tying your shoes. Chris also wrote about the new Steam Machine. Paris wrote about how to get off US tech. A peak inside Chinese dark factories. For those interested in learning more about Bazzite. Canva buys Affinity. Chris shouts out Gamers Nexus. For those who want to dive deeper on RAM pricing.

Paris Marx marks the beginning of 2026 by discussing some of the big themes that will be moving the conversations he’ll be having this year, particularly digital sovereignty and rethinking the value of the tech we admit into our lives. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Paris wrote about the lessons of the US invasion of Venezuela and why we need to reassess our relationship to digital technology. Paris co-authored a white paper on reclaiming digital sovereignty. A digital detox is a great way to review your current relationship with tech.

Paris Marx is joined by Karen Hao to discuss how Sam Altman’s goal of scale at all costs has spawned a new empire founded on exploitation of people and the environment, resulting in not only the loss of valuable research into more inventive AI systems, but also exacerbated data privacy issues, intellectual property erosion, and the perpetuation of surveillance capitalism. Karen Hao is an award-winning journalist and the author of Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. This episode originally aired in June 2025. Also mentioned in this episode: Karen was the first journalist to profile OpenAI. Karen has reported on the environmental impacts and human costs of AI. The New York Times reported on why we're unlikely to get artificial general intelligence anytime soon.

Paris Marx is joined by Liz Pelly to discuss how Spotify changes how we listen to music and the broader impacts it has on the wider music industry. This episode previously aired in February 2025. Liz Pelly is a music journalist and the author of Mood Machine. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Production for this episode was originally by Eric Wickham. Also mentioned in this episode: Shout-out to the book The People’s Platform by Astra Taylor You can read an excerpt of Liz’s book in Harper’s. The CEO of Suno AI said people “don’t enjoy” making music. The Edmonton Public Library was mentioned for spearheading some cool projects featuring local musicians - combat capitalism by supporting the cool projects operating out of your own local library! Hoopla works with local libraries to share music (and Libby partners with libraries to share audiobooks)

Paris Marx is joined by Jathan Sadowski and Brian Merchant to reflect on the year in tech, discuss the worst people in Silicon Valley, and share what they’ll be keeping an eye on in 2026. Jathan Sadowski is the author of The Mechanic and the Luddite, co-host of This Machine Kills, and a Senior Lecturer at Monash University. Brian Merchant is the author of Blood in the Machine and writes a newsletter of the same name. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Visit Francesca Bria’s useful Authoritarian Stack Trump signs an executive order to keep states from implementing their own AI legislation The Trump administration is gutting the Department of Education, climate science programs, and public health Disney and OpenAI have reached a billion dollar deal Bernie Sanders calls for a moratorium on AI data centre construction