Dystopia Now

This week we are off, so thought I'd unlock one of our Patreon eps from the series we did about the Zizians.

We discuss the origins of the Zizian ideology in the Rationalism community, MIRI, CFAR, Roko's Basilisk and Doom Circles.

To hear parts 2 and 3 become a subscriber on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow

We'll be back on our regular schedule next week.

This week we answered questions from our Patreon supporters about the Bay Area cyberdelic scene, Church of the Subgenius, the persistence of eugenics, anarcho-primitivism, TESCREAL boardgames and what our personal tech (or tech free?) utopias would be.

To hear the rest of the episode become a sponsor at https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow. We use your $ to edit the podcast.

Further reading:

https://www.thetonearm.com/rhymes-against-reality-with-r-u-sirius-and-his-musical-mindfuckery-2/

https://www.wired.com/2015/07/tech-time-warp-week-wired-eccentric-mondo-2000/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_SubGenius

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/opinion/genetics-children-noor-siddiqui.html

https://www.vice.com/en/article/john-zerzan-wants-us-to-give-up-all-of-our-technology/

Organizations Mentioned:

https://www.stopai.info/

https://www.stopspying.org/

https://www.eff.org/

https://www.dsausa.org/

https://dair.ai/

Board game:

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/257732/pax-transhumanity

Become a supporter at https://www.patreon.com/DystopiaNow

This week we interviewed astrophysicist and science journalist Adam Becker, author of More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley's Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity. Becker contends that Silicon Valley's grandiose fantasies cloak a hunger for control, often rooted in pseudoscience and elitism rather than real science or ethics Adam cuts through the bullshit of Mars colonization, sentient AI and digital immortality to bring us all back down to earth. Where we live. And are going to stay forever.

Futher Reading:

More Everything Forever:

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/adam-becker/more-everything-forever/9781541619593/

To hear the full ep sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow

In the 1990s, at the height of the Grunge Era, a small but ambitious group calling themselves the Extropians dreamed of transcending the limits of the human body and mind, through technology, radical life extension, and an unapologetically libertarian vision of the future. In this episode, we trace their journey from obscure online mailing lists to their outsized influence on today's transhumanist movement, Silicon Valley techno-utopianism, and AI ideology. We'll unpack their proactionary principle, ties to effective altruism and longtermism, and the Network State movement.

To become a Patreon subscriber go here: https://www.patreon.com/DystopiaNow

This week we go on a dark journey of TESCREAL parenting with Simone and Malcolm Collins, the rationalist pro-natalism advocates who are raising their kids on an all AI diet. Strap in as we explore their secular religion, their runs for office, and "Future Day." By the end of this episode you may never want to have 10 kids.

We also covered Jim Acosta's interview with an AI Parkland survivor, Elon's sex chatbot, and Èmile's new newsletter, Real Time Techpocalypse.

Further reading

Intro https://x.com/jeremyjudkins_/status/1944894110420148723 https://www.realtimetechpocalypse.com/ https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/parents-parkland-shooting-victim-ai-version-son-joaquin-1235400053/

Ritchie Torres https://fortune.com/crypto/2023/01/26/ritchie-torres-cryptocurrency-blockchain-web3-financial-inclusion/ https://ritchietorres.house.gov/posts/led-by-rep-ritchie-torres-20-members-of-congress-urge-congressional-leadership-to-fully-fund-pandemic-preparedness https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/28/cryptocurrency-democratic-party

Simone and Malcolm Collins https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/may/25/american-pronatalists-malcolm-and-simone-collins https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/of-interest/2025/02/01/malcolm-and-simone-collins-pronatalism/ https://secondvoice.substack.com/p/why-were-surrounding-our-kids-with

Birth Rates and Fertility https://jacobin.com/2020/01/full-surrogacy-now-sophie-lewis-review https://jacobin.com/2025/07/socialism-birth-rates-fertility-future https://jacobin.com/2022/08/capitalism-low-birth-rate-labor-abortion-contraceptives-childcare https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/06/birth-rate-population-decline/683333/ https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/09/5-facts-about-how-the-worlds-population-is-expected-to-change-by-2100/ https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/world-population-prospects-2024 https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/20/pro-natalism-babies-global-population-genetics

Eugenics https://ksqd.org/predatory-data-eugenics-in-big-tech-interview-with-anita-chan/#gsc.tab=0 https://hardea.org/

This is the final installment of our series on the Rationalist Death Cult, the Zizians. This three part series unpacks the twisted story of the Zizians, a fringe group born out of the Bay Area rationalist and effective altruism subcultures that descended into violence and murder. Blending a belief in utilitarianism with extreme accelerationist ideology, the Zizians started with an AI Doom fixation and ended up justifying a string of brutal killings in the name of a supposed greater good.

To hear the series, become a member here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow

In Part 1 "A Cult Within a Cult" We discuss the origins of the Zizian ideology in the Rationalism community, MIRI, CFAR, Roko's Basilisk and Effective Altruism Doom Circles. How did TESCREALism, Bay Area housing costs, and the Human Potential Movement set the stage for a series of horrors?

In part 2 "The Murders Begin," we look at how a group of rationalists becomes a murder cult. This episode takes us from the MIRI/CFAR protest aftermath to the first attack on Curtis Lind and Ziz's faked death.

We also cover Timeless Decision Theory, Expected Value Calculations, and Pascal's Mugging.

Finally, in Part 3 "The Murder Spree" we discuss how a fringe subculture became a national news story through the killing of a Border Patrol Agent.

To become a supporter, visit us at https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow

This week we explore the weird world of Mark Zuckerberg and billionaire bunkers.

FURTHER READING:

Meta, Zuckerberg, and AI

Meta Q2 earnings beat forecasts, pushes toward AI "personal superintelligence" deadline.com/2025/07/meta-q2-earnings-beat-forecasts-ai-personal-superintelligence-1236474506/

Inside Meta's plans for a new AI lab focused on superintelligence nytimes.com/2025/06/10/technology/meta-new-ai-lab-superintelligence.html

Meta's growing dominance in AI bbc.com/news/technology-64075067

Zuckerberg responds to Cambridge Analytica scandal theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/21/mark-zuckerberg-response-facebook-cambridge-analytica

How Facebook contributed to genocide in Myanmar systemicjustice.org/article/facebook-and-genocide-how-facebook-contributed-to-genocide-in-myanmar-and-why-it-will-not-be-held-accountable/

Zuckerberg grilled in Congress on Facebook's origins washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/04/11/channeling-the-social-network-lawmaker-grills-zuckerberg-on-his-notorious-beginnings/

Zuckerberg's Hawaii Estate and Land Development

Mark Zuckerberg's Hawaii compound includes burial grounds and escape hatch wired.com/story/mark-zuckerberg-secretive-hawaii-compound-burial-ground/

What we know about Zuckerberg's Hawaii estate wired.com/story/mark-zuckerberg-inside-hawaii-compound/

Zuckerberg's land deals in Hawaii raise questions ft.com/content/851e7707-1ca3-4fa9-9719-05b66ad5c5cc

Hawaii Governor's housing and development strategy governor.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Housing-2.pdf

East Solano and YIMBY

California Forever's East Solano city plan faces delay nytimes.com/2024/07/22/business/economy/california-forever-solano-county-city-on-hold.html

YIMBY group's support for the East Solano Plan cayimby.org/news-events/statement-in-support-of-the-east-solano-plan/

Tech and Trump

Big Tech to work with Trump administration on digital health ecosystem techcrunch.com/2025/07/30/big-tech-to-work-with-trump-administration-to-build-digital-health-ecosystem/

Trump, RFK Jr., and tech companies' digital health ambitions apnews.com/article/trump-ai-rfk-jr-health-tech-fa73703bd1fd557c787ef0b590e151f1

Migrant surveillance expands under new Trump plan theguardian.com/technology/2025/feb/27/migrant-surveillance-trump

Palantir and Trump plan to centralize Americans' data nytimes.com/2025/05/30/technology/trump-palantir-data-americans.html

Trump administration shared IRS data with ICE propublica.org/article/trump-irs-share-tax-records-ice-dhs-deportations

Gaza and Media Accountability

Claims of no starvation in Gaza disputed by data and witnesses pbs.org/newshour/world/israels-leader-claims-no-one-in-gaza-is-starving-data-and-witnesses-disagree

New York Times coverage of Gaza starvation nytimes.com/2025/07/24/world/middleeast/gaza-starvation.html

NYT public relations statement on Gaza coverage x.com/NYTimesPR/status/1950311365756817690

NYT walks back Gaza baby starvation story after pushback truthout.org/articles/nyt-walks-back-story-on-gaza-baby-starved-by-israel-after-zionist-pushback/

Climate

Who is hastening the apocalypse and why bbc.com/future/article/20211014-agents-of-doom-who-is-hastening-the-apocalypse-and-why

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C could save billions from extreme heat news.exeter.ac.uk/research/limiting-global-warming-to-1-5c-would-save-billions-from-dangerously-hot-climate/

To become a supporter and keep the show going, visit us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow

This week we were joined by Keira Havens of Citizen's Impeachment and Nicholas Rodelo, a staff researcher at Dropsite News to discuss how tech has assisted propaganda campaigns to further the genocide in Gaza.

Articles and Media Mentioned:

https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/google-acquisition-tech-wiz-israel-gaza-8200

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/18/politics/cnn-poll-israel-support

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/opinion/no-israel-is-not-committing-genocide-in-gaza.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/opinion/israel-gaza-genocide-scholar-response.html

https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/leaked-data-israeli-censorship-meta

https://medium.com/@Keira_Havens/box-of-rocks-b8aec0c8710e

Become a subscriber and join our listener chat: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow

This week, we explored the tech billionaire fixation with cryonics, mind uploading and life extension. We're just a couple of decel deathists! (You'll see what we mean)

In the intro this week, we talked about Superman's critique of tech billionaires, Mountainhead, and we read a very special poem.

Plus, a Meta AI data center in Georgia leads to rationing of water for local residents. Who needs a shower when you can have a bad search engine?

FURTHER READING:

Billionaire Immortality and Cryonics How Billionaires Are Freezing Themselves to Cheat Death https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jul/10/billionaires-freezing-cryopreservation-riches-lawyers-life

The Quest to Reverse Aging Among the Ultra-Rich https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/feb/17/if-they-could-turn-back-time-how-tech-billionaires-are-trying-to-reverse-the-ageing-process

Inside the Billionaire-Led Race for Immortality https://theweek.com/science/the-billionaire-led-quest-for-immortality

Deathism

https://transhumanism.fandom.com/wiki/Deathism

Wikipedia: Alcor Life Extension Foundation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcor_Life_Extension_Foundation

AI and Tech Power Jaron Lanier on the Cult-Like Belief in AI https://www.vox.com/the-gray-area/407154/jaron-lanier-ai-religion-progress-criticism

Let's Think About Slowing Down AI by Katja Grace

https://worldspiritsockpuppet.substack.com/p/lets-think-about-slowing-down-ai

AI Hallucinations and the Fragility of Tech Trust https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/05/technology/ai-hallucinations-chatgpt-google.html

Chat GPT is Bullshit https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10676-024-09775-5

Elon Musk's Grok AI and U.S. Defense Links https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/07/14/elon-musk-grok-defense-department/

Climate and Water The AI Boom's Growing Carbon Footprint https://www.npr.org/2024/07/12/g-s1-9545/ai-brings-soaring-emissions-for-google-and-microsoft-a-major-contributor-to-climate-change

Meta's AI and the Fight Over Water https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/technology/meta-data-center-water.html

Poetry https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/world/middleeast/04stext.html

To join us on Patreon, go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow

This week we talked to professors Kyle Keeler and Nathaniel Otjen about the Breakthrough Institute, ecomodernism nuclear energy and AI. Does nuclear come with some downsides? (Yes)

Futher Reading:

Links between AI, tech, nuclear energy

"Continued Propaganda About AI and Nuclear Power"

"Nuclear Power Is Hard. A Climate-Minded Billionaire Wants to Make It Easier"

"Here are the Nuclear Fission Startups Backed by Big Tech"

"Meta signs 20-year deal with nuclear plant, signals AI's growing energy needs"

"Three Mile Island nuclear plant will reopen to power Microsoft data centers"

"President Donald J. Trump Deploys Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security"

How Nuclear Got a Positive Image

"Nuclear Injustice: Why a Nuclear Renaissance is the Same Old Colonial Story"

"A Degrowth Response to an Ecomodernist Manifesto"

"The Stories Michael Shellenberger Tells"

"The New Denial is Delay"

"'Anti-Censorship' Shellenberger Tried To Censor, Harass and Intimidate Wikipedia Editor"

Issue with nuclear power and AI

"Physicist MV Ramana on the problem with nuclear power"

"Environmental Justice in the 21st Century: Race Still Matters"

"What Environmental Justice Means in Indian Country"

"'How come I can't breathe?': Musk's data company draws a backlash in Memphis"

"AI is taking water from the desert"

Degrowth

"Degrowth can work — here's how science can help"

"A Red Deal"

"Mining for the Climate" podcast

Climate and Community Institute

Intro Topics:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/03/natal-conference-austin-texas-eugenics

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/07/cremieux-race-science-new-york-times/683474/

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/jun/16/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-eugenics-scientific-racism

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35902104

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/magazine/12ginsburg-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/books/review/san-fransicko-michael-shellenberger.html