Plutopia News Network

Cybersecurity expert Jonathan Kamens, a longtime technologist with a background in software engineering and digital security, was dismissed from his role at the Department of Veterans Affairs by Elon Musk’s Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE). Kamens, who had joined the U.S. Digital Service to serve the public, criticized DOGE for pursuing three main goals: profiting Musk and his allies through government contract manipulation; dismantling the federal government to remove constraints on elite power; and centralizing Americans’ personal data to support authoritarian control. In a revealing conversation on the Plutopia News Network podcast, Kamens discussed his career roots in digital activism, his work on early internet FAQ archives, and his dismay at the dismantling of functional government institutions. He warned of growing threats to democracy, including loyalty vetting for government hires, data misuse, and Project 2025’s goals, while holding out faint hope that economic backlash from Trump’s tariffs could galvanize public resistance. Jonathan Kamens: Doge is trying to do three different things. I think it’s important to lift this out of the weeds and to look high level at what the three things they’re trying to do are. The first thing is grift, right? They’re trying to steal money to benefit people like Elon Musk. You know, Elon Musk wants to rig how contracts are awarded by the government so he and Donald Trump can control who gets the contracts. And guess what? Funnily enough, a lot of those contracts are coincidentally going to go to Elon Musk’s companies and his friends, right? So that’s number one. Number two is they’re trying to destroy the government. I’m just going to be frank here. I’m not going to beat around the bush. I’m not going to equivocate. What Trump and Project 2025 are trying to do is destroy the federal government. It was Grover Norquist who said many years ago that he wanted to shrink the government down to a size that was small enough that he could drown it in a bathtub. These folks do not believe that there should be a federal government which constrains rich white Christian men in any substantive way. And therefore they are trying to destroy every aspect of the federal government which constrains them or their actions, which is most of the government, right? The whole, you know. And then the third thing they’re trying to do is they’re trying to amass all of the data that the federal government has on Americans in one place. Image background via Martin Grandjean. Copyright terms and licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 Links USDS 2024 report Michael Lewis: The Fifth Risk: Undoing Democracy Michael Lewis: Who is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service Repository of Usenet FAQs Project 2025 DOGE plan to rewrite SSA code Russell Vought Moshe Feinstein

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has worked for more than three decades to defend free speech online, fight illegal surveillance, advocate for users and innovators, and support freedom-enhancing technologies. EFF has fought to clear the way for open source software, encryption, security research, file sharing, and important new technologies. In the latest episode of the Plutopia News Network podcast, Plutopians speak with Cindy Cohn, Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and Kevin Welch, President of EFF-Austin, about the history and evolving mission of EFF in defending digital rights. They discuss EFF’s ongoing battles against illegal surveillance, government overreach, and data misuse, especially under the second Trump administration. The conversation explores threats posed by the consolidation of government databases, the misuse of emerging technologies by law enforcement, and the need for decentralized, local activism. Emphasizing free speech, privacy, and the importance of empowering communities, the guests underscore both the urgency and the possibility of building a more just and secure digital future. Cindy Cohn: I take heart in the idea that we can change course if we want to. And we’re starting to see it. In some ways, the extreme moves of the second Trump administration have made a lot of people really recognize that they need to look for other ways. We hear from people all the time at EFF, just the list of people who want security trainings, who want to know how to use encryption, who want to know how to use technologies that stand with them and protect them has gone way, way up. And it’s not just human rights defenders and journalists who are always the canaries in the coal mine around these things. It’s a much wider range of people who want access to technologies that help protect them and that stand with them. Links The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) EFF-Austin Electronic Frontier Alliance Open Rights Group EDRi (European Digital Rights 404 Media on databases David Hume The Verge on the BEE AI pin US states setting up mini-DOGEs Ellen Ullman – Close to the Machine Global Internet Liberty Campaign Articles 11 and 13 of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market RightsCon

The legendary Sandy Stone returns to the Plutopia podcast this time as we discuss “Girl Island,” an upcoming partially-animated film based on her life and early visions of gender identity. We also discuss gender roles, trans rights, political oppression, and much more. We dive into everything from gender roles and trans rights to political power, patriarchy, and the weirdness of independent media. Sandy shares sharp insights on how power imbalances shape our ideas about sex and gender, reflects on the resilience of the trans community, and takes some well-aimed shots at the forces trying to erase progress. It’s a wild, thoughtful, and deeply honest conversation—part personal story, part cultural critique, and all Sandy. Sandy Stone: When we talk about what is gender and where does it come from — one of the places — not the only place, but one of the places gender comes from, it’s a very powerful place — is from power imbalances. That’s a very strong way that in our society desire gets constructed, whether you know it or not, sexual tension. Anyway, that’s one way that we construct sexual difference, is through power relationships. And ultimately when I say that, what I’m getting back to is patriarchy, obviously, to the fact that most power structures are controlled by men, and therefore men generally get to say what sex and gender are.

In this episode of the Plutopia News Network, Will Kreth—founder and CEO of HAND (Human and Digital) — joins Plutopians to discuss the future of identity, digital media, and the growing threat of deepfakes. Kreth, an early media pioneer and former first employee at Wired Magazine, outlines his mission to address the lack of source verification in a world where AI-generated fraud, such as unauthorized use of likeness and voice, is on the rise. He explains how HAND provides persistent, consent-based identity verification to help authenticate public figures and their AI-generated replicas. The conversation ranges from the early days of online media and metadata management to the implications of synthetic media, AI ethics, and cognitive overload in the post-internet age. Kreth emphasizes the need for robust identity frameworks, content provenance, and media literacy, drawing on examples from entertainment, technology, and cultural history to illustrate the urgent need for tools to preserve authenticity in a digitally manipulated world. Will Kreth: The threat of deepfakes is the number one thing that captures people’s attention. So, why does what I do matter – as a piece of the solution, of the provenance of the source verification, of the verifiable credentials of the individual? We provide a free to search and match, persistent, no-expiration-date unique [ID standard] to identify the [media] object – the person, and then a parent-child relationship to their replica — [created] with their consent. So, while there are many companies who’ve raised quite a lot of money to use AI to detect deepfakes, there are fewer companies engaged in the necessary work around source [provenance] verification — of what is real, and what is [created] with consent. In a world where fraudsters and scam artists and others have been appropriating, if not fully stealing, people’s name, image, and likeness (their NIL), their name, version, and [likeness], and sometimes their voice, which is even a more scary and dangerous area.

This time on the Plutopia podcast, climate scientist Michael Tobis, our man in the Great White North, joins us to talk about U.S.-Canadian relations. As Canadians go to the polls this week to elect new members of Parliament, the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on Canadian tariffs and trade loom large. Michael describes how Trump’s aggressive rhetoric and trade policies have unified Canadians, strengthened national identity, and fueled a widespread desire to disengage economically from the U.S. He explains that while Canada has long relied on exporting resources like minerals, oil, and grain to the U.S., Trump’s actions have triggered a re-evaluation of these ties. Canadians are increasingly wary of American politics, committed to preserving their universal healthcare system, and prepared to resist any attempt at annexation. Tobis also highlights the deep cultural and economic interconnections between the two countries, the vulnerabilities created by globalization, and the stark contrasts in political stability, health care, and social safety nets. The conversation expands into broader concerns about trade, climate change, and the unpredictable impacts of populist movements, ultimately emphasizing that Canada’s relationship with the U.S. has been irrevocably altered. Michael Tobis: Nobody was kicking them out of Greenland. Nobody’s kicking them out of the north of Canada. Nobody was saying you guys can’t have our minerals. What we live on is shipping you guys our minerals. That’s why we’re a prosperous country. It’s because you guys want our minerals and we ship them. You want our grain and our oil and we ship them. What we’ve learned is that we’ve abandoned our manufacturing sector and a lot of the high-tech sector to America. And now that we’re saying, and I really can’t overemphasize how widespread this is. People do not want to do business with the United States.

Ray Thompson, a revenue and operations executive and managing partner at Buy Build Sell LLC, joined the Plutopia podcast while on a 23,000-mile road trip across the U.S. with his family. Taking a break from years of intense corporate work, he embraced remote working and launched a new business aimed at helping people become entrepreneurs through acquisitions. The journey—covering 49 states so far—offered him deep connections with people from all walks of life, reinforcing his belief that most Americans are decent and not as divided as portrayed by the media. Along the way, Ray reflected on personal milestones, explored the country’s natural beauty, engaged in meaningful civil discourse, and promoted a shift toward more sustainable, community-focused, and cooperative ways of living and working. I met hundreds of people. I’ve spent two hours in a hardware store in Custer talking to a gentleman. I’ve spent times sitting at the bar eating a steak with someone I’d never met. Artists studios in Maine and you name it. I’ve met all kinds. We might have certain leanings, but I didn’t meet the radicalized segment that the media focuses on. It was not present. I found that really encouraging and inspiring, really. And that was a great part of the trip, just meeting that many people and seeing how close we really are. If we just take the time to spend more time together talking to each other as opposed to exchanging comments on Facebook or social media.

On this episode of the Plutopia podcast, singer-songwriter Axon Chamberlain (aka “The Herban Cowboy”) rejoins Plutopians to debut tracks from his newly released CD “Pub Fare,” recorded live in tap rooms and mixed with care. He reflects on how his creative process has shifted from striving for perfection to playing music for personal joy and healing—especially in a world marked by stress and political turmoil. Along with performances of politically charged and heartfelt originals like “For All” and “Free America,” Axon shares thoughts on activism, artistic authenticity, and the challenge of promoting his work in a noisy media landscape. The conversation touches on the state of democracy, judicial resistance, and artistic expression as a form of protest and comfort. The episode blends music, insight, and wit, spotlighting how art remains a powerful response to uncertainty and despair. Axon: I guess one of the things that we can talk about is a little bit what’s sort of changed with my process. I really become not working at it to get better, but playing at it to feel better. That’s working for me. If you’re playing music just for the joy that it gives you, proficiency just comes along for the ride. That’s been my approach to that, but it made me lazy with the shameless self-promotion stuff. That’s not going to happen on its own. You’ve really got to do some lifting on that. I’ve been out there flogging it like a Mormon with Amway. Axon on Bandcamp Axon on Soundcloud Axon on YouTube

British author and cartoonist Daryl Cunningham has created a graphical biography of Elon Musk, originally published in France under the title Elon Musk, Investigation into a New Master of the World, and now set for English release in September 2025 as Elon Musk, American Oligarch by Seven Stories Press. The book traces Musk’s evolution from his South African roots to his current controversial role as a powerful, far-right tech figure. Cunningham initially struggled to find an English-language publisher, attributing the resistance to fears of legal pushback and Musk’s political influence. On this Plutopia News Network podcast, Cunningham discusses his approach to graphic nonfiction, comparing it to visual documentaries that simplify complex subjects without dumbing them down. While he acknowledges Musk’s work ethic and capacity for stress, Cunningham is deeply critical of the billionaire’s growing authoritarian tendencies and government dependence. He places Musk within a broader pattern of ultra-wealthy individuals using power and media to shape public perception and weaken democratic norms. The conversation touches on science denial, billionaire influence, global authoritarian trends, and Cunningham’s upcoming book focused on the figures surrounding Donald Trump, including Steve Bannon and the Heritage Foundation. Throughout, Cunningham emphasizes the importance of defending truth, science, and democracy in an increasingly chaotic political environment. Darryl Cunningham: I started off the book admiring some qualities about him. His drive, his ability, his flexibility, his thinking – he’s indefatiguable in his work – he’s got an incredible work ethic. Not just what I think, other people who’ve worked with him said that he can deal with levels of stress. That’s almost his superpower, really. But obviously the dark elements of his personality as he’s got richer and more powerful have come to the fore. And those things I really dislike. Tesla or SpaceX wouldn’t exist without intervention by the US taxpayer, the US government, at crucial points in their existence. It’s as simple as that, really. He’s the biggest welfare queen out there.

Paul Alan Levy, a public interest attorney at Public Citizen, specializes in defending internet-related free speech cases, particularly those involving individuals targeted by lawsuits for their online expression. While personally committed to protecting all forms of speech, Levy balances this ideal with the progressive values of his organization. He only takes cases when the speech is legally defensible and advancing the case could help set a broader legal precedent. Throughout his career, Levy has developed legal strategies, like the influential Dendrite test, to protect anonymous online speakers from frivolous or strategic lawsuits intended to silence them (SLAPP suits). He warns against threats to online speech, such as efforts to dismantle Section 230 protections, and emphasizes the need for libel insurance for content creators. Despite the growing challenges posed by powerful individuals, corporations, and shifting legal standards, Levy continues to advocate for robust protections of free expression in the digital age. Paul Alan Levy: I like the idea of protecting speech of all kinds, even if I potentially disagree with it, although I’m constrained by the fact that I work for Public Citizen, which is a progressive organization which isn’t always happy with my defending speech with which some of my colleagues at Public Citizen disagree. Beyond that, the question is whether the plaintiff has a tenable claim and whether – for all sorts of claims that may be made against speech, there are degrees of validity and degrees of protection, and I have to assess two things, really. First of all, is the speech legally defensible? And will defending the speech in a particular instance help advance the law by making it easier for other speakers? And really, both conditions have to be met for me to take a case. Links: Tom Lehrer: “Smut” The Dendrite case Links to others of his cases at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Alan_Levy Carole Cadwalladr’s SLAPP case British Chiropractic Association vs Simon Singh net.wars on the Singh win on appeal “If Your Tivo Think’s You’re Gay, Here’s How to Set It Straight” Cory Doctorow’s postings on enshittification Serious Trouble

In 1975, the United States Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with respect to intelligence activities began a formal inquiry into abuses committed by the CIA, NSA, FBI, and the IRS. The committee, known as the Church Committee, was chaired by Idaho Senator Frank Church and was part of a series of investigations into intelligence abuses in 1975, dubbed the Year of Intelligence. The University of California in Berkeley held a seminar on intelligence agency abuses and political assassinations in April 1975. One of the highlights of the UC Berkeley seminar was a lecture by political scientist, author, and researcher Dr. Peter Dale Scott. I was fortunate to have been invited to record the lectures. In this episode of the Plutopia podcast, you’ll hear the full lecture by Dr. Scott. This recording from my archives is now 50 years old. You should listen to this as an example of what can happen when a government uses its intelligence agencies to mislead or harm its citizens. Some of the statements may be outdated or debunked, but Dr. Scott presents a vivid account of extreme misconduct by U.S. intelligence agencies. With that in mind, we present Dr. Peter Dale Scott’s lecture in its entirety on the Plutopia podcast as we take a look back at the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Pat Cadigan is a renowned science fiction and cyberpunk author known for works like Synners and Mindplayers. In 2023 she released a novelization of the classic Japanese Ultraman TV series, and in July she’ll release a novelization of the Ultraman UltraSeven series. Pat joins the Plutopia podcast to discuss the evolution of the cyberpunk genre and its real-world implications. She reflects on her early influences, the tribal nature of cyberpunk’s rise, and how the genre has shifted from fiction to reality, particularly in the realms of corporate control, surveillance, and digital culture. The conversation covers the increasing relevance of cyberpunk themes, from AI and hacking to political and social upheaval. Cadigan also shares insights on the interplay between technology and human experience, drawing parallels between cyberpunk fiction and contemporary challenges such as privacy concerns, economic instability, and political manipulation. The discussion closes with thoughts on the future of cyberpunk and its continued impact on storytelling and society. I didn’t really know very much about what was going on. I knew that I’d read Bill Gibson’s fiction and I loved it, and it was just the type of thing that piqued my interest and made me think good thoughts, creative thoughts. I forget whether it was Bruce Sterling or John Shirley who said that – I think John said this was a tribal thing, more than anything. And that we were people who were baby boomers – we’d grown up at more or less the same time. We came of age. We were the first generation with mass media and with travel that could be accomplished within a scarily short amount of time. Relevant Links Authors William Gibson Bruce Sterling John Shirley Pat Murphy Rudy Rucker Tom Maddox Cory Doctorow Greg Bear Robert Sheckley Publications Mirrorshades Mondo 2000 BoingBoing James Ball, The Other Pandemic Naomi Klein, Doppelganger Andrea Matwyshyn – research on the Internet of Bodies Cambridge security engineer Ross Anderson Television Paradise Max Headroom

Austin activist Suzy Shelor joins the Plutopia podcast to discuss a range of pressing issues with the politics of the moment, including Elon Musk’s increasing influence over government, Trump’s authoritarian shift, and the mainstream media’s rightward drift. She critiques the lack of foresight in policy decisions, highlighting mass firings at the IRS and attacks on birthright citizenship. The conversation touches on grassroots movements like the 50501 protests, resistance efforts, and economic instability under Trump’s administration. Suzy and the Plutopians express concerns about political and corporate overreach, the suppression of dissent, and the erosion of democratic institutions, drawing parallels to historical authoritarian takeovers. Despite the grim outlook, they emphasize the importance of collective action and independent media in resisting authoritarianism. Suzy Shelor: Everything has just been done with a hatchet. I mean, there’s no thought of – I think they’ve probably spent more money closing things down than they would have if they’d just gone through each institution for a year or so, and weeded out that way, but they’re just cutting it. I mean, the IRS just lost 5,000 people in tax season. Nobody thought this out. For all of their “We have this great plan 2025,” nobody thought about consequences. These people, MAGA people just never think about consequences. They think they have the right to say whatever they want to say, and they do, but there are consequences.

Arts and Entertainment Company Meow Wolf creates large-scale interactive and immersive art installations. They recently opened their fifth installation in Houston. Austin based hardware and software developer, Alan Watts, created many of their custom interactive devices, database driven platforms, and animation software. Alan joins us this time on the Plutopia podcast to discuss his work. Photo of installation at Meow Wolf Santa FeAlan details the extensive technical infrastructure behind Meow Wolf’s installations, emphasizing the complexity and cost of maintaining them. Watts shares insights into his creative process, including how he integrates hardware and software to develop engaging, often retro-inspired experiences. He also highlights the importance of accessibility and sustainability in Meow Wolf’s evolving approach. The conversation touches on the broader themes of creativity, digital art, and the evolving role of technology in immersive storytelling. Alan Watts: You see maybe 10% of the work on the outside at Meow Wolf. And you go behind the scenes and look at the server rooms and the documents and the schematics and the one line diagrams. It’s like, oh my God, there is this like – before anything even begins production, we’ve done interactivity matrices. We’ve built out diagrams and it’s kind of amazing to see how much work goes into these and then just sustaining them too is incredibly expensive because this is stuff that’s gonna break and it’s tech and it’s very expensive to maintain. And to have the staff to do that requires that we hand things off when we’re done. So we have to hire people, and train them, that have a certain technical knowledge to be able to fix things on their own. And we’re a company of a thousand people now, across all of our locations. So it’s a beast now, it’s truly a beast. DJ Megahertz at Meow Wolf Houston

Plutopians are joined by EFF-Austin president Kevin Welch. Elon Musk’s team of alleged geniuses continue to disrupt many U.S. government agencies. With that in mind, we discuss Musk’s disruptive influence on U.S. government agencies, democracy, and the rule of law. Our conversation explores how Musk’s unqualified team is recklessly dismantling government technology systems, leading to security breaches, mass layoffs, and data misinterpretation, with concerns over IRS and Social Security databases. The discussion also highlights the long-standing complexities of government software, the dangers of centralized data collection, and the erosion of institutional trust. The hosts reflect on the broader implications of these changes, including the loss of privacy, potential financial manipulation, and the risks of unchecked executive power in an increasingly unstable political landscape. Kevin Welch: It all has very much the feeling of a fishing expedition – they don’t necessarily know what they’re looking for, they’re just looking, and then when they find stuff, they take things out of context to justify continuing to look. If I take them at their word, they’re claiming they found proof of fraud – oh, there’s the same persons in the system multiple times. Dead people are getting tons of money. By the way, I am sure that is happening to a certain degree because there’s no way a system that sprawling, that old, with that much data that you can’t just delete – some of it may not be right. I’m sure to a certain extent it is happening. Hell, reports have been put out under previous administrations identifying some of this problem. But what’s happening is a highly selective window narrative is being built here, combined with people who don’t have the technical expertise to truly know what they’re looking at.

In this episode of the Plutopia News Network Podcast, we discuss how AI is revolutionizing healthcare by empowering patients to take control of their medical decisions. Our guests, Dave DeBronkart (e-Patient Dave), Gilles Frydman, and Hugo Campos are advocates for patient autonomy and participatory medicine. We discuss how AI enables patients to interpret complex medical data, such as clinical notes and lab reports, without relying solely on healthcare professionals. AI can also aid in critical thinking, allowing patients to explore multiple medical possibilities and interventions. Our discussion highlights the balance between AI’s potential and the responsibility patients must take in navigating healthcare decisions, emphasizing the need for AI literacy to maximize its benefits. e-Patient Dave deBronkart: Access to information was a huge limiting factor in how much we could do, and that has changed a lot. There was an article about patients using AI in the New York Times this summer, and it said Google is like a librarian, but AI gives you access to clinical thinking, clinical thought and it has just caused an explosion in the things that people can do. A trivial example is when I get back from a doctor visit now – because of open notes and federal policy I’m allowed to read all the gobbledygook that the doctors put in the computer, and what I do is I copy paste that into ChatGPT and I say “summarize this, what are my action items” and it digests the whole thing and says here are the problems you worked on today here’s what you’re doing about it and here are your next steps.

This episode of Plutopia News Network’s podcast features hosts Scoop Sweeney, Jon Lebkowsky, and Wendy Grossman discussing skepticism, trust, and current societal issues. We explore the erosion of trust in air travel following recent accidents, accessibility concerns for disabled passengers, and broader vulnerabilities in government systems and infrastructure. The conversation shifts to concerns about the concentration of power among elites, the influence of tech billionaires, and the role of social media in shaping public trust. They also touch on movements like 50501, an emerging decentralized protest effort, and the importance of fostering genuine communities amid increasing polarization. Ultimately, they question how to rebuild trust in institutions and media while emphasizing the necessity of engaged, local communities. Links Angela Saini, Superior: The Return of Race Science Angela Saini, Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong and the New ResearchThat’s Rewriting the Story Douglas Rushkoff: Survival of the Richest 50501 Movement 50501 on Reddit Dark Wire, by Joseph Cox. Wendy’s review at net.wars: https://netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2025/01/27/review-dark-wire/ Tracers in the Dark, by Andy Greenberg. Wendy’s review at net.wars: https://netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2023/05/16/review-tracers-in-the-dark/ USWeb Plutopia interview with Amy Bruckman

Dr. Rebecca Mercuri, a leading expert on electronic voting systems, discusses the vulnerabilities and shortcomings of modern voting technology, particularly the reliability of voter-verified paper ballots and the risks of electronic voting machines. She emphasizes that cryptography alone cannot secure elections and argues that paper ballots must remain the definitive record for vote counting. Mercuri recounts her role in election security, including her dissertation on electronic vote tabulation, her involvement in the Bush v. Gore case, and her testimony on voting system integrity. She highlights the intentional flaws in electronic voting procedures, the potential for fraud or miscounts, and the general lack of public awareness about verification processes. The conversation also explores broader concerns about cybersecurity, digital forensics, and the dangers of increasing reliance on electronic systems without sufficient backup measures. Rebecca Mercuri: There are many states where what they do is provide you with the paper ballot and you put the dots in where, or X’s or whatever they tell you to do. On your selection and then very few places count them manually. But again, the paper would be available for a manual counting, but then it’s usually scanned. But that is a voter-verified paper ballot. It’s a paper ballot that you verified by virtue of you making the selections in there. But they also say, the excuse I hear from election officials is that well, it would be very expensive for us to print out all those ballots. They said, but you’re printing them out anyway. Every person is getting a printed paper ballot. So why is it any more or less expensive? The quantity of paper is identical because whether you’re voting absentee or you’re voting in person, you’re getting a paper ballot. So why not just print it out? But again, this is part of, I refer to it as the charade. It’s the charade of voting. The idea is that we want to make everyone feel that they voted and feel that their vote was counted. And that it’s available for a recount in those places that want to be able to do that. Links Rebecca Mercuri’s Electronic Voting Website Link to Dr. Mercuri’s Dissertation Dr. David Chaum’s Cryptographic Voting Methods Bruce Schneier Cryptogram 12/15/2020 Bruce Schneier’s website UK Post Office Horizon scandal Plutopia interview with Susan McCarthy: The Crowdstrike Apology

In this episode of the Plutopia podcast, British immunologist David Miles discusses his book How Vaccines Work and considers the science of vaccines, viruses, and the societal impact of vaccine misinformation. The conversation covers the role of vaccines in combating diseases like COVID-19, polio, and avian influenza, as well as the challenges posed by anti-vaccine narratives fueled by figures like RFK Jr. Miles highlights the importance of sourcing accurate information and the evolutionary mechanics of viruses. The episode also touches on the broader implications of vaccine hesitancy, the economic impact of diseases, and the enduring mystery of viruses like HIV and the common cold. Listeners are encouraged to approach vaccine-related decisions critically, relying on credible resources. David Miles: If somebody has reservations or questions that’s completely reasonable: yes, having a steel needle stuck in you or your child is going to make you think twice about that. But if you go looking for answers, think carefully about where you’re getting that information from. There are organizations like Voices for Vaccines, for example, that give very good information. There are also a lot of people who will give very bad information. And I’m not naming names here because we’ll be here all night. It’s make sure that you’re getting your information from one and not the other.

On this Inauguration Day episode of the Plutopia podcast, we discuss the past, present and future of democracy. We also acknowledge the return of Felonious Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States. Our friend Dr. Roy Casagranda joins the podcast as we examine the incoming Trump Dream Team and its possible impact upon the nation. We discuss the potential challenges of the new Trump administration, from appointing incoherent and narcissistic officials to managing (or mismanaging?) critical issues such as NATO, tariffs, immigration, healthcare, climate change, and the economy. The conversation reflects skepticism about Trump’s leadership capabilities, critiques the global and domestic consequences of his proposed policies, and explores the broader dysfunctions of U.S. governance and consumer culture. The episode ends on a somber yet slightly hopeful note, urging action amidst an uncertain political and environmental landscape. Roy Casagranda: The problem is the narcissistic maniacs that he’s appointing to the government are the kind of backstabbing guys who don’t have a coherent plan, they don’t have a coherent policy, they don’t know anything. That’s one of Trump’s problems is that he just doesn’t understand things. I bet he doesn’t know Canada and Denmark are NATO members. I bet he doesn’t know that Greenland belongs to Denmark so that if you attacked Greenland you would effectively be going to war with NATO. I don’t even know what’s supposed to happen if a NATO member attacks a NATO member because Article 5 says if any state attacks a NATO member all the other NATO members are instantaneously or automatically at war. There’s no need for a declaration of war. So I don’t think he can neglect his government of narcissistic maniacs. I think he’s going to have to be there. And I can see them just really making a mess of things too. So it’s possible that this will be okay. We’ll have an incoherent four years where the United States basically is just sort of frozen and paralyzed, where the president is randomly threatening to attack this country and that country and the other country. It wrecks the US’s reputation globally but honestly I don’t know how much lower it can get anyway – we’re close to bottom.

Jon and Scoop consider various political and societal issues, centering on Donald Trump’s potential second term as U.S. president, the constraints of governance, and the role of systemic friction in tempering political ambitions. The Plutopians highlight misunderstandings around Trump’s perceived ability to operate outside the established political framework, emphasizing the persistence of institutional processes. We touch on societal divides, tribalism, and the challenges of coalition-building in a polarized country. Broader themes include the evolution of technology and its impact on media, data privacy, and artistic expression, with tangents into topics like AI’s influence, music industry economics, and the importance of maintaining connections to the natural world amidst digital chaos. The episode is punctuated with humor, nostalgia, and personal anecdotes, reflecting a mix of skepticism and resilience in navigating modern challenges. Jon: It’s not like the doors just open wide for him and the light’s shown and he can just step right in and do whatever the fuck he pleases. So people need to get over that and the problem with that, the problem with feeling that way is that you kind of open up that reality a bit more than it really should be open. We should understand that the people in the USA matter and that it’s really about us. It’s not about the government, it’s not about Donald Trump, it’s about us. Scoop: Well, the whole problem with Trump is he has the same problem a lot of our generation has. His memory is fading. He forgets the problems that he created for himself in Trump 1.0. When he promised all these grand things and the reality stepped in and said, no, you can’t do that, there is a process. And it’s hard, when you deal with a government, it is really hard to escape the process.

This time on the Plutopia podcast, we turn on our time machine and take you back to 1979. King Crimson guitarist and founder Robert Fripp was touring with his Frippertronics real-time tape looping device. He performed shows at UC Berkeley and Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco’s premier punk venue. Following those shows, Ed Ward and Scoop Sweeney interviewed Robert Fripp and this restored from tape interview. Frippertronics, an innovative real-time tape looping technique, enabled Fripp to create layered, meditative soundscapes that defied conventional rock performance norms. The conversation explores Fripp’s unconventional approach to performance, emphasizing audience interaction and dismantling the typical performer-audience hierarchy. Fripp reflects on the economic and artistic challenges of touring, contrasting his intimate and improvisational Frippertronics shows with the larger, more commercial King Crimson tours. His insights into performance dynamics, audience influence, and the tension between art and commerce offer a unique perspective on the evolving nature of music and live performance. Thank you note from Robert Fripp to Scoop. Robert Fripp: It’s ironic that this particular way of touring, if I were doing it on a purely financial level, really funny, we’re doing so much more money than King Crimson. Touring, I reckon, touring in a three-month form. I could earn as much as I earned from King Crimson, so I’m just saying. Touring with King Crimson took years. I think I earned $3,000, which was one tour in the spring in 1972, when it was known that the band was going to break out. So the booking agency didn’t take it seriously and bought this in a small venue. And I made $3,000, maybe two, two or $3,000 from that tour. That was the only time I ever made money from it. The statistics were, one, by the time the band finished July the first night, the average cost for us playing was $5,000 a night. That’s what it would cost. The average earnings were $5,000 a night. So over six years, with the exception of this one tour, I would have earned nothing. I could earn $3,000 probably in a week, here – I have minimal expenses. Relevant Links Guitar Craft/Guitar Circle Discipline Global Mobile (DGM) Featured photo by Jim Summaria. Creative Commons license: CC BY-SA 3.0

In this episode of the Plutopia podcast, communication coach and author Michelle Gladieux discusses her book Communicate with Courage: Taking Risks to Overcome the Four Hidden Challenges. She highlights the importance of communication skills, vulnerability, and ethical influence, providing practical strategies for improving personal and professional relationships. Gladieux shares insights on overcoming challenges like rationalizing the negative, settling for good enough, and striving for perfection while emphasizing the value of failure as a learning tool. Drawing from decades of experience, she offers actionable exercises to help individuals communicate more effectively and courageously. The conversation also touches on leadership, conflict resolution, and the transformative potential of brave and intentional communication. As far as we know, this is a one-way ticket. And we should share what we’ve learned. We should share about ourselves. We should care about what others think. And we should stand for what we think is right. And we should try to do it without being a jerk. So I think we all need communication skills, constantly polishing verbal and written and listening skills. And I think also we all have a message to bear based on our experience. So I wanted to give people a short book. I kept it around 140 pages or so because I know we’re all busy. But I wanted to take about 25 years of coaching and teaching at the college level and consulting and see what I could do for those people who aren’t going to enroll in a communication class in a college or go to a workshop. Maybe this was a way they could raise their game.

Cybersecurity expert Ahana Datta discusses the complexities and evolving nature of cybersecurity, touching on topics like the “security-insecurity paradox,” the challenges of defending against nation-state actors and private hackers, and the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure, including healthcare systems and Internet of Things devices. She explores the role of AI in both offensive and defensive cyber strategies, the importance of user education, and the persistent risks associated with unsecure systems like email and voting technologies. The conversation also addresses the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, the trust deficit in technological and institutional systems, and the potential of emerging solutions like passkeys to improve security. Ahana emphasizes the need for robust, scalable defenses and collective efforts to mitigate the ever-growing risks in cyberspace. Ahana Datta: So there’s this thing called the Security-Insecurity Paradox and it’s based on the quite classic approaches to stable relations in geopolitics but it applies to cybersecurity as well which is that the more you attack systems inside the space and the more defenses you apply to prevent future attacks the cost of launching new attacks becomes more and more expensive. So if you follow this arms race scenario to its extreme, then certainly it will keep intensifying and will be within the domain of a few very well resourced actors and probably mostly nation state players. Link: “Trust, interdependence, and power in cyber statecraft” by Ahana Datta

In this episode of the Plutopia podcast, we explore the evolving dynamics of online interaction, contrasting the personal connections fostered by early online communities with the algorithm-driven experiences of modern social media platforms. Hosts Jon and Scoop reflect on the history and challenges of digital networking, touching on the influence of major tech companies, the manipulation of user attention for profit, and the need for genuine human connection amidst societal polarization. We discuss alternatives like Bluesky and The WELL, emphasizing the value of curated, meaningful interactions over the chaos of mainstream platforms.

This time on the Plutopia podcast we explore an immigration crisis, not the one you might think, but one that occurred almost 50 years ago. We focus on the 1975 Operation Babylift, a controversial airlift of Vietnamese children, many labeled as orphans, during the final days of the Vietnam War. The event garnered international media attention, but questions arose about the true status of the children, with many reportedly having living parents or extended families. Critics argued the operation served political and publicity motives for the U.S. and South Vietnamese governments rather than pure humanitarian goals. The discussion also explored broader issues of international adoption, cultural dislocation, and the use of immigration policies for political leverage, drawing parallels to ongoing debates about immigration and refugee crises. This historical reflection emphasizes the complexities and potential exploitation in global humanitarian efforts. Relevant Links https://www.operationreunite.com/ https://www.adoptedvietnamese.org/

Dr. Ann-Marie Wilson, a psychologist and senior research advisor with the Orchid Project, joined the Plutopia podcast to discuss her extensive efforts to combat female genital mutilation (FGM). Drawing on over 30 years of experience and a profound moment of epiphany during aid work in Darfur, Dr. Wilson described her journey from corporate HR to becoming a leading advocate against FGM. Her activism has contributed to making FGM illegal in countries like Sudan and Somalia, though she emphasized that legislation is only the first step in addressing this deeply ingrained cultural practice. Dr. Wilson highlighted the importance of engaging entire communities—including religious leaders, healthcare providers, and families—to create sustainable change. She shared stories of resilience, progress in Africa and Asia, and the challenges of countering entrenched beliefs, stressing the need for education, group advocacy, and global collaboration to eradicate FGM worldwide. Ann-Marie Wilson: I do believe strongly that without passing a law you’ll not really ever get anywhere. So I think that actually passing the law is a good start because at the moment in any of these countries we could talk about Sudan, we could talk about Somalia, we could talk about Nigeria but the same model is correct. And actually while we did this project, one of our research projects, into let’s have a look at the law in each country and we did that project across all the 28 countries in Africa to start with – we also then added the diaspora which is a technical term for the places from where somebody comes and carry on the practice that could be UK, could be the US, could be France, Germany, etc. And if you start to squeeze a problem from those both angles you start to see – oh, actually, we can make a difference. Links: Overcoming: My Fight Against FGM by Ann-Marie Wilson On the origins of FGM Wendy Grossman’s writeup of last year’s Disinformation Summit: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/cambridge-disinformation-summit/

Our Thanksgiving episode of the Plutopia podcast features Tiffany Lee Brown, a writer and interdisciplinary artist, and Jane Hirshfield, an award-winning poet and essayist. Tiffany is also an astrologer, Tarot reader, and the creator of the Burning Tarot podcast (see tiffanyleebrown.com). We talk about staying sane during turbulent times, fostering genuine dialogue, and addressing fears that polarize communities. Jane reads her poem “Let Them Not Say,” reflecting on environmental and societal accountability, while Tiffany discusses embracing deep emotional journeys and finding common ground. The group explores building resilience, fostering gratitude, and creating meaningful communities amidst media-driven division. Insights on navigating fear, love, and shared human connection underscore the thoughtful discussion.

In this episode of the Plutopia podcast, Jaye Robinson, a multifaceted professional with experience as an attorney, navy diver, and AI specialist, joins Jon and Scoop to explore the societal and ethical impacts of artificial intelligence. The conversation considers the challenges of copyright law in the age of Large Language Models, the mechanics and limitations of AI systems, and the broader implications of generative AI on labor, privacy, and propaganda. Robinson also shares his unique career journey from law to AI, offering insights into how AI tools are reshaping various industries, including healthcare and transportation. The discussion is peppered with philosophical musings, anecdotes about technology’s evolution, and humor, making for an engaging exploration of AI’s place in our increasingly interconnected world. Jaye Robinson: You collect a lot of text that is relevant to what you want this large language model to understand and these general purpose large language models basically just want a lot of things that people have written. Ideally things that people have written well and ideally things that are – yeah copyright is spun there. Ideally every original work of authorship is covered by copyright as soon as it’s committed to a tangible medium. But what those copyrights are varies from work to work and how long they last. It depends on whether you’re Disney in which case they last forever or just a person in which case they last until Disney can steal it. So copyright applies to everything people have written. Copyright is untested waters as compared to what machines have written.

In this episode of the Plutopia News Network podcast, engineer Lee Felsenstein shares his experiences with the Homebrew Computer Club, a pioneering group of technology enthusiasts in Silicon Valley during the early days of personal computing. Felsenstein debunks the myth that the counterculture was solely responsible for the personal computer revolution, describing a diverse group of members, including engineers, doctors, and entrepreneurs. He reflects on the organic development of computing and his role in designing the Osborne 1, the first mass-produced portable computer. Felsenstein also discusses the broader social and community impact of technology, his efforts with the Community Memory project, and the role of online networks in shaping modern communication. As the podcast wraps up, he shares insights on open-source, decentralized platforms as potential alternatives to corporate-driven social media. Lee Felsenstein: This myth has developed that the hippies made the personal computer with the Homebrew Computer Club. No. There were hippies there, a few. There were some psychedelic rangers. There were more doctors, physicists, physicians who should have been engineers. There was, as I put it in the book, the usual batch of dweebs and slobs that populated Silicon Valley. There were the guys with white shoes who said, you know you can make money on this. Everybody said, okay, well, maybe show us. But it was quite a mixture of people. Lee’s just-published new book is called Me and My Big Ideas – Counterculture, Social Media, and the Future.

In this episode of the Plutopia News Network podcast, Dr. Roy Casagranda shares his insights on the 2024 election, expressing concerns about Donald Trump’s authoritarian leanings and his potential to undermine democratic principles if re-elected. Comparing Trump’s rhetoric to that of historical authoritarian figures, Casagranda suggests Trump’s repeated claims, such as the election being “stolen,” are part of a strategic manipulation of public opinion, similar to tactics used by dictators. He discusses the troubling alignment of some Americans with Trump’s vision, attributing it to various societal and cultural factors, including xenophobia, racism, and the appeal of simplistic, nostalgic narratives. While acknowledging the influence of media and education on public consciousness, Casagranda also points to the weakened state of democratic institutions and the country’s polarized atmosphere. He warns of potential violence and civil unrest, regardless of the election outcome, underscoring the possibility of a divided America facing ongoing challenges to its democratic fabric. Roy Casagranda: Trump has said he’s going to go after his enemies as soon as he becomes president. And he’s suggested that the military could be used like the National Guard could be used. And he said that if people vote for him in this election, it will be the last election you will participate in. And he has said on day one he’s going to trash the Constitution. Like he’s telling us every single thing you need to know just like Hitler did in Mein Kampf. All you had to do was read the book to know what he was going to do because he told it. And he repeated it, by the way, over and over and over again because he believed if you repeat the big lie over and over and over again, eventually people will start to believe it just like Trump does when he talks about the election was stolen. And so the parallels between him and Hitler are definitely there. I don’t think he’s as smart as Hitler was. And by the way, just for the record, I actually don’t think Hitler was particularly smart. I think people tend to overvalue his intelligence. Almost every decision he made in World War II cost Germany the war.

In The Web We Weave, Jeff Jarvis discusses the tensions between traditional mass media and the rise of the internet, emphasizing how the web has provided a platform for diverse voices that were previously sidelined. Jarvis argues that mass media, traditionally dominated by older, established institutions, has struggled with the democratization of information, often reacting with resistance and moral panic as public discourse shifts online. He explores historical cycles of media-driven moral panics—from novels to video games—and critiques the persistent control exerted by powerful interests over public narratives. As a media critic and academic, Jarvis champions internet freedoms and cautions against homogenizing voices in the age of AI. He advocates for a decentralized media landscape where information is more community-driven, resisting the monopolistic tendencies of both old media and tech giants. Jeff Jarvis: With The Web We Weave, I’m kind of looking at what comes after mass media. You’re right. And the problem for mass media is they resent the hell out of it. They were in charge of everything. They had hegemony over all that we saw and read and they can’t stand that there are voices who were always there. They’re not new voices, but voices who couldn’t be heard before because they weren’t represented in mass media. And so my theory about the internet is that it enabled these voices to at last have their stage, their microphone, and big old mass media run by old white men who look like me have resented it. And so that bleeds into the coverage of the internet. Now media have had many moral panics over the years starting with novels, which were going to destroy women’s morals, and on to Nickelodeons when the Chicago Tribune editorialized against them because they were doing horrible things to the city of Chicago; to film, to radio, let’s not forget the telegraph, too, and then also obviously television and video games and rock lyrics and so on.

Joanna Price, a public librarian with an interest in community-building, discusses the dynamics of building resilient and compassionate online communities. She critiques large social media platforms, like Twitter and Facebook, for fostering alienation and trolls. Joanna shares her vision for smaller, more intimate communities of around 100 people that grow naturally without heavy promotion. This, she believes, reduces the likelihood of bad behavior while fostering kindness and individual empowerment. Moderation is seen as key, emphasizing compassion over punitive measures. She draws inspiration from early internet communities, such as the WELL, and discusses how her proposed new community, Elm’s Bright, seeks to create a positive, intergenerational space focused on shared learning and real-world activities. Joanna Price: On the Internet, we’re very aware of trolls, right? Folks who do come in to intentionally cause trouble. And one of the goals of the kind of community that I’m envisioning is that it’s 100 people max, it probably starts out with somebody and some people they know, right? Either on the internet or in real life and it expands in a less dramatic, advertised way, right? In a sort of natural way that makes it less likely that you will get explicit trolling. But were that to occur, that would I think fall under the bad acting notion of – we just ban them. And, you know, I say we ban trolls and I think I don’t want to suggest that there’s no place for dark humor or fun, right? Like there’s a difference between when we say trolling and we can mean a few different things – sometimes we’re talking about what is essentially making jokes and that’s one thing. And sometimes we’re talking about stuff that’s a lot darker and a lot worse than that.

In this episode of the Plutopia podcast, writer and cyberculture celebrity R.U. Sirius discusses the evolution of Mondo 2000, a groundbreaking magazine he co-founded that blended tech, art, and psychedelics. Sirius reflects on its origins, transitioning from High Frontiers and Reality Hackers, exploring how psychedelic culture intertwined with early tech innovation. He recounts Mondo 2000’s unique style, challenges with censorship, and how it navigated the countercultural landscape. Sirius also shares anecdotes about collaborations with figures like Timothy Leary, the cyberpunk movement, and the media’s shift to digital culture. I was watching a show called Science 2000. And it was all the most recent tech and science at that point in 1988 or 1989. And it was supported by advertising for something called Furnishing 2000. And I floated into Queen Mu’s bedroom and I said, “Let’s change the name and use 2000 to sell stuff.” And she immediately said Mondo because somehow she was imagining what the logo would look like. And she thought that would make for a really good logo, which was true. So there you have a rather trippy but a very opiated origin of becoming Mondo 2000. Coming soon from R.U. Sirius in collaboration with Shira Chess: Freaks in the Machine: Mondo 2000 in Late 20th Century Tech Culture. With a foreword by Grant Morrison.

Ken Flippin, a seasoned Texas political consultant and activist, has launched the Green Wave PAC, a political action committee aimed at promoting environmentally conscious political campaigns. Also focused on supporting public school advocates and ousting pro-voucher Republicans, Flippin’s PAC targets local races with the potential to sway the Texas House in favor of more progressive, community-oriented candidates. His broader vision includes ensuring that newly elected officials are well-prepared to tackle complex environmental issues in legislative sessions, and ultimately fostering joy, creativity, and agency in both local and statewide communities. Ken Flippin: If you don’t have somebody that can walk you through, like if you end up on environmental reg or any of the committees that involve the environment (of which there are four), it’s hard to navigate all those issues. So the point of the PAC is, because I’ve been working in environmental policy for some time, to help them prepare, before the session and then during the session, for that. The house seats that I’m targeting all are public school supporters that are trying to oust pro voucher Republicans. And there’s about five or six across the state that we have a chance of winning. And what I’ve heard is that we can win three and we’ll be able to stop vouchers. Support Green Wave Pac by buying Texas Blue Swag! Green Wave image by Chet Gipiti.

Glenn Smith is an author, activist and political consultant. He is not a fan of the conservative fanboys pushing the so-called “Great Replacement Theory.” Glenn also finds little to admire when they worship strongman dictators. In this episode of the Plutopia podcast, Glenn critiques the insecurity among white men driving far-right movements, highlighting how fear of losing status or resources pushes them toward authoritarianism. He emphasizes the dangers of populism and the misconception that dictators will only harm others, pointing out that history shows otherwise. He also touches on the current political climate, discussing efforts to undermine democracy, the role of activism, and the importance of legal battles in defending democratic principles. Glenn Smith: How did so many European white men get so insecure? I mean honestly, in all of this country’s – from deep insecurity that somebody’s gonna take something they have away from them, they can’t compete with people in certain ways. I don’t really don’t know what it is, but it drives this need to dominate so they don’t have to fret about losing to somebody else every day of their lives. It’s a sad thing to see. They pretend that they do this out of strength, but really it’s out of a very unflattering weakness I think in the men who really begin to believe and to act in those ways. People seem to think that if they get a dictator it’s only going to be a dictator over those people they don’t like. They’re going to stay free, of course, but this dictator is only going to mess with people they already don’t like and it never, in history, has worked out that way. Ever. The people who think they’re getting the kind of dictator leader they want always wind up being just as victimized as anyone else under such leadership. You’d think people could like you learn it in high school, learn it in junior higher middle school, not fall for it over and over, but they sure do.

Christopher Brown is an author, attorney, and urban naturalist living in Austin, Texas. His newest book, A Natural History of Empty Lots: Field Notes from Urban Edgelands, Back Alleys, and Other Wild Places, blends nature writing, memoir, and nonfiction. The book explores the intersection of nature and urban spaces, encouraging readers to reconnect with the wilderness found in city edgelands and forgotten lots. Brown’s narrative examines how wildlife adapts to urban environments and offers practical advice for rewilding urban life without relying on remote landscapes. Through personal stories and reflections, he inspires readers to appreciate and act on the urgent need to preserve biodiversity within their immediate surroundings. Chris writes a popular Substack newsletter about his adventures in the edgelands, called “Field Notes,” which we discussed in a previous podcast. Chris also writes science fiction, including the novels Rule of Capture, Tropic of Kansas, and Failed State. Chris Brown: It is kind of a love story with place. It’s also a love story about nature and about the natural world and about learning to connect with nature in a way that doesn’t involve trying to inhabit some gear catalog or goofy car ad of imagining yourself in some remote depopulated landscape that probably doesn’t really exist much anymore in real life, right? And coming to terms with it. There’s a bunch of great blue herons making their giant mess there in this trashy tree behind this dumpy old warehouse down the street. Why are they doing that there? It could have been because there’s nowhere else for them to go. And getting excited about that and at the same time kind of saddened by that as you think about as you wonder if the presence of a lot of these animals in the city is because they’ve run out of other places to hang out.

Sustainability pioneer Gil Friend joins the Plutopia podcast this time. He has been called one of the 10 most influential sustainability voices in America. Gil is the founder, chair, and CEO of Natural Logic Inc. and Critical Path Capital. He advises leading companies, communities, and investors on value-driving sustainability strategies. He has been a noted sustainability pioneer for more than 50 years and is widely considered one of the founders of the sustainable business movement. We currently mostly have a system where if I make something and sell it to you, I’m done. It’s out of my hands, it’s in your hands. There’s a system called Extended Producer Responsibility that’s in place in a number of places around the world that says the producer is responsible for the safe, disposal of the stuff they make at the end of its life. So as a producer, I have responsibility throughout the value chain, so therefore I need to think about the implications and the costs of recovery at the end of life and I start to design things differently. We saw an early version of that in the United States with bottle pills, with deposits on soda bottles. It’s much more sophisticated in other countries. So that notion of responsibility, connecting actions and consequences, reducing and eliminating the subsidies, both the actual payments to companies, but also the pervasive subsidy of giving folks a free ride for their bad effects. Gil discusses the importance of extended producer responsibility, a system in which producers are accountable for the safe disposal of their products at the end of their life cycle. He explains how this principle encourages companies to design more sustainable products, drawing on historical examples like bottle bills in the U.S. and more advanced systems in other countries. He discusses his background in systems ecology, highlighting the need to consider complex, interrelated factors in sustainability efforts. The conversation touches on challenges in addressing climate change, the evolving nature of renewable energy, and how businesses, governments, and individuals can collaborate to create a more sustainable future. Gil also explores the benefits of employee ownership, alternative business models, and ways to shift cultural norms toward more environmentally responsible practices.

Filmmaker Nadya Wynd recently premiered her new movie “At Her Feet” in Hawaii and select mainland theatres. She joins the Plutopia podcast this time as we explore her creation of this moving and beautiful film. Nadya is a Hawaii-based director, writer and producer with extensive experience in writing, acting, producing and directing for stage and film. Nadya Wynd: I went to the big island and went up and communed with the volcanoes because I needed to shift my energy. I was still really frustrated about my documentary. And while I was up there at the crater of Kilauea Volcano, this story just came down, flooding through me. And I realized it was a gift to shift my energy, give me something to pour my creativity into. And thank God, because three years later, I would have been crazy if I’d still been focused on my documentary. Instead, I made this amazing movie that has been super successful in our theatrical release. And people have really embraced it. The Hawaiian people love the culture and history and language and spirituality, all the aspects of Hawaiian culture that is very seldom seen authentically in movies. “At Her Feet” is now available on the following platforms: Cable & Satellite: U-Verse DirecTV Dish Network Sling TV Spectrum https://ondemand.spectrum.net/movies/27352587/at-her-feet/ Vubiquity Non-Theatrical: Hoopla Swank (colleges, hospitals) On Demand: Amazon Apple TV FandangoNow (Vudu) Microsoft (Xbox) Google Play YouTube Movies Amazon DVD

In this episode of the Plutopia podcast, Linda Castellani and Tim Powers join Jon to discuss the legendary science fiction author Philip K. Dick. Linda and Tim recount their personal interactions with Dick. The discussion considers Dick’s complex personality, his writings, and his often tumultuous relationships, including Linda’s own experience as one of Dick’s “dark-haired girls.” They explore Dick’s paranoia, his mystical experiences, and his deep influence on the science fiction genre. Despite his brilliance, Dick’s life was marked by emotional instability, which profoundly affected those around him. Dick’s science fiction was mind-bending – his stories explored the nature of reality and of human perception, and he wrote about alternate realities and histories, monopolistic corporations, authoritarian regimes, drugs, the nature of consciousness. He had his own mystical and metaphysical experiences that were reflected in his work. Later science fiction including the cyberpunk subgenre owed much to his work. Linda Castellani: I wrote the letter because I was in a class taught by a professor named Will McNelly. I was in his Chaucer class; in the previous semester I was in his science fiction class. And one day he came to the Chaucer class with a letter from Phil, saying “Some of you might know who Philip K. Dick is and some of you may not, but you were in my science fiction class so maybe you’d be interested in this letter.” And it was all about his time in Canada at a rehabilitation place called X-Kalay, and the story of how he ended up being in Canada was kind of interesting. But I knew nothing of Philip K. Dick. I just heard this letter. I was 21, quite young and as you will see quite naive. And I thought, “Oh this man’s so sad, he needs a friend I’ll write him a letter.” Although I have come to wonder lately if I might not have been encouraged to do so by McNelly. But that’s a whole nother train of thought. So I wrote Phil a letter. My letter was dated April 7th, 1972. And a couple of days later McNally called me into his office and said, “Phil wants you to pick him up at the airport on Thursday night.” Which totally freaked me out.

Climate scientist Dr. Michael Tobis returns to the Plutopia podcast with an update on the current state of the Earth’s climate. The current state, it appears, is not so good. Michael discusses the worsening state of the Earth’s climate, highlighting the missed opportunities to transition away from fossil fuels over the past 30 years. He delves into the complexities of attributing specific extreme weather events to climate change, emphasizing the importance of focusing not just on these dramatic incidents but also on the subtle, day-to-day environmental shifts that are already occurring. Despite growing awareness, Tobis expresses concern that meaningful change is still lacking, with society continuing to operate unsustainably, driven by economic and political inertia. Michael Tobis: If we had started going down the road of moving off of fossil fuels 30 years ago, it would not have been a major adjustment. Back then we were saying, “Okay, if we don’t behave ourselves, the world could warm as much as two degrees Celsius.” And now we’re saying, “Well, if we really step on things and really work really hard, the world could warm as little as two degrees Celsius.” So we’re already pushing, we’re hoping for what was once considered the worst

This time, on the Plutopia podcast, blogger and author Susan McCarthy, a noted authority on apologies, helps us perform a verbal autopsy on the worldwide CrowdStrike security meltdown. Unlike most large outages, the CrowdStrike outage impacted individual workstations, Microsoft Windows workstations. In the aftermath, CrowdStrike apologized and even offered a $10 Uber Eats voucher. Susan found the CrowdStrike apology somewhat lacking. Our discussion centers around the global impact of the outage, which caused thousands of Microsoft Windows workstations to crash, leading to significant financial losses for companies like Delta Airlines. McCarthy critiques CrowdStrike’s apology, noting its inadequacies, particularly the company’s decision to offer those Uber Eats vouchers, which she argues were both insufficient and potentially damaging to the company’s reputation. The conversation explores the broader implications of corporate apologies in the tech industry, emphasizing the importance of taking full responsibility and making meaningful reparations to restore trust. Background Links Brian Fung sums up what went wrong pretty well at CNN. Initial estimates put daamge to Fortune 500 companies in revenues and gross profit at $5.4 billion Cybersecurity praises Crowdstrike’s “quick apology” Backlash over $10 Uber Eats gift certificate Delta Airlines has hired David Boies to demand compensation from Crowdstrike for 6,000 canceled flights AT&T issue (February 2024). Note it’s the same cause: failure to test software update properly. AT&T Apology AT&T offers some compensation in the form of credit to customers

Nick Selby, a law enforcement and security expert, shares insights from his extensive experience in the complexities of policing and information security. He highlights the often misunderstood realities of police encounters, noting that while 1,400 people die annually following interactions with police, the use of non-deadly force—such as intimidation and humiliation—more significantly erodes public trust in law enforcement. Selby also discusses the challenges in modern policing, including the integration of technology and the balance between civil liberties and effective law enforcement. The conversation delves into the nuanced issues surrounding police culture, training, and the societal impact of these practices. Nick is an information and physical security professional who provides information security, disaster- and cyber incident-readiness assessments at Fuzz Technology, a subsidiary of EPSD, Inc. Nick Selby: Every year, 1400 people die after an encounter with police. There are 80 million encounters in the United States between police and citizens. And every year, 1400 people end up dead. Some of them are unarmed, usually about 150 to 200. The rest of them are either armed or something. Even the Washington Post says that 92% of the people who were killed by police had initiated a deadly force encounter. But every cop knows that if you shoot somebody, you’re going to absolutely get investigated. You probably are going to be the subject of a federal civil rights lawsuit. It’s going to be a nightmare for years and years. Actually, non-deadly force is the problem. The slap, the kick, the punch, the humiliation, the ordering people to do stuff that is unfair, talking to people who believe. These are the things that destroy trust in law enforcement, of the community. And there’s no data anywhere in the world, anywhere about that. Relevant Links Interview with Nick about police shootings: https://thecrimereport.org/2016/05/31/doing-the-right-thing/ Nick discusses spending a week with a mental health policing team in North Texas: https://nickselby.com/docs/divert/ He is co-author of In Context: Understanding Police Killings of Unarmed Civilians The Crime Report: “Doing the Right Thing” (2016)

Plutopians Jon and Scoop converse with Bruce Sterling, renowned for his cyberpunk novels. The discussion delves into Sterling’s interests beyond cyberpunk, including industrial design, steampunk, Frida Kahlo, and space exploration. Sterling shares insights on the evolution of the Viridian Design Movement and its impact on addressing climate change, albeit with limited success. He reflects on his experiences with design criticism and the intriguing intersections between historical fantasy and science fiction in his work. The conversation also touches on the surreal state of the world, AI advancements, and Sterling’s perspective on the resilience and adaptability of humanity through history’s challenges. Bruce Sterling: I follow space stuff. I mean I’m very interested in astronomy and space exploration so I’m looking up stuff from NASA or the ESA or the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, I follow a lot of people who are doing stuff like that. Things like looking for potential asteroid impacts and the amount of space technology that is present there and the sophistication of it is really impressive. I mean there aren’t a lot of manned human bases where things are but there are unbelievable amounts of drone coverage and fantastic amounts of incredibly detailed photos of the surface of Mars, the surface of Venus – like we know what’s on the dark side of the moon. We have samples from the dark side of the moon. Relevant Links Links: Bruce Sterling on Medium Viridian Design Movement Long Now Elon Musk The Lunar Codex Primo Levi Frida Kahlo Collapse of Romance Writers of America

David Miles, a British immunologist, joins the Plutopia podcast to discuss vaccines and vaccine hesitancy, sharing insights from his book, How Vaccines Work. The conversation covers the history of vaccine development, from artisanal methods in the 1930s to modern techniques. Miles addresses the current skepticism towards vaccines, explaining that while no vaccine works perfectly for everyone, they have historically been game-changers in public health. He emphasizes the importance of transparent communication to dispel myths and provide factual knowledge, allowing people to make informed decisions. Miles also touches on the challenges of vaccine distribution, particularly in low-income regions, and highlights the need for better ventilation in public spaces to reduce virus transmission. The discussion reflects on the evolution of vaccine technology and public perception, aiming to bridge the gap between scientific understanding and public awareness. Wendy Grossman discusses David and his book in “The Skeptical Inquirer.” David Miles: Back in the 1930s, most vaccines were done in universities, or actually a lot of them were done in the Institut Pasteur specifically, at that point. At the same time, there was this sort of artisanal vaccine development thing going on where people who had an outbreak in their general area would try and culture whatever microbe was causing it and then kill it and then inject it as a vaccine. I mean, fundamentally, that’s how vaccines work. You take the microbe that causes the disease, you do something to it so it can’t cause the disease, but it can trigger the immune memory to it. And then you give it to people and if it works, it protects them. Most people doing this really didn’t have a clue what they were doing and probably a lot of them probably did more harm than good.

Investigative journalist James Ball is no stranger to bullshit. In his 2017 book, Post Truth: How Bullshit Conquered the World, he explains how the political left and right tend to exist in an ecosystem of bullshit. James is also author of The Other Pandemic: How Q-Anon Contaminated the World, which explores the pervasive nature of misinformation and conspiracy theories (aka “bullshit”) in contemporary society. In his work, James argues that both political left and right are susceptible to such falsehoods, highlighting that intelligence and prior success in uncovering actual conspiracies can make individuals more prone to believing in new ones. He emphasizes that societal distrust in mainstream media and institutions fuels the spread of misinformation. Currently, James is working on a new book while also covering UK politics and pursuing a law degree, doing a thesis on AI and human rights. He engages in discussions on various platforms, including the right here on the Plutopia podcast, where he discusses his views on the media, conspiracies, and the influence of digital platforms like 4chan and YouTube on public perception and behavior. James Ball: I think people have a tendency to think that only their political opponents get into conspiracies and only stupid people get into conspiracies. And my experience, and I’ve checked and there’s some quite good research supporting this, is peer reviewed, but hey, there’s a million replication crises right now. Clever people are the people who get pulled into conspiracies, especially clever people who have been right when the world has suggested they’re wrong. People who’ve had a breakthrough theory or people who have exposed an actual conspiracy. Lots of investigative journalists become conspiracy theorists because being right is dangerous. When people stop trusting or stop buying mainstream media, we say we must change the people. The people are wrong, our product is just as good as it ever was. And that manifested all sorts of strange ways, because I think there is a habit of confusing, this is how we’ve always done it, with this is good and how it should be done. You know, I think especially the US media confuses traditions with values or with quality. Relevant Links Wendy Grossman’s review of Post Truth: How Bullshit Conquered the World: https://www.zdnet.com/article/post-truth-book-review-the-facts-about-alternative-facts/ Wendy’s review of The Other Pandemic: How Q-Anon Contaminated the World: https://netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2023/10/26/review-the-other-pandemic/ net.wars on Naomi Klein’s Doppelganger: https://netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2023/09/29/the-two-of-us/ Workshop on the Economics of Information Security: https://weis.utdallas.edu/ Wendy’s review of Culture Warlords, by Talia Lavin is an exploration of the online far right. Here’s my review: https://www.zdnet.com/article/culture-warlords-book-review-into-the-heart-of-online-darkness/

On this episode of the Plutopia Podcast, Jon and Scoop discuss current politics, the charm of vintage sci-fi movies, and the importance of reducing social media usage. They reflect on the shift in political conventions from dynamic debates to predictable events and lament the loss of genuine political discourse. The conversation also touches on the influence of the Heritage Foundation, the cultural implications of Trump’s presidency, and the current state of media. The podcast concludes with a nostalgic discussion about classic sci-fi films and the therapeutic value of stepping away from constant digital engagement.

Nate Wilcox has many opinions and he is not afraid to use them all. Nate joins the Plutopia podcast this time as we discuss politics, politicians, and other dangerous predators. Nate is a former political consultant turned MMA blogger (noting the similarity of politics to mixed martial arts). He’s publisher of “The MMA Draw Newsletter” and “Let It Roll” podcast (the latter is currently on hiatus). Nate joins the Plutopia podcast to discuss various political topics, highlighting how Trump’s unexpected rise to presidency was initially a strategy to gain leverage in reality TV negotiations. Wilcox provides an in-depth analysis of American politics, criticizing both major parties and their handling of power, policy, and military strategy. He draws parallels between contemporary political figures and historical events, questioning the effectiveness and motivations behind current leadership. The conversation covers Biden’s cognitive state, the influence of corporate interests, and the long-term implications of foreign policy decisions, painting a picture of a deeply flawed and corrupt political system. * * * Nate Wilcox (on Trump): If you look at the details of how he got into this situation, it’s Shakespearean! I mean, basically the guy wanted to show the producers at NBC that, hey, assholes, you should be paying me more money to star on whatever reality show it was because look at how good my polling numbers are gonna be. And he never thought he would win. He didn’t even really intend to get the nomination. And there are accurate accounts of election night 2016 where he’s just as shocked and horrified as anybody else that he’s getting elected. And now he’s in this position where if he doesn’t run for office, he goes to prison. So his interests are pretty easy to see through. I mean, the guy wants to eat cheeseburgers, talk about himself, and not go to prison and get money out of people.

Ian Forrester, a member of the BBC’s R&D Advisory Team, focuses on open innovation and disruptive opportunities, working with startups and early adopters. With a history at the BBC World Service, Ian’s role evolved from traditional news development to anticipating future broadcasting and Internet challenges. His team addresses core issues relevant to public service broadcasters, emphasizing the importance of forward-thinking and exploring new technologies. Known in the digital scene, Ian’s innovative approach and his involvement in projects like BBC’s Micro and Webwise initiatives highlight his commitment to public education and digital advancement. I spent a lot of time, well, I first started the BBC in the World Service, which is a news outlet side of the BBC. And it was always a cycle where you go into work, you work on stuff, and I was in the development team. But when it came to four o’clock, there was a massive rush, getting the stories out, getting them out to the right places, is it done, is the editor happy, all that stuff. And I have worked at newspapers as well, so I know that cycle. You don’t have time to sit there and think about, what does this mean in like two, three, four, five years time? That’s what R&D, so that’s what R&D department does. And the advisory team focuses on some of the kind of core issues that are relevant to the future of broadcasting, the future of the BBC and the future of all public entities when it comes to the internet. Relevant Links The BBC’s Webwise Indieweb Chaos Computer Club FOSDEM iPlayer GPL-3 Apache 2.0 license

In this episode of the Plutopia Podcast, the hosts revisit an interview with the late Stanton Friedman, a prominent nuclear physicist and UFO investigator who lectured extensively on his research into UFOs. Friedman argued that governments conceal information about UFOs to maintain nationalistic divisions and prevent public unification as earthlings. He emphasized the significant evidence supporting UFO reality, including his own investigations and the Project Blue Book Special Report 14, which documented numerous unexplained sightings. Despite skepticism and ridicule, Friedman’s work contributed to a broader acceptance of UFO phenomena and highlighted the inadequacies of official investigations.

In this episode of the Plutopia Podcast, Jon and Scoop discuss the origin of the name “Plutopia” as well as the organization, and its connection to digital convergence. We also discuss the importance of democratic principles. Jon delves into the history of the Plutopia News Network, while Scoop shares his passion for analog technology. They touch on political issues, including conservative attacks on democracy, and the nostalgic allure of the 1950s for some people. The conversation also covers their experiences with high-tech events in Austin and the broader implications of technological advancements on society. (Thanks to ChatGPT for the image, especially the flattering representations of “Jon” and “Scoop”… looks nothing like us, but we like it!)