Conspirituality Episode 243: Free Market Contrarians (w/Eoin Higgins)
Release Date: February 6, 2025
In Episode 243 of Conspirituality, hosts Derek Barris, Matthew Remsky, and Julian Walker delve into the intriguing shifts within the media landscape, specifically focusing on how tech billionaires on the right have influenced and reshaped prominent left-leaning journalists. Their guest, journalist Eoin Higgins, discusses his new book, "Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left," which examines the career trajectories of Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi—two journalists once heralded for their leftist credentials who have recently aligned more closely with right-wing agendas.
1. Introduction and Episode Overview
The episode kicks off with Julian Walker introducing the primary subject matter:
"How did Edward Snowden and Matt Taibbi, once celebrated figures on the left, end up aligning with right-wing narratives? We're joined by journalist Owen Higgins to explore this transformation."
[Julian Walker, 01:25]
Higgins' book scrutinizes the ideological shifts of Greenwald and Taibbi, highlighting their transition from left-leaning reformists to influential voices within right-wing circles, influenced significantly by tech magnates like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel.
2. The Evolution of Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi
Matthew Remsky opens the discussion by mentioning the recent political developments, including RFK Jr.'s nomination:
"If Bobby is confirmed over the next few days, that's going to be our next show because we've covered Bobby for years now."
[Matthew Remsky, 02:36]
The conversation quickly pivots to Higgins' analysis of Greenwald and Taibbi. Higgins elaborates on their early careers:
"Greenwald was a darling on Fox News, and Taibbi was recruited by Elon Musk as one of the Twitter files journalists."
[Julian Walker, 01:25]
He points out that both journalists initially gained prominence through their respective leftist stances—Greenwald with his coverage of Edward Snowden and Taibbi through his critiques of the 2008 financial crisis.
3. Ideological Shift and Influences
Higgins discusses the factors contributing to their ideological shifts:
"Tech billionaires like Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel saw independent media as threats when they began reporting critically on tech companies."
[Eoin Higgins, 48:29]
He argues that the investment from these billionaires facilitated Greenwald and Taibbi's move towards platforms that are more susceptible to right-wing influence, such as Substack and Rumble. This financial backing came with an expectation of favorable coverage, pushing these journalists to adopt more contrarian and often right-leaning positions.
4. The Role of Capital and Purity in Journalism
Matthew Remsky introduces a critical perspective on capitalism's role in this phenomenon:
"From a leftist point of view, capitalism itself is vampiric, exploiting labor and accumulating wealth in a way that inherently controls present and future labor."
[Matthew Remsky, 16:00]
He contends that while both Greenwald and Taibbi initially critiqued aspects of capitalism, their platforms' monetization strategies have led them to prioritize sensationalism over substantive critique, aligning them inadvertently with right-wing agendas.
5. The Impact of Tech Billionaires on Media Integrity
Julian Walker raises concerns about the broader implications of tech billionaires' influence:
"The irony of digital media as an independent alternative is that platforms like Substack and Rumble are more porous to bias and corruption."
[Julian Walker, 47:05]
Higgins agrees, highlighting how the lack of editorial oversight in these platforms allows for unchecked dissemination of biased or misleading information, undermining traditional journalistic standards.
6. Strategies for Navigating Complex Political Alignments
Derek Barris reflects on the challenges of maintaining ideological consistency:
"It feels like a purity test at times because I am left of center, but I'm not as far left as other people."
[Derek Barris, 18:02]
The hosts discuss the difficulty in categorizing journalists who navigate complex political landscapes, emphasizing the need for critical engagement with their content rather than relying on simplistic left-right dichotomies.
7. Final Thoughts and Future Implications
As the episode concludes, Higgins shares his aspirations for journalism in the current political climate:
"The role for journalism should be to not only challenge him [Trump] and what he's doing but also to challenge the people who are benefiting from it."
[Eoin Higgins, 54:44]
He underscores the importance of investigative journalism in holding both political figures and corporate interests accountable, despite the increasing challenges posed by legal battles and financial pressures from powerful tech billionaires.
Conclusion
Episode 243 of Conspirituality offers a profound examination of the intersection between journalism, political ideology, and corporate influence. By dissecting the career shifts of Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi, the hosts and their guest shed light on the broader dynamics at play within modern media, emphasizing the critical need for integrity and accountability in journalism.
Listeners gain valuable insights into how financial incentives and ideological fluidity can reshape voices once trusted for their left-leaning perspectives, prompting a reevaluation of how media consumption aligns with personal and public values.