Sep 12, 2026 · 40 min

Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor warn of rising end times fascism

Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor Say the End of the World is Now on the Table

Understanding the apocalyptic mindset of powerful elites is crucial as their anti-democratic ideologies begin to shape real-world climate and political policies.

1 key takeaways

1Tech elites and political figures are uniting around an ideology that accepts planetary collapse instead of trying to prevent it.

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Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor critique Elon Musk's vision of a VIP space future, arguing humanity must refocus on building an inclusive Earth.

The brief

Authors Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor warn that a powerful coalition of tech billionaires, religious nationalists, and political figures has abandoned the idea of saving the planet, choosing instead to profit from or escape its collapse.

This worldview, which they term end times fascism, unites elites around a shared skepticism of democracy. Rather than working to preserve Earth, figures like Elon Musk promote a bespoke future of space colonization and private bunkers.

Klein and Taylor argue that dismissing extreme rhetoric from tech oligarchs as mere trolling is a dangerous mistake. These figures wield genuine political power, and their apocalyptic fantasies have real-world consequences for global policy.

While the political right has successfully harnessed apocalyptic energy to build power, the left struggles to offer competing narratives. Building a multiracial democracy is inherently difficult, but local resistance to resource-heavy data centers offers hope.

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