Overview

This month our Athena Alliance “Ripped from the Headlines Salon” participants chose to focus on the business and political implications of what appears to be a rising “broligarchy” – a brotherhood of tech billionaires who are achieving unprecedented political and business influence and extraordinary wealth.

Let us know what you think on the LinkedIn version of this newsletter!

Members shared insights from recent events and personal experiences, highlighting concerns about the impact of powerful tech figures on democracy, corporate responsibility, and the media ecosystem. The conversation ended with suggestions for concrete actions to protect and support democracy and plans for potential follow-up discussions.

Below is a graphic depiction of the questions we posed and considered.

Introduction to the Topic

As has become the custom in our monthly salons, I presented a variety of fact-based information, reports, news items and data from what I/we consider to be generally reliable sources which this time included NBC News (online), Newsweek, The Atlantic, Fortune, The Guardian, NPR and the Financial Times. I presented an excerpt from my forthcoming book Governing Pandora: Leading in the Age of Generative AI and Exponential Technology (Georgetown University Press 2026) to provide substance to this definition, as follows:

I also shared this very helpful tech broligarch relationship map back to President Donald Trump (see below).

Accelerationists v. Doomers

I presented the concept of the tech “broligarchy,” —a widely used critique of tech-elite influence in government, particularly in the United States, and shared some origins of the “Tech Broligarchy” from ChatGPT 4o – based research.  See graphic below.

The Tech Broligarchs are often also called “tech accelerationists”, like Marc Andreessen, who generally advocate for unfettered technological progress. Then there are those who call for some guardrails and protections and are often disparagingly called “doomers” or “decelerationists”. These are people like Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin, heads of the Center for Humane Technology, who focus on warning about and preventing the potential negative impacts of technology on humanity.

I underscored the importance of understanding these various perspectives as part of the broader discussion on the implications of advanced technologies and the influence of this elite tech broligarchy class.

Tech Billionaires and the Political Landscape

We discussed the relationship between tech billionaires and the Trump administration, highlighting the interconnected network of tech executives and their varying approaches to navigating the political landscape. We discussed the recent fallout between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, emphasizing the fragility of the relationship between Silicon Valley and the White House. We also explored the broader implications of this tech-broligarchy, questioning whether it signals the rise of a new form of plutocracy in America. We discussed several thought-provoking questions about the future of regulation, AI, and the role of dark money in politics, while suggesting topics for further discussion on corporate responsibility and privacy in the age of authoritarianism.

Thiel’s Influence and Network Dynamics

Participants shared insights from recent conferences and reports highlighting the influential role of Peter Thiel and his connections to various key figures, including Elon Musk and J.D. Vance. We discussed the complex web of relationships among Thiel’s associates, noting their influence on technology, politics, and business. We also touched on the utter lack of women in these circles suggesting a need for deeper examination of these underlying connections.

Threats to Democracy

The group discussed concerns about the influence of tech billionaires and their potential threat to democracy, with several warning that some of these powerful figures have explicitly stated that they favor dismantling established institutions and have been linked to conspiracy-driven narratives. Participants shared insights from a former DOGE employee who emphasized the lack of moral compass among young tech workers, while others highlighted the growing influence of money in politics and the need for corporate leaders to maintain ethical standards. Some participants raised alarms about the political situation in California, and concerns about the diminishing role of employee resource groups in corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Corporate Courage and Democracy

The group discussed concerns about declining corporate courage in the face of political challenges, with several recalling how CEOs stood up against the first Trump administration. A participant emphasized the importance of focusing on democracy and free elections, while warning about the dangers of losing focus on these fundamental issues. The discussion also covered media manipulation and fragmentation, with several participants highlighting how misinformation and biased reporting are affecting public perception and understanding of current events. The conversation ended with suggestions for concrete actions to support democracy, including civic education and a potential follow-up salon to discuss specific actions.

Key Take–aways / Actionable Steps to Consider

A few key takeaways and next steps for us to consider to be able to further our understanding and management of these complex issues include:

• Focus on supporting free and fair elections and democratic institutions.
• Be more selective and critical about both what media sources we consider reliable and reputable, as well as putting limits on information intake overload.
• Beware of the “fight” between accelerationists and decelerationists and instead focus on what protects tech stakeholders the most – work on bridging the gap.
• Engage in civic education within your circles and communities.
• Have the courage to speak up about democratic values, even if it leads to disagreements with family or friends.
• Disagree with respect, stand firm with integrity.