Natalie Smolenski: "We're In Dark Times" — The Rise of Counter-Elites & the Bank-State War Machine

Natalie Smolenski is an anthropologist, software executive, editor of the Satoshi Papers, and one of the most original thinkers in the Bitcoin space. We explore America's national identity crisis, the bank-state relationship that funds war and destroys purchasing power, and why individual financial sovereignty is the only meaningful response to systems that can't be voted away.

Topics include:

• Why you can't vote your way out of the bank-state nexus — and what you can do instead
• The erosion of free speech, privacy, and individual rights in the digital age
• How the financialization of everything destroyed community, care, and trust
• The rise of counter-elites and what it means for ordinary Americans
• Why Bitcoin self-custody is the most powerful political act available today

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Natalie's Upcoming Events:

• Bitcoin 2026 will be here before you know it. Get 10% off Early Bird passes using the code HODL: https://tickets.b.tc/event/bitcoin-2026?promoCodeTask=apply&promoCodeInput= 
• Join us for the biggest Bitcoin conference in Europe at BTC Prague this June 10-13 with a keynote from Michael Saylor, Code HODL for discounted passes: https://btcprague.com/ 

Extra Services to Consider:

• Protect yourself from SIM Swaps that can hack your accounts and steal your Bitcoin. Join America's most secure mobile service, trusted by CEOs, VIPs and top corporations: https://www.efani.com/natalie  
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This podcast is for educational purposes and should not be construed as official investment advice. Ads in this episode are baked-in and may reference promotions or offers that are no longer available at the time of listening.

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