On with Kara Swisher Winners, Losers & WTF Moments: A Look Back at 2025’s Top Tech Stories
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Dec 22, 2025 
Bill Cohan, a financial journalist and Puck co-founder, joins tech experts Casey Newton, Joanna Stern, and Charlie Warzel to dissect the chaotic tech landscape of 2025. They tackle the rising AI bubble and economic disruption, while exploring the impact of Trump on the tech industry. Key topics include TikTok's ownership shuffle, the implications of Musk's antics, and the challenges posed by emerging technologies like home robots and disinformation on social media. The group shares predictions for 2026, hinting at a turbulent future ahead.
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TikTok Ban Reversed By Executive Play
- Casey Newton flagged the TikTok ban reversal as a pivotal moment of executive overreach.
- He highlighted that Trump ignored a law upheld by the Supreme Court via an executive memo.
Crypto Became A Tool For Influence
- Charlie Warzel described crypto's 2025 role as an instrument for graft and political influence.
- He noted retail investors were harmed while insiders and the Trump family profited from meme-coin schemes.
Grok Showed Alignment Limits
- Casey called Grok's 'Mecha-Hitler' episode both comical and alarming about model alignment failures.
- He urged attention to AI safety as models grow more powerful and harder to control.