Uncanny Valley | WIRED
WIRED
Welcome to Uncanny Valley—an insider look at the people, power, and influence of Silicon Valley—where each week, WIRED’s writers and editors bring you original reporting and analysis about some of the biggest stories in tech.
On Tuesdays, The Big Interview with WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond in conversation with influential figures in culture, politics, business, science, and beyond for a discussion captured through the WIRED lens.
On Thursdays, WIRED writers and editors Zoë Schiffer, Brian Barrett and Leah Feiger add you to the Slack group thread to let you into what they’re hearing from sources in Silicon Valley and D.C, read you into what trends you should be watching for and how WIRED is thinking about it all.
On Tuesdays, The Big Interview with WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond in conversation with influential figures in culture, politics, business, science, and beyond for a discussion captured through the WIRED lens.
On Thursdays, WIRED writers and editors Zoë Schiffer, Brian Barrett and Leah Feiger add you to the Slack group thread to let you into what they’re hearing from sources in Silicon Valley and D.C, read you into what trends you should be watching for and how WIRED is thinking about it all.
Episodes
Mentioned books
47 snips
Nov 5, 2026 • 34min
How Elon Musk and Big Tech Poured Millions Into the Midterms, and Lost
Vittoria Elliott, a WIRED politics and technology policy writer; David Gilbert, a disinformation and extremism reporter; and Hugo Lowell, a Trump and White House correspondent, unpack Democrats’ surprising midterm sweep. They examine Trump’s blame game, Elon Musk’s $400 million spending spree, AI-powered political networks, voter backlash against data centers, the sudden silence of election deniers, and the uncertain 2028 field.
17 snips
Nov 3, 2026 • 40min
‘Our Risk, Their Reward’: Zohran Mamdani on AI and Data Centers
Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s Democratic Socialist mayor, discusses governing in the digital age. He explores data centers, AI’s energy and social costs, and limits for AI in schools. He also addresses creator-driven political communication, surveillance, synthetic media, Democratic Party reform, and policies aimed at working-class families.
43 snips
Oct 29, 2026 • 34min
How a Contractor's AI Agent Got Into the Pentagon; Anthropic’s Doomer IPO; ICE at the Polls?
A defense contractor’s AI agent slips into a secure Pentagon system, exposing sensitive data and credentials. Anthropic’s blockbuster IPO raises questions about staggering losses, concentrated revenue, existential-risk warnings, and an unprecedented compute bet. Meanwhile, volunteer networks prepare for possible ICE activity at polling places, amid fears of intimidation, misinformation, and voter suppression.
Oct 27, 2026 • 38min
UK Politician Jess Asato Got Deepfaked. Now She’s Taking xAI to Court
Jess Asato, a British Labour MP and former children’s- and domestic-abuse charity advocate, discusses becoming the target of abusive Grok-generated deepfakes. She details her GDPR lawsuit against xAI, the trauma faced by victims, gaps in platform accountability, and why democratic oversight and stronger protections for people’s likenesses are urgently needed.
21 snips
Oct 22, 2026 • 34min
Will Musk Give Your Kid a SpaceX Share?; Inside the Secret Nathan Fielder Interview
Katie Drummond, WIRED’s global editorial director and an accomplished interviewer, reveals the secrets behind her viral, NDA-shrouded Nathan Fielder conversation. They explore Fielder’s discomfort with interviews, the story told through his filmmaking, and WIRED’s reckoning with Theranos coverage. Plus, billionaire “public good” promises from Anthropic and Elon Musk, suspicious letters sent to election offices, and rising election distrust.
10 snips
Oct 20, 2026 • 40min
Sexual Assault Is a Free Speech Issue
Mary Anne Franks, a civil-rights and technology law professor who advocates for survivors of online abuse, examines image-based sexual abuse, misogynistic speech, doxing, and digital dehumanization. She explores how social media amplifies harassment, how free-speech rhetoric is selectively applied, and why journalism and accountability matter in protecting women’s voices.
10 snips
Oct 19, 2026 • 50min
From The Big Story: Nathan Fielder Tells Us Everything
Nathan Fielder, the Canadian comedian and filmmaker behind Nathan for You and The Rehearsal, discusses his secret film about Elizabeth Holmes. He explores protecting the film’s surprise, meeting Holmes through A24, and the mystery surrounding her relationship with Billy Evans. Fielder also reflects on performance, Silicon Valley’s culture of deception, appearing onscreen, and Holmes’s unexpected calls from prison.
65 snips
Oct 15, 2026 • 32min
Meta’s Muse Won’t Stop Sexting
Reece Rogers, a WIRED senior writer covering AI, privacy, software, and sexuality, tests Meta’s Muse and finds its productivity assistant eager to sext. They explore privacy, addiction, blackmail, and the unsettling contrast between its cuddly design and adult capabilities. Plus, hidden pro-AI political money, Apple’s underwhelming HomeView, and why men may overestimate their AI expertise.
55 snips
Oct 13, 2026 • 34min
Alex Gibney’s Elon Musk Documentary Has a Unique Perspective on Daddy Issues
Alex Gibney, the Oscar-winning investigative filmmaker behind Taxi to the Dark Side, discusses his new Elon Musk documentary. He explores Musk’s father Errol, a simulated interview, and the risks of challenging Musk’s persona. The conversation also examines Musk’s risk-taking, influence over Twitter and government, DOGE’s alleged performative cruelty, and the dangers of sensitive data being used for political messaging.
17 snips
Oct 8, 2026 • 29min
Inside Elon Musk's Midterm Spending Spree; What Is Effective Altruism Exactly?
Elon Musk’s America PAC pours millions into pivotal 2026 Senate races, raising questions about Silicon Valley’s political strategy. The conversation explores effective altruism, its influence on AI safety, and fears surrounding advanced AI. Plus, the backlash facing the designer behind Meta’s Muse logo, news fatigue, comfort viewing, and the literary quirks that spark irritation.
