Casey Newton: Lawlessness and Danger in Tech's Brave New World

Summary of Casey Newton: Lawlessness and Danger in Tech's Brave New World

by The Bulwark

1h 2m•October 8, 2025
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Summary — "Casey Newton: Lawlessness and Danger in Tech's Brave New World" (The Bulwark)

Overview

The host introduces an episode originally intended to focus on Casey Newton (Platformer) about tech issues — the TikTok deal, AI, Sam Altman interviews, and Silicon Valley ties to the Trump administration — but pivots to address an urgent political crisis: the deployment of Texas National Guard/federal agents into Chicago. The episode frames recent federal and state actions in Chicago as an unprecedented threat to federalism, civil liberties, and democratic norms.

Key points & main takeaways

  • The deployment of Texas National Guard troops (and federal agents like ICE/CBP/FBI) into Chicago — over the objections of local Illinois leaders — is described as an extraordinary and dangerous escalation. The host calls it an "invasion" and an emergency comparable in gravity (if not in form) to civil-rights–era federal interventions.
  • Several incidents in Chicago over recent weeks illustrate aggressive, sometimes violent, federal tactics:
    • Sept 12: ICE agents shot and killed Silverio Villegas Gonzalez; official claim of serious injury contradicted by bodycam footage showing the agent describing only minor injury afterward.
    • Sept 30: A massive federal raid where agents rappelled from a Blackhawk helicopter, detained children (zip-tied), and detained U.S. citizens (e.g., Roderick Johnson); allegations of rough tactics and property left unsecured.
    • Oct 4: CBP agents shot an unarmed woman, Mary Mar Martinez; bodycam footage suggests a degrading verbal exchange (“do something, bitch”) before the shooting.
    • Oct 7: An agent pointed a weapon at a resident likely documenting the operation. Protesters and journalists were reportedly bullied.
  • The host emphasizes this is not merely law-and-order policy; it represents a power grab: using federal and out-of-state forces to bypass local democratic authority and intimidate communities.
  • The actions are linked to broader trends: increasing federalization and militarization of domestic law enforcement, growing unaccountability of federal agents, and political alliances between tech/oligarch interests and the current administration (the latter to be explored with Casey Newton).
  • Cultural/political pushback matters: the host praises artists like Zach Bryan speaking out against DHS/ICE propaganda, highlighting how government messaging can co-opt cultural figures.

Notable quotes / insights

  • "For the first time since the civil rights era, the President of the United States is sending in troops over the objection of a local state."
  • "You have federal agents shooting and menacing people in a city, and you have troops from another state invading the city over the objections of the political leaders and the people there. That's a crisis."
  • On government propaganda: the host finds it "so sick" that DHS paired deportation/chain videos with Zach Bryan’s songs to co-opt his message of hope and redemption for a message of "vengeance and submission."
  • "This is an invasion that is happening." (Host’s framing of the deployments.)

Topics discussed

  • Federal deployment of Texas National Guard troops into Chicago and its constitutional/political implications
  • Recent incidents involving ICE, CBP, FBI and alleged use of excessive force or intimidation in Chicago
  • Threat to federalist norms and democratic accountability
  • Media coverage and recommended reporting (Jonathan Last’s “Chicago Rubicon” triad newsletter)
  • Cultural resistance and propaganda — examples involving singer Zach Bryan and DHS materials
  • Planned/teased conversation with Casey Newton on tech topics: TikTok deal, AI risks, Sam Altman, and Silicon Valley influence in Washington

Action items / recommendations (explicit and implied)

  • Read Jonathan Last’s “Chicago Rubicon and What Comes Next” triad for a detailed timeline and analysis of recent Chicago actions (host linked it in show notes).
  • Monitor the situation closely; expect follow-up coverage on the podcast and live events.
  • Support and amplify independent journalism and local reporting documenting federal operations and abuses.
  • Engage civically: contact local and federal representatives if concerned about federal overreach or militarized policing.
  • Pay attention to cultural responses (artists/organizers) to help shape public awareness and pushback.
  • Listen to the full episode(s) and related commentary (Borg Takes, Nicole Wallace appearance) for deeper context and the host’s expanded views.

Resources & further listening mentioned

  • Jonathan Last’s triad newsletter: “Chicago Rubicon and What Comes Next” (recommended for timeline/context)
  • Borg Takes podcast (host’s additional commentary)
  • Upcoming episode/interview with Casey Newton (Platformer) on TikTok, AI, and tech oligarch influence

Final note

The host frames the Chicago operations as more than local law enforcement policy—they see it as a systemic threat to democratic norms and state sovereignty and urges readers/listeners to treat it as an emergency. The episode intends to both document immediate abuses and set the stage for broader discussions about power, tech influence, and the erosion of civil liberties.