Summary of "The Zizian 'Death Cult'" Episode of Today, Explained
Podcast Information:
- Title: Today, Explained
- Host/Author: Vox
- Description: Today, Explained is Vox's daily news explainer podcast. Hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King guide listeners through the most important stories of the day.
- Episode: The Zizian "Death Cult"
- Release Date: March 6, 2025
Introduction
In this gripping episode, Today, Explained delves into the disturbing rise and activities of a group known as the Zizians—a cult-like faction emerging from the Rationalist movement. Hosts Noel King and guest Max Reid explore the origins, beliefs, and violent actions of the Zizians, raising critical questions about their ongoing influence and the dangers they pose.
Background: The Rationalist Movement
Max Reid begins by contextualizing the Rationalist movement, which primarily resides in Silicon Valley but has followers worldwide. He explains that rationalism emphasizes enhancing human reasoning to achieve better political, economic, philanthropic, and personal outcomes through deep, logical discourse and cognitive improvements.
“Rationalism is a kind of community or movement of people largely based in Silicon Valley... developing reasoning skills to better approach the world...” [02:06]
The movement has significantly impacted the AI research community, particularly concerning the development of superintelligent AI and ensuring its alignment with human values.
“Rationalism has been very influential in the AI research community...” [03:21]
Emergence of the Zizians
The Zizians originated from within the Rationalist community, led by a charismatic figure named Ziz. Originally from Alaska, Ziz moved to the Bay Area in 2016, where she became deeply involved in rationalist workshops and lectures focused on AI safety and alignment. Facing challenges like finding affordable housing, Ziz proposed a unique solution—a rationalist flotilla of houseboats.
“She is attending these workshops... becomes sort of well known in the community for proposing a rationalist flotilla...” [05:27]
Key Beliefs of the Zizians
Ziz's ideology forms the core of the Zizians' belief system, characterized by three main pillars:
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Equal Worth of Animal and Human Lives: Ziz posits that animals deserve the same moral consideration as humans, equating factory farming and carnivorism to genocide. This belief extends moral obligations to preventing animal suffering on par with human atrocities.
“Animal lives are worth the same as human lives... crimes on the order of genocide...” [07:04]
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Indefinite Resistance to Compulsion: Ziz advocates for perpetual resistance against authority, suggesting that compliance is never an option, thereby fostering a confrontational stance towards societal norms and laws.
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Bicameral Theory of Mind: She theorizes that each human brain contains two distinct personalities within its hemispheres. Through techniques like sleep deprivation and hallucinogenic drugs, individuals can separate these personalities, each possessing its own moral compass. This leads to a hierarchy where "double good" individuals, with both brain halves aligned morally, are highly esteemed.
“Each brain has two hemispheres... techniques like sleep deprivation... can separate out these two halves...” [07:04]
These beliefs establish a social hierarchy and enable Ziz to position herself as a moral and existential leader, attracting followers who aspire to attain "double good" status.
Conflict with Authorities
Ziz's increasing influence and radical beliefs led to significant conflicts with both the Rationalist establishment and law enforcement. In 2019, amid allegations of sexual misconduct against leaders at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI), Ziz and three followers staged a blockade at a rationalist event, donning Guy Fawkes masks and distributing flyers condemning MIRI's leadership.
“They wear Guy Fawkes masks in the manner of anonymous... a SWAT team assaults Ziz and her three followers...” [10:57]
The confrontation resulted in the arrest of all four individuals, who later filed a lawsuit against Sonoma County for civil rights violations. This incident marked a turning point, pushing the Zizians towards more militant actions.
Escalation to Violence
The plea from Zizians to legal authorities to desist was met with further hostility, escalating their activities into violent confrontations:
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2021 Escalation: Ziz and another follower, Gwen Danielson, skipped bail following their arrests and were rumored to have died in a boating accident or committed suicide, respectively. However, their disappearance hinted at continued clandestine operations.
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Altercation with Carl Lind: In a separate incident, two Zizians, Emma Borhanian and Somni, engaged in a violent altercation with Carl Lind, an elderly landlord. During an eviction attempt, Somni stabbed Lind with a samurai sword, leading to a deadly shootout. Lind survived the attack, but Borhanian was killed.
“Somni stabs him with a samurai sword... Carl Lind shoots Somni and Emma Borhanian...” [14:50]
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Double Homicide in Pennsylvania: Ziz was later implicated in the murders of Richard and Rita Zyko, further linking her to a series of violent acts across states.
“Police in Pennsylvania... Michelle Plum... described Ziz's attempts to pressure her into murdering another rationalist named Alice...” [19:11]
These events underscored the Zizians' transition from ideological dissenters to active perpetrators of violence.
Recent Arrests and Current Status
By early 2025, the Zizians' activities culminated in a series of arrests:
- January 17, 2025: Carl Lind, the landlord previously attacked, was fatally stabbed.
- January 20, 2025: A shootout in Vermont resulted in the death of a Border Patrol agent and injuries to others involved in the incident.
- Mid-February 2025: Ziz, Michelle Zyko Plum, and Daniel Blank were arrested in connection with various homicides and violent acts.
All key members of the Zizians are now in custody, facing multiple charges ranging from obstruction of justice to double homicide.
“In mid February, Ziz is arrested, so is Michelle Zyko, and so is this person, Daniel Blank... all of them without bail...” [16:09]
Analysis: Influence and Cult Dynamics
Max Reid examines whether Ziz was the mastermind behind the Zizians' violent actions or if her influence was more subtle. He suggests that Ziz employed a form of charismatic leadership that emphasized moral and existential imperatives, compelling followers to justify extreme actions without issuing direct orders.
“Ziz cultivates a sense of moral or even existential importance... without necessarily needing to create a kind of hierarchical structure of power...” [23:12]
This approach classifies the Zizians as a cult where the leader inspires followers to act based on shared beliefs, rather than through explicit commands. The interplay between Ziz's ideology and contemporary anxieties about AI and societal collapse likely fueled the group's extremism.
“If you have a particular personality and... you're constantly hearing about the dangers posed by AI... someone might end up... willing to buy and draw a gun...” [26:57]
Conclusion
The rise and fall of the Zizians highlight the potential dangers of ideological extremism within intellectual communities. As the Rationalist movement grapples with internal scandals and external threats, the Zizian saga serves as a cautionary tale about charismatic leadership and the radicalization of fear-driven beliefs. The ongoing legal proceedings will shed more light on the extent of Ziz's influence and the mechanisms that drove her followers to commit heinous acts.
Notable Quotes
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Max Reid on Rationalism:
“Rationalism is a kind of community or movement of people largely based in Silicon Valley... developing reasoning skills to better approach the world...” [02:06]
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Max Reid on AI and Rationalism:
“Rationalism has been very influential in the AI research community...” [03:21]
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Max Reid on Ziz's Beliefs:
“Animal lives are worth the same as human lives... crimes on the order of genocide...” [07:04]
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Max Reid on Cult Dynamics:
“Ziz cultivates a sense of moral or even existential importance... without necessarily needing to create a kind of hierarchical structure of power...” [23:12]
This comprehensive exploration of the Zizians provides listeners with an in-depth understanding of how intellectual movements can sometimes give rise to dangerous factions when combined with charismatic leadership and societal fears.