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January 15, 2025

Yarvin-Thiel network's anti-democratic philosophy gains influence in Trump administration

The Conversation
Rolling Stone
The New Republic
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
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Anti-democracy blogger attends Trump inaugural as his ideas echo through DOGE workforce cuts

Curtis Yarvin attended Trump inaugural gala January 2025 as informal guest of honor per Politico

Yarvin founded neoreactionary movement under pen name Mencius Moldbug in late 2000s

He coined RAGE (Retire All Government Employees) in 2012

Peter ThielPeter Thiel invested in Yarvin startup Tlon and gave $100,000 to co-founder in 2011

Thiel contributed over $10 million to PACs supporting Vance and Blake Masters

Vance cited Yarvin in 2021 podcast interview discussing government restructuring

Thiel told The Atlantic he does not think Yarvin ideas would work

๐Ÿ”Ethics๐Ÿ›๏ธGovernment๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธElections

People, bills, and sources

Curtis Yarvin (Mencius Moldbug)

Neoreactionary philosopher whose ideas influence administration allies

Peter Thiel

Peter Thiel

Billionaire investor who funded both Yarvin and Vance campaigns

Vice President JD Vance

Has cited Yarvin as influence, funded by Thiel

Michael Anton

Michael Anton

State Department Director of Policy Planning who discussed Yarvin ideas

Marc Andreessen

Marc Andreessen

Tech investor who called Yarvin a good friend

What you can do

1

Trace the intellectual origins of policies to understand their underlying assumptions about democracy

2

Financial connections between ideological networks and political campaigns reveal influence pathways

3

Note that officials may distance themselves from ideas while implementing policies that reflect them