12. The E-CONomy (ft. Danielle Carr)

Cold open: Channel surfing

We’re joined by Danielle Carr, who wrote a killer essay debunking the myth of Neuralink and Elon Musk, to talk about the broader political economy of shitty "science” and shittier "innovators" that have captured the collective imagination. As Danielle writes, “Technology critique should not buy into the hyped fantasies people like Elon Musk peddle. [...] What we have to worry about is something much more disappointing—that the future will look like the present, only more so. In that way, Musk is right: the future is already here.”

Check out Danielle’s essay in the Baffler: https://thebaffler.com/latest/shit-for-brains-carr and follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bathr0bespierre. And while you’re at it, read David Graeber’s classic essay, also in the Baffler, which serves as a fantastic companion piece: https://thebaffler.com/salvos/of-flying-cars-and-the-declining-rate-of-profit

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Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (twitter.com/jathansadowski) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (twitter.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (twitter.com/braunestahl).