I spent 18 months researching @foundersfund. "No Rivals" is the result. A 35,000-word series, released over the next four weeks. It’s a product of extensive research, interviews with more than a dozen key figures, and a detailed analysis of previously undisclosed returns.

PIRATE WIRES PODCAST: WE’RE SO BACK Not a drill... the gang is back together for your favorite weekly pod. PW alum @metaversehell returns to the show with @micsolana and @rylzdigital where we talk: The 25th anniversary of 9/11 and how much the world has changed since then, the Lindsay Clancy case and brainrot phone addiction, an Anthropic researcher’s warning, a deep dive into H1-B visas, and... are we all living in a simulation?

MAFIA EP 001

No Rivals: The Kingdom In the finale, we examine the full span of Founder Fund’s power, stretching across Silicon Valley, the Pentagon, and the White House. We also give an in-depth look at FF’s stunning performance – position by position.

Founders Fund is not just a venture capital firm. It is a narrative agent with a gospel to spread. Through provocative soft power initiatives, FF has exerted unique influence in Silicon Valley, reshaping its thinking and investing. "No Rivals" Part III:

PART II: A prophet without disciples is a madman. FF would not have achieved a fraction of its success had Peter Thiel not succeeded in winning others to his cause. None have been more important than two largely unheralded figures: Napoleon Ta and Lauren Gross. Ta is the investor behind FF’s best-performing growth investments. He keeps such a low profile he asks his team *not* to submit his returns to the Midas List. Gross is FF’s COO and head of IR, responsible for scaling AUM into the billions and building its team.

It's both fantastic and annoying to see how quickly @DanielLurie has whipped SF back into shape. I realize there's a ton more to do, but the fact this seemed like an intractable problem for years to the previous administration(s) is bonkers in light of how much Lurie has already accomplished. Kudos also to @agarwal and the GrowSF team for helping set the table for the new mayor.

General Matter is enriching uranium for the US. We will revive nuclear fuel production in America. We chose to do this not because it’s easy, and not because it’s hard, but because it needs doing. Nothing gets made if fuel isn’t made. America’s ambitions, from manufacturing to AI, all require nuclear. It’s the only source of energy that is reliable, scalable, and clean. It’s not only our future but our present, powering almost half of our clean energy and roughly 20% of our grid today. But the US is forced to look abroad for our nuclear fuel. Despite pioneering the technology, we’ve since outsourced enrichment to allies, competitors, and even adversaries. We didn’t just give up the lead. We’re no longer even in the game. It’s time to enrich. For the past year, General Matter has been incubated within Founders Fund, with a team from SpaceX, Tesla, Anduril, national labs, and the DOD. We are undertaking an engineering challenge which, if successful, will fundamentally improve the trajectory of our nation. The raw material is embedded in the bedrock beneath our feet. America’s future is written in stone. We are turning our potential into power, and exceptional talent is needed. Join us.

Marriage rates have declined in almost precise correlation with the spread of digital technologies. The slice of 40-year-olds that has never married has climbed to 25 percent, the highest number ever recorded. And the situation gets more dire by the decade: one out of every three Gen Zers expects to never marry. @traestephens is on Pirate Wires today with a look at how the rise of 'romance tech' has corresponded with a collapse in romance. Read it on the site 👇