Slate Money - Digital Cash. IRL Wrenches.

This week: Trump continues to involve himself in the operations of large US companies. Felix Salmon, Elizabeth Spiers, and Emily Peck discuss this slide toward state capitalism, which seemingly goes against the GOP’s usual stance on government involvement in business. Then, so called “wrench attacks" are on the rise wherein wealthy crypto holders are being targeted with real life violence for their digital wallets. The hosts discuss NYMag’s cover story about a particularly wild crypto kidnapping and examine whether this type of wealth makes you more vulnerable. And finally, AI startup Perplexity has made a cheeky bid for Google's beloved Chrome browser. The hosts talk about what makes the free platform so valuable and whether Biden era anti-trust laws will force it to spin off from Google.

Emily’s Bat Story the Numbers Round: A Tourist Ended Up With a Wild Bat in Her Mouth — And Nearly $21,000 in Medical Bills

In the Slate Plus episode: Shamans at the Wedding? In This Economy?

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Podcast production by Jessamine Molli and Cheyna Roth.

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