Tech Won't Save Us

Europe is Gutting Its Tech Regulations w/ Aline Blankertz

Paris Marx is joined by Aline Blankertz to discuss how right-wing governments and international corporations in the European Union are pushing to gut tech regulations with the goal of boosting AI development in hope of improving economic growth and geopolitical standing. Aline Blankertz is a cofounder of Structural Integrity [https://www.structural-integrity.eu]. 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 [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Today’s sponsor is ⁠Aura Frames. Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/PARIS [https://on.auraframes.com/PARIS]. Promo Code PARIS Also mentioned in this episode: * Aline wrote about how the sovereignty discussion was progressing at a recent summit in Europe [https://www.techpolicy.press/at-the-sovereignty-summit-europe-put-startups-on-stage-and-kept-big-tech-in-control/]. * Aline mentioned an upcoming conference tying together different activist movements that listeners may find interesting: Cables of Resistance [https://cableresist.de]. * Learn more [https://www.structural-integrity.eu/regulation-disenchantment/] about the EU’s Digital Omnibus [https://verfassungsblog.de/the-omnibus-package-of-the-eu-commission/] regulation proposal. * The Draghi Report [https://commission.europa.eu/topics/competitiveness/draghi-report_en] examines EU competitiveness. * France and Germany [https://presse.economie.gouv.fr/france-and-germany-join-forces-with-mistral-ai-and-sap-se-to-launch-a-sovereign-ai-for-public-administration/] are partnering up to utilize AI in public administration * Shoutout to the book Vulture Capitalism [https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Vulture-Capitalism/Grace-Blakeley/9781982180867] by Grace Blakeley. * Here’s the latest in OpenAI’s ongoing litigation [https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/11/openai-says-dead-teen-violated-tos-when-he-used-chatgpt-to-plan-suicide/]. * Macron and Merz spoke out against authoritarianism [https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-democracies-danger-warn-friedrich-merz-emmanuel-macron/], in particular calling out a lack of national control over social networks. * Some governments [https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250613-we-re-done-with-teams-german-state-hits-uninstall-on-microsoft] are pushing back [https://www.uctoday.com/unified-communications/denmark-now-germany-is-the-public-sector-migrating-away-from-the-microsoft-suite/] and disconnecting [https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-international-criminal-court-is-ditching-microsoft-software-for-an-open-source-alternative]from US tech giants.

Data Centers Are a Climate Enemy w/ Ketan Joshi

Paris Marx is joined by Ketan Joshi to discuss how hyperscale data centers are fueling the consumption of more oil and gas, what that means for climate targets, and the insidious relationship between the tech and fossil fuel industries. Ketan Joshi is a climate writer and data analyst based in Oslo working with climate and environmental groups. 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 [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Exclusive $45-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/PARIS [https://on.auraframes.com/PARIS]. Promo Code  PARIS Also mentioned in this episode: * Ketan has a page on his website sharing fascinating data sets [https://ketanjoshi.co/data-sharing/]. * The International Energy Agency [https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2025] World Energy Outlook report was just released for this year. * xAI was caught using enough illegal methane generators [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/09/elon-musk-xai-memphis] to power a city at a facility that powers Grok. * Here is an in-depth look behind the scenes at the construction of the new data center from xAI [https://www.propublica.org/article/memphis-xai-colossus-elon-musk-chamber-messaging], including the purchasing of a power plant just across the state line. * Google's Chief of Investment loves Doug Burgum’s (Trump’s Secretary of the Interior) commitments to power AI growth with fossil fuels [https://www.desmog.com/2025/08/19/google-president-praised-maga-speech-slamming-climate-extremist-agenda/]. * Microsoft has been investing in nuclear energy [https://www.npr.org/2024/09/20/nx-s1-5120581/three-mile-island-nuclear-power-plant-microsoft-ai]. * Learn more about the Enabled Emissions Campaign [https://www.enabledemissions.com]. * Shout-out to the book Empire of AI [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743569/empire-of-ai-by-karen-hao/] by Karen Hao.

Peter Thiel is the Real Antichrist w/ Gil Duran

Paris Marx is joined by Gil Duran to discuss how Peter Thiel’s bizarre obsession with the antichrist is really a desperate and embarrassing attempt to divert attention from his own misdeeds. Gil Duran writes The Nerd Reich [https://www.thenerdreich.com] and is working on his first book, The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Global Democracy. 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 [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. Exclusive $45-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/PARIS [https://on.auraframes.com/PARIS]. Promo Code: PARIS The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: * Gil wrote about Peter Thiel’s Antichrist obsession [https://newrepublic.com/article/200471/peter-thiel-obsession-antichrist-religion] and the apocalypse capitalism of Silicon Valley [https://www.thenerdreich.com/silicon-valley-apocalypse-capitalism/]. * This link is for Peter Thiel (or any Silicon Valley millionaires who may be listening); Gil recommends a brush-up on the French Revolution [https://www.worldhistory.org/French_Revolution/]. * Steve Bannon expects to go to prison [https://www.newsweek.com/steve-bannon-predicts-prison-if-republicans-lose-midterms-2028-11009422]. * Donald Trump’s relationship to crypto [https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2025/10/10/trump-is-now-one-of-americas-biggest-bitcoin-investors/] continues to be awful.

Saudi Arabia is Using Games to Improve Its Image w/ Nathan Grayson

Paris Marx is joined by Nathan Grayson to discuss how Saudi Arabia is buying its way into the sports, comedy, and video game industries in order to broaden its investment portfolio and launder its international reputation. Nathan Grayson is a cofounder of Aftermath [https://aftermath.site/welcome-to-aftermath] and the author of Stream Big: The Triumphs and Turmoils of Twitch and the Stars Behind the Screen [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781982156763]. 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 [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: * Aftermath launched a refreshed website. Check it out [https://aftermath.site]! * Nathan wrote about the problems with the Saudi-EA deal [https://aftermath.site/the-ea-sale-is-bad-news-for-everyone]. * GeoGuessr users made their maps unplayable [https://www.pcgamer.com/games/puzzle/geoguessr-withdraws-from-esports-world-cup-following-furious-blowback-from-the-community-over-saudi-arabias-human-rights-record/] in protest against the game’s announced participation in the Esports World Cup. * Here’s a more comprehensive list of Saudi Arabia’s game investments [https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/all-the-gaming-companies-saudi-arabia-owns-or-has-invested-in/2900-7081/]. * And here’s a history of Saudi Arabia’s investments in sports [https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/38162723/saudi-arabia-sports-takeover-line-30-years-making].

Why We Need a War on Cars w/ Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear

Paris Marx is joined by Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear to discuss the many ways cars have negatively affected society, how tech companies seek to entrench those problems, and what can really be done to improve mobility in our communities. Doug Gordon is a TV producer and writer. Sarah Goodyear is a journalist and author. They are the co-hosts of The War on Cars [https://thewaroncars.org] and co-authors of Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780593850725]. 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 [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: * Fighting Traffic [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780262516129] by Peter D. Norton * Livable Streets by Donald Appleyard * Your Six-Year-Old [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/3165/your-six-year-old-by-louise-bates-ames-phd-and-frances-l-ilg-md/] by Louise Bates Ames * Bowling Alone [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781982130848] by Robert D. Putnam