Fighting Technofascism on the Virtual Battlefield

Heidi Siegmund Cuda reports how the PayPal Mafia is attempting to complete its purchase of American democracy and how writers are fighting this hostile takeover on X/Twitter.

Photo: ZUMA Press/Alamy

“We have to make life good for our smart people… Elon endorsed me the other day… he gives me $45 million dollars a month.”—Donald J. Trump, at a Michigan rally

The transactional PayPal Mafia is attempting to complete its purchase of American democracy. PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel purchased Ohio Senator JD Vance into office, supporting his Senate run with $15 million dollars, and Vance is now Trump’s 2024 running mate. Thiel, who hired Vance at his global investment firm in 2017, owns Rumble with Vance. The social media platform, once a site for cute cat videos, is now infested with pro-Russian propaganda.

“Got all the way through the Constitution and did not find the provision whereby the South African oligarchs select the vice-presidential nominees on behalf of the Russian dictator,” tweeted Yale Professor Timothy Snyder, referencing Thiel’s South African roots, which he shares with other prominent PayPal principals.

Thiel’s co-founder in PayPal, South African-born Elon Musk, who owns X/Twitter, is also using his platform and cash to influence the 2024 election.

Although Musk may be reneging on the $45 million dollars a month he pledged to the Trump campaign, he has given Trump and such formerly banned convicted criminal associates as Mike Flynn, Alex Jones, and Roger Stone carte blanche to spread venal propaganda on his platform — a priceless value.

Trump’s son, Don Jr, took to Twitter on Sunday to post a meme showing fake missed calls from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to US President Joe Biden, who announced he was stepping down after pressure from his own party and Hollywood donors.