Adi Robertson and Makena Kelly discuss the US v. Google antitrust trial and the FTC's lawsuit against Amazon. Liz Lopatto previews the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried. They speculate on the implications for the tech industry and the challenges faced by the judges. The podcast also delves into the super seating indictment and the upcoming trial involving the crypto industry.

Today on the flagship podcast of the console wars: 02:42 - David Pierce chats with Verge senior editor Tom Warren about the five-day trial between Microsoft and the FTC that will determine the future of its $68.7 billion proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.  FTC v. Microsoft: all the news from the big Xbox courtroom battle Has Xbox really lost the console wars?  Microsoft exec was ready to ‘go spend Sony out of business’ to strengthen Xbox 35:00 - Policy reporter Makena Kelly joins the show to explain what Congress is trying to do to address child safety online.  Texas bans kids from social media without parental consent New bill would add mandatory age verification to social networks 1:03:07 - The Verge’s Allison Johnson and Dan Seifert discuss our Google Pixel Fold review, and how it stacks up against other foldables and flippables.  Google Pixel Fold review: closing the gap  The Pixel Fold shows how far ahead Samsung’s folding phones are  Motorola Razr Plus review: the right moves Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The podcast discusses the FTC's antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, focusing on allegations of competition suppression and the potential impact on consumers and small businesses. It explores the future of the lawsuit, including the possibility of a settlement or federal courtroom trial. Lina Khan's work on Amazon and antitrust enforcement is highlighted, along with concerns about conservative approaches to regulation. The podcast also examines the challenges in antitrust litigation and the ongoing cases against Facebook and Google.

The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and David Pierce are joined by policy reporter Makena Kelly, who is on the ground in Washington for the House Energy and Commerce Committee's hearing on TikTok. Later, we dive into all the other news from this week, from Google's release of Bard to OpenAI's rapid expansion of ChatGPT. It was a big week.Further reading: TikTok ban hearing: all the news on the US’s crackdown on the video platform   TikTok bans deepfakes of nonpublic figures and fake endorsements in rule refresh Google opens early access to its ChatGPT rival Bard — here are our first impressions Google says its Bard chatbot isn't a search engine — so what is it?  Testing Google Bard: the chatbot doesn’t love me, but it’s still pretty weird Google and Microsoft’s chatbots are already citing one another in a misinformation shitshow Sundar Pichai expects that ‘things will go wrong’ with Bard Can AI generate a way to pay for itself? GitHub Copilot gets a new ChatGPT-like assistant to help developers write and fix code Mozilla.ai is a new startup created to build more open and trustworthy AI OpenAI is massively expanding ChatGPT’s capabilities to let it browse the web and more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This special episode dives deep on Taylor Swift, Ticketmaster, and how a handful of policy changes in the 1980s led to one firm so thoroughly dominating the live events business in the United States that Congress held a hearing in 2023, because Taylor Swift fans were so upset about antitrust law. That sentence is wild. We’re going to unpack all of this with the help of some experts. Here we go.Transcript:https://www.theverge.com/e/23409098Credits:Thanks so much to everyone who talked to us and shared their valuable insights for this episode including Dean Budnik, Florian Ederer, Russ Tannen, and Sandeep Vaheesan. And special thanks to Makena Kelly and Jake Kastrenakes. This episode was written and reported by Jackie McDermott and Owen Grove. It was produced by Jackie McDermott, Owen Grove, and Creighton DeSimone with help from Jasmine Lewis. It was edited by Callie Wright.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Verge's David Pierce and Makena Kelly discuss the Epic v. Google trial about the future of app stores. Liz Lopatto details her experience covering the Sam Bankman-Fried trial, talking about fraud and Sam's parents losing. Richard Lawler answers a Hotline question on Disney's new vision for ESPN with potential part ownership from the NBA, NFL and reveals how much ESPN pulls in.

US intelligence warns of Chinese interference through Tik Tok in the presidential election. Debate over bill to force Chinese owners to sell app. Can Beijing use social media to undermine American democracy? Would banning Tik Tok stop it? Analysis by BBC and Wired journalists.

Today on the flagship podcast of slightly inaccurate fitness trackers:02:15 - David Pierce and Makena Kelly chat about Ye buying Parler, as well as the other new set of apps and app owners entering the space.  Kanye West is buying ‘free speech platform’ Parler The ugly business logic behind Kanye West’s Parler acquisition 24:44 - Victoria Song and Dan Seifert return to the show for a smartwatch showdown between the Pixel Watch, the Apple Watch Series 8, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Google Pixel Watch review: it’s a smarter Fitbit Apple Watch Series 7 review: time and time again Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 review: if it only had a better battery We could all use a ‘This is Fine’ Focus mode 1:02:07 - Lastly, we return to the Vergecast Hotline to answer your burning tech questions.Fitbit Sense 2 review: it doesn’t make much sense1:14:55 - We explain why we still don't have chapters on The VergecastEmail us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you.We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey, and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Makena Kelly, a political analyst at WIRED, and Tim Marchman, a political commentator, dive into the chaos of the recent presidential debate. They discuss Trump's trendy conspiracies and Harris's bold debating style. The duo unpacks the implications of aggressive campaign tactics, from strategic mailings to social media's quirky narratives. Listeners will enjoy insights on major issues like nuclear policy and rising political memes that emerged from the debate aftermath. Their dynamic dialogue reveals the evolving landscape of American politics.

Makena Kelly, a senior reporter at WIRED covering tech and politics, teams up with Leah Feiger, a savvy social media influencer. They dive into how the Democratic National Convention rolled out the red carpet for creators, emphasizing their role in rallying youth support. The conversation highlights the shift from traditional journalism to influencer-led engagement, detailing exclusive parties and the strategy behind leveraging viral moments. They also discuss the impact of social media on political narratives and the challenges influencers face in maintaining accountability.