Uncanny Valley | WIRED WIRED Roundup: Zuckerberg’s Illegal School, Nepal’s Discord Revolution, Fandom in Politics
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Nov 7, 2025 
In this discussion, Leah Feiger, Senior Politics Editor at WIRED, dives into some intriguing stories. She exposes how Mark Zuckerberg's illegal school faced years of neighbor complaints. The conversation shifts to the controversial pardon of Changpeng Zhao, exploring its political implications. Leah also highlights the rise of digital protests in Nepal, driven by Discord and social media. Finally, they analyze recent Democratic victories, emphasizing how fandom and volunteer networks played a pivotal role in reshaping election outcomes.
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Zuckerberg’s Backyard School Drama
- Mark Zuckerberg operated a school called the Bicken Benz School out of his Palo Alto compound without the required permits.
- Neighbors documented years of construction, security, and parking disruptions and felt the city gave Zuckerberg preferential treatment.
Documents Reveal A Messy Timeline
- Caroline Haskins obtained 1,665 pages of documents revealing a long pattern of neighbor complaints and unclear timelines about when the school opened.
- Records conflict on the school's start date and neighbors say operations began years before official listings.
CZ’s Pardon Shakes Crypto Regulation
- President Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao after CZ pled guilty in 2023 to sanctions and money-laundering failures.
- The pardon raises conflict-of-interest concerns and unsettles industry plans about Binance's U.S. return.