The Vergecast: Ad-Free Edition

Vox Senior Correspondent and host of The Weeds Matt Yglesias joins Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel in this special crossover episode to explain what Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which allows platforms to circumnavigate liability for user content, really means. They also discuss Elizabeth Warren’s proposal to break up big tech platforms, and how it may or may not fix anything.Subscribe to The Weeds for free here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nilay Patel invites a cavalry of experts from The Verge (Makena Kelly, Adi Robertson, Liz Lopatto, Dieter Bohn, and Paul Miller) to discuss the Big Tech hearings that took over Capitol Hill, Elon Musk's Neuralink brain machine interface, and the new Macbook reviews. Stories this week: Facebook reportedly reaches $5 billion settlement with the Federal …Facebook tells Congress how it thinks Libra should be regulatedHouse Democrats are considering a bill to ban Facebook from the …Senators aren’t sold on Facebook’s Libra projectEU opens Amazon antitrust investigationThe unpredictable legal implications of Trump’s Twitter-blocking defeatElon Musk unveils Neuralink's plans for brain-reading 'threads'Boston Dynamics' robots are preparing to leave the lab — is the world ready? Apple is silently updating Macs again to remove insecure ... Apple MacBook Air (2019) review: the new normalApple MacBook Pro 13 2019 Two USB ports review: considered ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everything is too complicated. Asurion CEO Tony Detter joins Verge editor-in-chief, Nilay Patel to discuss simplifying our experience with tech products, the problems with closed eco-systems and why an insurance company like Asurion got involved with tech support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nintendo announced a new Switch! Nilay, Dieter, and Paul discuss what's different with the new model and what's being updated with the original one. But first, continuing coverage of Foxconn's factory in Wisconsin — this time with a cryptic email.Next: new Macbooks! Kind of. Apple updated the Macbook Pro and Air and got rid of the 12-inch Macbook and its butterfly keyboard for future models. There's a whole lot more like a Zoom security flaw, a new streaming service, and of course some FCC talk.  🎶This week's theme song 🎶Foxconn will only create 1,500 jobs, says Wisconsin governorNintendo Switch Lite is a smaller, cheaper Switch built exclusively for handheld playNintendo is updating the original Switch with a new CPU and storageApple is reportedly giving up on its controversial MacBook keyboard …Apple discontinues 12-inch MacBookApple is silently removing Zoom’s web server software from MacsApple Watch eavesdropping vulnerability forces Apple to disable Walkie-TalkieI’m Jad Abumrad, and This Is How I WorkA small notebook for a system administrator WarnerMedia confirms its Netflix rival will be called HBO MaxAT&T says it will automatically block robocalls ‘in the coming months Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been a year since net neutrality was repealed. Gigi Sohn, a distinguished fellow at Georgetown Law's Institute for Technology Law and Policy, chats with Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel about what's happened since by explaining the ripple effect of harmful policy decisions and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when your robot friend dies? Ashley Carman and Kaitlyn Tiffany of Why'd You Push That Button? explore the grieving community surrounding the short-lived social robot Jibo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Behind the screen: content moderation in the shadows of social media author Sarah T Roberts joins Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel to discuss the business and dark side of content moderation while pondering future solutions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Public betas for iPadOS, iOS 13, and macOS Catalina are available now so Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Paul Miller discuss the updates from using the software themselves. Also, It was announced during this recording that Apple’s chief design officer Jony Ive will depart the company later this year — the crew reacts. Other topics this week include Bill Gates discussing Microsoft losing to Android, a new Raspberry Pi, and updates on Foxconn's factory in Wisconsin. Stories discussed this week: Jony Ive leaving Apple after nearly 30 years to start new design firmiPadOS public beta preview: worthy of the new nameiOS 13 hands-on: dark mode, Apple Maps, Reminders, and moreiOS 13’s best upgrade is in your car macOS Catalina first look: goodbye, iTunes; hello, iPad apps on Mac$35 Raspberry Pi 4 announced with 4K support and up to 4GB of RAMJony Ive leaving Apple after nearly 30 years to start new design firmBill Gates says his ‘greatest mistake ever’ was Microsoft losing to AndroidOne year after Trump's Foxconn groundbreaking, there is almost nothing to show for it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recode editor-at-large Kara Swisher joins Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel to discuss the possibilities of breaking up big tech companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon. Kara also explains how the dominance of these four giant companies harms competition and innovation in Silicon Valley and why tech companies should be doing more to help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul Miller explains Facebook new cryptocurrency Libra, Adi Robertson explains Senator Josh Hawley's move to amend Section 230, and Dieter explains how Google is taking charge of RCS. Stories discussed this week: Samsung accidentally makes the case for not owning a smart TV GE accidentally makes the case for not owning smart GE bulbs A paper towel dispenser with an end-user license agreement is a special kind of hellFacebook's Calibra is a secret weapon for monetizing its new ..Facebook confirms it will launch a cryptocurrency called Libra in 2020 …Internet giants must stay unbiased to keep their biggest legal shield Both parties are mad about a proposal for federal anti-bias certification Microsoft and Kano are launching a build-your-own Windows 10 PC kitGoogle is taking charge of RCSUsing secure chat is a moral imperative, and iMessage is my bestCyberpunk 2077 doesn't look weird enough to be edgy  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices