699: TACO 2025

In this week’s “we told you so” edition, we kick things off with the latest AI faceplant—go ahead, Google “Is it 2025?” and try not to spit coffee on your keyboard. Meanwhile, over at Meta, Zuckerberg’s brilliant idea to loosen content moderation has, shocker, led to more harassment and violent content. Elsewhere in tech dystopia: Texas is trying to ground all minors off social media, Germany wants to slap a 10% tax on Silicon Valley, and Anthropic is handing out free search powers and a board seat to Netflix’s Reed Hastings. Because nothing says “trusted AI governance” like a guy who greenlit Love Is Blind.

But wait, crypto bros are having their own John Wick arc: a luxury townhouse, a missing wallet, and possibly an NYPD detective tangled in a real-life “crypto millionaire torture” flick. As if that isn’t enough, Trump Media is fundraising to buy $2.5B in Bitcoin—and DJT stock promptly nosedived. Also feuding this week: Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Grok, because nothing screams Christian values like rageposting at Elon’s AI. And speaking of Elon, he’s now in bed with Telegram to the tune of $300 million, which we’re sure won’t be a disinformation factory.

MEDIA CANDY is stacked: from the Murderbot diaries to a My Dinner with Andre rewatch, and yes, the Wheel of Time got axed after 3 seasons. Apps? Opera Neon is a UI fever dream, Starling Home Hub adds more smarts to your house, and WhatsApp finally arrives on iPad—welcome to 2016. In THE DARK SIDE, Dave Bittner brings the latest digital dirt, including the CIA’s bonkers Star Wars fan site op. And if you’re hitting the library, grab The AI Con or something more romantic—like Love, Sex and the Alien Apocalypse. Just be careful if you read that on public transit.

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Show notes at https://gog.show/699

FOLLOW UP

Don't Google "Is it 2025?" unless you want to laugh at the state of AI

IN THE NEWS

Facebook sees rise in violent content and harassment after policy changes

What we know about the NYC crypto kidnapping and torture case

Manhattan Crypto Kidnapping and Torture Case: What We Know

NYPD detective on Adams' security detail may be tied to crypto millionaire torture case: Sources

Judge denies bail to crypto investor charged with kidnapping and torturing man in posh NYC townhouse

Trump Media Raises Money to Buy $2.5 Billion in Bitcoin

Trump administration ramps up push as crypto ally

DJT shares drop after Trump Media announces bitcoin raise - CNBC

Texas is getting ready to ban social media for anyone under 18

Texas enacts age-verification law for app stores

Germany is considering a 10 percent digital service tax on US tech giants

EU regulators are investigating Pornhub and three other sites

Anthropic brings web search to free Claude users

Reed Hastings appointed to Anthropic's board of directors

Anthropic appoints Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings to board - CNBC

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings joins Anthropic's board | TechCrunch

RFK Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Report Cites Fake Studies

Marjorie Taylor Greene feuds with AI bot over her Christian cred

Telegram CEO announces $300 million partnership with Elon Musk's xAI and Grok

MEDIA CANDY

Murderbot

Long Way Home

Lilo and Stitch

Martha

‘The Wheel Of Time’ Canceled By Prime Video After 3 Seasons

Billy Joel Cancels Concerts Due to Brain Disorder

My Dinner with Andre

Grumpy Old Geeks Information on RocketReach

Schmactors with James Marsters, Mark Devine, and Jason DeFillippo

APPS & DOODADS

Opera Neon

Apple Reportedly Says ‘Screw It’ and Jumps From iOS 19 to iOS 26

Starling Home Hub

WhatsApp finally launches an official version for iPads

AT THE LIBRARY

The Essential Terry Pratchett

Good Omens TV Companion Misprint

The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want By: Emily M. Bender, Alex Hanna

Love, Sex and the Alien Apocalypse (First Contact) by Peter Cawdron

THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE

Dave Bittner

The CyberWire

Hacking Humans

Caveat

Control Loop

Only Malware in the Building

The CIA Secretly Ran a Star Wars Fan Site

LIVE: Kermit the Frog gives commencement speech at University of Maryland

Billy Joel - I've Loved These Days (Audio)

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