The closing of the American public sphere

In an article published last year in this journal, I suggested that, compared to the possibility of "fascism" developing in the United States, the extent to which a rising Big Tech might, through its combination of new technologies with the concentration of immense wealth, transcend the state form altogether presented a greater danger. The actions of Big Tech after the so-called "Capitol Storm" of January 6, 2021, in censoring not only socalled "insurgents" but also a sitting U.S. president might seem to bear out this warning of mine.2 However, the way this played out in fact caused me to reassess my analysis and conclude that Big Tech is far more politically subordinate than I had previously estimated it to be. The analysis I will now present is, in short, that technology corporations seem to be solidly imbricated within a ruling alliance that has cemented its power in America as of January 2021, as a minor partner relative to the outsize influence of more conventional news media. Other prominent partners in this alliance are the Democratic Party establishment, the national security state, and the U.S. haute bourgeoisie, each with their own distinct agenda.