The rise of the slopagandist

The violent federal occupation of Minneapolis – and the subsequent killings of two residents at the hands of immigration agents – began with a vlog. Nick Shirley, a roving 23-year-old with a smartphone and a taste for outrage, made a YouTube video with unfounded allegations of fraud at daycares operated by the local Somali American … Read more

Netflix is eating Hollywood — because it has to

On today’s episode of Decoder, I’m talking about the bidding war over Warner Bros. Discovery, which is the biggest story in the entertainment industry right now, and for good reason. It has pretty much everything you could want in a buzzy Hollywood saga — big names, big money, and big drama. Right now, the winning … Read more

Sen. Warren pushes Altman for guarantee OpenAI isn’t seeking government bailout

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is pushing OpenAI for assurances it won’t seek a government bailout if it doesn’t turn a profit. In a letter to CEO Sam Altman, Warren says she is concerned that the company is preparing to fall back “on the classic strategy of privatizing profits and socializing losses” amid soaring spending and … Read more

Fidelity is launching its own stablecoin

Fidelity is launching a stablecoin that investors will be able to buy and sell for $1 when it arrives in the “coming weeks.” The stablecoin, called Fidelity Digital Dollar (FIDD), will live on the Ethereum network and is backed by cash reserves, cash equivalents, and short-term US Treasuries, according to CoinDesk. A stablecoin is a … Read more

Google agrees to $135 million settlement for collecting Android users’ data

Android users could get a recovery payout of up to $100 each in a proposed settlement Google filed in San Jose, California on Tuesday night. As Reuters reports, the $135 million settlement is for a class action lawsuit claiming that Google collected users’ cellular data without their permission, even while Google apps were closed, location … Read more

Apple says Patreon creators must switch to subscription billing by November

Patreon will force creators to move away from legacy billing methods this fall to appease Apple’s newly revived subscriptions mandate. The migration will impact 4 percent of Patreon creators who still use first-of-the-month and per creation billing models, with Apple imposing a deadline to switch to subscription billing by November 1st, 2026. On its support … Read more

Waymo robotaxi hits a child near a school, causing minor injuries

A Waymo robotaxi struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, on January 23rd, causing minor injuries and prompting the National Highway Traffic Safety administration to open an investigation. The incident occurred during normal school drop off hours, with other children, a crossing guard, and several double-parked vehicles in the vicinity, NHTSA … Read more

There won’t be a Nothing Phone 4 this year

2025’s Nothing Phone 3 will remain the brand’s flagship phone this year. Nothing CEO Carl Pei confirmed the Phone 4 won’t launch in 2026 in a new video on the brand’s YouTube channel. “There’s no new flagship this year,” Pei said when asked about phone plans for 2026, instead emphasizing that last year’s Phone 3 … Read more

The best iPhones

New iPhones for the AI era. | Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge If you’ve been holding off on getting a new iPhone, now’s the perfect time to size up your options. Apple’s 2025 iPhone lineup is now widely available, which includes the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and a brand-new model, the … Read more

Tesla says production-ready Optimus robot is coming soon

In its earnings report, Tesla says that the third-generation version of its Optimus humanoid robot “meant for mass production” will be unveiled in the first quarter of 2026. This new version of Optimus will include “major upgrades from version 2.5, including our latest hand design.” And the company is making preparations for the first production … Read more

Tesla hits a grim milestone: its second straight year of decline

Tesla just reported its second consecutive year of declining revenue and profits, further complicating Elon Musk’s $1 trillion effort to transform his company into a leader in AI and robotics. Meanwhile, the global EV market continues to grow, seemingly in spite of the pioneering company’s setbacks. Tesla said it earned $840 million in net income … Read more

YouTube’s top AI slop channels are disappearing

YouTube appears to have taken down two of the most popular AI slop channels on its platform, along with several others. A report from Kapwing found that a channel called CuentosFacianantes no longer exists on the platform after amassing more than 5.9 million subscribers and over 1.2 billion total views. In a November 2025 report, … Read more

This soft humanoid robot is designed to be ‘physically safe and socially approachable’

Sprout stands just 3.5-feet tall and is light enough for one person to carry around. | Screenshot: YouTube A startup called Fauna Robotics has revealed a new humanoid robot called Sprout it’s been developing over the past two years. Standing around 3.5-feet tall, Sprout’s design, featuring a soft padded exterior, a wide head, and expressive … Read more