Donald Trump’s presidency will be unpredictable, but in our final show, we make some guesses about what’ll happen anyway. WIRED’s Tim Marchman sits down with reporters David Gilbert and Makena Kelly to talk about what could go wrong between Trump and Musk, if Christian nationalists will get their porn ban, the rise of human brain organoids and whether the new administration will finally declassify those UFO files. Tim Marchman is @ timmarchman . David Gilbert is @ DaithaiGilbert . Makena Kelly i...
Dec 12, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump has threatened to go after a lot of people — journalists, political rivals and undocumented immigrants to name a few—and starting next year, he’ll have the entire national security apparatus at his disposal. What’s the best way to keep your personal information secure from surveillance, not just by the government, but also data brokers, tech companies, and online scammers? Leah talks with WIRED business editor Louise Matsakis and security editor Andrew Couts about what to expect and...
Dec 05, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Since the election, a number of organizations, journalists, and left-leaning X users have announced their intentions to leave the town square formerly known as Twitter and move over to Threads or Bluesky. Leah talks with WIRED reporters David Gilbert and Vittoria Elliott about what these X-pats will find on the newer platforms, what happens to X when there are no more libs to troll, and just how fragmented online communities are now. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . David Gilbert is @ DaithaiGilber...
Nov 21, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the show, WIRED’s global editorial director Katie Drummond joins Leah to talk about how the internet and online communities contributed to Donald Trump's victory. Plus, one last look at Brat summer, the perils of the Trump-Elon Musk alliance and digital security under the next Trump administration. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Katie Drummond is @katie-drummond.bsky.social . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here . Mentioned ...
Nov 14, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast The election is over and Donald Trump has won a second term in the White House. The next several months—and maybe years—will be spent analyzing what actually tipped this election, but we at WIRED Politics Lab have a theory: Elon Musk. Throughout the election season, and especially in the homestretch, Musk has used his influence and platform to try to shape the results. Today, Leah sits down with Vittoria Elliott and Timothy Marchman to discuss if it worked. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Vittoria...
Nov 07, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s the election homestretch, and today on the show, we spoke with Stacey Abrams. Abrams has fought voter suppression for more than a decade — and she’s still fighting it. She joins Leah from Kamala Harris’s campaign trail to talk about election conspiracies, Elon Musk's influence, ballot box fires, Joe Rogan, and whether a Democratic candidate can win Georgia. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here . Me...
Oct 31, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast It sounds like something out of the Old West, but this year, Constitutional Sheriffs — law enforcement officers who believe they’re above state and federal oversight — have rounded up posses and set their sights on election security. WIRED’s Tim Marchman talks with reporter David Gilbert about how the Constitutional Sheriffs hitched their wagons to the big guns in the election denial movement, and how just one rogue county sheriff could call the entire presidential race into question. Tim Marchm...
Oct 24, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast On Wednesday, a WIRED exclusive revealed that one of J.D. Vance’s financial policy advisers has posted a lot on Reddit about illicit substances. Given Vance’s hard stance on drugs, WIRED’s Tim Marchman and Makena Kelly join Leah to discuss why it matters that a member of his staff seems to have been using them. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Makena Kelly is @ kellymakena . Tim Marchman is @ timmarchman . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newslett...
Oct 17, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast You might know him from Tesla and SpaceX, but now Elon Musk spends a lot of his time campaigning for former president Donald Trump. WIRED’s David Gilbert and Vittoria Elliott join Leah to talk about what Musk gets from going all in on Trump — and whether he’ll win Trump the White House. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . David Gilbert is @ DaithaiGilbert . Vittoria Elliott is @telliotter . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here . Mentioned...
Oct 10, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Vice Presidential candidates Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. J.D. Vance faced off last night in their first and only debate. Will Vance’s repackaging of Trump’s record on issues like abortion and January 6 land with independents and swing state voters? Where was the fiery Walz who won social media by calling Republicans “weird?” And will any of this really matter on election day? WIRED’s Tim Marchman and Makena Kelly join Leah to discuss. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Makena Kelly is @ kellymakena . Tim ...
Oct 02, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gen Z is over it. The youngest generation of adults is inheriting a climate crisis, the ongoing fallout from a global pandemic, a polarized political landscape, and a tenuous economic reality. And many Gen Z members, a generation more likely to identify as progressive than conservative, are ready for something to give. Enter: Gen Z for Change — a youth-led non-profit that brands itself as, "the place where the creator economy and progressive politics intersect on social media." The group leverag...
Sep 26, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast From political fundraisers to the presidential debate to a September 11 commemoration, far-right influencer Laura Loomer has become a staple in former president Donald Trump’s political entourage. WIRED’s David Gilbert and Tim Marchman join Leah to discuss Loomer’s history of conspiracies, Islamophobia, and how she ended up in Trump’s orbit. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . David Gilbert is @ DaithaiGilbert . Tim Marchman is @ timmarchman . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe...
Sep 19, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast WIRED’s Makena Kelly and Tim Marchman join Leah to discuss the memorable moments, the policies and, of course, the conspiracies that came up in Tuesday’s presidential debate. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Makena Kelly is @ kellymakena . Tim Marchman is @ timmarchman . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Sep 11, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast A few months ago, everyone seemed worried about how AI would impact the 2024 election. Lately, it seems like some of the panic has dissipated, but political deepfakes — including pornographic images and video — are still everywhere. Today on the show, WIRED reporters Vittoria Elliott and Will Knight on what has changed with AI and what we should worry about. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Vittoria Elliott is @telliotter . Will Knight is @ willknight to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subs...
Sep 05, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Democratic National Convention organizers really rolled out the blue carpet for influencers this year. Today on the show, WIRED senior reporter Makena Kelly joins from Chicago to talk about the Democrats’ strategy of favoring creators over journalists, and whether it will help them win votes. Plus, behind the scenes at the influencer after-parties. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Makena Kelly is @ kellymakena . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics La...
Aug 22, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Team Trump was winning the internet until the Harris-Walz campaign took over. But Democrats can’t just keep calling Republicans “weird” and celebrating Brat Summer until election day. Today on the show, writer and critic Hunter Harris on how Kamala Harris is harnessing social media and what comes next in the run-up to November. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Hunter Harris is @ hunteryharris Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here . Ment...
Aug 15, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast The election denial movement lives on, thanks in part to the efforts of well-funded and well-organized far-right activists. Today on the show, CNN correspondent Donie O’Sullivan joins Wired Politics Lab to talk about his forthcoming documentary examining election deniers’ new tactics, and what happens after the November vote. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . David Gilbert is @ DaithaiGilbert . Donie O’Sullivan is @ Donie . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Poli...
Aug 08, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Q hasn’t posted anything since 2022. But a staggering number of Americans still buy into QAnon, the conspiracy movement steeped in claims that Satan-worshiping pedophiles run the US government. Today on the show, journalist and author Jesselyn Cook on QAnon’s lasting political ramifications and the relationships it destroys. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . David Gilbert is @ DaithaiGilbert . Jesselyn Cook is @ JessReports . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Po...
Aug 01, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, we're bringing you a special preview of the new season of the New Yorker investigative podcast In the Dark, hosted by Madeleine Baran. The series examines the killings of twenty-four civilians in Haditha, Iraq, and asks why no one was held accountable for the crime. In Episode 1, a man in Haditha, Iraq, has a request for the In the Dark team: Can you investigate how my family was killed? In the Dark is available wherever you get your podcasts: https://link.chtbl.com/itds3feeddrop Learn ab...
Jul 30, 2024•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today on WIRED Politics Lab, how Democratic megadonors in Silicon Valley are showing their support for Vice President Kamala Harris now that President Joe Biden has dropped out of the race. Plus, why posts from the far-right and Republican lawmakers calling Biden’s exit a ‘coup’ have exploded online. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Makena Kelly is @ kellymakena . Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode . David Gilbert is @ DaithaiGilbert . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIR...
Jul 23, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Right after former president Donald Trump was shot at his campaign rally in Pennsylvania, conspiracy theories exploded online. Today on WIRED Politics Lab, we discuss the subsequent calls for violence and civil war, and the way that militias are recruiting off of the incident. Plus, we report from the Republican National Convention on the reaction to Trump’s vice presidential nominee, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . David Gilbert is @ DaithaiGilbert . Makena Kelly is @ ...
Jul 17, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast After President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate, speculations that Vice President Kamala Harris may fill the void are everywhere. Today on WIRED Politics Lab, how the far right is already pushing racist and misogynistic conspiracies that question Harris’ ability to be president. Plus, why RFK Jr. is looking to capitalize on the moment. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . David Gilbert is @ DaithaiGilbert . Vittoria Elliot is @telliotter . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the...
Jul 11, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today on WIRED Politics Lab, the first part of a series from Marketplace that explains how the New Deal changed American society. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Jul 04, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today on WIRED Politics Lab, Pod Save America co-hosts Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor join the show to discuss what the Biden administration has to say about Disinformation. Plus, how to wade through the social media muck and stay informed through this election. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Jon Favreau is @ jonfavs . Tommy Vietor is @ TVietor08 . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here . Mentioned this week: Google’s and Microsoft’s AI ...
Jun 27, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jake Lang was arrested for his involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. From prison, he has organized an armed militia that now has thousands of members nationwide. Today on WIRED Politics Lab, reporter David Gilbert explains how this new militia came to be and its possible parallels to 2020. Plus, a look into the recent resurgence of far right extremism. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . David Gilbert is @ DaithaiGilbert . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscri...
Jun 20, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today on WIRED Politics Lab, we're digging into AI chatbots. In a bizarre turn of events, two AI chatbots are running for elected office for the first time—ever. VIC is campaigning for mayor in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and AI Steve is running for Parliament in the UK. Reporter Vittoria Elliot interviewed both of the bots and the people behind them. She explains their motivations, and if any of this is even legal. Meanwhile, reporter David Gilbert talks about how Google and Microsofts’ AI chatbots are ...
Jun 13, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast David Remnick talks with Katie Drummond, the global editorial director of Wired magazine, about the TikTok ban that just passed with bipartisan support in Washington. The app will be removed from distribution in U.S. app stores unless ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, sells it to an approved buyer. TikTok is suing to block that law. Is this a battle among tech giants for dominance, or a real issue of national security? Drummond sees the ban as a corporate crusade by Silicon Valley...
Jun 06, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the largest global election year yet, generative AI is already being used to trick and manipulate voters around the world. Will this growing trend have real impact? Today on WIRED Politics Lab, we talk about a new online project that will be tracking the use of AI in elections around the world. Plus, Nilesh Christopher dives into the lucrative industry of deepfakes, and how politicians are using them to bombard Indian voters. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Vittoria Elliot is @telliotter . Writ...
May 30, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Twitter is officially dead. Last week, twitter.com became x.com , marking the final step in a rebranding effort that the company’s owner, Elon Musk, announced last year. The change marks a shift for the now bird-less app under Musk’s reign, which has welcomed Nazis and white supremacists back onto the platform, dissolved its Trust and Safety council, and become a cesspool of disinformation and conspiracy. Meanwhile, people seem to still long for authentic connection—like with the Dublin to New Y...
May 23, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hasan Piker is one of the biggest political streamers on Twitch. With more than two million followers and streams that average eight hours a day, Hasan has become increasingly popular as more people are turning to the platform for news and political analysis. Today on WIRED Politics Lab, we talked to Hasan about his impact and what this shift could mean for the upcoming election. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Makena Kelly is @ kellymakena . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscr...
May 16, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast