Rocket

We’re talking TikTok WAIT NO we’re talking the SEC fining Justin Sun and numerous celebrities spokespeople for cryptocurrency shenanigans! Then, it’s sadly time to bid goodbye to DPReview, the beloved camera website. Meanwhile, we never even got to say hello to Tax Heaven 3000, a dating sim/tax filing software that Steam yanked unceremoniously this week — or did they?

Tonight’s special guest is The Verge’s senior writer Elizabeth Lopatto, to discuss what else but: THE COLLAPSE OF SILICON VALLEY BANK. She’s a pragmatic, expert voice to walk all of us through a confusing and dramatic weekend, and she knows what we should be keeping an eye on next. Then, Brianna and Simone discuss the existence of the moon, and Scream 6!

Simone is back but still dying of Italian respiratory diseases. Still, we’re in for a high-energy show! Let’s talk about Google’s forays into AI — are they behind Microsoft, or will their years of research put them out ahead in the end? Then, a Spotify redesign threatens to make the app more visually similar to TikTok. Is Spotify doing something smart or overextending itself? Finally, Christina explains one of the biggest financial scams in recent memory.

This week on Rocket, Simone kissed too many Italians, so Brianna and Christina are running amok. They talk about the new ChatGPT API and the potential it could have on different startups and industries, the risky bets Binance made with its customer’s money (without telling them) and Elizabeth Holmes’ latest attempt to get out of jail, thus saving Christina $500.

This week on Rocket, Simone is in Italy, so Brianna and Christina are joined by special guest Alex Cranz! They discuss some important technology cases in front of the Supreme Court, Meta’s new plan for verified Facebook and Instagram accounts, and finally wrap things up with some delicious dirt about the most successful show on TV that you don’t watch, but your parents definitely do, Yellowstone.

This week on Rocket, the word of the day is ENGAGEMENT! Elon Musk has ordered Twitter engineers to boost engagement of his own Tweets. So that’s normal! Meanwhile, how are things going over on Mastodon? There’s some kerfuffle in the tech world over growth on the platform(s). Brianna and Christina discuss their own experience with the decentralized social network. Finally, Marcin Wichery joins us to discuss his history of keyboards, Shift Happens!

Microsoft and Google have got it and they’re flaunting it. It being AI-POWERED SEARCH. How’s is going, and what are the benefits and concerns? Then, a Right to Repair bill has passed in New York State — but by the time it was signed it had been somewhat defanged by corporate lobbyists. What does it mean for Right to Repair more broadly? For dessert we have Jason Torchinsky and Matt Hardigree of The Autopian calling in to tell us about the hot new independent automotive news site — and illegal engines.

Tesla is coming under fire for misleading customers with its self-driving promises. Does the case hold any water, and what are the consequences if Tesla is found guilty? Plus, deepfake pornography could (and SHOULD!) be taken to the courtroom as well. Finally — what are Netflix's proposed password sharing rules anyway?

Longtime Twitter users are cast into mourning as Twitter cuts off API access for third-party clients. Many of those apps are beloved by Twitter's power users and built the site that we know and love — love? Is that the right word? — today. Then, furor online over the reveal that CNET has long been using AI to write select financial articles, and that over half those articles had factual errors. How does something like this happen? Finally, two of Rocket's favorite scamsters are making big comebacks.

In an action-packed show, we're talking about the REVIVAL OF THE HOMEPOD. Yes folks, she's BACK and she's ready to woof. The Mac Mini is also here, and Christina has a very compelling case for its existence. Meanwhile, Logan Paul has apologized to a popular YouTuber for calling him a liar and a criminal! But it's not all good news for his CryptoZoo… schemes. For dessert, a Forbes 30 Under 30 alum takes on JP Morgan Chase. And not in a good way.

The FAA has had a massive outage, and there are rumors about a design change that would make MacBooks — and maybe iMacs? — incredibly exciting. Plus, what's up with Logan Paul's second alleged crypto pump-and-dump? SERIOUSLY?

We're all BACK on the hot mic and talking about our best and worst scams, products, and purchases of 2022. Who still has a LastPass subscription? Who believes in FTX? Who loves to throw money down the Apple well? You'll find it all out here, in the awards show that has, possibly, our MOST unanimous nominations EVER.

CLIP SHOW. Are there any two words that bring more joy to listener's hearts? That's right, this week, you'll be finding out how right (or wrong) we were about the Musk acquisition of Twitter by revisiting previous predictions. Plus, we revisit our exclusive interview with Bug from Spooky Games. Because Brianna will not rest until you buy Halloween too.

SBF is getting extradited, Elon Musk is acting up and we’re just about sick of it. Luckily Jake Adelstein is here to chat about Tokyo Vice, his life as a crime reporter, and his new podcast — about disappearances in Japan.

SBF has been indicted so we're ranking him on our tier list of people who should face repercussions for their actions (S-tier). Then, an EU act threatens to require Apple to allow sideloading apps on iOS. Who stands to benefit, and who stands to suffer? Finally, Brianna and Simone discuss their favorite games of the year.

ChatGPT is taking the internet by storm, and Apple is launching a powerful new encryption option. Also, Taylor Swift REALLY dodged a bullet, y'all.

This week on Rocket, the BAD BOYS OF TECH are all over the news! Elon Musk? He's fighting Apple! Sam Bankman Fried? He's giving ill-advised interviews at Dealbook Summit! All these bad boys and more are the subject of this week's show, so tune in to get the lowdown on Bad Boys near you. (Nearness of Bad Boys is not a guarantee and the hosts of Rocket take no responsibility for your ability to access Bad Boys of Tech. Much like SBF, we don't know anything about commingling.)

We're revisiting FTX and what we've learned since last week's recording about the goings-on chez team FTX. Then, Bob Iger is back at Disney! The stock market is optimistic — can he make the magic happen again? Last but not least, let's dish about Mastodon. In the wake of Twitter's slow implosion, many people have moved over to the decentralized social network — and Christina has some opinions.

FTX has collapsed so spectacularly over the last couple weeks. Let's start digging into the downfall of crypto's golden boy and a company that many thought was stable. Then, it's a dip into what the heck is going on at Twitter. It ain't good! Writer Alanis King joins us to discuss her book written with Elizabeth Blackstock, Racing with Rich Energy. It tells the story of the rise and fall of one of F1's weirder sponsor scams, and it is Delicious.

This week on Rocket — TWIT TAKES OVER! Or, we take over TWiT! Leo Laporte was kind enough to have the whole Rocket gang on his show this week, where we talked at length about Elon Musk's ongoing chaos at Twitter, and Brianna ran a demented quiz for Leo and Christina.