AI-guided weapons, two out-of-control authoritarians, no legal authority and a toxic mess of masculinity: welcome to the manosphere's first major conflict
Top Notch work Cadwalladr. Top Notch. How do you keep going? You are among the best, tramping beside George Grosz and George Orwell, Goya and Emile Zola.
As you probably know, our own approach to politics tends to involve rather more sarcasm and satire, mostly because describing the present moment plainly makes you sound either mad or sedated. Your piece does the harder thing. It stares straight at the wiring behind the circus and names the pattern.
And unfortunately the pattern looks exactly like the one you describe. A loose alliance of tech billionaires, strongmen politicians and permanently adolescent masculinity now lurches around the world stage with AI toys, media empires and far too much confidence.
The broligarchy line lands because it explains something people can feel but struggle to say. A handful of very rich men have convinced themselves they are history’s main characters. The rest of us are expected to clap while they monetise attention, optimise politics and occasionally help set whole regions on fire in the name of progress.
And then, just when the cast list seems cursed enough, Tony Blair comes back in like the grim reaper in a decent suit, offering advice about war as if Iraq were a clerical mix-up.
Anyway, thank you for writing something that tries to map the machinery instead of pretending all this is just a run of bad luck. We will keep doing our version of that, with more satire, more sarcasm, and the occasional bin-fire metaphor, but the aim is much the same.
If the AI correctly predicts 25 out of ten targets and the other 15 are purely civilian, then it works perfectly well, as far as the Americans are concerned.
Thank Christ/the goddess for your voice of reason, Carole. I know I’m not alone in feeling SO GRATEFUL to you for articulating these ugly connections with such fervour. It makes a real difference. Like you say, it can be difficult to identify the systems we inhabit because we are so enmeshed in their grotesqueries, which is why writers like you are so crucial. Thank you xx
Thank you Carole, you are amazing and so brave, speaking truth to power with clear eyed courage. What is happening is terrifying, but if we don't call it out and name it, we do not stand any chance of defeating it. I would also add that the likes of Reform and Farage are desperate wannabe members of this sickening and hideous manosphere club.
Beautiful writing, I really enjoyed reading this piece. I've been thinking about your first point - the chaos. An observation from linguistics is that when a group experiences a shared trauma, they lose the ability to think critically/analytically for about 2 weeks. (In the immediate aftermath they focus on the immediate and gradually return to baseline). I feel like the Trump administration uses this pattern to their advantage: continually reshock with some new collective trauma to respond to. What you described is a sort of psychological warfare that's going unnamed, unrecognized.
Carole, there’s a much more personal and sinister effect that has been revealed - one people in this country need to wake up to.
The American government deserted its own citizens.
I have dear friends whose son had completed a teaching commitment in Dubai. His wife and son had already returned to the States. On the day of his final work check-in, the bombing began. Air space closed; flights cancelled. Additional flight bookings cancelled.
Their son used self-resourcefulness to get out. He took a taxi to Oman, walked across and took another taxi to the airport. (The AP reports drivers were charging $650 for airport rides.) He booked a flight to London and a connecting flight to the States. He arrived in his home city yesterday.
The state dept “help” propaganda is exactly that - propaganda. Hours of calls to them resulted in a disconnect or a message that basically says we wish you luck - you’re on your own. Website contact was equally useless. Some contacts yielded something along the lines of “we may contact you.”
Tens of thousands report the same situation on the AP.
The American government stranded its own citizens. It gas been reported that Netanyahu decided after October 7 to kill that mullah, and he’s been dragging D[Tr]ump along to do the work.
The 5th fleet has been in place for weeks. Were we supposed to think they were just going to sit there? They could have alerted American citizens to get out instead of leaving them to fend for themselves.
The American government deserted its own citizens.
Fault? Have you ever been to Israel or anywhere in the middle east? Reason for asking it changes your view especially sitting in a bunker with Hezbollah rockets landing all about.
easy to comment from an armchair when you have never seen anything first hand.
And what a tired, old and easy argument to pull out — “have you ever been to Israel?” As if one has to have been to Israel to have an opinion about it. But I will go ahead and answer your question, no, I have never been to Israel (and will never step foot in that country) but yes, I have been to the Middle East.
Again . . . Same old, tired arguments: those who oppose what Israel is doing hate Jewish people. This is a simpleton who wrote this article. I know many Jewish people who vehemently oppose what Israel is doing. Israel has lost its soul.
Shame has to change sides, Pelicot says. And maybe that should apply not just to rape and sexual assault but to war crimes too. Shame on the men - the broligarchs and their accomplices - who’ve brought this war to pass and to every technology company, politician and media outlet that is dancing to their tune. We can’t stop them but we can expose them. We can name them. We can at least try and make shame change sides.
Time for a third wave of feminism I think. And this time around, we’re not settling for equality. World leadership exclusively by women is the aim. Men cannot be trusted with power. Men have utterly failed all of us, over and over.
Thank you for your tireless courage and fearless reporting . You are so appreciated Carole ... so very much appreciated!
Carole, you consistently see deeply into the heart of darkness. We are lucky to have you as a guide. This article strikes a nerve.
I wish Blair would fuck off
a sliminess only surpassed by Farage
Blair far far worse up to now!
Top Notch work Cadwalladr. Top Notch. How do you keep going? You are among the best, tramping beside George Grosz and George Orwell, Goya and Emile Zola.
Hear hear. Hero of heroes.
Carole,
Thank you for the piece. Properly.
As you probably know, our own approach to politics tends to involve rather more sarcasm and satire, mostly because describing the present moment plainly makes you sound either mad or sedated. Your piece does the harder thing. It stares straight at the wiring behind the circus and names the pattern.
And unfortunately the pattern looks exactly like the one you describe. A loose alliance of tech billionaires, strongmen politicians and permanently adolescent masculinity now lurches around the world stage with AI toys, media empires and far too much confidence.
The broligarchy line lands because it explains something people can feel but struggle to say. A handful of very rich men have convinced themselves they are history’s main characters. The rest of us are expected to clap while they monetise attention, optimise politics and occasionally help set whole regions on fire in the name of progress.
And then, just when the cast list seems cursed enough, Tony Blair comes back in like the grim reaper in a decent suit, offering advice about war as if Iraq were a clerical mix-up.
Anyway, thank you for writing something that tries to map the machinery instead of pretending all this is just a run of bad luck. We will keep doing our version of that, with more satire, more sarcasm, and the occasional bin-fire metaphor, but the aim is much the same.
Name the nonsense.
Point at the wiring.
Refuse to pretend the circus is normal.
Keep going.
Nothing new under the sun - they say history repeats BUT it’s never had this level of lethal tech at its disposal.
not very good though is it...hitting a school
If the AI correctly predicts 25 out of ten targets and the other 15 are purely civilian, then it works perfectly well, as far as the Americans are concerned.
Further to my point:
https://houseofsaud.com/iran-war-ai-psychosis-sycophancy-rlhf/
Lethal
Thank Christ/the goddess for your voice of reason, Carole. I know I’m not alone in feeling SO GRATEFUL to you for articulating these ugly connections with such fervour. It makes a real difference. Like you say, it can be difficult to identify the systems we inhabit because we are so enmeshed in their grotesqueries, which is why writers like you are so crucial. Thank you xx
What a sad, hauntingly beautiful song. Thank you.
Thank you Carole, you are amazing and so brave, speaking truth to power with clear eyed courage. What is happening is terrifying, but if we don't call it out and name it, we do not stand any chance of defeating it. I would also add that the likes of Reform and Farage are desperate wannabe members of this sickening and hideous manosphere club.
Beautiful writing, I really enjoyed reading this piece. I've been thinking about your first point - the chaos. An observation from linguistics is that when a group experiences a shared trauma, they lose the ability to think critically/analytically for about 2 weeks. (In the immediate aftermath they focus on the immediate and gradually return to baseline). I feel like the Trump administration uses this pattern to their advantage: continually reshock with some new collective trauma to respond to. What you described is a sort of psychological warfare that's going unnamed, unrecognized.
Carole, there’s a much more personal and sinister effect that has been revealed - one people in this country need to wake up to.
The American government deserted its own citizens.
I have dear friends whose son had completed a teaching commitment in Dubai. His wife and son had already returned to the States. On the day of his final work check-in, the bombing began. Air space closed; flights cancelled. Additional flight bookings cancelled.
Their son used self-resourcefulness to get out. He took a taxi to Oman, walked across and took another taxi to the airport. (The AP reports drivers were charging $650 for airport rides.) He booked a flight to London and a connecting flight to the States. He arrived in his home city yesterday.
The state dept “help” propaganda is exactly that - propaganda. Hours of calls to them resulted in a disconnect or a message that basically says we wish you luck - you’re on your own. Website contact was equally useless. Some contacts yielded something along the lines of “we may contact you.”
Tens of thousands report the same situation on the AP.
The American government stranded its own citizens. It gas been reported that Netanyahu decided after October 7 to kill that mullah, and he’s been dragging D[Tr]ump along to do the work.
The 5th fleet has been in place for weeks. Were we supposed to think they were just going to sit there? They could have alerted American citizens to get out instead of leaving them to fend for themselves.
The American government deserted its own citizens.
oh dear its all Israel's fault again, where were you on Oct 8th and since I wonder
No, not all Israel’s fault. I’d say they’re pretty much 50/50 with the US when it comes to fault.
Fault? Have you ever been to Israel or anywhere in the middle east? Reason for asking it changes your view especially sitting in a bunker with Hezbollah rockets landing all about.
easy to comment from an armchair when you have never seen anything first hand.
And what a tired, old and easy argument to pull out — “have you ever been to Israel?” As if one has to have been to Israel to have an opinion about it. But I will go ahead and answer your question, no, I have never been to Israel (and will never step foot in that country) but yes, I have been to the Middle East.
https://evebarlow.substack.com/p/731?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#media-5bdfed41-6a61-421f-94ef-395875a802e4
Again . . . Same old, tired arguments: those who oppose what Israel is doing hate Jewish people. This is a simpleton who wrote this article. I know many Jewish people who vehemently oppose what Israel is doing. Israel has lost its soul.
I've never been to Nazi Germany of a slave plantation, either.
You need to look past your bias and what is obvious
And what the hell is that supposed to mean? "Just agree with me, already?"
And they say women are too emotional to be leaders 🙄
It's precisely because woman are emotional that they should be leaders.
Every thought perfectly expressed. You are brilliant and please keep going and stay safe
(I went to that school in Aberfan from age 3 to 5 where my mother and Aunties taught )
Shame has to change sides, Pelicot says. And maybe that should apply not just to rape and sexual assault but to war crimes too. Shame on the men - the broligarchs and their accomplices - who’ve brought this war to pass and to every technology company, politician and media outlet that is dancing to their tune. We can’t stop them but we can expose them. We can name them. We can at least try and make shame change sides.
But the other side living in a previous era still fights the shame
How can we let a person many would have been ashamed of in 1950 be in control of US BOMBS today
What a load of Bollox
This is you
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Time for a third wave of feminism I think. And this time around, we’re not settling for equality. World leadership exclusively by women is the aim. Men cannot be trusted with power. Men have utterly failed all of us, over and over.
As always, clarity amidst the chaos. Thank you Carole x