Tech Won't Save Us

Muskism is the New Fordism w/ Ben Tarnoff & Quinn Slobodian

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 [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780063484320]. Ben is a writer and technologist based in Massachusetts and the author of Internet for the People [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781839762024]. Quinn is professor of international history at Boston University, and the author of books like Crack-Up Capitalism [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781250871855]. 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: * For listeners who are feeling extra academic, here is the Milton Friedman economics paper [https://www.wiwiss.fu-berlin.de/fachbereich/bwl/pruefungs-steuerlehre/loeffler/Lehre/bachelor/investition/Friedman_the_methology_of_positive_economics.pdf], “The Methodology of Positive Economics.” * Quinn discusses his struggle to find any reporting on Jared Leto and the Optimus robot [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/social/teslas-optimus-robot-shows-off-kung-fu-skills-to-jared-leto-at-disney-event-watch/articleshow/124369196.cms] media stunt (that goes deeper than commenting on the virality).

Tim Cook’s Real Legacy at Apple w/ Brian Merchant

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 [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780316546249] and Blood in the Machine [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780316487740] and writes a newsletter [https://www.bloodinthemachine.com] 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 [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. 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 [https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/palantir-is-overplaying-its-hand]. * Brian has previously written about Foxconn’s working conditions [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jun/18/foxconn-life-death-forbidden-city-longhua-suicide-apple-iphone-brian-merchant-one-device-extract]. * Brian mentioned Patrick McGee’s book Apple in China [https://bookshop.org/p/books/apple-in-china-the-capture-of-the-world-s-greatest-company-patrick-mcgee/496b96d06a984e01].

The Problem with "CEO Said a Thing" Journalism w/ Karl Bode

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 [https://karlbode.com] 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 [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. 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 [https://karlbode.com/whoops-the-tech-press-mythologized-another-unethical-asshole/]. * The New Yorker published a brutal article [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/04/13/sam-altman-may-control-our-future-can-he-be-trusted] on Sam Altman’s compulsive lying to get ahead. * OpenAI’s Pentagon deal [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jodiecook/2026/04/03/why-chatgpts-pentagon-deal-sparked-25-million-quitgpt-uninstalls/] led to a large user migration. * Shout out to Karen Hao’s book Empire of AI [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780593657508] * Allbirds [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98mrepzgj7o], the shoe company, is now entering the AI space. * Here is the latest on the attacks on Sam Altman’s home [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/18/sam-altman-house-attack-ai]. * Meta has been found to amplify hate and contribute to genocide [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/amnesty-report-finds-facebook-amplified-hate-ahead-of-rohingya-massacre-in-myanmar], something that is an ongoing concern [https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/02/meta-new-policy-changes/] with the platform. And we can’t forget about attempts to force their ‘Free Basics’ internet on India [https://qz.com/india/614887/what-do-the-british-raj-and-facebook-free-basics-have-in-common-a-lot-actually].

Cybertrucks Are a Safety Disaster w/ Dara Kerr

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 [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. 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 [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/18/tesla-cybertruck-crashes-battery-fires] involving Cybertrucks. * Bloomberg has tracked the wider problem [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-16/tesla-tsla-faces-probe-by-us-auto-safety-agency-over-door-handles] 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 [https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-workers-safety-concerns-injuries-report-2023-11]. * Here is an analysis comparing the Cybertruck to the Ford Pinto [https://futurism.com/the-byte/cybertruck-ford-pinto-comparison]. * Cybertrucks are not approved for sale [https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterlyon/2025/02/20/tesla-cybertruck-banned-in-the-uk-due-to-safety-issues/] in the EU or UK. * China is the first nation to legislate that handles must be mechanically functional [https://www.npr.org/2026/02/03/nx-s1-5698224/china-electric-car-door-handles] from both sides of a vehicle door.

Take A Break From The Feed w/ Amanda Mull

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 [https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AW1_jD-e1dM/amanda-mull] 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 [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. 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 [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-23/-monitoring-the-situation-is-how-the-internet-handles-crisis]. * Feeling overwhelmed by technology? There’s a club for that [https://www.ludditeclubdoc.com]. * Looking for a source of tech news? Checkout Aftermath [https://aftermath.site/anthropic-claude-ai-leftist-technology/], or Disconnect [https://disconnect.blog/author/parismarx/]. * Friend of the pod Casey Johnston has written about her DIY dumbphone [https://www.shesabeast.co/the-diy-dumbphone-method/] method and reducing social media use [https://www.shesabeast.co/how-to-return-to-the-real-world-from-social-media/].