Fresh Air · 2026-05-06 · 46 min · 6,856 words

How Silicon Valley has profited by aligning with MAGA

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In the early days of Internet startups, tech innovators in the Silicon Valley were seen as young idealists who developed their creations in their garages, bedrooms, or at the universities where there were students. But recently, many Silicon Valley leaders have become identified with the right, with President Donald Trump and MAGA. These tech billionaires are now often referred to as oligarchs because of their money. Power and access to the White House. How and why this alliance was formed is the subject of a new report in the Atlantic by my guest George Packer.

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