Podcast appearances and mentions of Brendan Carr

Samsung just launched its newest phones, the Galaxy S26 lineup, and wow is it full of Vergecast stories. There's the very cool new Privacy Display, which seems genuinely useful; there's the AI-powered camera, which seems like a disaster waiting to happen; and there's the new agentic AI in Android, which Google and Samsung might be positioned to actually pull off. After talking through all the new stuff, Nilay and David discuss the recent executive shakeup at Xbox, and try to figure out why Microsoft just can't win in games. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a dummy, some truly remarkable charts, and much more. Further reading: ⁠Samsung Unpacked 2026: live updates from the Galaxy S26 ⁠⁠announcement event ⁠ ⁠Samsung Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus hands-on: More of the same ⁠ ⁠Samsung AI photos⁠ ⁠Google Gemini can book an Uber or order food for you with new agentic AI features ⁠⁠Google and Samsung just launched the AI features Apple couldn't with Siri⁠ ⁠I'm super impressed with the Galaxy S26 Ultra's new Privacy Display ⁠ ⁠Samsung announces Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro at Unpacked 2026⁠ ⁠Xbox shakeup: Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond are leaving Microsoft ⁠ ⁠Xbox chief Phil Spencer is leaving Microsoft ⁠ ⁠Read Xbox chief Phil Spencer's memo about leaving Microsoft ⁠ ⁠Sarah Bond is leaving Xbox ⁠ ⁠Read Xbox president Sarah Bond's memo about leaving Microsoft. ⁠ ⁠Inside Microsoft's big Xbox leadership shake-up ⁠ ⁠Read Microsoft gaming CEO Asha Sharma's first memo on the future of Xbox ⁠ ⁠New Microsoft gaming CEO Asha Sharma says “hear you” to complaints about a lack of Xbox exclusives.⁠ ⁠New Xbox CEO: ‘The plan's the plan until it's not the plan.' ⁠ ⁠Microsoft says today's Xbox shake-up doesn't mean game studio layoffs ⁠ ⁠Billions of dollars later and still nobody knows what an Xbox is ⁠ ⁠Chairman Carr Announces Pledge America Campaign⁠ ⁠Does Anthropic think Claude is alive? Define ‘alive'⁠ ⁠Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas AI Scenarios chart⁠ ⁠Youtube Chair Drama⁠ ⁠OpenAI's Stargate struggles. ⁠ ⁠OpenAI's first ChatGPT gadget could be a smart speaker with a camera ⁠ ⁠Subscribe to The Verge⁠ for unlimited access to ⁠theverge.com⁠, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ⁠ad-free podcast feed⁠.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to ⁠vergecast@theverge.com⁠ or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

https://media.blubrry.com/counterspin/content.blubrry.com/counterspin/CounterSpin260227.mp3 Right-click here to download this episode (“Save link as…”). American Prospect (2/23/26) This week on CounterSpin: US news media don't show a serious interest in history generally, as you can see from many outlets' pretense to offer “all you need to know” about current events in a matter of minutes. In the case of the Trump administration, presenting US history through media is important and relevant—as long as Trumpists are fully in charge of who defines what happened and what it means. So when Trump-appointed FCC chair Brendan Carr—he who attacks basic anti-discrimination measures in media, and overtly threatens the licenses of outlets determined insufficiently deferential to right-wing powers on the daily—says, “I believe in the greatness of our country,” you're of course right to beware. And all the more when he adds that he's “looking forward to broadcasters showcasing the country's inspiring history” by taking a pledge that he's drawn up, committing to do the right thing with regard to America's 250th birthday, for which the White House has big plans. But the man actively orchestrating interference-unto-cancellation of talk shows deemed guilty of “improper ideology” wants us to know that participation in the pledge, by the media outlets under his regulatory control, is “voluntary.” If you didn't already understand how vital is an understanding of US history, rooted in who's allowed to tell it, you would suspect it from this White House's ham-handed efforts to twist and erase and shout over it. There's a screaming void that journalists could be working to fill. Some are, some aren't. But as we look to encourage a rising up of people in response to the anti-democratic juggernaut, we can remember the words of Ida B. Wells: “The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press.” We talk about attacks on, and defenses of, our ability to learn and learn from this country's history with Naomi Bethune. She's the John Lewis Writing Fellow at the American Prospect. She’s featured this week on CounterSpin. https://media.blubrry.com/counterspin/content.blubrry.com/counterspin/CounterSpin260227Bethune.mp3 Plus Janine Jackson takes a quick look at coverage of Trump’s “Board of Peace.” https://media.blubrry.com/counterspin/content.blubrry.com/counterspin/CounterSpin260227Banter.mp3

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "Should licensed broadcast radio and television stations have to give equal time to competing political candidates?" A Stephen Colbert interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico has reignited debate over the FCC's nearly century-old equal time rule. After CBS lawyers raised concerns about triggering the regulation, Colbert cried foul — and the controversy exploded online. Michael breaks down what the rule actually says, how it differs from the Fairness Doctrine, and whether “spectrum scarcity” still justifies government oversight in today's media landscape. Is this selective enforcement, political pressure, or simply the law being applied? And in an era of unlimited media choices, should balanced coverage be the government's job — or ours? Listen here, then vote, and please rate, review, and share this podcast! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Public broadcasters are supposed to operate as a public trustee. This allows people to get information from both sides of the aisle. Media broadcast giants like Comcast and Disney have become gatekeepers to this information that push liberal ideas into local programming. FCC Chair Brendan Carr is here to give us a deep dive on how the fairness doctrine works, what equal time means when it comes to airing a political figure and what qualifies as bonafide news. The Biden administration weaponized the media and the FCC led by Brendan Carr is bringing fairness back to our airwaves. Featuring: Brendan Carr Chair | Federal Communications Commission https://www.fcc.gov/ Today's show is sponsored by: Patriot Mobile - PatriotMobile.com/SPICER for 1 free month Take a stand for faith, family, and freedom—switch to Patriot Mobile. Patriot Mobile provides PREMIUM service on all three major U.S. networks.  Patriot Mobile has the same or even better coverage, backed by 100% U.S.-based customer support. Get unlimited data plans, mobile hotspots, international roaming, and more with Patriot Mobile. Take a stand as a PATRIOT by going to ⁠https://PatriotMobile.com/SPICER⁠ or call 972-PATRIOT for a FREE month! Beam - shopbeam.com/SPICER to receive 40% off your order Are you tossing and turning at night and running on fumes during the day? If so, then you are missing out on the most important part of your wellness, sleep. If you want to wake up refreshed, inspired and ready to take on the day then you have to try Beam's Dream powder. This best-selling blend of Reishi, Magnesium, L-Theanine, Apigenin and Melatonin will help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed. So if you're ready for the best night of sleep you ever had just head to https://shopbeam.com/SPICER to receive 40% off your order. My latest book Trump 2.0: The Revolution That Will Permanently Transform America is available for preorder, just click the link: https://a.co/d/67kKgje ------------------------------------------------------------- 1️⃣ Subscribe and ring the bell for new videos: https://youtube.com/seanmspicer?sub_confirmation=1 2️⃣ Become a part of The Sean Spicer Show community: https://www.seanspicer.com/ 3️⃣ Listen to the full audio show on all platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sean-spicer-show/id1701280578 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/32od2cKHBAjhMBd9XntcUd iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-sean-spicer-show-120471641/ 4️⃣ Stay in touch with Sean on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanmspicer Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicer Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanmspicer/ 5️⃣ Follow The Sean Spicer Show on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanspicershow Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicershow Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanspicershow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Colbert, o apresentador do “The Late Show”, acusa a CBS de proibir a transmissão de uma entrevista com um candidato democrata ao Senado, depois do sector jurídico do canal lhe ter dito que não o podia fazer sem convidar igualmente os adversários. A imposição do canal surge depois da Comissão Federal de Comunicações (FCC na sigla em inglês, equivalente à ERC portuguesa), por pressão de Donald Trump, querer estender a regra que garante o mesmo tempo de antena a todos os candidatos aos late-night shows, até agora isentos. Os Estados Unidos chegam assim a uma conversa que se fez em Portugal, no final de 2022, a propósito de uma queixa pelo facto do representante do Chega não ter sido convidado para o programa de Ricardo Araújo Pereira, “Isto É Gozar Com Quem Trabalha”. Neste episódio, conversamos com Gustavo Carvalho, autor do podcast “Humor À Primeira Vista”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen Colbert, o apresentador do “The Late Show”, acusa a CBS de proibir a transmissão de uma entrevista com um candidato democrata ao Senado, depois do sector jurídico do canal lhe ter dito que não o podia fazer sem convidar igualmente os adversários. A imposição do canal surge depois da Comissão Federal de Comunicações (FCC na sigla em inglês, equivalente à ERC portuguesa), por pressão de Donald Trump, querer estender a regra que garante o mesmo tempo de antena a todos os candidatos aos late-night shows, até agora isentos. Os Estados Unidos chegam assim a uma conversa que se fez em Portugal, no final de 2022, a propósito de uma queixa pelo facto do representante do Chega não ter sido convidado para o programa de Ricardo Araújo Pereira, “Isto É Gozar Com Quem Trabalha”. Neste episódio, conversamos com Gustavo Carvalho, autor do podcast “Humor À Primeira Vista”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Late night host Stephen Colbert has accused CBS of spiking an interview for fear of backlash from the Federal Communications Commission. On this week's On the Media, hear about the MAGA movement trying to shift television to the right. Plus, the legal theory that the FCC is using to put pressure on the networks. [01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone speaks with  Jim Rutenberg, writer-at-large for The New York Times, about how Trump's FCC is reviving a nearly century-old rule to crack down on late-night talk shows. Rutenberg explains why MAGA's embrace of the FCC's regulatory powers to go after “liberal bias” in the media signals a shift within the Republican party.  [25:44] Brooke sits down with Daniel Suhr, the president of a legal advocacy group called the Center for American Rights and the architect behind the legal theory that the FCC is using to put pressure on TV networks. They discuss his goal to make network TV look more like the AM radio band.   Further reading / watching: “How a Century-Old Rule Is Scrambling Late-Night TV,” by Jim Rutenberg “The MAGA Plan to Take Over TV Is Just Beginning,” by Jim Rutenberg “The FCC's Public Notice on ‘Bona Fide News,'” by Daniel Suhr “The end of an agency,” by Daniel Suhr “Straight Talk on FCC 'Jawboning'” by Daniel Suhr The Divided Dial: Episode 3 - The Liberal Bias Boogeyman On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

February, 21 2026, 7AM: The court struck down his far reaching global tariffs in a 6-3 decision Friday, ruling that he did not have authority under a 1977 emergency economic powers law.  Tim O'Brien and Courtenay Brown join The Weekend to discuss the latest in the SCOTUS decision and how the ruling may impact President trump's economic agenda, as well as the bottom line for U.S. For more, follow us on social media: Bluesky: @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social Instagram: @theweekendmsnow TikTok: @theweekendmsnow To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr joins us to react to Jasmine Crockett blaming him for her not appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the confusion with the Equal Time Rule and possibly investigating The View. Meanwhile, Dana shares the stories of two Olympians, Eileen Gu and Alysa Liu, who chose different paths to represent different nations and the results proved why.Bank on Yourselfhttps://BankOnYourself.com/Dana Bank on Yourself offers tax-free retirement income, guaranteed growth, and full control of your money. Receive your free report.Humannhttps://HumanN.comGet simple, delicious wellness support when you pick up Humann's Turmeric Chews at Sam's Club next time you're there and see why they're such a fan favorite!Subscribe today and stay in the loop on all things news with The Dana Show. Follow us here for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:YoutubeFacebookInstagramXMore InfoWebsite

Glenn discusses Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) claiming the GOP will be "massacred" if Texas AG and Senate candidate Ken Paxton (R) beats Cornyn in the Senate primary. Glenn blasts Sen. Cornyn as part of the reason the GOP is currently in disarray. Co-host of "The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show" and "Manufacturing Delusion" author Buck Sexton joins to discuss how to stand up against leftist propaganda. "Birthgap" writer and producer Stephen Shaw joins to discuss the global decline in birth rates and the potential causes. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr joins to discuss the false claim that the FCC was involved in Stephen Colbert's show not airing an interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glenn starts the show by discussing the recent arrest of Prince Andrew over suspicions of misconduct in public office after accusations that he shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein. Why has nobody been arrested for the crime of harming children? Glenn discusses Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) claiming the GOP will be "massacred" if Texas AG and Senate candidate Ken Paxton (R) beats Cornyn in the Senate primary. Glenn blasts Sen. Cornyn as part of the reason the GOP is currently in disarray. Co-host of "The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show" and "Manufacturing Delusion" author Buck Sexton joins to discuss how to stand up against leftist propaganda. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) released the city's new budget, and it's more than the entire state of Florida. How is that possible? "Birthgap" writer and producer Stephen Shaw joins to discuss the global decline in birth rates and the potential causes. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr joins to discuss the false claim that the FCC was involved in Stephen Colbert's show not airing an interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sponsored by Shopify - Sign up for your $1/month trial today at http://shopify.com/newsday Sponsored by Incogni - Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code NEWSDAY at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/newsday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

On this Socratic Breakdown, host Radell Lewis and panelists dive into the latest Epstein files controversy why are co-conspirator names still redacted while victims' names were exposed? Hillary Clinton calls out Trump for pushing closed-door testimony, and Pam Bondi's hearing before Congress raises serious questions about a potential cover-up at the DOJ. The panel examines Trump's connections to Epstein, the Mossad and Israel allegations, and why the Attorney General can't answer basic questions about Ghislaine Maxwell's prison deal.Then the conversation shifts to Trump's attack on free speech after Stephen Colbert's interview with Texas gubernatorial candidate James Talarico was pulled from CBS under FCC pressure from Brendan Carr. Why is Trump afraid of Talarico, and what does this mean for political speech in America?The panel also breaks down Trump's EPA rollbacks removing greenhouse gas regulations on methane, CO2, and nitrogen emissions a move that benefits oil executives while making the atmosphere more dangerous for everyday Americans. Plus, Gavin Newsom's aggressive legal strategy against the Trump administration, OPEC's influence on oil prices, and the growing global movement to ban kids from social media.This is the Purple Political Breakdown political solutions without political bias. New episodes drop every Thursday at 8 AM EST. Join the conversation on Discord for future Socratic Breakdowns.Tags/Keywords to include on your platform: Epstein files 2025, Trump Epstein cover-up, Pam Bondi hearing, Hillary Clinton testimony, Stephen Colbert James Talarico, FCC censorship, Brendan Carr, EPA deregulation, social media ban teenagers, Gavin Newsom lawsuit, Trump free speech, MAGA, oil prices OPEC, political podcast, nonpartisan politicsStandard Resource Links & RecommendationsThe following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORKALIVE Podcast Network - Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMSHeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTSUs United - A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATIONOtherWeb - An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACYEqual Vote Coalition & STAR Voting - Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/starFuture is Now Coalition (FiNC) - A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTIndependent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWSText 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now) ALL LINKShttps://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdownThe Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

Dylan Byers joins Peter to break down what really happened at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where an interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico was shunted to YouTube amid accusations that F.C.C. chair Brendan Carr pressured CBS to block the appearance. Then they discuss Anderson Cooper's decision to leave 60 Minutes after two decades—and whether Bari Weiss is playing with fire by meddling with one of television's most revered broadcasts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

February 17, 2026; Despite tanking poll numbers and resistance from district courts, President Trump's DHS continues its push into American cities. Its latest target? A school bus stop in Lindenwold, NJ, where members of the community have since shown up to protest and voice their disapproval. One resident, Joseph Zobel, joins us to discuss the operation with Maya Wiley, Rev. Al Sharpton and Claire McCaskill. Also in the hour, a reflection on the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson.For more, follow us on Instagram @deadlinewh For more from Nicolle, follow and download her podcast, “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan takes on the growing problem of propaganda in America, from Stephen Colbert's clash with the FCC over equal-time rules to media framing in high-profile immigration cases and a former Trump prosecutor now running for Congress as a Democrat. Bryan explains how headlines shape public perception, why critical details often appear deep in articles most readers never reach, and how partisan incentives inside journalism fuel what he calls a century-old tradition of influence over information. He also offers three practical tools to spot bias and navigate the era of Fake News. The episode then pivots global, with surprising battlefield gains for Ukraine tied to Elon Musk's Starlink restrictions, fresh evidence that Hamas is rebuilding military positions inside Gaza hospitals, encouraging signs of political revival in Venezuela, and breakthrough research on a new oxygen-delivering gel that could transform wound healing for soldiers, diabetics, and the elderly.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: February 18 2026 Wright Report, Stephen Colbert FCC equal time Brendan Carr, James Talarico interview CBS dispute, Seamus Culleton ICE media framing, JP Cooney Jack Smith prosecutor Congress run, propaganda Fake News history William Randolph Hearst, Ukraine Starlink Russia drone squeeze, Zaporizhzhia counterattack gains, Hamas Nasser Hospital command post, Gaza guerrilla strategy Israel, Venezuela protests Delcy Rodriguez, wound healing oxygen gel California battery hydrogel choline

David Waldman and Greg Dworkin cut through the confusion and clamp down on the chaos for a tidbit of today. Hey, do you know who the guest was on The Late Show with Steven Colbert? Sure, you do, yet you can't say that very often, can you? That's because that guest, James Talarico, Democratic candidate for Senate, was given a huge promotional lift by Brendan Carr, Donald K. Trump, and a panicked herd of frightened lawyers, who say that they didn't want to make Jasmine Crockett mad. Jasmine Crockett isn't mad. This Blue Wave is raising all Dem boats. Just talk about the SAVE act is encouraging voter suppression, and spurring plans for new voter suppression. Don't let it get to you but do pay attention. Our generics beat their generics. Zohran Mamdani is the most popular Democrat. Donald's pal Jeffrey Epstein led a global criminal enterprise, creating crimes against humanity. Kristi Noem scuttles the Coast Guard. We kill boaters while cocaine booms, while the guy responsible for shipping 400 tons to the US gets all expenses paid vacation to the Waldorf Astoria. Federal Judges can hardly believe the administration's lawlessness, as they have ruled over 4400 times that ICE detentions were illegal. Trump is getting sick of all of the winning… must be why he hasn't been golfing lately. Hope nothing's wrong with the old boy.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr says journalists were tricked into covering claims by late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert's claims that he was blocked by CBS from interviewing U.S. Senate candidate in Texas James Talarico; Early voting Texas is got underway this week. We will talk with Texas Tribune reporter Kayla Guo about the Senate race with competitive primaries in both parties and the new congressional district maps drawn to favor Republicans. (9); Billionaire Les Wexner tells Members of Congress he was not a co-conspirator to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and says he was "was duped by a world-class con man." We will talk with Ohio Capital Journal reporter Megan Henry. (20); Day five of the Homeland Security Department shutdown over disagreements about federal immigration operations changes. We get White House and House Democratic leader update; President Donald Trump hosts a Black History Month reception at the White House; Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) says President Trump has been telling lies about the state & federal response to the massive sewage spill in the Potomac River; United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on Middle East peace efforts, with the Secretary General's office expressing concern about Israel's actions in the West Bank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5pm: Video Guest - Jim Walsh - State Rep and Chairman of the WA State GOP // ‘Millionaires tax’ clears WA Senate // WA Democrats consider retreat on estate tax, fearing wealth exodus // Colbert Slams FCC and CBS, Priming for Fight Over Equal-Time Rules // FIRE issues press release blasting FCC chair Brendan Carr on issue // Letters

Stephen Colbert says CBS blocked his interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico over Trump FCC "equal time" rule fears (Brendan Carr guidance). The YouTube version exploded to 5M+ views — did it just hand Talarico a huge primary boost against Jasmine Crockett?In this raw Substack Live, Chris Cillizza and Matt Lewis break it all down: — How the controversy helps Talarico nationally but maybe not in Texas Dem primary voting — Plus, SCOTUS retirement rumors — Mitch McConnell's tragic legacy — AOC's Munich flub — What Democrats need to win big in 2026.— And MUCH more!Thoughtful politics, no screaming. New episodes most Wednesdays — subscribe today!Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewisFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.Buy Matt's books: FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

Johnny Mac leads with Stephen Colbert saying CBS lawyers blocked him from booking Texas State Representative James Talarico on The Late Show, citing concerns around the FCC equal time rule and an FCC chairman Brendan Carr letter suggesting talk-show exemptions could be dropped.Colbert instead posts the interview to The Late Show's YouTube page.The show also recaps Dave Chappelle's Minneapolis performance per the Minneapolis Star Tribune and reviews of his Super Bowl weekend/Bay Area sets from SFGate and the SF Chronicle, noting topics including immigration raids, Raiders of the Lost Ark, celebrity anecdotes, and jokes involving multiple groups, including mention of an outdated derogatory slur.Other items include Todd Barry seeking solo dining recommendations in Syracuse, a preview of Just for Laughs Vancouver (including “An Evening with David Letterman” with Zach Galifianakis and other booked acts), a Radar Online report claiming Amy Schumer is preparing to control the narrative of a split from Chris Fischer and aiming for a conscious uncoupling, and Ray Romano discussing his Broadway debut in Simon Rich's comedy about ambition. 00:24 Colbert Says CBS Lawyers Blocked a Candidate Guest01:17 Equal Time Rule Explained (and Colbert's FCC Rant)03:04 Kimmel Alliance & Moving the Interview to YouTube04:19 Dave Chappelle in Minneapolis: What He Said & How It Landed05:48 Super Bowl Weekend Chappelle Reviews: SF Gate & Chronicle Highlights08:22 Chappelle's New Bits: Raiders, Epstein Files, and Culture-War Split09:20 Todd Barry's Syracuse Solo-Dining Thread10:03 Just For Laughs Vancouver Preview (Letterman + Galifianakis Night)11:48 Amy Schumer Divorce Rumors + Ray Romano's Broadway Debut12:57 Colbert's YouTube Interview with Rep. James Talarico (Clip) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Daily Comedy News is the number one comedy news podcast, delivering daily coverage of standup comedy, late night television, comedy specials, tours, and the business of comedy.COMEDY SURVIVOR in the facebook group.Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free.This is the animal sanctuary mentioned in the February 10 episode.

February 17, 2026; In his latest effort to undermine free speech in the U.S., President Trump's FCC prevented an interview with James Talarico on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” from airing ahead of a contentious Texas midterm. Nicolle Wallace unpacks what this means and its political context with Alex Wagner, Oliver Darcy and David Frum. Later in the hour, the panel examines Les Wexner's connections to Jeffrey Epstein. For more, follow us on Instagram @deadlinewh For more from Nicolle, follow and download her podcast, “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Safe home, Jesse Jackson. Big Tech firms turned over user information on anti-ICE accounts. The Trump regime and CBS tries to silence Stephen Colbert again. The Justice Department tracked the search histories of lawmakers who reviewed the files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. DOJ may have only released 2-percent of Epstein Files. Weird thing in the Epstein documents. Don't panic about the midterms. Billionaires got $1.5 trillion richer in 2025. Microsoft CEO forecasts the end of white collar jobs. Mortgage delinquencies on the rise. Fascist Russ Vought is using USAID money for personal security. Cenk's latest cynical attention grab. Great news about the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Donald's numbers are collapsing. Great polling news out of Texas. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Keturah Allgood, The John Payton Project, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob ! Sign up for Buzz Burbank's Substack.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this Pod Show exclusive BONUS episode, Stephen Colbert explains to his broadcast audience that a new directive from Brendan Carr's FCC makes it next to impossible for CBS to air his interview with Texas State Rep. James Talarico on CBS. Then hear what couldn't go on TV last night, and get the online-exclusive interview that touches on the issues raised in Talarico's campaign for the Democratic nomination for Senate including the separation of church and state, the dangers of consolidated corporate-owned media, and the fabricated culture wars pushed by Republicans in states like Texas. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CBS lawyers ordered Stephen Colbert to cancel a live interview with Texas State House member and Democratic Senate candidate James Tallarico, citing pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and a newly threatened expansion of the equal time rule to late night entertainment programming. Colbert filmed the interview anyway in front of his live studio audience, then was told he could not air it, could not mention it, and could not even show a photo of James Tallarico during the broadcast. He did all three.The decision is widely seen as CBS pre-emptively complying with the Trump administration to protect the pending merger between Paramount and David Ellison's Skydance Media. Sherry Redstone already declined to renew Colbert's contract, with the show ending in May, a move many view as direct appeasement of Donald Trump. This follows ABC and Disney paying Trump $16 million to settle a defamation suit involving George Stephanopoulos, and previously pulling Jimmy Kimmel off the air under the same FCC pressure from Brendan Carr.Tallarico posted the banned interview himself, framing it as the interview Trump didn't want you to see. Polling shows both Tallarico and Jasmine Crockett performing strongly against John Cornyn and Ken Paxton, and Anderson Cooper simultaneously announced he is leaving 60 Minutes after nearly 20 years over editorial interference tied to the Trump-aligned direction of CBS under its new Ellison ownership. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

Radell Lewis breaks down the biggest political stories shaping America right now on this week's Purple Political Breakdown. First, the global movement to ban children from social media is gaining serious momentum Australia has already removed millions of underage accounts, Spain is holding platform executives criminally liable, and France, Denmark, the UK, and others are following suit. Discord is rolling out teen-by-default settings in March 2026. Meanwhile in the U.S., the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA) awaits Senate action as half of all states now have age verification mandates. Radell weighs the privacy debate against children's safety and explains why the "they'll just go somewhere worse" argument doesn't hold up.Then, the deep dive: Project 2025 is no longer a boogeyman talking point it's policy. Trackers show the Trump administration has initiated roughly 53% of Project 2025's domestic proposals, with key authors like Russell Vought, Peter Navarro, and Brendan Carr now occupying the exact roles they wrote about in the Heritage Foundation's blueprint. Radell walks through Schedule F and what it means for 50,000 federal employees losing civil service protections, the DOJ's weaponization against political adversaries like James Comey and Letitia James, the tariff trade war and the pending Supreme Court ruling that could trigger over $100 billion in refunds, the EPA's historic rescission of the endangerment finding on climate change, DEI rollbacks, school vouchers, Planned Parenthood funding cuts, and what's still on the agenda including the Comstock Act.Plus: the DHS government shutdown explained, Democrats' demands for ICE accountability after Operation Metro Surge, the DOJ dropping charges against two Venezuelan men after ICE agents were caught lying under oath, the explosive Pam Bondi hearing on the Epstein files, the Trump-Harvard standoff, Trump Rx and whether it actually helps anyone, America's dropping corruption ranking, and why Americans are feeling less optimistic than ever. Radell wraps with good news including a breakthrough gene therapy for eye disease and AI-assisted breast cancer detection saving lives.New episodes every Sunday. Rate five stars, share with friends and family, and download the Alive Podcast Network app to support the show.Keywords: Project 2025, social media ban children, Schedule F, government shutdown DHS, ICE accountability, Epstein files, Pam Bondi hearing, Trump tariffs Supreme Court, EPA climate change rollback, Heritage Foundation, KOSMA, age verification, DEI rollback, Planned Parenthood funding, Trump Rx, Harvard funding, Operation Metro Surge, SAVE Act, political podcast, nonpartisan news, purple politicsStandard Resource Links & RecommendationsThe following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORKALIVE Podcast Network - Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMSHeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTSUs United - A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATIONOtherWeb - An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACYEqual Vote Coalition & STAR Voting - Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/starFuture is Now Coalition (FiNC) - A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTIndependent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWSText 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now) ALL LINKShttps://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdownThe Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

Did you see Ring's Super Bowl ad and see happy puppies reunited with their owners? Or did you see the seeds of a complete, always-on surveillance nightmare coming for us all? David and Nilay discuss which is the right answer, why so many people don't want to trust tech companies, and why Ring might not care much about the difference. After that, the hosts discuss the ads coming to ChatGPT, the surprising number of AI executives quitting their jobs and issuing dire warnings on the way out, and the fake ad for OpenAI gadgets. In the lightning round, it's time for an extra long Brendan Carr is a Dummy, the latest Ferrari EV, the future of Siri, and more. Further reading: Jeffrey Epstein's digital cleanup crew  Jeffrey Epstein might not have created /pol/, but he helped carry out its mission Amazon Ring's lost dog ad sparks backlash amid fears of mass surveillance  Wyze is sticking it to Ring Sen. Markey calls on Amazon to “discontinue” Ring monitoring features Ring's new Search Party feature is on by default; should you opt out? Ring launches upgraded cameras with Retinal Vision 4K recording What the Guthrie case reveals about your ‘deleted' doorbell footage  FBI releases recovered footage from Nancy Guthrie's Nest cam  OpenAI's first hardware slips to 2027 OpenAI's supposedly ‘leaked' Super Bowl ad with ear buds and a shiny orb was a hoax  Two more xAI co-founders are among those leaving after the SpaceX merger  OpenAI reportedly disbanded its Mission Alignment team OpenAI fired exec who opposed ‘adult mode'  Read an Anthropic AI safety lead's exit letter: 'The world is in peril' Opinion | I Left My Job at OpenAI. Putting Ads on ChatGPT Was the Last Straw.  What Is Claude? Anthropic Doesn't Know, Either ChatGPT's cheapest options now show you ads  Here are the brands bringing ads to ChatGPT  Claude gets more free features to capitalize on ChatGPT ads Ex-OpenAI researcher has “deep reservations” about its approach to ads Brendan Carr is a Dummy theme submitted by Michiel Vanhoudt on BlueSky FTC says it's ‘not the speech police' in letter warning Apple News about its alleged promotion of left-leaning outlets Ferrari's first EV will have an interior designed by Jony Ive  Here's what the Ferrari Luce's buttons, switches, and knobs sound like. The early reviews of the Rivian R2 are starting to roll in Live Nation's monopoly trial is reportedly fracturing Trump's Justice Department  YouTube is coming to the Apple Vision Pro Apple keeps hitting bumps with its overhauled Siri  The iPhone 17e could launch soon with MagSafe and an A19 chip  Apple might let you use ChatGPT from CarPlay  Paramount ups its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, again Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new tranche of Jeffrey Epstein's emails makes one thing painfully clear: Epstein was a central figure in the lives of a lot of big names in tech, and had influence on a surprising number of companies and executives. David and Nilay talk through what we've learned from the new emails so far. Then they turn to Anthropic's spicy new Super Bowl ads about... ads, which caused a big reaction from OpenAI (which is betting big on ads). They also discuss this week's antitrust hearing about Netflix's purchase of Warner Bros., the latest in Brendan Carr is a Dummy, Google Home's big buttons upgrade, and much more. Further reading: Here's how Epstein broke the internet Former Windows 8 boss recruited Epstein to help negotiate his messy Microsoft exit Jeffrey Epstein arranged a meeting with Tim Cook for the former head of Windows The Epstein files  Google co-founder Sergey Brin visited Epstein's private island and traded emails with Ghislaine Maxwell. It turns out Elon Musk didn't exactly ‘refuse' the invite to Jeffrey Epstein's island.  Will Elon Musk's emails with Jeffrey Epstein derail his very important year?  Bill Gates says accusations contained in Epstein files are ‘absolutely absurd' Jeffrey Epstein was permanently banned from Xbox Live  ‘We've basically funded an elite global pedophile ring since 2015.'  Anthropic says ‘Claude will remain ad-free,' unlike an unnamed rival Anthropic's blog post: Claude is a space to think Sam Altman responds to Anthropic's ‘funny' Super Bowl ads  OpenAI's CMO on X Nvidia CEO denies he's ‘unhappy' with OpenAI Netflix lands in the middle of a culture war during Senate hearing Everyone is stealing TV  Disney says Josh D'Amaro will replace Bob Iger as CEO  FCC aims to ensure “only living and lawful Americans” get Lifeline benefits Elon Musk is merging SpaceX and xAI to build data centers in space — or so he says  Peloton's gamble on expensive new hardware has yet to pay off Google Home finally adds support for buttons  Raspberry Pi is raising prices again as memory shortages continue  Valve's Steam Machine has been delayed, and the RAM crisis will impact pricing  Aluminium: Why Google's Android for PC launch may be messy and controversial Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've been covering what's happening in Minnesota, and the killing of Alex Pretti, all week on The Verge. To begin this episode, Nilay explains why — and why so many others seem to feel the same way right now. After that, the hosts talk about the CEO-studded screening of Melania Trump's documentary last weekend, the disastrous public appearance from Tim Cook, and whether Cook and other CEOs have any other option but to capitulate to the Trump administration. Then it's time for some gadgets: we talk about the super-foldy, super-expensive Samsung Galaxy  Z Trifold, the Clawdbot / Moltbot phenomenon, and whether Google can finally put Chrome OS and Android together the right way. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a dummy, Tesla's anti-car pivot, Apple's design hires, and more. Further reading: On the ground in Minneapolis after the killing of Alex Pretti  I grew up with Alex Pretti  Creators and communities everywhere take a stand against ICE  It doesn't matter if Alex Pretti had a gun  Why won't anyone stop ICE from masking?  Tim Cook, Andy Jassy, and AMD CEO Lisa Su are at the White House for a VIP screening of the Melania doc. Tim Cook had ‘a good conversation' with Trump about deescalation  Cook in 2020: Speaking up on racism From The New York Times: Amazon's $35 Million ‘Melania' Promotion Has Critics Questioning Its Motives From The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Melania' Set for a $3 Million Opening Despite Amazon's $35 Million Marketing Push Here's Tim Cook hanging out with accused rapist Brett Ratner at the Melania screening What TikTok's new owners mean for your feed  TikTok USA is broken  TikTok is still down, here are all the latest updates  TikTok is still struggling in the US due to a “cascading systems failure.”  TikTok US is mostly back up and running  TikTok blames its US problems on a power outage  Oracle admits it broke TikTok. Congress doesn't seem to know if the TikTok deal complies with its law  Is New TikTok banning the word “Epstein” in DMs? Not really.  TikTokers are heading to UpScrolled following US takeover  Mark Zuckerberg is all in on AI as the new social media  Meta is stopping teens from chatting with its AI characters  Bluesky is testing ‘live' features to take on X  Best gas masks The Samsung Trifold will cost nearly three grand  Google just leaked a first look at Android for PC in action  Chromebooks train schoolkids to be loyal customers, internal Google document suggests  Moltbot, the AI agent that ‘actually does things,' is tech's new obsession Clawdbot's bad day  I used Claude to vibe-code my wildly overcomplicated smart home The FCC's Late Night Comedy Show Tesla discontinuing Model S and Model X to make room for robots  Tesla says production-ready Optimus robot is coming soon  Tesla hits a grim milestone: its second straight year of decline Elon Musk invests $2 billion in Elon Musk Hang on, there's a Trump Phone Ultra coming too?  Halide co-founder Sebastiaan de With is joining Apple's design team  The Stream Deck-packed gaming keyboard is a monster of good ideas Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to explore a potential regulatory shockwave: F.C.C. chair Brendan Carr floating changes to the longstanding Equal Time Rule that could reshape everything from presidential debates to late-night comedy. They dig into what Carr is actually proposing, how serious the threat is, and whether his track record suggests he's actually more bark than bite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nilay owns a Sony TV. He loves his Sony TV, and he's a little sad that it appears this era of Sony TVs is ending. He and David talk through the news of a new joint venture between Sony and TCL, before digging into OpenAI's new-fangled plan to make money (spoiler alert: it's ads!), and some new news about an AI gadget Apple may or may not be working on. Then it's time for the lightning round: Brendan Carr, Netflix, the Trump Phone, and much more. Further reading: The TikTok deal could finally close this week. Epic and Google have a secret $800 million Unreal Engine and services deal Sony's TV business is being taken over by TCL  What a Sony and TCL partnership means for the future of TVs OpenAI's 2026 ‘focus' is ‘practical adoption'  OpenAI releases a cheaper ChatGPT subscription  Ads are coming soon to ChatGPT, starting with shopping links  Opinion | A.I. Is Real. But OpenAI Might Still Fail.Apple is reportedly working on an AirTag-sized AI wearable  Apple is turning Siri into an AI bot that's more like ChatGPT  FCC Targets Colbert and Kimmel in New Crackdown on Late-Night TV - The New York Times Bureau Provides Guidance on Political Equal Opportunities Requirement | Federal Communications Commission Free TV startup Telly only had 35,000 units in people's homes last fall Microsoft wants to build 15 data centers in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin  OpenAI says its data centers will pay for their own energy and limit water usage Netflix will revamp its mobile UI this year  600,000 Trump Mobile phones sold? There's no proof. YouTubers will be able to make Shorts with their own AI likenesses  Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump says his concept of a deal with Greenland has no end date, anyone with a billion dollars can help Trump rule the world as Chairman for Life of the Board of Peace, and Stephen Colbert is offering an alternative fake club membership for only $100M. Stephen Colbert is on the run from Johnny Law again as the FCC's Brendan Carr announced a push to enforce rules that would suppress the visibility of political candidates on network talk shows. Chance The Rapper looks back at the year he released his groundbreaking mixtape, “Coloring Book,” and tells Stephen that his recent encounters with Black artists from different parts of the world informed the songwriting on his latest album, “Star Line.” Check out his performance on YouTube and find Chance The Rapper's upcoming tour dates at https://chancestuff.com. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nearly two years ago, Apple showed off what an AI-powered Siri might do. That Siri never materialized, but thanks to a deal with Google for its Gemini tech, it might finally have a chance to work. David and Nilay discuss the ins and outs of the deal, and what it might mean for both Apple's and Google's ambitions in AI. (They also talk about the onslaught of new lawsuits from publishers related to Google's adtech antitrust case, including from our parent company Vox Media. Disclosure is our brand.) After that, they talk about Grok's horrific deepfake problem on X, and why everyone involved deserves the blame. Then it's time to pour one out for VR and the metaverse, which is losing steam as Meta loses interest and continues to pivot to AI. RIP Supernatural, a surprise hit of an exercise app! Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, the latest Paramount / Warner / Netflix drama, the Trump Phone, and the Digg reboot. Further reading: The Atlantic, Penske, and Vox Media have all sued Google for antitrust violations Apple picks Google's Gemini AI for its big Siri upgrade What Apple and Google's Gemini deal means for both companies Google's Gemini AI will use what it knows about you from Gmail, Search, and YouTube  Why Google Gemini looks poised to win the AI race over OpenAI  A “conscious decision” from OpenAI.  X hasn't really stopped Grok AI from undressing women in the UK  Advocacy groups demand Apple and Google block X from app stores  UK pushes up a law criminalizing deepfake nudes in response to Grok X claims it has stopped Grok from undressing people, but of course it hasn't   Meta plans to lay off hundreds of metaverse employees this week  Meta confirms Reality Labs layoffs and shifts to invest more in wearables  Meta is closing down three VR studios as part of its metaverse cuts  Meta's layoffs hit the studio that made Batman: Arkham Shadow, too.   Supernatural Will No Longer Get New Content Or Features  FTC won't appeal court decision permitting Meta to buy Within The best thing to do in VR is work out FCC chair Brendan Carr is pressed on removing ‘independent' from its website.  Verizon gets FCC permission to end 60-day phone unlocking rule  Anthropic wants you to use Claude to ‘Cowork' in latest AI agent push  Paramount sues after Warner Bros. Discovery rejects its latest deal Netflix is reportedly considering an all-cash offer for Warner Bros.  The new Digg is launching an open beta.  Elon Musk Cannot Get Away With This Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Punchbowl News Tech Reporter Diego Areas Munhoz joins Max to discuss the Punchbowl News Tech Quarterly newsletter that came out on Tuesday. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Åhead of our last Friday episode of 2025, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr did The Vergecast an enormous favor: he went in front of Congress and said a bunch of wild things about regulation. So, of course, Nilay and David have to talk about them. For a really long time. After that, the hosts look at all the ways YouTube and Netflix are becoming more like one another, and then update the Go90 Scale of Doomed Streaming Services to round out the year. Finally, in the lightning round, there's talk of web apps, EVs, Bluesky, and the metaverse. Further reading: The Vergecast live at CES Brendan Carr doesn't regret his threats to broadcasters  Former FCC Chairman Michael Powell: ‘Cable companies are at the mercy of content companies' The Oscars will stream on YouTube in 2029  Netflix's next big TV game is FIFA soccer  My Favorite Murder and The Breakfast Club podcasts are ditching YouTube for Netflix  Warner Bros. wants its shareholders to reject Paramount's latest offer  Netflix is “100% committed” to releasing WB films in theaters.  Even Jared Kushner thinks the Paramount WB bid sucks. Peacock will bombard you with ads as soon as you open the app  HBO Max's new channels keep Friends and Game of Thrones playing 24/7  Instagram is putting Reels on your TV  LG forced a Copilot web app onto its TVs but will let you delete it Mercedes-Benz discontinues feature that syncs music to driving Ford's big bet on EVs didn't pan out — now it's pivoting to hybrids and energy storage Bluesky claims its new contact import feature is ‘privacy-first'  Gemini 3 Flash is here, bringing a ‘huge' upgrade to the Gemini app  The ChatGPT app store is here Alexa Plus' website is live for some users  Meta pauses third-party Horizon VR headsets program  Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump addresses the nation as his approval rating hits a record low. Also, Jack Smith defends the Trump indictments in a closed-door testimony. Plus, Sen. Amy Klobuchar grills the FCC's Brendan Carr in a Senate hearing. And Democrats push for the full release of the boat strike video. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Daniel Goldman, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Rep. Jim Himes join Lawrence O'Donnell. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

December 17: 2025; 6pm; FCC chairman Brendan Carr testified to a congressional committee for the first time since ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel's show. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports and is joined by Dylan Ratigan. Plus, Jack Smith tells Congress he could prove Trump engaged in a "criminal scheme" to overturn the results of the 2020 election. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy Podcast for our especially special Daily Special, Metro Shrimp & Grits Thursdays is now available on the Spreaker Player!Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, Trump's political crash test dummy and head of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, imploded under sworn testimony.Then, on the rest of the menu, Amazon has been conning school districts out of millions of dollars; the Trump-caused national penny shortage has one Washington state local government seeking a federal fix; and, days after an MIT nuclear plasma physicist was murdered, Trump Media is set to merge with a nuclear fusion company in an all-stock deal valued at more than $6 billion, coincidence?After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where German prosecutors charged eight members of a right-wing extremist group with attempted murder; and, with Opus Dei-adjacent Dolan stepping down, Pope Leo named fellow Chicagoan, Bishop Ronald Hicks, as the new archbishop of New York.All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!The Netroots Radio Live Player​Keep Your Resistance Radio Beaming 24/7/365!“Everyone in this good city enjoys the full right to pursue their own inclinations in all reasonable and, unreasonable ways.” -- The Daily Picayune, New Orleans, March 5, 1851Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/west-coast-cookbook-speakeasy--2802999/support.

Technically, the Netflix / Warner Bros. news is almost a week old, but what a week it has been! And so, after some follow-up on smart shades and CES, Nilay and David talk through all that's at stake in the fight between Paramount and Netflix — and whether it's even possible for someone to win this deal. After that, Charlie Harding, co-host of Switched on Pop and honorary Vergecast intern, explains how AI is taking over the country music scene in Nashville. He also makes us a song, and it's a jam. Lastly, the hosts talk about font news (with a special guest), Brendan Carr, smart rings, garage wars, and more. Further reading: The Verge subscription turns one  Netflix is buying Warner Bros. for $83 billion  Paramount launches a hostile $108 billion bid to snatch Warner from Netflix  David Ellison pitches Paramount's $108 billion hostile bid for WBD as “pro consumer.”  Behind Paramount's Relentless Campaign to Woo Warner Discovery and President Trump New Paramount Speaks: Theatrical Films, Streaming Investment and Tech Upgrades Are Top Priorities Netflix CEO made a visit to the White House before buying Warner Bros.  Trump isn't sold on the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal Netflix's leadership thinks the Warner Bros. deal won't be like other big media mergers. Welcome to the big leagues, Netflix  There are no good outcomes for the Warner Bros. sale OpenAI's billion-dollar Disney deal puts Mickey Mouse and Marvel in Sora Get ready for an AI country music explosion Brendan Carr is a Dummy Chamberlain's new technology blocks aftermarket controllers from working with its garage door openers The Pebble Index 01 is a smart ring with a built-in microphone Calibri is too woke for the State Department | The Verge Gruber got a copy of the thing Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey and I agree it seems like democracy is on the line right now, especially around the First Amendment and the increasing pressure the Trump administration — especially FCC chair Brendan Carr — is putting on free speech. I also had a lot of questions for Sen. Markey about the supposed TikTok ban, which no one seems to know anything about, and all the other problems we're facing in 2025. Links:  Even the lawmakers behind the TikTok ban have no idea what's going on | The Verge Carr's FCC is an anti-consumer, rights-trampling harassment machine | The Verge The FCC is a weapon in Trump's war on free speech | Decoder Here's the Trump EO that would ban state AI laws | The Verge Silicon Valley is rallying behind a guy who sucks | The Verge Silicon Valley's man in the White House is benefiting himself and his friends | The New York Times Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SEC Announces It Will Not Respond to Most No-Action Requests for Rule 14a-8 Shareholder Proposals.Government shutdown - the staff claimed they COULDN'T respond because after the shutdown, they had too much other work to do: “current resource and timing considerations following the lengthy government shutdown and the large volume of registration statements and other filings requiring prompt staff attention.” It just happens to coincide with Atkins saying there shouldn't be shareholder proposals, that's just a coincidence.John Cheveddan and Jim McRitchie - let's be honest, if it weren't for Cheveddan and McRitchie over 3 decades, we'd have less shareholder rights, and companies would not be such big whiners about “woke” shareholder proposals. Guys, you ruined it for all of us with your attention to democracy.Woke ESG shareholders like As You Sow, Arjuna, Trillium, and nuns - if we're honest, the nuns and SRI crowd might have been the straw, right? I mean they're putting in proposals that MAKE Exxon sue them! How dare they ask for carbon scope 3 emissions data!Antiwoke shareholders like NCPPR and Jesus - excluding Cheveddan/McRitchie, the highest volume of shareholder proposals have actually been the ANTI-woke filers, asking for things like a report on how companies will stop funding trans conversions (or one actual one where they asked about the reputational risk of NOT supporting un-trans-ing). Some of the proposals are so comically stupid, but the companies have to respond using third party lawyers and do the whole thing - maybe National Legal whatever center for whatever is the REAL straw?ISS and Glass Lewis - this was like 90% of what they did, since they certainly didn't suggest voting against any directors unless an activist was involved. So when Ramaswamy and Musk and DeSantis and Texas declared proxy advisors woke activists, it was hard to deny since they didn't do any work to vote out directors - just offer customers whatever voting pablum they wantedBlackRock and investors who never voted anywayOther - Atkins and Manhattan institute - lobbyists, administrationPepsi to cut product offering nearly 20% in deal with $4 billion activist ElliottPepsiCo said it also plans to accelerate the introduction of new offerings with simpler and more functional ingredients, including Doritos Protein and Simply NKD Cheetos and Doritos, which contain no artificial flavors or colors. The company also recently introduced a prebiotic version of its signature cola..WHO DO YOU BLAME?Pepsi CEO Ramon Laguarta - CEO since 2018, 21% influence, 43% connected to the board (so they're basically all known entities), has overseen basically zero shareholder value increase in the last 5 years, overall .513 TSR batting average - what has he been doing? Did he put a sign on the door begging an activist to come hang?Activist Elliott Management - Paul Singer is notorious as a real foodie… wait, no, sorry, he's known as a “vulture capitalist” who helped oust Jack Dorsey from Twitter because he didn't want him to hang in Africa, but was happy to have Elon Musk (who has five jobs) take it over. In 2021, he did take a 3% stake in Ahold Delhaize, a grocery store owner, so he's probably had a protein shake sprinkled on Doritos before?Pepsi's board - first of all, it's 14 people, which is like 7 people too many. Second - 4 finance types? Two pharma/med types? There are more people who know medicine than food - only ONE agribusiness repped on the board (Bunge) with the only other food production from Pepsi or ex-Pepsi execs? There are three directors on the nom committee with 10+ years on the board, and the other two have.. 9 years. Vasella has been there 23 years - time for some turnover.Roberto P. Martínez (International Chief Commercial Officer and CEO of New Revenue Streams) and Tara Glasgow (Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer) - someone needs to be held responsible for Doritos Protein and Simply NKD CheetosJimmy Kimmel signs ABC extension through 2027Most of Kimmel's recent renewals have been multiyear extensions. There was no immediate word on whose choice it was to extend his current contract by one year.WHO DO YOU BLAME?Bob Iger - he yanked Kimmel to kiss Brendan Carr's ass and the affiliates, then put him back on when subscribers cancelled, then convinced affiliates to re-air, all because Kimmel said conservatives really didn't want Kirk's killer to be conservative? Now Kimmel is EXTENDED? It has to be the dumbest series of events since “Don't Say Gay” bill in Chapek's era, right?Disney's board - these are well known directors in the bag for Iger, and Iger would not even be CEO again if not for them. Susan Arnold, who at the time had more influence on the board than Iger, was chair of the nominating committee, had Mel Lagomasino and Derica Rice on with her, all went with Iger's hand picked choice of Bob Chapek. Arnold left the board, but both Rice and Lagomasino stayed behind to help choose… Bob Iger to return? Then brought on James Gorman, who hand picked HIS successor, to lead succession with Bob Iger again? Is anyone doing a job on this board? ISS - when Nelson Peltz took his Ike Perlmutter borrowed stake in Disney in 2024, ISS sided with Peltz and suggested voting out Mel Lagamasino because she was the longest tenured director and “responsible” for Disney's failed succession. In 2025, after Peltz lost and no one cared, ISS backed Lagamasino. With analysis like that, it's no wonder Disney can bow to the Trump Administration since there's no way ISS will actually suggest changing the board unless an old racist takes a stake.Brendan Carr - is this just a finger in the eye of Carr, the FCC, and the angry conservative affiliates by Iger? Is this Disney's way of being woke now?Other - Baby Doll Dixon, Jimmy Kimmel's agent - should have gotten him a 10 year deal with a player option out. Optically way better, gets bought out if they fire him.Trump says Netflix, WBD deal could be 'problem' as son-in-law Kushner backs Paramount bid“I'll be involved in that decision too,” Trump said days after Netflix agreed to buy WBD's film studiosParamount revealed in a regulatory filing that its hostile bid for WBD bid is being backed by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who is a former White House advisor - and every Middle Eastern sovereign fund, as well as over $40bn by Larry Ellison (and David Ellison committed to spend more in a text to co-CEO Ted SarandosWHO DO YOU BLAME?Larry Ellison - without daddy's $40bn (and more - what's $40bn when you have $269bn in net worth and own an island in Hawaii), there is no deal - literally no deal, this is pure nepo - THE OLIGARCHYMiddle Eastern sovereign funds - I mean, they're involved in EVERY major deal of a conservative figure (Musk/Twitter, Musk/Grok, Ellison/Paramount, Ellison/TikTok, Trump/Air Force One) and are backing another consolidation. Is this the greatest capitalist manipulation ever? Dictator capitalism?Robby Starbuck - he claimed “victory” in the Skydance acquisition terms for killing DEI at Paramount, used the opportunity to lick the boot of Brendan Carr, who is almost guaranteed to investigate Netflix given their wokeness. Somehow it's all Robby Starbuck's fault, right?WBD chair Sam Di Piazza - a near lifer at PwC as an accountant until he want to Citi as an i-banker for a stint, served on AT&T's board… an ACCOUNTANT is running the show! No one has heard of him, he's not in any of the news, but ostensibly he (and the board) approved the Netflix deal after dealing with Baby Ellison. The board is the only group that gets all the bids, compares them, and ultimately decides what to agree on and send to shareholders. If they chose Baby Ellison to avoid him throwing a temper tantrum to daddy, there's no hostile takeover and conservatives can rejoice in owning all of media, right? Snap appoints Arlo CEO Matthew McRae to board of directorsPrior to his current role as CEO of Arlo Technologies, which he has held since August 2018, McRae served as Senior Vice President of Strategy at NETGEAR and as Chief Technology Officer at VIZIO for over seven yearsWHO DO YOU BLAME?Evan Spiegel - he owns 53.1% of voting power - there is no one else to blameRobert Murphy - he owns 46.4% of voting power - what if he doesn't like Matt McRae? Do they resort to a thumb war? Who are we kidding, it's still Evan Spiegel's faultInvestors, who, for whatever reason, have OK'ed the idea of dual class shares such that Spiegel and Murphy own 99.5% of the voting power and less than 8% of the economic interest - while Fidelity owns 14.6% of the shares that control 0% of the overall vote. It was banned from index inclusion because the shares had NO voting rights - but somehow Meta is ALLOWED on every index because you have voting rights even if you can NEVER EVER WIN as Zuck owns control. What's the fucking difference??Worst CEOs of the Year Evan Spiegel of Snap

First things first: David and Nilay are both having some TV problems, and they need to talk it out. But then they get to the news of the week, including Samsung's new extra-foldy foldable phone, and a big change in the design departments at both Apple and Meta. What does it all say about the future of smart glasses? After that, the hosts talk through why Sam Altman declared a code red inside of OpenAI in order to redirect focus to ChatGPT — and whether the technology that has made all these products possible is actually the right technology moving forward. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, recap season, "dear algo," and thermostats. Further reading: Samsung's Z TriFold is official and it looks like a tablet with a phone attached  Huawei tris again.  Huawei's first trifold is a great phone that you shouldn't buy  Apple's head of UI design is leaving for Meta  Apple AI chief steps down following Siri setbacks  Louie Mantia's blog post about Dye Zuck's post about the new team Linux usage on Steam hits a record high for the second month in a row  OpenAI declares ‘code red' as Google catches up in AI race  OpenAI just made another circular deal  Anthropic's AI bubble ‘YOLO' warning  Anthropic's racing OpenAI to go public  Normalizing extraterrestrial data centers I tested five AI browsers and lost my mind in the process The AI boom is based on a fundamental mistake Ilya Sutskever – We're moving from the age of scaling to the age of research FCC boss Brendan Carr claims another victory over DEI as AT&T drops programs First there was nothing, then there was Hoto and Fanttik This new Honeywell Home smart thermostat can answer your Ring doorbell Spotify Wrapped 2025 turns listening into a competition  YouTube introduces its own version of Spotify Wrapped for videos  Amazon Music Delivered puts your top tunes on a festival poster.  Google Photos Recap will tell you how many selfies you took this year “Dear algo.”  Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Story of the Week (DR):Netflix to Buy Warner Bros. in $83 Billion Deal to Create a Streaming GiantThe deal to acquire the Hollywood giant's television and film studios as well as HBO Max will bulk up the world's biggest paid streaming service.The acquisition is expected to close after Warner Bros. Discovery carves out its cable unit, which the companies expected be completed by the third quarter of 2026. That means there will be a separate public company controlling channels like CNN, TNT and Discovery.Trump administration views Netflix and Warner Bros. deal with ‘heavy skepticism,' senior official saysThe New York Post on Thursday reported that, “Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison met with Trump officials and key lawmakers in Washington DC on Wednesday to press his case against Warner Bros. Discovery's potential selection of Netflix as its merger partner.”Costco is poking the Trump bear MMBig public companies have mostly treated President Donald Trump with kid gloves during his second term. They've quietly avoided conflict while seeking favor with ornate gifts, large donations to his pet projects and strategic deployments of CEOs to the Oval Office.That's what made Costco's decision last week to sue the Trump administration so shocking.Costco filed a lawsuit that contends Trump overstepped his emergency powers by imposing sweeping tariffs – and claimed the company is due a refund.Biden commerce secretary to join Costco board as company sues over Trump's tariffsCostco board now 50/50Gina Raimondo led the agency responsible for crafting U.S. trade policy during all four years of Democrat Joe Biden's presidency.Rhodes Scholar Raimondo led Biden's Commerce Department; former governor of Rhode Island (2015-2021)AT&T Commits to Drop DEI Programs and GoalsIn the letter, AT&T makes a series of commitments, including stating that:“AT&T does not and will not have any roles focused on DEI”“we removed training related to “diversity, equity and inclusion” as well as any references to it from our internal and external messaging”“It is AT&T's longstanding practice to pay and advance individuals based on merit and qualification”From Brendan Carr's tweet: NEW on DEI: AT&T has now memorialized its commitment to ending DEI-related policies in an FCC filing and “will not have any roles focused on DEI.” This follows the big changes @robbystarbuck already announced earlier this year.AT&T promised the government it won't pursue DEI. FCC commissioner warns it will be a ‘stain to their reputation long into the future'Anna Gomez, the sole Democrat on the FCC: “AT&T's reversal isn't a sudden transformation of values, but a strategic financial play to curry favor with this FCC/Administration. Companies should remember that abandoning fairness and inclusion for short-term gain will be a stain to their reputation long into the future.”AT&T eliminates DEI programs, says hiring and advancement will now be merit-basedZillow Doesn't Care If Climate Change Destroys Your New HomeThe real estate platform recently removed climate risk scores from its listings—a potentially ruinous development for some buyers.Classified board; co-founders/co-Executive Chairs Lloyd D. Frink 36% and Richard N. Barton (Netflix; Qurate Retail) 40%10 votes per share of Class B common stock55% voting power; less than 12% economic interestCombined $83M in pay over last 3 years; primarily optionsGender Influence Gap (-23%): April Underwood 2%; Amy C. Bohutinsky 2% (former Zillow COO and CMO); Claire Cormier Thielke 1%LT directorsCompensation committee chair Jay Hoag (2005-)!Netflix, TripAdvisor, Peloton 65%Audit committee chair Greg Maffei (2005-)Qurate Retail, Charter Communications; Live Nation Entertainment; TripAdvisor; Liberty Broadband; SiriusXMAlso: Erik Blachford (2005-); Gordon Stephenson (2005-)Also: CEO Jeremy Wacksman and earnings underperformer: J. William Gurley (Stitch Fix .094 earnings; Nextdoor .010 earnings)Goodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Melinda French Gates slams billionaires who aren't giving away enough of their wealthThere are more billionaires than ever — and they have almost $16 trillionMM: Billionaire heads on robot dogs pooping photos go viral at major Miami art fair MMAssholiest of the Week (MM):The “arrogant pricking” of CEOsPalantir CEO Alex Karp defends being an ‘arrogant prick'—and says more CEOs should be, tooIn Karp's worldview, “arrogance” is a necessary survival mechanism for a leader who intends to be right even when it is unpopular.“The only people who pay the price for being wrong in this culture, in complete fashion, are poor people,” Karp said. “The rest of us somehow outsource all the times we're wrong and stupid to the whole society.”Meanwhile, we're now hearing from Sundar Pichai (who's trying Cassandra on for size), never ending diatribes from Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and everyone else with a 6000x CEO pay ratio… “Merit based” ass kissingAT&T eliminates DEI programs, says hiring and advancement will now be merit-basedFCC boss Brendan Carr claims another victory over DEI as AT&T drops programsSo how "merit-based" is the board? Top knowledge: economics (useful for phones... somehow...). Team TSR performance: 0.482 (where 0.500 is the average return for a board). Controversies performance is an excellently horrible 0.204, with CEO John Stankey as one of the worst performers... ON EARTH at 0.028 (meaning, he's in the worst 3% of all people on boards for controversies facing their companies). For most of the board, it matters more to be connected than good.Replacing government safety nets with billionaire whims DRJeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos commit $102.5 million to organizations combatting homelessness across the U.S.: ‘This is just the beginning'Sánchez Bezos recounted meeting families benefiting from local organizations to which the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund offered grants… she met one woman who had been kicked out of her home with her infant daughter, but the organization took her in for the night, gave them a bed with sheets and a locked door. “It brought tears to my eyes seeing this little baby and seeing her flourish,” Sánchez Bezos said. “Selfishly, it fills my heart meeting these families. It really, really does.”Michael and Susan Dell to donate $6.25 billion to fund 'Trump accounts' for 25 million U.S. kidsHeadliniest of the WeekDR: Zuckerberg Basically Giving Up on Metaverse After Renaming Entire Company “Meta”DR: Nvidia CFO admits the $100 billion OpenAI megadeal ‘still' isn't signed—two months after it helped fuel an AI rallyNvidia CFO Colette Kress told investors that the much-hyped OpenAI partnership is still at the letter-of-intent stage: “We still haven't completed a definitive agreement,” Kress said when asked how much of the 10-gigawatt commitment is actually locked in. That's a striking clarification for a deal that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang once called “the biggest AI infrastructure project in history.MM: Children Sob as Waymo Runs Over DogWho Won the Week?DR: CostcoMM: Robot dogsPredictionsDR: Based on this headline (Jamie Dimon Once Called Bitcoin a ‘Fraud.' Now, JPMorgan Is Quietly Making Blockchain History and Betting This ‘Crypto Winter' Will Be Short-Lived), Jamie decides to invest in Volcano-Powered NFT Mining FarmsMM: Costco will start selling a new kind of robot dog (they already sell one) that has Gina Raimando and Jeffrey Raikes face and poops out pictures of Howard Lutnick

Joining me today is Derrick Broze, here to discuss his recent series, The Technocratic Trump Administration, as well as his latest update on the Fluoride Lawsuit—regarding the Trump administration's efforts to continue appealing the historic ruling that would help Make America Healthy Again. We unpack the confounding and hypocritical actions of Trump's cabinet around both topics, and how the partisan base supporting any politician in the two-party illusion is used to gaslight and "flood the zone." We also dive into the current status of the Epstein debacle, and the ever-growing control grid being built around us. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v703jre","div":"rumble_v703jre"}); Source Links: The Last American Vagabond Derrick Broze, Author at The Last American Vagabond The Pyramid of Power Crowdsource Effort! - The Conscious Resistance Network The Pyramid Of Power - The Pyramid of Power Crowdsource Effort! - The Conscious Resistance Network New Tab (22) Catherine Herridge on X: "Straight to the Point Exclusive: FBI Director Kash Patel @FBIDirectorKash said FBI is working with DOJ to meet the Epstein Files Transparency Act 30 day deadline to produce records. Herridge: "So, more charges are possible in the Epstein case? Director Patel: Based on the https://t.co/gnMVAQJXmR" / X New Tab Fluoride Lawsuit Plaintiffs Push Back Against Trump EPA In Ongoing Litigation x.com/michaelpconnett/status/1990527499789644105 Fluoride Trial Archives - The Last American Vagabond Trump's EPA Continues Biden Admin Appeal of Historic Fluoride Ruling Is Trump's EPA Planning to Continue the Appeal of the Historic Fluoride Ruling? New Tab The Technocratic Trump Administration The Technocratic Trump Administration: The Public-Private Partnership The Technocratic Trump Administration: Pressuring and Consolidating the Media FCC chair Brendan Carr leads Trump's charge against the media : NPR The Technocratic Trump Administration: The Zionist Infiltration Expands Launching the Genesis Mission – The White House (21) No Election Integrity No Republic on X: "Can you imagine the Influencers' outcry if Alejandro Mayorkas had announced this?" / X (21) Disclose.tv on X: "NOW - DOE Secretary Chris Wright says Trump's Genesis Mission is "an all-in national effort to take the power of AI and pair it with the 40,000 outstanding scientists and engineers at our national labs." https://t.co/4pnCzdKrKg" / X (21) Jason Bassler on X: "Flock Safety's CEO Garrett Langley just called the transparency activists at https://t.co/7vYVNCDLR6 “terrorists.” So, if mapping cameras is "terrorism"… what do we call mass surveillance of millions of innocent drivers? https://t.co/eEVbk7Sn5X" / X The Impending Future Of AI-Government - But Who Controls The AI? Unquenchable Thirst – Texas Data Centers Consume 50 Billion Gallons Of Water As State Grapples With Historic Drought Trump's Warp Speed, CDC's Jim O'Neill, Transhumanism & Gaza "Freedom Cities" (Technocratic Dystopia) GAZA-Great-Trust-Plan.pdf New Tab US Border Patrol Is Spying on Millions of American Drivers | WIRED Border Patrol monitors US drivers and detains Americans for ‘suspicious' travel | AP News New Tab Trump Says Calls For Military To Resist Unlawful Orders "Seditious" & DC Deployment Ruled Illegal (21) The Last American Vagabond on X: "This, as his administration begins to investigate the politicians who posted the video reinforcing that it's legal to refuse unlawful orders. This government is the laughing stock of the world. Not sure if that's deliberate or not, but I strongly consider it. #TwoPartyIllusion" / X DHS Lies About Detaining/Deporting US Citizens & Trump Reportedly Readying To Attack Venezuela (8) Aaron Reichlin-Melnick on X: "This story is WILD. Witnesses saw a man get detained by DHS six weeks ago. A friend detained with him saw him have a medical incident while detained and get taken out by an ambulance. Then he disappeared. DHS says they have no record of him. No hospital either. He's just… gone. https://t.co/5YD5maV8HU" / X (8) Aaron Reichlin-Melnick on X: "ICE went to a court in Rhode Island to arrest someone, misidentified their target and ended up surveilling a random Latino intern, and then threated to break a judge's car windows and were only stopped when court security intervened and asked them to calm down and look at IDs. https://t.co/6BAAZvpjnK" / X (9) LongTime

Like it or not, you may not be able to avoid the AI agents for long. David and Nilay discuss the ways Microsoft is pushing agents to practically every corner of Windows, and where Google plans to put Gemini 3 now that it's confident it makes the best model. After that, the hosts dig into the ruling in Meta's monopoly case, which has a lot to say about TikTok — and about the state and future of the internet. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for an extra-long Brendan Carr is a Dummy, some thoughts on domain names, and a quick Boox screen test. Further reading: Google cracked Apple's AirDrop and is adding it to Pixel phones Talking to Windows' Copilot AI makes a computer feel incompetent Microsoft is turning Windows into an ‘agentic OS,' starting with the taskbar Microsoft Agent 365 lets businesses manage AI agents like they do people  Screw it, I'm installing Linux Google is launching Gemini 3, its ‘most intelligent' AI model yet  Google Antigravity is an ‘agent-first' coding tool built for Gemini 3  Google's AI Mode can now help you visualize your travel plans  Google Gemini is getting better at identifying AI fakes | The Verge Google's Nano Banana AI image model goes Pro and is free to try | The Verge Meta is not a monopolist, judge rules FTC v. Meta: the antitrust battle over Instagram and WhatsApp  Inside the courthouse reshaping the future of the internet Europe is scaling back its landmark privacy and AI laws  Here's the Trump executive order that would ban state AI laws  Republicans are looking for a way to bring back the AI moratorium Brendan Carr's FCC launches probe into BBC's Trump edit | The Verge The FCC wants to roll back steps meant to stop a repeat of a massive telecom hack | The Verge Matter 1.5 brings camera support at last — here's what it means for your smart home  MSNBC's website is now MS.NOW  Future Google TV devices might come with a solar-powered remote  Disney loses bid to block Sling TV's one-day cable passes  Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The DoorDash problem just became Amazon's problem. Perplexity's Comet browser is allegedly stealthily shopping on the internet's largest mall, and the folks in Seattle want it to stop. It's just one example of the fast-moving power dynamics on the internet, as AI companies try to change the way we search, shop, and do everything else. Lots of companies are not going to settle for being dumb databases, and Nilay and David discuss how this fight might play out. After that, the hosts talk about the reports of an impending cheaper Mac with an iPhone chip, and whether that might mark Apple's true return to consumer laptops — or be something else entirely. Finally, in the lightning round, they talk Brendan Carr, late-night shows, party speakers, and sonic logos. Lots and lots of sonic logos. Further reading: Amazon and Perplexity have kicked off the great AI web browser fight  WEB WAR III  Apple is planning to use a custom version of Google Gemini for Apple Intelligence  OpenAI launches its Sora app on Android  Perplexity is going to power AI search in Snapchat.  Easier access to AI Mode, if that's your thing.  Google Gemini's Deep Research can look into your emails, drive, and chats  Google Maps taps Gemini AI to transform into an ‘all-knowing copilot'  Amazon is building Alexa Plus into its Music app  The AI industry is running on FOMO  Apple is reportedly working on a cheaper Mac laptop with an iPhone chip  iOS 26.1 lets you tweak Liquid Glass, and it's out now  YouTube wants a piece of the late-night TV pie.  Apple TV's new name now comes with a new sound  Brendan Carr votes to eliminate cybersecurity requirements Epic and Google agree to settle their lawsuit and change Android's fate globally  I'm amused by how Google is complying with the Epic injunction.  xAI used employee biometric data to train Elon Musk's AI girlfriend  Into the Huluverse: The sonic evolution of Hulu Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 If you want to understand the full spectrum of AI software, from "straightforward problem-solving tool" to "never-ending slop machine," all you need to do is pay attention to everything Adobe launched at its conference this week. David and Nilay run through the news, which will change how people use Photoshop but also maybe change our social feeds forever. After that, they talk about OpenAI's conversion to a for-profit business, and specifically the truly wild way OpenAI and Microsoft talk about the future of AGI. Finally, in the lightning round, they discuss Brendan Carr, Cybertrucks, the Trump Phone, Ghost Posts, and more. Help us improve The Verge: Take our quick survey at theverge.com/survey. Further reading: ⁠Photoshop and Premiere Pro's new AI tools can instantly edit your work ⁠ ⁠You can tell Adobe Express's new AI assistant to edit designs for you⁠ ⁠Adobe's AI social media admin is here with ‘Project Moonlight' ⁠ ⁠Mark Zuckerberg is excited to add more AI content to all your social feeds⁠ ⁠Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg defends AI spend: 'We're seeing the returns'⁠ ⁠OpenAI completed its for-profit restructuring — and struck a new deal with Microsoft ⁠  ⁠The next chapter of the Microsoft–OpenAI partnership⁠ ⁠OpenAI lays groundwork for juggernaut IPO at up to $1 trillion valuation | Reuters⁠ ⁠OpenAI has an AGI problem — and Microsoft just made it worse ⁠ ⁠OpenAI made ChatGPT better at sifting through your work information ⁠ ⁠Sam, Jakub, and Wojciech on the future of OpenAI with audience Q&A⁠ ⁠The Kingmaker | WIRED⁠ ⁠Congratulations to the Tesla Cybertruck on its 10th recall.⁠ ⁠Trump℠ Mobile | All-American Performance. Everyday Price. $47.45/Month⁠ ⁠Threads is getting disappearing posts ⁠ ⁠Ads will arrive on Samsung Family Hub smart fridges next month. ⁠ ⁠The FCC is going after broadband nutrition labels. ⁠ ⁠Brendan Carr is a Dummy⁠ ⁠Bending Spoons is buying AOL for some reason ⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Democrats on the Hill are hitting back after ABC suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" indefinitely. They've introduced the No Political Enemies (or NOPE) Act, a bill that would protect people targeted for political speech, and called for the resignation of Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr, whose comments targeting Kimmel came just hours before ABC pulled the show. To learn more about what Democrats are doing to protect free speech amid President Trump's crackdown — while working to avoid a potential government shutdown  — we spoke to Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin.And in headlines, the Senate confirms a whopping 48 of Trump's nominees all at once, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s handpicked vaccine advisory council makes a change to the childhood vaccine schedule, and Trump disagrees with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer — while standing next to him.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.