Close All Tabs

Yogi Hale Hendlin, an environmental philosopher and public health researcher, joins tech reporter Samantha Cole to discuss the alarming rise of high-tech disposable vapes. They delve into the environmental hazards posed by these devices, emphasizing their contribution to e-waste and pollution. Cole shares her personal experience with a touchscreen vape that integrates social media, while Hendlin explains the regulatory loopholes that allow these products to thrive. The conversation calls for a rethinking of consumption and disposal practices in our increasingly digital world.

Candice Lim, a journalist and co-host of ICYMI from Slate, joins the conversation to tackle some of the internet's wildest topics. They humorously dissect the trend of alpha male morning routine videos and the intricate dynamics within the Manosphere. The discussion turns to Hailey Bieber’s legal battles over viral content and Luigi Mangione’s controversy, shining a light on media responsibility. They also navigate the complexities of content moderation on platforms like Reddit, pondering the balance between free speech and responsible sharing.

Margaret O’Mara, a historian and professor at the University of Washington, delves into the rise of the 'broligarchy' — a blend of wealth, right-wing ideals, and anti-establishment fervor. She examines terms like techno-fascism and authoritarian technocracy, exploring their implications in today's political landscape. O'Mara links the shift in Silicon Valley's political affiliations to the influence of tech leaders on governance, critiquing techno-optimism and the evolving role of technology post-Obama. A fascinating insight into the crossroads of tech and power!

The term “broligarchy” refers to the Silicon Valley elite tech leaders who have accumulated vast amounts of wealth, power, and now, political control over the last quarter century. In the first of a two-part series, Morgan dives deep into one highly influential subset of this “broligarchy,” the so-called PayPal Mafia. Joined by The Guardian reporter Chris McGreal, we explore this group’s rise to political prominence, and look at some of its members' roots in an oppressive political regime. Guest: Chris McGreal, Reporter for The Guardian Further reading: “How the roots of the ‘PayPal mafia’ extend to apartheid South Africa” — Chris McGreal, The Guardian “‘White supremacists in suits and ties’: the rightwing Afrikaner group in Trump’s ear” — Chris McGreal, The Guardian “Is South Africa ‘confiscating land’, targeting some groups as Trump claims?” — Qaanitah Hunter, Al Jazeera Read the transcript hereWant to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at CloseAllTabs@KQED.orgYou can also follow us on InstagramCredits:This episode was reported and hosted by Morgan Sung. Our Producer is Maya Cueva. Chris Egusa is our Senior Editor. Additional editing by Jen Chien. Sound design by Maya Cueva and Chris Egusa. Original music by Chris Egusa, with additional music from APM. Mixing and mastering by Brendan Willard. Audience engagement support from Maha Sanad and Alana Walker. Katie Sprenger is our Podcast Operations Manager. Holly Kernan is our Chief Content Officer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, the Internet Archive has preserved our digital history. Lately, journalists and ordinary citizens have been turning to it more than ever, as the Trump administration undertakes an ideologically-driven purge of government websites.  But the Archive itself faces an existential threat. In this episode, Close All Tabs Senior Editor Chris Egusa joins Morgan to discuss his visit to the Internet Archive and its colorful founder Brewster Kahle, the legal battles that could shut it down permanently — and what losing it might mean for accountability and the preservation of history.Guest: Brewster Kahle, Founder of the Internet ArchiveFurther reading: Inside the $621 Million Legal Battle for the ‘Soul of the Internet’ – Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone Open Internet, web scraping, and AI: the unbreakable link — Julius Cerniauskas, TechRadar Musicians demand music labels drop their Internet Archive lawsuit — Ian Carlos Campbell, Engadget Read the transcript here.Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at CloseAllTabs@KQED.orgYou can also follow us on InstagramCredits:This episode was reported and hosted by Morgan Sung. Our Producer is Maya Cueva. Chris Egusa is our Senior Editor. Additional editing by Jen Chien. Original music and sound design by Chris Egusa, with additional music from APM. Mixing, mastering, and additional sound design by Brendan Willard. Audience engagement support from Maha Sanad and Alana Walker. Katie Sprenger is our Podcast Operations Manager. Holly Kernan is our Chief Content Officer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Self-driving Waymo robotaxis have become a familiar sight in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, but not everyone is happy about that. These “ghost-like” autonomous vehicles have made a lot of people uneasy, some even going as far as to vandalize the cars. But what’s behind this hostility? In this episode, Morgan speaks with Bloomberg journalist Ellen Huet and robot law professor Ryan Calo to explore the rise of Waymo vandalism and its roots in our collective anxiety over artificial intelligence. Guests: Ellen Huet, Features writer at Bloomberg News Ryan Calo, Professor of Law at University of Washington Further reading: Waymo’s Expansion Provokes Anxieties of AI Takeover – Ellen Huet, Bloomberg The next big robotaxi push is almost here — Harri Weber, Quartz  The Courts Can Handle the Deadly Uber Self-Driving Car Crash. But that doesn’t mean the law is ready for autonomous vehicles. — Ryan Calo, Slate Good Robot, Bad Robot: Dark and Creepy Sides of Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles, and AI — Jo Ann Oravec, Professor at the University of Wisconsin Read the transcript here.Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at CloseAllTabs@KQED.orgYou can also follow us on InstagramCredits:This episode was reported and hosted by Morgan Sung. It was produced and sound designed by Maya Cueva. Chris Egusa is our Senior Editor. Additional editing by Jen Chien. Original music by Chris Egusa, with additional music from APM. Audience engagement support from Maha Sanad and Alana Walker. Katie Sprenger is our Podcast Operations Manager. Holly Kernan is our Chief Content Officer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fortesa Latifi, a journalist and author, dives into the controversial realm of family vlogging. She sheds light on the emotional toll on child influencers, revealing the stark contrast between parental motivations and kids' mental health needs. They discuss recent documentaries that highlight the darker aspects of this industry and the urgent need for legal protections, such as the implications of SB 764. With insights from former child stars, they explore the impact of digital exposure on children's identity and privacy in an ever-connected world.

Taylor Lorenz, an internet culture expert and the author of "Extremely Online," joins to dissect the aftermath of TikTok's brief shutdown in the U.S. They explore the frenzy among users and the platform's shifting political landscape. Lorenz highlights TikTok's pivotal role in activism, especially for marginalized voices like those from Palestine, contrasting this with the conservative drift seen in other platforms. The conversation also delves into the challenges faced by creators and the broader implications for free speech in the digital age.

New episodes drop weekly starting February 26! Tech journalist Morgan Sung spends most of her day online—so you don’t have to. Each week, Morgan tackles a new topic that might seem niche on the surface but is destined to impact our lives—both online and off. She pulls from experts, creators, and history to add context to the trends and depth to the memes. And she’ll wrestle with as many browser tabs as it takes to explain the cultural moment we’re all collectively living. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode was originally published November 2, 2024. In this final episode of the Close All Tabs miniseries, host Morgan Sung examines the increasing power of social media influencers in politics. Joined by WIRED senior tech and politics writer Makena Kelly, Morgan dives into the growing tensions between influencers and traditional journalists and explores how “shadow money” is quietly flowing to influencers for political endorsements, keeping the public in the dark about who’s funding content.Read the transcript of this episode here.Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at podcasts@KQED.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices