Welcome to tech in 2025, where everything's made up and the numbers don't matter. Nilay, David, and The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes start the show by running down the latest tariff news, the uncertain future facing tech companies of all sizes, and what we're learning so far about how they're responding. After that, the hosts talk about a big week in AI news, including Meta's sketchy benchmark numbers and the latest damning reporting about the future of Siri. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for America's favorite podcast within a podcast, Brendan Carr is a Dummy, along with some news about the TikTok ban and the Pixel 9A. And then some more tariff numbers, because they just never stop.

Further reading:

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Sony adds three new speakers to bass-boosted ULT Power Sound lineup

Sony seemingly bakes tariff penalty into its new US TV pricing

Samsung’s The Frame Pro was never going to be cheap — and it isn’t

Trump’s tariffs are officially in effect, including 104 percent on China

China retaliates with additional 50 percent tariff on US goods

Trump announces a ‘90-day pause’ on tariffs outside of China

Trump believes iPhones can be made in the US, says White House

Get your screwdrivers ready.

Apple quickly shipped 600 tons of iPhones to ‘beat’ the new tariffs

Trump triples tariffs on low value packages from China and Hong Kong

Some Shein and Temu ‘haul video’ creators are stocking up

Shein’s supply chain uncertainties.

Amazon is already changing its ultra-cheap Temu copycat

Framework stops selling some of its cheapest laptops due to Trump tariffs

Framework delays Laptop 12 orders in the US over tariffs 

Framework will open US preorders for Laptop 12 after all: tomorrow, starting at $549.

Framework raised prices and then un-raised them an hour later because of Trump

Price hikes, idled factories, layoffs: how car companies are responding to Trump’s tariffs

China will show fewer US films in response to tariffs

Trump’s new tariffs leave small creators scrambling

Arduboy creator says his tiny Game Boy won’t survive Trump’s tariff

Trump’s latest tariffs may set the smart home industry back

Nintendo boss on Switch 2 and tariffs: ‘we are actively assessing what the impact may be’	

Trump’s tariffs ‘pause’ could help Nintendo ship more Switch 2s

Musk calls Trump’s trade chief ‘dumber than a sack of bricks.’

We just declared a trade war with the world



Meta gets caught gaming AI benchmarks with Llama 4

Siri in The Information

Amazon plays catch-up with new Nova AI models to generate voices and video

Shopify CEO says no new hires without proof AI can’t do the job 

Most Americans don’t trust AI — or the people in charge of it

Adobe is building AI agents for Photoshop and Premiere Pro

Samsung is finally releasing Ballie, its rolling home robot

Sam Altman and Jony Ive’s AI project could involve a screenless device.




Trump Is Now Mandating His Cabinet/Loyalist Wear "Trump Golden Bust" Pins 

From Ars Technica: The speech police: Chairman Brendan Carr and the FCC’s news distortion policy 


From Variety: FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez Sounds Alarm Over Trump Administration’s ‘Absolute Pattern of Censorship and Control’


From the FCC: Spectrum Is Back—Again!


FCC eyes major satellite rule revamp in spectrum-sharing shakeup

Trump delays TikTok ban again

Trump’s TikTok delay is ‘against the law’ top Senate Intelligence Democrat says

The US told Apple to keep TikTok in the App Store.

Instagram might finally release an iPad app

Google Pixel 9A review: a midrange phone done right

Pixel 9A hits stores, and it’s still $499.


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Nilay, David, and The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes run down the latest tariff news, the uncertain future facing tech companies of all sizes, and what we're learning so far about how they're responding

How the tech world is responding to tariff chaos