In this episode I sit down with returning guest Tanner Greer, one of America's most insightful public intellectuals, to dive deep into his recent American Affairs article, "The Making of a Techno-Nationalist Elite" — a sharp review of Palantir CEO Alex Karp's book The Technological Republic.
Greer contrasts today's Silicon Valley tech elite with the Gilded Age industrialists and Eastern Establishment who led America's second industrial revolution - railroads, steel, electricity, modern corporations - and built a modernized nation. He argues that tech leaders must step up as a true governing class — with economic power, political coalitions, and cultural vision — to build a "techno-nationalist" America that serves the nation, not just consumer gadgets or globalist ideals.
We explore why Karp's call for Silicon Valley patriotism falls short, the lessons from history's successful elites (like building alliances beyond their own class), and what it would take for tech to become a patriotic, nation-building force in the age of AI, China rivalry, and hard tech resurgence. Whether you're in tech, politics, or just care about America's future, this is a must-listen on power, elites, and rebuilding national ambition.
Follow Tanner on X, at his web site, and right here on Substack.
