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Recode Daily

Recodewww.vox.com
Your guide to the most interesting and important tech and business news of the day. Learn how our digital world is changing — and changing us — five days a week. Produced by Recode and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Episodes

NASA’s new telescope is a game-changer

Decades ago, the Hubble telescope revolutionized NASA’s ability to visualize space. Soon, the new James Webb telescope will take us even further. Vox’s Unexplainable explores the endless possibilities of NASA’s new spyglass. References: Listen to the full episode here Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn about on Recode Daily? Send your requests and questions to [email protected]. We read every email! Subscribe for fre...

Oct 01, 202112 min

The rise of a Silicon Valley supervillain

Peter Thiel has worn many hats over the years: He co-founded PayPal, helped fund Facebook, and brought about Gawker’s demise. He was also one of Donald Trump’s biggest advocates. How did Thiel gain so much power? Bloomberg’s Max Chafkin (@chafkin) explains. References: Listen to Peter Kafka’s full interview with Max Chafkin here Enjoy this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn about on Recode Daily? Send your requests and questions to re...

Sep 30, 202116 min

The 21st century trolley problem

Autonomous tech could lead to deaths at the hands of robots. But is continuing to let humans drive even worse? Recode’s Rani Molla explains. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn on Recode Daily? Send your requests and questions to [email protected]. We read every email! Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Recode Daily by subscribing in your favorite podcast app. Learn more about your ad choices...

Sep 29, 202110 min

Fixing Facebook

Facebook is broken, and everyone knows it. Can it be fixed? Recode’s Shirin Ghaffary explains. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn on Recode Daily? Send your requests and questions to [email protected]. We read every email! Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Recode Daily by subscribing in your favorite podcast app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode wa...

Sep 28, 202114 min

It’s been a busy year in tech. What’s next?

As we get ready for the 2021 Code Conference, we’re looking back on the biggest tech stories we’ve covered recently. Recode Editor-in-Chief Samantha Oltman (@SamOltman) joins us to ask: What could the future of tech have in store? References: More about Code 2021 here Read more about the ongoing remote work battle at Apple here Read Rebecca Heilweil’s story about Facebook and vaccine misinformation here Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do y...

Sep 27, 202113 min

Inside an unexpected fight at Apple

For the past several months, a fight has been brewing inside Apple, the world’s most profitable company, about a fundamental aspect of its business: whether or not its corporate employees must return to the office. That this battle is happening at Apple signals a major shift for the company. Recode’s Shirin Ghaffary explains. References: Read Shirin and Rani’s reporting here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn on Recode D...

Sep 24, 202113 min

How the iPhone changed everything

The smartphone landscape hasn’t been the same since Steve Jobs announced the first iPhone in 2007. Peter Kafka (@pkafka) explores the legacy of this game-changing device in the first episode of the new season of Land of the Giants. References: Listen to Land of the Giants here Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn about on Recode Daily? Send your requests and questions to [email protected]. We read every email! Subscrib...

Sep 23, 202114 min

Facebook’s secret research, explained

Recently, the Wall Street Journal uncovered some damning internal research at Facebook regarding the impact of social media on our mental health, democracy, and society at large. The WSJ’s Jeff Horwitz (@JeffHorwitz) joins Recode Daily to break down his reporting: “This research made it to me because the people who I worked with were very clear that it wasn't getting acted on appropriately in the first place.” References: Read Jeff’s reports here Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and...

Sep 22, 202116 min

Everybody's hiring; nobody's getting hired

There are more open jobs in the United States than available workers, yet job seekers are struggling to land new gigs. The country’s broken hiring system is to blame. Recode’s Rani Molla and Vox’s Emily Stewart explain. References: https://www.vox.com/recode/22673353/unemployment-job-search-linkedin-indeed-algorithm https://www.vox.com/recode/22677968/job-search-tips-linkedin-ziprecruiter-indeed https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-need-more-workers-why-do-they-reject-millions-of-resumes-11630...

Sep 21, 202110 min

The Real World: Space

The Inspiration4 space mission was historic. It may have laid the groundwork for the future of commercial space travel, which offers limitless possibilities for space-themed brand deals and product placements. Axios’s Miriam Kramer (@mirikramer) and Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil (@rebheilweil) explain. References: Read Rebecca’s story here. Listen to Miriam’s podcast here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn about on Recode Da...

Sep 20, 202116 min

Instagram is bad for teens’ self-esteem, and it knows it

New reporting from the Wall Street Journal confirms what many teens already knew: Instagram can be harmful to their body image and self-esteem. And as it turns out, the company knows it too. Recode Media’s Peter Kafka (@pkafka) asked Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, about these revelations. References: Listen to Peter’s full interview with Adam Mosseri here Read the Wall Street Journal’s reporting here Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily and Recode Media ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple...

Sep 17, 202115 min

California scheming

Republicans primed their voters to believe the California recall was stolen. And right-wing media helped them. Vox’s Aaron Rupar explains. Read Aaron’s story here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn about on Recode Daily? Send your requests and questions to [email protected]. We read every email! Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Recode Daily by subscribing in your favorite podcast app. Lea...

Sep 16, 202113 min

The future of cybersex

The mobile gaming giant Roblox is hugely popular among minors — most of them young kids. But it turns out the platform has a burgeoning strip club and sex work scene. Players say it’s all fun and games, but the lines are blurred when adult users get involved. E.J. Dickson (@ejdickson) with Rolling Stone joins Recode Daily to explain. References: Read E.J.’s story here Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn about on Recode Dai...

Sep 15, 202113 min

Walgreens' Covid testing site exposes patient data

Millions of people got Covid-19 tests through Walgreens. Their information wasn’t adequately protected. Recode’s Sara Morrison explains. Read her report here. Have a tip for one of our reporters? Email [email protected] Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Recode Daily by subscribing in your favorite podcast app. This episode was made by: Host: Adam Clark Estes (@adamclarkestes) Prod...

Sep 14, 202111 min

Facebook’s smart glasses: cool or creepy?

Facebook and Ray-Ban announced their new collaboration: Ray-Ban Stories, their version of smart glasses. And they are surprisingly normal-looking, something developers hope will someday make their smart glasses as ubiquitous as a smartphone. Alex Heath (@alexehealth), senior reporter at The Verge, explains. Read Alex’s story here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn about on Recode Daily? Send your requests and questions t...

Sep 13, 202112 min

Why El Salvador made bitcoin a national currency

El Salvador recently became the first and only country to recognize bitcoin as an official currency. It’s a high-risk, high-reward experiment for the and the world is watching. The Wall Street Journal’s Caitlin Ostroff explains. Read Caitlin’s work here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn about on Recode Daily? Send your requests and questions to [email protected]. We read every email! Subscribe for free. Be the firs...

Sep 10, 202114 min

How gig work became a full-time job

The pandemic put a lot into perspective, especially when it comes to work. Millions of Americans lost their jobs during lockdown, while others found themselves juggling remote work and child care. And now more and more people are juggling a full-time job, child care, and another job on the side to help pay the bills. Recode’s Rani Molla (@ranimolla) explains why gig work is on the rise. Read Rani’s story here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Wh...

Sep 09, 202111 min

You’ve got my mail

We use email for practically everything. We use it for everyday things like food delivery apps, newsletters, and streaming services. We also use it for serious things like managing our finances, applying for jobs, and communicating with loved ones. But how safe is email? Can we really trust it with some of our most sensitive information? Recode’s Sara Morrison (@saramorrison) explains. Read Sara’s story about email here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple P...

Sep 08, 202113 min

Start your holiday shopping NOW!

The pandemic has put immense strain on the global supply chain. Everything from basic food items like chicken wings to critical tech components like computer chips is running low. Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil (@rebheilweil) and Vox’s Terry Nguyen (@terrygtnguyen) join Recode Daily to discuss how this could impact your year-end shopping plans. References: Read Terry’s article here Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn about on R...

Sep 07, 202111 min

Air conditioning is not cool

Air conditioning technology was considered revolutionary in the 20th century, but over the years, it’s proven to be devastating for the environment. Today, Recode’s Adam Clark Estes is joined by Eric Dean Wilson (@ericdeanwilson), the author behind After Cooling: On Freon, Global Warming, and the Terrible Cost of Comfort, to discuss how to rethink cooling in America. References: More on Eric’s book here Read Rebecca Leber’s Vox story here Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a...

Sep 02, 202116 min

How the levees held

Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday, August 29. The powerful storm grew to Category 4 by the time it crashed into the coast, and with a storm this strong, one big question was on everybody’s mind: Will the levees hold this time? They did, and here to explain how they worked is Associated Press reporter Jeff Amy (@jeffamy). Jeff wrote an explainer about the new levee system in New Orleans. And you can find additional coverage of Hurricane Ida at apnews.com. Enjoyed this episode? Ra...

Sep 01, 202111 min

Mandating vaccines shouldn’t be a restaurant worker’s job

In some parts of the US, customers in bars and restaurants are now required to show proof of vaccination against Covid-19 in order to enter the business. This can give servers, hosts, and bartenders peace of mind when they go into work, but it also puts the burden of enforcing the rules on those same employees. As Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil (@rebheilweil) explains, this can mean less tip income and an increasingly hostile work environment. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a...

Aug 31, 202111 min

Blaming Facebook won't solve the misinformation problem

The New York Times’ Shira Ovide, writes the popular and incisive On Tech newsletter, which means she gets to write about… everything. She sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss some of her latest stories in her column like why “Tech Can’t Fix Everything”, how society rather than social media itself is more to blame for the spread of misinformation. This is just a portion of a longer, deeper conversation. Listen to the full episode here, and find more from Recode Media at Vox.com. Support...

Aug 30, 202110 min

Big Tech’s Taliban problem

For the first time in 20 years, the Taliban controls Afghanistan. This change in power raises questions for companies like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube as they have to figure out how to handle what was once considered an insurgent, terrorist-affiliated group now potentially governing an entire country. Vox’s Jen Kirby (@j_kirby1) explains. References: Read Shirin’s article about social media companies and the Taliban. And check out Jen’s Taliban explainer. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Dai...

Aug 27, 202112 min

Did we pull the plug on virtual school too soon?

Students and teachers are returning to classrooms after more than a year of virtual learning, but going back to school doesn’t mean going back to normal. Vox’s Anna North (@annanorthtweets) joins Recode Daily to break down how schools are preparing. References: Read Anna’s story here Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn about on Recode Daily? Send your requests and questions to [email protected]. We read every email! S...

Aug 26, 202115 min

Is the future of work in employees’ hands?

Many companies are preparing to return to the office this fall, but how is that going to work? Will the way we do our jobs be forever changed because of the pandemic? Do American workers have the motivation – and opportunity – to change the status quo? These are all questions we had, so Recode’s Rani Molla asked them for us. She talked to Tsedal Neeley, a professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, and here is part of their conversation. Read a print version of the Q&A here....

Aug 25, 202113 min

404: Podcast not found

The World Wide Web is kept interconnected through hyperlinks. But what happens when those hyperlinks stop working? Researchers say hyperlinks are dying at an alarming rate, and it could signal trouble for journalists, historians, and academics. Clare Stanton (@clare_stanton) at the Library Innovation Lab at Harvard Law School joins Recode Daily to explain. References: Read Clare’s report here Learn more about Perma.cc here Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple...

Aug 24, 202115 min

Your next office could be inside a VR headset

Work from home typically means Zoom calls and Slack, but Mark Zuckerberg is envisioning a new way to work remotely: virtual reality. Last week, he unveiled Workrooms: Facebook’s latest effort to enter the “metaverse.” Recode’s Shirin Ghaffary (@shiringhaffary) explains. References: Watch Mark Zuckerberg’s full interview with CBS unveiling Horizon Workrooms here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn about on Recode Daily? Se...

Aug 23, 202112 min

TikTok is making tax policy cool

TikTok is the go-to place for memes and dance videos. But sometimes those pieces of content can play a critical role in letting lawmakers know which policies are working and which ones are not. Today, the Washington Post’s Dave Jorgenson (@davejorgenson) and Vox’s Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt) join Recode Daily to discuss how TikTok is influencing American democracy and encouraging civic engagement. ---------------- References: Read Dylan’s story here Watch Dave’s TikToks here Enjoyed this episode...

Aug 20, 202117 min

Why am I so invested in Alabama sorority TikTok?

Last week, videos of students hoping to join a sorority at the University of Alabama exploded on TikTok. For You pages were all about girls’ outfits and preferred houses, and for some reason, users could not get enough. Why did we get so caught up in rush week? Vox’s Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxxa) joins Adam Clark Estes to discuss. References: Read Rebecca’s explainer here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What do you want to learn about on Recod...

Aug 19, 202116 min