The Sunday Read: ‘The Strange, Post-Partisan Popularity of the Unabomber’

The Daily

•

Published: Sun Apr 27 2025

Online, there is a name for the experience of finding sympathy with Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber: Tedpilling. To be Tedpilled means to read Paragraph 1 of Kaczynski’s manifesto, its assertion that the mad dash of technological advancement since the Industrial Revolution has “made life unfulfilling,” “led to widespread psychological suffering” and “inflicted severe damage on the natural world,” and think, Well, sure. Since Kaczynski’s death by suicide in a federal prison in North Carolina nearly two years ago, the taboo surrounding the figure has been weakening. This is especially true on the right, where pessimism and paranoia about technology — largely the province of the left not long ago — have spread on the heels of the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to police speech on social media platforms.

Summary

Summary of "The Sunday Read: ‘The Strange, Post-Partisan Popularity of the Unabomber’"

Podcast Information

Title: The Daily
Host/Author: The New York Times
Episode: The Sunday Read: ‘The Strange, Post-Partisan Popularity of the Unabomber’
Release Date: April 27, 2025
Host: Michael Barbaro
Reporter: Charles Homans

Introduction and Background

In the episode titled "The Strange, Post-Partisan Popularity of the Unabomber," reporter Charles Homans delves into the unexpected resurgence of interest in Ted Kaczynski, infamously known as the Unabomber. Homans sets the stage by recalling his personal experience with Kaczynski's manifesto during his teenage years in 1995.

Homans [00:37]: "In the manifesto, which was titled Industrial Society and Its Future, Ted Kaczynski shared a vision of technology as not a series of machines and devices that made our lives easier, but actually a system that had its own priorities and intentions that were not fully aligned with the human species."

Resurgence of Interest in Kaczynski's Manifesto

Homans explores the unexpected ways Kaczynski's ideas have permeated various political and cultural spaces, particularly online. This renewed interest spans both extremist groups and more mainstream circles, especially among younger generations.

Homans [00:37]: "Kaczynski's manifesto pop up in a lot of different political spaces, especially online. Some of them are extremists, but some of them are not that far from the mainstream."

He attributes this trend to a broader cultural desire to reevaluate notorious figures from the past, similar to the renewed interest in figures like O.J. Simpson or David Koresh.

Key Themes of Industrial Society and Its Future

The episode highlights several key themes from Kaczynski's manifesto that resonate with today's technological landscape:

Autonomy of Technological Systems:

Fitzgerald [No Timestamp Available]: "If the machines are permitted to make all their own decisions, we can't make any conjectures as to the results because it is impossible to guess how such machines might behave."
Dependency on Technology:
Kaczynski [Various Timestamps]:
- Paragraph 156: "New technology tends to change society in such a way that it becomes difficult or impossible for an individual to function without using that technology."
- Paragraph 174: "A near future in which human work will no longer be necessary and the masses will be superfluous..."
Psychological and Social Impact:

Kaczynski [Various Timestamps]: "The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race."

Kaczynski's Influence on Contemporary Thought

Despite his criminal actions, Kaczynski's ideas have found echo among various contemporary thinkers and technologists:

Ray Kurzweil:

Homans [17:14]: "Ray Kurzweil... wrote in his 1999 book The Age of Spiritual Machines, 'I was surprised how much of Kaczynski's manifesto I agreed with.'"
Bill Joy:

Homans [17:14]: "Bill Joy found himself troubled by Kaczynski's views on artificial intelligence, acknowledging some merit in his reasoning."
Keith Ablow:

Homans [17:14]: "Keith Ablow argued in 2013 that Kaczynski was precisely correct in many of his ideas."

These acknowledgments reveal a nuanced engagement with Kaczynski's critiques of technological advancement, distinguishing between agreement with his ideas and condemnation of his violent methods.

Kaczynski in Modern Culture and Social Media

The episode examines how Kaczynski has become a cultural icon within certain online communities, often detached from his violent legacy:

"Ted Pilled":
A term describing individuals who resonate with specific points from Kaczynski's manifesto, reflecting a deeper skepticism toward technological dependency.
Doomerism:
An online ethos characterized by a pessimistic outlook on the future, blending nihilism with utopian aspirations. Kaczynski's ideas provide a theoretical framework for this worldview.
Social Media Presence:
Kaczynski is frequently referenced in memes, YouTube videos, and TikTok posts, often portrayed humorously or as a cautionary figure.

Homans [17:14]: "In the goofier corners of Ted pilled social media, he is invoked, tongue mostly, but not entirely, in cheek, as a kind of Lorax figure."

Despite the lighthearted presentation, these references indicate a serious underlying resonance with his critiques of modern society.

Conclusion: Legacy and Relevance Today

The episode concludes by reflecting on the enduring relevance of Kaczynski's manifesto in the context of rapid technological advancements and societal changes. While Kaczynski advocated for the violent dismantling of technological society, his ideas now serve more as a lens through which contemporary issues are analyzed rather than a blueprint for resistance.

Homans [17:14]: "Industrial Society and Its Future was published... in September, at the urging of FBI investigators... Fifteen years later, the world seemed happy to disengage from the ideological component of his crimes."

Homans notes that today's technological landscape, marked by AI advancements and pervasive digital networks, mirrors many of Kaczynski's predictions, making his manifesto a point of reference for understanding the complex interplay between technology and society.

Notable Quotes

Charles Homans on Kaczynski's Vision:

"Industrial Society and Its Future was published... at the urging of FBI investigators who wagered that giving in to the bomber's demand to distribute his manifesto would be worth it if one reader in a million recognized the writing. One did."
[08:42]
Ray Kurzweil on Agreement with Kaczynski:

"I was surprised how much of Kaczynski's manifesto I agreed with."
[17:14]
Bill Joy on Technological Autonomy:

"As difficult as it is for me to acknowledge, I saw some merit in the reasoning."
[17:14]
Elon Musk on the Industrial Revolution:

"The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race."
[08:42]

Final Thoughts

Charles Homans' in-depth exploration reveals the complex legacy of Ted Kaczynski, highlighting how his radical critiques of technology have found new life in today's digital and politically fragmented society. The episode underscores the importance of critically engaging with technological advancements and their societal implications, echoing Kaczynski's warnings without endorsing his extremist methods.