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In something of a followup to our last episode about Elon Musk's playbook, today we're digging deeper into the comparison between Washington and Silicon Valley and what it tells us about DOGE. Johns Hopkins International Affairs professor Henry Farrell has been looking specifically at the concept of "blitzscaling", and this week he joins us on the podcast to talk about how Elon Musk and DOGE are bringing blitzscaling to government. "Blizscaling for Tyrants" on Substack: https://www.programmablemutter.com/p/blitzscaling-for-tyrants

Ryan Mac and Kate Conger, New York Times journalists and co-authors of 'Character Limit,' delve into Elon Musk's influence over both Twitter and U.S. governance. They analyze Musk's dubious management tactics, drawing unsettling parallels between his Twitter takeover and broader governmental practices. The discussion covers the challenges of misinformation, the evolving power dynamics in tech and politics, and the potential dangers of oversimplifying complex systems using Musk's approach. Their insights probe the implications of AI in governance and the shifting alignments of Silicon Valley with political power.

Mike McCue, founder of Flipboard and a former Twitter board member, discusses the shift towards decentralization in the digital world. He shares insights on his new app, Surf, designed to empower users on the open social web. The conversation dives into the importance of platforms like Blue Sky and Mastodon, the potential of decentralized protocols, and how they can reshape user experiences. McCue also touches on the role of AI in social media, advocating for user control over algorithms to foster authentic interactions.

We probably don't need to tell you that the current tariff situation is causing complete chaos in global supply chains, in large part due to the uncertainty — for all we know, the exact rules will have changed since this episode was recorded just yesterday. But we wanted to get some insight into the impact on small businesses, so this week we're joined by Jesse Vincent, co-founder of Keyboardio (makers of one of Mike's favorite keyboards, who recently wrote an open letter to their US customers), to talk about the challenge of running a business amidst Trump's tariff chaos. The open letter: https://shop.keyboard.io/blogs/news/an-open-letter-to-u-s-customers

Eric Goldman, a law professor specializing in online child safety, discusses the paradoxes of age verification laws. He critiques the 'segregate and suppress' strategy, arguing it overlooks privacy and security concerns. Goldman highlights that age verification often harms youth engagement, pushing users to unsafe alternatives. He stresses the diverse needs of children, advocating for more nuanced policies that prepare them for the realities of the internet. The conversation calls for collaboration among stakeholders to create effective regulations.

Many people don't think of reproductive health and reproductive rights as tech issues, but they very much are — moreso than ever in a post-Dobbs America. The internet is vital to communication and spreading information around reproductive health care, while abortion drugs are changing the very nature of what reproductive rights protect. This week we're joined by Elisa Wells and Amy Merrill, two of the cofounders of Plan C, a nonprofit that aims to make abortion pills available by mail across the US, for a discussion about looking at reproductive health through the lens of disruptive technology.

If you're a Techdirt reader, you're probably familiar with Senator Ron Wyden. In January, he released his new book It Takes Chutzpah, offering up a call for political boldness that feels even more relevant with every day that passes. This week, Senator Wyden joins Mike on the podcast to talk about the book and the political moment we find ourselves in.

In the digital age, attention is a resource — but if we can have a little slice of yours, we've got a great conversation about that very subject for you to listen to. This week, Mike is joined by journalist Chris Hayes to discuss his new book, The Siren's Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource, and examine just what's going on in the attention economy and where it might head in the future. The Siren's Call: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/719661/the-sirens-call-by-chris-hayes/

We recently announced the launch of Otherwise Objectionable, a brand new documentary podcast hosted by Mike in partnership with the Competitive Enterprise Institute, covering the history — and the vital importance — of Section 230. This week, we're featuring the entire debut episode right here on the Techdirt Podcast. Check it out, and subscribe to Otherwise Objectionable in your podcast app of choice.

David Enrich, business investigations editor for the New York Times and author of 'Murder the Truth', dives into the abuse of defamation laws aimed at silencing journalists. He discusses the chilling effects of legal threats on free speech and the vital role of the First Amendment. Enrich emphasizes the significance of landmark cases like New York Times v. Sullivan and the tumultuous Gawker saga. He also explores the rise of lawfare, its implications for media accountability, and the emotional toll on independent journalists fighting for their voices.