Who Are the Puppet Masters? Definitions from Influential Voices
Different people use different names for the networks of unelected power that control democratic governance. Some call it the "deep state," others the "shadow government," "the oligarchy," "the Cathedral," or "globalists." Each person below has publicly defined who these puppet masters are, what they call them, and the scope of their power.
The definitions below are presented verbatim — the exact words and framing each person uses. No editorializing, no paraphrasing. These represent the widest spectrum of terms and definitions circulating among famous voices and heavily discussed on X.
RFK Jr. (@RFKJr_Official on X)
He defines "the powerful" as a network of specific billionaires/oligarchs (Soros, Bill Gates, Klaus Schwab), BlackRock, Big Pharma, Big Military, corrupt politicians (Clintons, Biden, Schumer, Pelosi, McConnell, Fauci), and especially unelected bureaucrats in the FBI, CIA, and DOJ who act as puppeteers. The agencies answer to these external forces rather than elected leaders or the public. He calls it regulatory capture and institutional conspiracy against the people. Posted directly on X in a high-engagement thread (March 2025) explaining the "draining" process and why agencies aren't loyal to presidents. He has repeated variations on Joe Rogan, his own appearances, and campaign speeches.
Tony Seruga (@TonySeruga on X)
He makes a clear distinction: "Shadow Government" = unconstitutional secrecy network (CIA, CFR, MSM, NSA, Silicon Valley, JSOC, 17 intel agencies, 5 Eyes, DHS, etc.); "Deep State" = the unelected system behind the government (Federal Reserve as private entity, Wall Street, foreign lobbyists, Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex/MIC, defense/intel contractors, World Bank/IMF, activist judges, Treasury). Directives often originate from Brussels globalist families (Rothschilds, etc.). He has posted detailed breakdowns with lists and diagrams multiple times on X (2024–2025). As a former CIA/NSA contractor/whistleblower turned investor, he frames it as permanent power structures, not one cabal.
Alex Jones (Infowars radio/podcast host; discussed constantly on X)
He defines it as "globalists" and the New World Order (NWO) cabal: international bankers, elite families, secret societies (Bilderberg, CFR, Trilateral Commission), corporations, and intelligence agencies pushing one-world totalitarian government via engineered crises, media control, and false flags. The U.S. government and politicians are tools/servants of this supra-national force. Core framing on his long-running daily show for decades; clips and references flood X discussions.
Tucker Carlson (Tucker Carlson Network podcast/show; active on X)
He refers to the "ruling class," "elites," or "permanent Washington" — a cultural/political/intelligence elite (coastal liberals, bureaucracy, intel community, foreign-policy blob) that uses identity politics and institutions to protect its power and harm the working class/populists. Distinct from pure conspiracy; more populist institutional critique. Discussed in countless episodes (including with guests like Glenn Greenwald or Dave Smith) and X posts/clips.
Glenn Greenwald (System Update podcast on Rumble; active on X)
"Deep state" or national-security/surveillance state = permanent intelligence agencies (CIA, NSA, FBI) and unaccountable nat-sec bureaucracy that operates secretly across administrations, colludes with media, and subverts elected officials/democracy. He emphasizes how both parties empower it and how liberals suddenly defended it post-Trump. Core topic on his podcast, books, articles, and X threads; frequent Rogan/Tucker guest appearances.
Whitney Webb (Unlimited Hangout podcast; books One Nation Under Blackmail; frequent guest on PBD, Impact Theory, Redacted, etc.; discussed on X)
Interlocking intelligence agencies (CIA, Mossad, etc.) + organized crime + blackmail networks (Epstein-style) + finance/tech oligarchs that control politicians and policy. National-security state fused with private criminal/financial power. She traces it historically through declassified docs; not simple "deep state" but a criminal-intel-finance complex. Detailed in her books, podcast, and long-form interviews referenced constantly on X.
Bernie Sanders (Senator; Bernie podcast/appearances; active on X)
The "oligarchy" or "billionaire class" / "donor class" / extreme wealth concentration — super-rich individuals and corporations who buy politicians via campaign finance, lobbyists, and media, turning government into "of, by, and for the billionaires." Bipartisan issue. Repeated in speeches, Guardian op-eds, books, his podcast, and X posts; focuses on economic power buying political outcomes.
Matt Taibbi & Michael Shellenberger (journalists; Twitter Files reports, congressional testimony, Substack/podcasts; active on X @mtaibbi & @shellenberger)
Full Profile: Matt Taibbi | Full Profile: Michael Shellenberger
"Censorship Industrial Complex" — government agencies (DHS, FBI, intel), Big Tech, NGOs, academia, and "fact-checkers" partnering to control speech, suppress narratives, and shape public opinion (thus indirectly controlling politicians and policy). Exposed via Twitter Files and House "weaponization" hearings. Defined in their reporting, testimony, and podcast appearances; distinct "information control" angle popular on X.
Curtis Yarvin (Mencius Moldbug; Gray Mirror substack; interviewed on Tucker Carlson podcast and others)
"The Cathedral" — the coordinated system of elite academia, mainstream media, and bureaucracy that propagates progressive ideology and actually runs the state/narrative, making elected officials secondary. Brahmin ruling class. Influential in tech/right circles; discussed heavily on X and in long-form podcast interviews with Tucker and others.
Vivek Ramaswamy (former presidential candidate; frequent podcast/X appearances)
The "administrative state" or "unelected bureaucrats" who wield real day-to-day power over elected officials and policy. Focuses on federal agencies/regulations that bypass Congress/president. Pushed "DOGE" (Department of Government Efficiency) to dismantle it. Clear in RNC speeches, debates, and X threads; bureaucratic emphasis without globalist framing.
Krystal Ball & Saagar Enjeti (Breaking Points podcast/YouTube; very active on X)
Full Profile: Krystal Ball | Full Profile: Saagar Enjeti
The "establishment," "ruling class," "donor class," or "uni-party" — bipartisan DC elites, lobbyists, wealthy donors, corporate media, and institutions that protect the status quo against left- and right-wing populists. Foreign-policy "blob" and corporate influence key. Broken down episode after episode; distinct independent-media populist critique.
Ron Paul (libertarian icon; multiple podcasts/books; referenced on X)
Federal Reserve + Military-Industrial Complex + corporatism/fascism fusion — central bank controls money and favors banks/elites; defense contractors drive endless wars and policy; big government + big business alliance. Core in books like End the Fed, speeches, and appearances; classic libertarian monetary/military definition.
Mike Lofgren (former congressional staffer; book The Deep State; interviews)
"Deep State" as a hybrid of permanent government elements (especially national-security apparatus) and top finance/industry/lobbyists that creates policy continuity regardless of elections. Not a secret cabal but "hiding in plain sight." Popularized in 2014 essay/book and Bill Moyers interview; influential framing in X discussions of bureaucracy + money power.
Analysis: Where They Overlap and Diverge
These represent the widest spectrum of terms and definitions circulating among famous/podcast voices and heavily discussed on X (deep state, shadow government, globalists/NWO, ruling class, oligarchy, administrative state, Cathedral, censorship industrial complex, MIC + Fed, regulatory capture, intelligence/criminal networks). Many overlap but emphasize different cores (bureaucracy, corporations, billionaires, intel, global finance, narrative control, blackmail). Podcasts amplify them far more than mainstream outlets.
Common Names Used
| Term | Used By |
|---|---|
| Deep State | Seruga, Greenwald, Lofgren, RFK Jr. |
| Shadow Government | Seruga |
| Globalists / NWO | Alex Jones |
| Ruling Class / Elites | Tucker Carlson, Krystal Ball & Saagar Enjeti |
| The Powerful | RFK Jr. |
| Oligarchy / Billionaire Class | Bernie Sanders |
| Administrative State | Vivek Ramaswamy |
| The Cathedral | Curtis Yarvin |
| Censorship Industrial Complex | Matt Taibbi & Michael Shellenberger |
| Permanent Washington | Tucker Carlson |
| Uni-Party / Establishment | Krystal Ball & Saagar Enjeti |
| Criminal-Intel-Finance Complex | Whitney Webb |
| Federal Reserve + MIC | Ron Paul |
Core Emphasis by Person
| Person | Core Emphasis |
|---|---|
| RFK Jr. | Regulatory capture — agencies serve billionaires, not the public |
| Tony Seruga | Two-tier distinction: Shadow Government (secrecy) vs. Deep State (financial) |
| Alex Jones | Supra-national globalist cabal using governments as tools |
| Tucker Carlson | Cultural/political elite maintaining power through institutions |
| Glenn Greenwald | Intelligence agencies operating secretly across administrations |
| Whitney Webb | Intelligence-organized crime-blackmail-finance fusion |
| Bernie Sanders | Extreme wealth concentration buying political outcomes |
| Matt Taibbi & Shellenberger | Government-private censorship partnership controlling information |
| Curtis Yarvin | Academia-media-bureaucracy propagating ideology |
| Vivek Ramaswamy | Federal bureaucracy bypassing elected branches |
| Krystal Ball & Saagar Enjeti | Bipartisan establishment protecting status quo against populists |
| Ron Paul | Central banking + defense contractors driving policy |
| Mike Lofgren | Government-finance-industry hybrid hiding in plain sight |
This information was compiled by Claude AI research.