Curtis Yarvin—founder of Urbit, political philosopher and blogger formerly known as Mencius Moldbug, the man who coined the term “red pill” is known for his influence on thinkers like Peter Thiel and JD Vance. In this episode, he offers a critical analysis of America’s political and economic landscape. He critiques the MAGA movement, exploring the limits of democracy and the rise of oligarchy, the roots of Trump’s tariffs in mercantilist thinking, and the administration’s “vibe governing”.
The conversation transitions to cryptocurrency, examining Bitcoin’s evolution, government regulation, and how Urbit could reshape digital identity. Curtis reflects on Urbit’s role in creating autonomous economic identities and the challenges of achieving product-market fit in web3.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 The State of America: A Critical Examination
07:59 Manufacturing and Economic Policy: A Mercantilist Perspective
18:14 Power Dynamics: Authority, Democracy, and Oligarchy
34:02 Vibe Governing: The Challenges of Modern Leadership
34:53 Mercantilism: Successes and Failures
40:41 The Future of Crypto and Bitcoin
49:18 Urbit: A New Paradigm for Digital Identity
01:08:30 The Vision for Autonomous Economic Identities
RESOURCES
Curtis on X: https://x.com/curtis_yarvin
Subscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast
Amanda on X: https://x.com/amandacassatt
Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin
Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd
Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440