From Thiel-ism to Trumpism

The politics of Sen JD Vance (R-OH), Donald Trump’s new running mate, might require a lot of explanation if you’re still accustomed to the traditional Democratic/Republican divide — a Yale-educated former venture capitalist and economic nationalist with ties to Catholic integralists and an odd respect for Lina Khan? But for those who have watched the sharply curving arc of Silicon Valley conservatism it’s almost an inevitable convergence. Vance’s politics are an idiosyncratic blend of the heartland populism inspired by his well-known life story and a deeply held contempt for modern liberal institutions, informed in part by his friendship with Paypal mogul Peter Thiel. Those politics largely overlap with a cadre of Silicon Valley futurists who have become increasingly, and vocally, pro-Trump.