A secretive group founded by Palantir mogul Peter Thiel is planning to expand its influence in Washington, D.C., according to a report from Axios. The group, called Dialog, wants to establish a permanent physical campus in the capital, where it can carry on its invite-only meetings involving major power players.
Working off information provided by a source with knowledge of the group’s activities, Axios claims that Dialog—which it says is “often compared to a tech-era Bilderberg”—has plans for a “major expansion” that includes the new physical hub in D.C. It reports:
Dialog leaders are in active discussions to buy a physical venue in Virginia, just outside Washington, to serve as a permanent hub for its off-the-record meetings, the tipster says. The decision to buy land, then build, within commuting distance of the capital shows the group isn’t just kissing President Trump’s ring, but plans to be engaged in Washington long after this term.
As you might expect, there’s not a whole lot of information available about Dialog or what it’s all about. Online descriptions make it sound like a pared-down, less transparent, Intellectual Dark Web-tinged version of Davos—where well-connected folks sit around and discuss naughty ideas that the American peasantry just wouldn’t get. Axios writes that a source invited to participate in the event described it as “offering global elites the chance to talk candidly across ideological lines, away from their phones and the pressures of social media, the news media, and their stakeholders.” Simone Collins, one half of that notorious pronatalist couple that had an unfortunate media glow-up a while back, previously worked as the managing director of the group.
A website that appears to belong to Dialog lends itself to the group’s secretive vibe. There is pretty much nothing on the site except an email address and the tagline: “leaders join Dialog to discuss topics off-the-record.” We used that email to ask about the group’s plans. Gizmodo also reached out to Thiel via Palantir.
The rich and powerful have always used exclusive, secretive clubs to advance their own agendas, so it definitely tracks that the newest band of tech oligarchs would want their own forum from which to plot world domination, or whatever it is that they’re plotting. The group’s founder, Thiel, is a major player in business, tech, and politics, and has flitted in and out of the spheres of influence connected to the current administration. Many of his associates and friends currently have positions in the government, and Palantir continues to work for the Trump White House while making money hand over fist. Dialog was also founded by Auren Hoffman, another tech bigwig and angel investor.
It’s unclear how Dialog matches up in terms of “coolness” to other secretive groups. Yale’s Skull and Bones Society (also known as the “Brotherhood of Death”), where multiple presidents have been members, and Prescott Bush, according to legend, helped steal Geronimo’s skull, obviously ranks pretty high. Then there’s the Bohemian Grove, the weird California retreat where powerful dudes get together to pee in the woods, wear ceremonial robes, and reportedly worship a giant owl statue. Your mileage may vary on how cool (or not) that is. The Bilderberg Group itself, while ominous, has always just seemed like a boring, albeit nefarious, business meeting, where the world’s leaders get together to discuss how best to keep the globe’s winners winning. Given that Dialog is staffed by a cadre of professional nerds, it seems unlikely that it’s particularly cool—but there’s no way to tell.
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