Inside the Tech Company Powering Trump’s Most Controversial Policies
The Daily16 Des 2025

Inside the Tech Company Powering Trump’s Most Controversial Policies

Warning: This episode contains strong language.

Palantir, a data analysis and technology company, has secured federal contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars during President Trump’s second presidency, including to develop software to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement deport people.

Michael Steinberger, who spent six years interviewing Palantir’s chief executive, Alex Karp, for the book “The Philosopher in the Valley,” explains how Mr. Karp went from a self-described lifelong Democrat to a champion of Mr. Trump, and the impact this transformation could have on American democracy.

Guest: Michael Steinberger, a contributing writer to The New York Times.

Background reading:

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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