The Dark Enlightenment, Trumpworld, and the Thiel–Vance Network: A Primer

[3rdrockfrmsun]

What's wrong with being a Republic?

Nothing at all. I’m not supporting the Dark Enlightenment or any authoritarian ideas. My point is that even in a republic or democracy, it’s worth paying attention when fringe philosophies start influencing people in power. I’m just talking about observing the ideas, not endorsing them.

[cherokeetroy]

One unifying thread between NRx and TESCREAL is eugenics

Or what they now call liberal eugenics 



Link


WIKI

[3rdrockfrmsun]

One unifying thread between NRx and TESCREAL is eugenics

Or what they now call liberal eugenics 

Yeah, that’s definitely one of the overlap points people bring up. Both NRx and parts of TESCREAL lean toward ideas about “optimizing” humanity, which usually ends up looking like eugenics with a new label. I’m not saying I agree with it—just pointing out that it’s part of the discussion around those circles.

[3rdrockfrmsun]

Now that Vance is in the national spotlight, it’s worth looking at the long, very public connection between JD Vance (born James Donald Hamel) and Peter Thiel, because their relationship didn’t start in politics — it goes all the way back to Yale and has continued in business, ideology, and campaign financing ever since. Whatever anyone thinks of either guy, there’s no denying the two paths have been intertwined for over a decade.

Vance first crossed paths with Thiel while he was at Yale Law School. Vance has actually said that a talk Thiel gave there was “the most significant moment” of his time at Yale. After that point, you start seeing the relationship take real shape: Vance moves into the venture capital world and ends up working at Mithril Capital, a firm Thiel co-founded. He wasn’t a major operator there, but it put him inside Thiel’s orbit.

Later, when Vance created his own VC fund, Narya Capital,  Thiel showed up again — this time as one of the key early backers. So by the time Vance shifted from the tech/VC world into politics, the connection was already well established. That’s what makes the next part less surprising: when Vance launched his 2022 Senate run, Thiel poured $15 million into a Super PAC supporting him. That’s one of the largest single-candidate contributions Thiel has ever made. On top of the money, Thiel also helped bring in other tech donors and hosted fundraising events where Vance was the centerpiece.

There’s also the ideological angle people like to bring up. Vance has openly referenced writers like Curtis Yarvin — one of the main thinkers behind the “Dark Enlightenment” — and Thiel has long had ties to the rationalist/NRx-adjacent tech circles that orbit the same ideas. It doesn’t necessarily mean they share identical views, but it’s clearly part of the same intellectual ecosystem. At minimum, they move in overlapping networks that blend tech futurism, anti-institutionalism, and a belief that elites can (or should) steer society.

So from Yale → VC backing → career mentorship → major donor support → shared intellectual circles → all the way to national politics today, the Vance–Thiel connection is a straight line. None of this is speculation; it’s all openly reported and documented. Whether people see that as good, bad, or irrelevant depends entirely on their perspective, but it’s definitely a relationship worth understanding if you’re trying to make sense of how Vance got here and who’s been helping guide his trajectory from the beginning.

[3rdrockfrmsun]

To tie this back into the broader Dark Enlightenment conversation: the reason people keep mentioning Vance (Hamel) and Thiel in the same breath as NRx isn’t because anyone is claiming they’re card-carrying members of some movement, but because they’ve both been publicly connected to the intellectual ecosystem where a lot of those ideas circulate. You can trace it in the same way you trace their professional history — the networks overlap.

Thiel has been adjacent to these circles for a long time, mostly through his involvement in the rationalist/tech-futurist world where people like Curtis Yarvin originally gained influence. Yarvin, of course, is one of the main writers behind what later got labeled the “Dark Enlightenment.” He’s also someone Vance has openly cited before. Again, that doesn’t mean Vance subscribes to everything Yarvin wrote, but it does show that he’s at least familiar with and interested in some of the same critiques of modern institutions that NRx thinkers focus on: the inefficiency of bureaucracies, distrust in democratic processes, the idea that elite decision-making might be more effective than mass governance, etc.

What makes this interesting is that Thiel and Vance’s history isn’t just ideological — it’s academic, financial, and professional. So when you combine that long-running relationship with the fact that both have interacted with or been influenced by thinkers who are foundational to the Dark Enlightenment, it becomes easier to understand why people draw connections. Thiel’s funding of certain intellectual projects, Vance’s references to Yarvin, their shared skepticism of modern institutional power structures — all of that lines up with themes that show up repeatedly in Dark Enlightenment writing.

None of this is about assigning motives or claiming they secretly follow some philosophy; it’s simply acknowledging that they’ve both moved in the same broader environment where these ideas have circulated for over a decade. And when someone with that background ends up in a high-visibility national role, it naturally raises the question of how much of that intellectual DNA still lingers — whether directly, indirectly, or simply through the influence of the networks that shaped them on their way up.

[Bootless]

Thanks for providing the label for what's happening. Labels are quite handy when it comes to looking things up.

Wikipedia: Dark Enlightenment

The Dark Enlightenment, also called the Neo-Reactionary movement (abbreviated to NRx), is an anti-democratic, anti-egalitarian, and reactionary philosophical and political movement. A reaction against Enlightenment values, it favors a return to traditional societal constructs and forms of government such as absolute monarchism and cameralism. The movement advocates for authoritarian capitalist city-states which compete for citizens. Neoreactionaries refer to contemporary liberal society and institutions which they oppose as “the Cathedral”, associating them with the Puritan church, and their goals of egalitarianism and democracy as "the Synopsis". They say that the Cathedral influences public discourse to promote progressivism and political correctness, which they view as a threat to Western civilization. The movement also espouses scientific racism, a view which they say is suppressed by the Cathedral.
 
Curtis Yarvin began constructing the basis of the ideology in the late 2000s, with Nick Land elaborating and coining the term "Dark Enlightenment". The movement has also had contributions from figures such as venture capitalist Peter Thiel. Despite criticism, the movement has gained traction with parts of Silicon Valley as well as several political figures associated with United States President Donald Trump, including political strategist Steve Bannon, Vice President JD Vance, and Michael Anton.

So the basic goal is for the uber rich cutting edge to rule a feudal society; no democracy, no egalitarianism, no administrative state, no environmental regulations, no occupational safety regulations, no consumer protection agencies.

When Ayn Rand wrote the book Atlas Shrugged, in 1957, things were simple; mining, steel, railroads. That was the big industrial landscape. Now everyone wants AI, instant online product buying to be delivered to the door, mass surveillance, and a blog and crypto portfolio.

So it's the high tech, internet, AI, communications and crypto currency going to rule the feudal city states.

---------
So imagine if the wet dream of no administrative state comes to pass:

A guy buy's a brand new house. There was no environmental impact study done, because hey, that's bureaucracy. No building codes. No inspections. Three construction workers died during construction, because no OSHA.

The first rain, foundation gets eroded. First 40 mph wind knocks the house down because the studs were 24'' apart rather than 16" and there was no shear bracing. The house was built with the goal of maximizing profit for the developer after all.

Now the guy is left with no house but he's stuck with a mortgage for the rest of his life. He can't complain to Consumer Protection Agency because that doesn't exist.

Now switch to the movie Soylent Green. 

By 2022, the cumulative effects of overpopulation, global warming, and pollution have caused ecocide, leading to severe worldwide shortages of food, water, and housing, bringing human civilization to the brink of collapse. New York City has a population of 40 million, and only the elite can afford spacious apartments, clean water, and natural food in walled-off communities patrolled by armed guards. Their homes are fortified, with moats, security systems, and bodyguards for their tenants. Usually, they include concubines (who are referred to as "furniture" and have no human rights and are passed from one apartment owner to the next). Meanwhile, the majority live in squalor, haul water from communal spigots, and eat highly processed food wafers made by the Soylent Corporation — a large food processing firm. Their mainstay products, Soylent Red and Soylent Yellow, are a staple food, and the latest product, a new, more nutritious, and flavorful wafer derived from plankton, Soylent Green, is introduced to the populace.

 
But the Soylent Corporation is a subsidiary of the same corporation that owns the data farm which has its own dedicated power supply which gets the clean water for cooling. The mere humans get industrial polluted water to drink. The power station is bio-mass. The cemeteries and crematoria are also owned by the Big Man's Corporation. For $2,000,000 you can purchase a burial plot. For a mere $800,000 you can buy a cremation.

Alternatively, you can "donate your body to science". The "science" is AI. So the bodies go into the biomass furnace to power electrical generation for the super computers and data farms.

---------
Enough nightmare scenarios.

I prefer Enlightenment over Dark Enlightenment. Administrative State used to play an important role for democracy. I sort of doubt that we will recover from this turn to the dark side.

[sahgwa]

Zoom out and hover over planet Earth for a bit.
And perhaps you can see fuzzy figures wiggling electronic strings.
It seems like these puppet masters live in the gated , often hidden, often mountainous areas of the uber rich.
Monaco, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Montenegro, Capri, etc
They are largely unnamed, largely scapegoated, but generally legally clean, because they make the rules.
Follow the strings they wield.
Some of them emanate from their Left hands, some from their Right.  

Political ideology and partisanship means nothing. The same corporate globalist techno freaks are running the Progressive puppets, as are running the Conservative puppets.
The nexus of the strings is in the large world of technocracy.  The worship of control, management, technology, greed, and eventually physical immortality.
Same coin, different flavoured sides.

[quintessentone]

Thanks for providing the label for what's happening. Labels are quite handy when it comes to looking things up.

Wikipedia: Dark Enlightenment

So the basic goal is for the uber rich cutting edge to rule a feudal society; no democracy, no egalitarianism, no administrative state, no environmental regulations, no occupational safety regulations, no consumer protection agencies.

When Ayn Rand wrote the book Atlas Shrugged, in 1957, things were simple; mining, steel, railroads. That was the big industrial landscape. Now everyone wants AI, instant online product buying to be delivered to the door, mass surveillance, and a blog and crypto portfolio.

So it's the high tech, internet, AI, communications and crypto currency going to rule the feudal city states.

---------
So imagine if the wet dream of no administrative state comes to pass:

A guy buy's a brand new house. There was no environmental impact study done, because hey, that's bureaucracy. No building codes. No inspections. Three construction workers died during construction, because no OSHA.

The first rain, foundation gets eroded. First 40 mph wind knocks the house down because the studs were 24'' apart rather than 16" and there was no shear bracing. The house was built with the goal of maximizing profit for the developer after all.

Now the guy is left with no house but he's stuck with a mortgage for the rest of his life. He can't complain to Consumer Protection Agency because that doesn't exist.

Now switch to the movie Soylent Green. 
 
But the Soylent Corporation is a subsidiary of the same corporation that owns the data farm which has its own dedicated power supply which gets the clean water for cooling. The mere humans get industrial polluted water to drink. The power station is bio-mass. The cemeteries and crematoria are also owned by the Big Man's Corporation. For $2,000,000 you can purchase a burial plot. For a mere $800,000 you can buy a cremation.

Alternatively, you can "donate your body to science". The "science" is AI. So the bodies go into the biomass furnace to power electrical generation for the super computers and data farms.

---------
Enough nightmare scenarios.

I prefer Enlightenment over Dark Enlightenment. Administrative State used to play an important role for democracy. I sort of doubt that we will recover from this turn to the dark side.

Musk will provide the homes to buy, of course, without any regulatory oversight.

"The Tesla Tiny House 2025 is an innovative, eco-friendly living solution priced at approximately $7,579, featuring solar power, smart technology, and sustainable materials.Key Features of the Tesla Tiny House 2025

1. Sustainable Design: The Tesla Tiny House is designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating solar panels for energy generation and a Tesla Powerwall for energy storage. This allows for off-grid living and reduces reliance on traditional power sources. 
   
   
2. Compact Living Space: Measuring 240 square feet (20x12 ft), the tiny house is designed to maximize space efficiency. It includes features like a Murphy bed that doubles as a workspace and a water-efficient bathroom. 
   
   
3. Smart Home Technology: The house is equipped with smart home features that allow residents to control lighting, temperature, and security through a mobile app, enhancing convenience and modern living. 
   
   
4. Affordable Pricing: Priced at around $7,579, the Tesla Tiny House offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional housing, which can average over $375,000 in the U.S. This pricing strategy is made possible through Tesla's vertically integrated manufacturing and use of recycled materials. 
   
   
5. Mobility: The tiny house is designed to be mobile, allowing it to be towed by vehicles like the Tesla Cybertruck, making it a flexible living option."
   

Now Musk and the other elites will be able to view us as they really see the common, average people, as trailer trash.

Mobile tiny homes built with recyclables that will not be able to withstand the violent climate change weather coming down the road.

[sahgwa]

Musk will provide the homes to buy, of course, without any regulatory oversight.

"The Tesla Tiny House 2025 is an innovative, eco-friendly living solution priced at approximately $7,579, featuring solar power, smart technology, and sustainable materials.Key Features of the Tesla Tiny House 2025

1. Sustainable Design: The Tesla Tiny House is designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating solar panels for energy generation and a Tesla Powerwall for energy storage. This allows for off-grid living and reduces reliance on traditional power sources. 
   
   
2. Compact Living Space: Measuring 240 square feet (20x12 ft), the tiny house is designed to maximize space efficiency. It includes features like a Murphy bed that doubles as a workspace and a water-efficient bathroom. 
   
   
3. Smart Home Technology: The house is equipped with smart home features that allow residents to control lighting, temperature, and security through a mobile app, enhancing convenience and modern living. 
   
   
4. Affordable Pricing: Priced at around $7,579, the Tesla Tiny House offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional housing, which can average over $375,000 in the U.S. This pricing strategy is made possible through Tesla's vertically integrated manufacturing and use of recycled materials. 
   
   
5. Mobility: The tiny house is designed to be mobile, allowing it to be towed by vehicles like the Tesla Cybertruck, making it a flexible living option."
   

Now Musk and the other elites will be able to view us as they really see the common, average people, as trailer trash.

Mobile tiny homes built with recyclables that will not be able to withstand the violent climate change weather coming down the road.

And no space for children, pets, or personal belongings like pesky books, CDs,records, or more than 3 pairs of clothing.   it would be attractive if i was single and had no real belongings. but its generally not humane for more than a year or two. 

E-Hovel!

[3rdrockfrmsun]

I prefer Enlightenment over Dark Enlightenment. Administrative State used to play an important role for democracy. I sort of doubt that we will recover from this turn to the dark side.

I’m not sure we’re past the point of recovery, but I do think the erosion of trust has created the perfect environment for these darker, more anti-democratic philosophies to gain traction. Whether it’s a temporary swing or a permanent shift is the big question.