Describing the thesis of journalist and podcaster Gil Duran’s new book, “The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy,” makes it sound like a work of conspiracy theory.Essentially, a small group of tech industry billionaires, inspired by theories from an obscure book published in the 1990s, have organized to undermine and ultimately exit democratic rule in the United States, either through societal collapse or by establishing their own “sovereign states,” after which they will control global affairs via their overwhelming wealth and access to advanced technology. In 2026, this group has already made significant progress toward its...