Curtis Yarvin—founder of Urbit, political philosopher and  blogger formerly known as Mencius Moldbug, the man who coined the term “red pill” is known for his influence on thinkers like Peter Thiel and JD Vance. In this episode, he offers a critical analysis of America’s political and economic landscape. He critiques the MAGA movement, exploring the limits of democracy and the rise of oligarchy, the roots of Trump’s tariffs in mercantilist thinking, and the administration’s “vibe governing”.

The conversation transitions to cryptocurrency, examining Bitcoin’s evolution, government regulation, and how Urbit could reshape digital identity. Curtis reflects on Urbit’s role in creating autonomous economic identities and the challenges of achieving product-market fit in web3.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The State of America: A Critical Examination

07:59 Manufacturing and Economic Policy: A Mercantilist Perspective

18:14 Power Dynamics: Authority, Democracy, and Oligarchy

34:02 Vibe Governing: The Challenges of Modern Leadership

34:53 Mercantilism: Successes and Failures

40:41 The Future of Crypto and Bitcoin

49:18 Urbit: A New Paradigm for Digital Identity

01:08:30 The Vision for Autonomous Economic Identities

RESOURCES

Curtis on X: https://x.com/curtis_yarvin

Subscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast 

Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  

Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  

Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   

Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  

Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ